GS - 4th Gen (2013-2020) Discussion about the 2013 and up GS models

Obsidian vs Ultra White

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Old 06-07-15, 10:44 AM
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thedwp
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Default Obsidian vs Ultra White

I'm about to trade in my NX and rejoin the GS family. I had a white 2013 GS FSport and the NX I currently have is white. I was considering making a move to the dark side and go Obsidian this time. It's been many years since I've owned a black car so I honestly can't remember what the upkeep was like.

I know how amazing Obsidian can look rolling off the showroom, but how does it hold up through the week? I've read it can show more flaws....

Any Obsidian owners or past black car owners have any thoughts?
Old 06-07-15, 10:53 AM
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jkeller
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I'm on my 2nd obsidian car in a row, A 07 ES and now a 14 GS. It's a great color when clean, but as you might imagine, hard to keep clean. If you're the type who's car always has to look clean, then pass on obsidian. My thinking is though even when a little dirty it's a great looker.
Old 06-07-15, 11:21 AM
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thedwp
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Originally Posted by jkeller
I'm on my 2nd obsidian car in a row, A 07 ES and now a 14 GS. It's a great color when clean, but as you might imagine, hard to keep clean. If you're the type who's car always has to look clean, then pass on obsidian. My thinking is though even when a little dirty it's a great looker.
Thanks for the info...it's hard to break out of old habits. I'm heading to the dealership today so we'll see what happens.
Old 06-07-15, 11:35 AM
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bclexus
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I found this - it may help!

There’s nothing sexier than a shiny, clean black car. Nothing!
There is nothing LESS sexy than a dusty, or dirty, or scratched black car. Nothing!

When you’re looking for a new car, the black one will seduce you. You’ll look at that model in another color, think about being practical, but the black one will wink at you. Tip its chin. Purr, “Hey baby… I want you inside me.” Walk away NOW, or you’ll take it for a test drive. When you get into a black car for the first time, you’ll feel dangerously sexier than you ever felt in your whole life. Your inner panther will roar. You’ll tingle in places you forgot you had. You’ll like it. And, chances are - you’ll buy it. The other cars just won’t make you tingle like that. Your only protection is to never get behind the wheel of a black car in the first place. Just walk away, and life will be uncomplicated. But, you’ll always wonder…what if.

A thin film of dust becomes luminescent on a black car. Every single spot of anything, even dried sterile water, stands out like a goober zit on prom night. At first, it will disturb and upset you so much that you’ll wash your car immediately. And…then it’ll be dusty again before you even finish drying it. An unknown little fact: Black cars only stay clean for only 42 seconds. But, they are the sexiest 42 seconds you’ll ever know. Because of that 42 second rush, you’ll wash your black baby faithfully every weekend. For the first year anyway. And then, all those scratches and swirls you put in the paint taking care of your baby will erode your resolve. You’ll start skipping. People will stare at your car in disgust, and make all sorts of judgments about your sloppiness. You'll scream things at them like; 'Shut up - I just washed this damn car 15 minutes ago.' Of course, you could always buy the black car and make it a garage queen...and never drive it. That's really smart! But hey, it will still get dusty...and all scratched up by you carefully hand washing it.

If you’ve never owned a black car - you may want to admire them from afar, with someone else dealing with all that goes with owning a black car. But...maybe you're the kind of guy that is 'up for the job'. Because maybe you have loads of time and energy to deal with it. If so, you either don't have a job, or a wife, or a girlfriend (or both!), or children...or a even a life!

A scratch on a black car means only one thing - extreme sadness. Be prepared, because you will have zillions of tiny scratches all over your black beauty. You know what color the car is underneath that glossy black? White. You know what scratches black cars? Car washes. Yes, you must always wash it by hand, or that slick black paint will be gouged with zillions of little white arcs where the car wash spinners hit it. Oh, but guess what? If you even touch your paint when you hand wash it - you too will also be putting zillions of scratches in the paint. It simply cannot be helped. A scratched-up black car is not sexy. Don’t let your black car go like that. Don’t let it get all scratched up because you’re too lazy to wash it by hand either. Or, because it's too cold. Or, you don't have time. Nothing is worse looking than a black car with white swirl rainbows in the black paint that is supposed to be like a fine mirror finish. Be prepared to buy thousands of dollars worth of products and tools to keep it decent looking. Are you ready to wash/clean, strip, clay, polish and wax/coat on a regular basis? All to see it looking less than sexy again as soon as you drive it around the block.

You will park under a tree where birds are known to perch only once. It will only take you one time to park under the trees in a parking lot notorious for attracting flocks of pooping birds to learn this lesson the hard way. If the bird poop remains for more than an hour on that soft black finish the paint becomes acid etched for sure, which will add nicely to all those swirls and scratches.

Black cars aren’t just hot, they are HOT. Getting into a black car on an average summer day is like getting inside a Weber barbecue with the coals at a perfect red glow. If you like to wear shorts, get used to the smell of bacon frying. It takes longer for the A/C to put out the fire.

Other than that - enjoy your black car!

Last edited by bclexus; 06-07-15 at 11:40 AM.
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Old 06-07-15, 11:38 AM
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thedwp
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LOL...thanks bclexus! That's all I needed to know.
Old 06-07-15, 11:47 AM
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Originally Posted by thedwp
LOL...thanks bclexus! That's all I needed to know.
Glad to help!
Old 06-07-15, 04:08 PM
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dochusar
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Originally Posted by bclexus
I found this - it may help!

There’s nothing sexier than a shiny, clean black car. Nothing!
There is nothing LESS sexy than a dusty, or dirty, or scratched black car. Nothing!

When you’re looking for a new car, the black one will seduce you. You’ll look at that model in another color, think about being practical, but the black one will wink at you. Tip its chin. Purr, “Hey baby… I want you inside me.” Walk away NOW, or you’ll take it for a test drive. When you get into a black car for the first time, you’ll feel dangerously sexier than you ever felt in your whole life. Your inner panther will roar. You’ll tingle in places you forgot you had. You’ll like it. And, chances are - you’ll buy it. The other cars just won’t make you tingle like that. Your only protection is to never get behind the wheel of a black car in the first place. Just walk away, and life will be uncomplicated. But, you’ll always wonder…what if.

A thin film of dust becomes luminescent on a black car. Every single spot of anything, even dried sterile water, stands out like a goober zit on prom night. At first, it will disturb and upset you so much that you’ll wash your car immediately. And…then it’ll be dusty again before you even finish drying it. An unknown little fact: Black cars only stay clean for only 42 seconds. But, they are the sexiest 42 seconds you’ll ever know. Because of that 42 second rush, you’ll wash your black baby faithfully every weekend. For the first year anyway. And then, all those scratches and swirls you put in the paint taking care of your baby will erode your resolve. You’ll start skipping. People will stare at your car in disgust, and make all sorts of judgments about your sloppiness. You'll scream things at them like; 'Shut up - I just washed this damn car 15 minutes ago.' Of course, you could always buy the black car and make it a garage queen...and never drive it. That's really smart! But hey, it will still get dusty...and all scratched up by you carefully hand washing it.

If you’ve never owned a black car - you may want to admire them from afar, with someone else dealing with all that goes with owning a black car. But...maybe you're the kind of guy that is 'up for the job'. Because maybe you have loads of time and energy to deal with it. If so, you either don't have a job, or a wife, or a girlfriend (or both!), or children...or a even a life!

A scratch on a black car means only one thing - extreme sadness. Be prepared, because you will have zillions of tiny scratches all over your black beauty. You know what color the car is underneath that glossy black? White. You know what scratches black cars? Car washes. Yes, you must always wash it by hand, or that slick black paint will be gouged with zillions of little white arcs where the car wash spinners hit it. Oh, but guess what? If you even touch your paint when you hand wash it - you too will also be putting zillions of scratches in the paint. It simply cannot be helped. A scratched-up black car is not sexy. Don’t let your black car go like that. Don’t let it get all scratched up because you’re too lazy to wash it by hand either. Or, because it's too cold. Or, you don't have time. Nothing is worse looking than a black car with white swirl rainbows in the black paint that is supposed to be like a fine mirror finish. Be prepared to buy thousands of dollars worth of products and tools to keep it decent looking. Are you ready to wash/clean, strip, clay, polish and wax/coat on a regular basis? All to see it looking less than sexy again as soon as you drive it around the block.

You will park under a tree where birds are known to perch only once. It will only take you one time to park under the trees in a parking lot notorious for attracting flocks of pooping birds to learn this lesson the hard way. If the bird poop remains for more than an hour on that soft black finish the paint becomes acid etched for sure, which will add nicely to all those swirls and scratches.

Black cars aren’t just hot, they are HOT. Getting into a black car on an average summer day is like getting inside a Weber barbecue with the coals at a perfect red glow. If you like to wear shorts, get used to the smell of bacon frying. It takes longer for the A/C to put out the fire.

Other than that - enjoy your black car!
Beautiful analysis of owing a black car, and most of my cars are either white or black!
Old 06-07-15, 06:26 PM
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Jkenny
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My CT was black and it showed everything, I will never do black again!
Old 06-07-15, 07:24 PM
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First of all: Good job rejoining the GS Family
Second: In my opinion, I like both colors a lot(only colors to have on a GSF lol). I see you live in California so maybe Ultra White might be your best option because it gets hot. If you are looking at which one looks better, go with the Obsidian on Red
Old 06-07-15, 07:31 PM
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Pretty well already stated but I'll still give my two cents. Black is the best color when clean but about impossible to keep clean. Even if you take it through a nice car wash the water that accumulates in the mirrors will run down the side of the car and look horrible. I told myself I'd never buy a black car again. I'm too ****. I've had about every color and have decided white is the way to go. If you want a car that will give you a black like look (contrast with chrome trim, etc.) go with the nebula gray.
Old 06-07-15, 10:18 PM
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thedwp
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Thanks again for all the replies. All good info. And bclexus' explanation was so spot on...as I was walking the lot the Obsidian F SPorts were calling my name (so loud). They look so good! But when I really got close, I could see every little spec of dust. And I know they keep all their cars spotless (as possible).

I stuck to my guns and went with the white FS with Cabernet interior. My 2013 was white with black, so at least I changed it up a little. I immediately noticed the anti-glare screen on the Nav system which looked WAY better...but I'll save all the tech talk for another time.

Thanks again! Here's a quick shot on the launching pad.


Old 06-08-15, 07:06 AM
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Congrats thedwp! Enjoy!
Old 06-08-15, 07:35 AM
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Wow this is what "about to" means. Lol. I was gonna give my 0.02 about the OB but I guess I was a bit late. Nice colors of choice. I love the OB but yes, it's a bit overwhelming keeping it clean and impossible to have scratch free. IMO white brings the outliners on the F Sport out better while OB gives it a mean aggressive look. This is the combo for me if I got an F Sport. Congrats!
Old 06-08-15, 08:16 AM
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Congrats! Smart move.
Old 06-08-15, 04:14 PM
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I was going to lobby for the black car, but I guess it's too late.

Congrats on the new ride!


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