New Member
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Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 10
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From: CA
New Member
Hi folks. My name is Jim. I live in San Francisco. I purchased my 05 SC430 new on May 10, 2005 … build date 03/05. My toy is Midnight Pine Pearl with Saddle interior and star center cap factory chrome wheels. I find the whole package stunning.
I wanted a color combination that I had never had before. I looked at several color combinations before settling on this one. Bright California sunshine makes the metal flakes sparkle like a galaxy of stars set in an ocean of deep green. At night the color appears black until the car glides under the occasional fluorescent light and the metal flake Midnight Pine Pearl comes alive … two great colors for the price of one!
My fleet manager searched for a month to locate my choice via a trade with another dealership that had my SC430 as a showroom floor model. I had shopped several makes and models in the 65-90k price range over the prior year so the month went by fast. I had already negotiated the price regardless of the color combo … which was good for me since (from what I’ve learned) Midnight Pine Pearl is a lower volume color. (I always seem to favor the unusual.)
I’ve found the Club Lexus SC430 forum members to be knowledgeable and considerate enthusiasts who enjoy furthering the understanding and enjoyment of the SC430. I hope that I’ll be able to add to the Club Lexus SC430 knowledge base. After 4-1/2 months and 2340 miles on the odometer I’ve learned a few things about the SC430 already. I’ve had SC430 warranty service issues that I hadn’t anticipated based upon my LS430 experience. I’ll try to add new information to prior threads related to my SC430 items whenever possible before starting new ones.
I hope that my contributions to this forum will be as useful to other members as other members’ contributions have been to me. Just knowing that someone else has had the same experience is helpful. With any luck I may have a solution to share once in a while. I may not become a frequent poster, but I’ll sure be a frequent visitor.
Thank you all for the great posts. Also, a BIG "thank you" to the Club Lexus sponsors.
Regards,
Jim.
P.S. I’ll post pictures when I have time to hide all the swirls and microfine scratches created by my dealer’s aggressive machine buffing to remove the etching left when their service department parked my SC430 with pristine showroom Midnight Pine Pearl paint out in the blazing sun for two weeks while being sprayed by hard water from their lawn sprinkler. A new spoiler is on national backorder since it was permanently etched. I’m hoping my personal hand-application of Zaino Z5, Z2, and Z8 will restore my finish!
I wanted a color combination that I had never had before. I looked at several color combinations before settling on this one. Bright California sunshine makes the metal flakes sparkle like a galaxy of stars set in an ocean of deep green. At night the color appears black until the car glides under the occasional fluorescent light and the metal flake Midnight Pine Pearl comes alive … two great colors for the price of one!
My fleet manager searched for a month to locate my choice via a trade with another dealership that had my SC430 as a showroom floor model. I had shopped several makes and models in the 65-90k price range over the prior year so the month went by fast. I had already negotiated the price regardless of the color combo … which was good for me since (from what I’ve learned) Midnight Pine Pearl is a lower volume color. (I always seem to favor the unusual.)
I’ve found the Club Lexus SC430 forum members to be knowledgeable and considerate enthusiasts who enjoy furthering the understanding and enjoyment of the SC430. I hope that I’ll be able to add to the Club Lexus SC430 knowledge base. After 4-1/2 months and 2340 miles on the odometer I’ve learned a few things about the SC430 already. I’ve had SC430 warranty service issues that I hadn’t anticipated based upon my LS430 experience. I’ll try to add new information to prior threads related to my SC430 items whenever possible before starting new ones.
I hope that my contributions to this forum will be as useful to other members as other members’ contributions have been to me. Just knowing that someone else has had the same experience is helpful. With any luck I may have a solution to share once in a while. I may not become a frequent poster, but I’ll sure be a frequent visitor.
Thank you all for the great posts. Also, a BIG "thank you" to the Club Lexus sponsors.
Regards,
Jim.
P.S. I’ll post pictures when I have time to hide all the swirls and microfine scratches created by my dealer’s aggressive machine buffing to remove the etching left when their service department parked my SC430 with pristine showroom Midnight Pine Pearl paint out in the blazing sun for two weeks while being sprayed by hard water from their lawn sprinkler. A new spoiler is on national backorder since it was permanently etched. I’m hoping my personal hand-application of Zaino Z5, Z2, and Z8 will restore my finish!
hey welcome jim, DPR and i are both in norcal as well. we just had the biggest meet today, too bad you coudn't make it. but yeah, welcome and i am sure we have a lot to talk to about!
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,422
Likes: 249
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Congragulations on your new car....and I join in the welcome to CL.
As with all new car buyers, may I recommend SCRATCH-OUT to you?...a great product that will help keep that nice paint job of yours like new.
http://www.kitwax.com/html/kitProducts.htm
Also....at 2340 miles, if you have not changed the original oil, I recommend it ASAP. It will get the shavings and impurities out that build up in the oil during break-in.
As with all new car buyers, may I recommend SCRATCH-OUT to you?...a great product that will help keep that nice paint job of yours like new.
http://www.kitwax.com/html/kitProducts.htm
Also....at 2340 miles, if you have not changed the original oil, I recommend it ASAP. It will get the shavings and impurities out that build up in the oil during break-in.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: CA
Thank you all for the warm welcome. I appreciate it!
DRPSupra … I’m with you on the “no front plate.” Youve got quite a list of mods. I’ve got my work cut out for me just learning what you have!
Rominl … Yeah, wish I knew about the meet. How can I find out about future meets?
Mmarshall … or should I say CAR TALK … thanks for the tip on Scratch-Out. I knew of Scratch-X from Meguires but not Scratch-Out. This product is new to me. I tried a search but couldn’t find it. Can you point me in the right direction? Thanks. Will change my oil soon … good advice.
DRPSupra … I’m with you on the “no front plate.” Youve got quite a list of mods. I’ve got my work cut out for me just learning what you have!
Rominl … Yeah, wish I knew about the meet. How can I find out about future meets?
Mmarshall … or should I say CAR TALK … thanks for the tip on Scratch-Out. I knew of Scratch-X from Meguires but not Scratch-Out. This product is new to me. I tried a search but couldn’t find it. Can you point me in the right direction? Thanks. Will change my oil soon … good advice.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 929
Likes: 0
From: California
Jim,
as far as my list of mods...you should watch out for Henry (rominl)...he has more money than I do
as for the meets just check the Northern Cali forums regularly...I missed the End Of Summer Meet that happened yesterday and boy do I regret it. My car was in no shape to go but I still shoulda went for the company...
They have also started a Beginning of Summer and Middle of Summer meet too!
as far as my list of mods...you should watch out for Henry (rominl)...he has more money than I do
as for the meets just check the Northern Cali forums regularly...I missed the End Of Summer Meet that happened yesterday and boy do I regret it. My car was in no shape to go but I still shoulda went for the company...
They have also started a Beginning of Summer and Middle of Summer meet too!
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Registered User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 66
Likes: 1
From: Georgia
My wife and I decided on the Midnight Pine color as well in a 2004 SC430. Several dealers tried to steer us away from green saying resale would suffer from the color. It is so dark most everyone thinks it is black. The saddle interior with the dark green is such a great contrast.
Welcome to the forum. As you can see I am fairly new to this forum as well. I made the leap from a C5 Corvette to the SC430. I have not been disapointed (although I hope to find a nice 2006 C6 in 2 to 3 years).
I think Midnight Pine may have been discountined for 2006, not sure, so that makes the MNPine that much more "rare".
Keep us posted on lessons learned.
Welcome to the forum. As you can see I am fairly new to this forum as well. I made the leap from a C5 Corvette to the SC430. I have not been disapointed (although I hope to find a nice 2006 C6 in 2 to 3 years).
I think Midnight Pine may have been discountined for 2006, not sure, so that makes the MNPine that much more "rare".
Keep us posted on lessons learned.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: CA
Jeff and Henry,
I've been so obsessed with the SC430 forum that I hadn't wandered anywhere else ... until you guys mentioned it, I did not even realize there was a Nor Cal forum.
Just visited ... more late nights ahead ... so much to read ... so little time! Another bookmark ...
Jim.
I've been so obsessed with the SC430 forum that I hadn't wandered anywhere else ... until you guys mentioned it, I did not even realize there was a Nor Cal forum.
Just visited ... more late nights ahead ... so much to read ... so little time! Another bookmark ...Jim.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: CA
MNPine,
You're right about Midnight Pine Pearl being discontinued. I'm really not concerned about resale, though. I enjoy driving my MNP SC430 too much! The owner of my dealership offered to replace my car if he couldn't remove the hard water etching on my paint caused by his staff. He guaranteed my satisfaction. He promised to replace with a new 05 (or even 06) if they left swirls. He knew that my finish was flawless, previously. He couldn't promise another MNP, though ... MNP discontinued in 06. No other color combo interests me right now ... so I'll live with the swirls ... as much as it ruins my "new car" feeling. I've had enough warranty service issues so that I do not want to start over.
I'm new to the Zaino fan club. When my 3-month-old (at the time) finish was showroom fresh with zero swirls, five coats of Zaino (polish ... no wax) left such a wet-look deep glaze that I could read a magazine in the reflection. I had gone three months since my initial coats of polish and no sign of any need to apply more. I'm not sure how often I'll have to repeat Zaino applicaions now that I have embedded swirls. I know I won't polish more than 2-4 times a year ... less if I can keep the swirls at bay.
Corvette ... came very close to ordering a yellow C6 vert with museum delivery. Performace is blistering! Styling is exotic. Interior needs more luxury for me, though. Plus, I really wanted a factory retractable hardtop. (Aftermarket retractable hardtop and custom leather interior are available, but I just didn't see the point in sinking another $20-25k into a $65k Chevy.) Finally, I just couldn't handle all the service issues that I knew would arise ... and then have to put up with "Chevy" service, and a Chevy Malibu loaner -- if any loaner at all. I expect more. I still take a long lingering look when a C6 passes ... maybe as a 5th vehicle ... someday.
Jim.
You're right about Midnight Pine Pearl being discontinued. I'm really not concerned about resale, though. I enjoy driving my MNP SC430 too much! The owner of my dealership offered to replace my car if he couldn't remove the hard water etching on my paint caused by his staff. He guaranteed my satisfaction. He promised to replace with a new 05 (or even 06) if they left swirls. He knew that my finish was flawless, previously. He couldn't promise another MNP, though ... MNP discontinued in 06. No other color combo interests me right now ... so I'll live with the swirls ... as much as it ruins my "new car" feeling. I've had enough warranty service issues so that I do not want to start over.
I'm new to the Zaino fan club. When my 3-month-old (at the time) finish was showroom fresh with zero swirls, five coats of Zaino (polish ... no wax) left such a wet-look deep glaze that I could read a magazine in the reflection. I had gone three months since my initial coats of polish and no sign of any need to apply more. I'm not sure how often I'll have to repeat Zaino applicaions now that I have embedded swirls. I know I won't polish more than 2-4 times a year ... less if I can keep the swirls at bay.
Corvette ... came very close to ordering a yellow C6 vert with museum delivery. Performace is blistering! Styling is exotic. Interior needs more luxury for me, though. Plus, I really wanted a factory retractable hardtop. (Aftermarket retractable hardtop and custom leather interior are available, but I just didn't see the point in sinking another $20-25k into a $65k Chevy.) Finally, I just couldn't handle all the service issues that I knew would arise ... and then have to put up with "Chevy" service, and a Chevy Malibu loaner -- if any loaner at all. I expect more. I still take a long lingering look when a C6 passes ... maybe as a 5th vehicle ... someday.
Jim.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,599
Likes: 2
From: Da Bay
SF_Jim,
5 coats???? Just only 5 coats of Zaino??? Talk to me when you reach 100 coats.
Just kidding SF_Jim. Good job on the Zaino. the more coats, the less swirls, dust free and rains drops keeping sliding and deading right off the paint
I just completed my 120th coat last Sunday for our EOS meet and it seem like any other coat was the same that I put on in the last 2 1/2 years. I guess once you're satisfied w/ the number of coats you put on that paint it, probably the 10th one, you'll be getting the maximum outpout (shine, reflection, showroom car finish, mirror) from the paint. I'm just obsessed and **** like that when it comes to detailing.
Again, welcome and i hope your mods will be rewarding as I have obtained the knowledge and respect of others here in the last couple of years and more to come....
here's a pic of my '03 millenium silver last Sunday at EOS meet, 10/2
120 coats of Zaino (can you believe that? - believe it)
5 coats???? Just only 5 coats of Zaino??? Talk to me when you reach 100 coats.
Just kidding SF_Jim. Good job on the Zaino. the more coats, the less swirls, dust free and rains drops keeping sliding and deading right off the paint
I just completed my 120th coat last Sunday for our EOS meet and it seem like any other coat was the same that I put on in the last 2 1/2 years. I guess once you're satisfied w/ the number of coats you put on that paint it, probably the 10th one, you'll be getting the maximum outpout (shine, reflection, showroom car finish, mirror) from the paint. I'm just obsessed and **** like that when it comes to detailing.
Again, welcome and i hope your mods will be rewarding as I have obtained the knowledge and respect of others here in the last couple of years and more to come....
here's a pic of my '03 millenium silver last Sunday at EOS meet, 10/2
120 coats of Zaino (can you believe that? - believe it)
Last edited by martini3; Oct 4, 2005 at 10:33 PM.
actually, teeman, i do want to say, after 10 to 20 coats of zaino, you do start to get diminishing returns. you are still making it looks better, but it's not as significant. do you use z6 in between?
and i actually wonder too, you never clay bar your car in the past 2 1/2 yrs? you don't get any dirt or so trapped inside the wax? i pretty much go and clay both my cars once a yr, so usually i do a "fresh" start on my car and 10 layers of zaino before they are all stripped
but bottom line is, zaino is the bomb
and i actually wonder too, you never clay bar your car in the past 2 1/2 yrs? you don't get any dirt or so trapped inside the wax? i pretty much go and clay both my cars once a yr, so usually i do a "fresh" start on my car and 10 layers of zaino before they are all stripped
but bottom line is, zaino is the bomb