autocross_diva

iTrader: (1)

I have started my restoration project. Interior is coming out and will be going over all electric workings and switches to insure everything is in good shape. Then the engine will be pulled along with all the workings and the car will go through a full paint job, exterior and engine bay (provided the interior paint/body is in good shape).

It's an S5 all stock and currently is black interior. Some moldings have been broken when they were attempted to be removed for some reason or another. Seats vinyl but are highly torn and need replacing. Otherwise it's in great shape.

Motor is shot with suspected bad or blown apex(s). It started and ran for a while but not very good and bad smoke. Hard to start and the signs pointed to low compression. Now it won't start period but will turn freely and will get ignition with the fuel has a chance to pool up inside the motor. I have an S4 with a great motor that will be swaped into this one.

Exterior paint used to be black but was repainted white a few years ago but it is chipping off due to not being sanded before the new application of paint and there are a few rust spots.

I am looking at painting it a nice royal type blue. A clean blue color that isn't too light or too dark (true blue)...nothing that looks navy or greenish. Black molding/trim and black rear spoiler (from the S4 I own). (posted is a picture of an example of what I am thinking of going with - picture is borrowed from another forum member and edited for the black molding/spoiler)

I want to keep the black interior and exchange the bins for a rear seat since I have found I am in despirate need of one. (Will be removed for autocross events).

However, it seems it is hard to find a black rear seat and I have found a few gray ones. Would the gray seats on black interior look nice and what about with the blue exterior? What are some of your suggestions?

*!!* Obtaining a black rear seat would make my life easier - especially if I could get some matching front seats to go with!

Vdub2002

I think FC's look best in black/red/white.

blue just doesnt look all that, appealing to me.

silver is ok too.

autocross_diva

iTrader: (1)

oh yeah, here is a picture of the seat I found today. It's a vinyl and cloth.

another odd-ball question: Would it be possible to simply die or color this seat black? or would it look like junk?

Thanks

Vdub2002

take it to a shop and have them re-do it, or buy another one in the color you want.

painting cloth is really iffy, and doesnt last from what I've experienced

autocross_diva

iTrader: (1)

Duley noted!

I think it's more a personality thing. I am actually trying to get away from red. Rx7s do look great in red but my S4 is red and I'm not wanting to stick with it. Black is far too hot in the summer and there are too many darn white S5s running around my area. lmao. I don't want to look like the others. And I'm not a fan of silver.

Thanks for your opinion though! Really trying to figure out what I'm gonna go with.

Vdub2002

I think blue just clashes with the styling or something lol.

A guy here painted his FC mazda orange (he wanted the bright orange off fast and furious...) and it looks REALLY nice.

autocross_diva

iTrader: (1)

Thanks. I don't think it would work staining it but I am having extreme difficulty finding a black seat since the rear seats are hard to find anyway!

I do have probably another two months before I will be putting everything back together though anyway so I do have time to find one. This one I found is so cheap it's hard to pass up. lol But again, don't want to buy if I'm not going to be happy with the color.

autocross_diva

iTrader: (1)

Orange? Bold color. lol. I'm not the sore thumb type of person.

Vdub2002

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/336336...zda-miata-mx-5

This is the color 'Lava Orange'. It looked really good, and didn't stick out at all. It's an eye catching color, but not one that goes 'omg what was he/she thinking!'

autocross_diva

iTrader: (1)

That is a sweet looking orange; I'll give you that!

Vdub2002

If I can catch him I'll get pics of his FC. I was amazed on how it came out. The guy is Hispanic, no insult here... but he wanted a flashy color. The Supra's orange is all he could talk about. But the painter messed up, and in my opinion did him a favor lol.

autocross_diva

iTrader: (1)

awesome. Would love to see an FC in that color to see what it looks like. At least I shouldnt get any color mistakes since I will be there every step of the way when it's getting painted. I struck a deal with my dad to do the body work. I'll have to do the sanding and prep (which I don't have a problem with), but he is going to primer and paint it for me at cost of materials and paint. He already has the equipment and has painted a few cars already with it and has done a fantastic job. His best yet is his 1972 Satalight Sebring he is mocking into a Roadrunner.

The link for those pics are here. He really did a great job. He hasn't updated them in a while and these images are from before he put the wax and finish on the paint so it actually looks even more pristine then that!

http://monteau-us.net/Michael/car.php

Oh, please be note, I am aware my parents are crazy and somewhat delusional if you decide to peruse their website.

autocross_diva

iTrader: (1)

Update on the seat I mentioned...seller has emailed me, the seat is black vinyl and blue cloth so I will definitely not be buying it. My quest for a seat continues!

RawrZac212

Go with House of Kolors Blue or Red. with that type of paint it will go from a dark blue,to light blue depending on how you look @ it in the sun.. or i suggest Painting it white with Candy Red Pearl in the paint so just little specs of red glimmer in the sun when you look @ it. its really low key untill you take a closer look XD.. damn it. now i wanna repaint my rx. lol

autocross_diva

iTrader: (1)

lmao. Really neat suggestions. With the House of Kolors blue. Would that have a tendency to get hot in the summers more then lighter shades and how easily would it show flaws? - not that I'll have much, but it happens. Just lighter colors don't tend to make flaws in the paint or body stand out so much.

RawrZac212

with my experience, heat really doesn't play a huge effect on the paints integrity.but most of research was done in northern states where it doesn't reach above 95 deg. too often.

autocross_diva

iTrader: (1)

Interesting. Do you suppose there would be another cause for my red S4 to be hotter then my white S5? 95 temp is pretty normal around here. This year we've been getting up to 100 almost every day. Makes it killer to drive the S4 right now because the AC does not work. I, of course, haven't bothered to look at the system. I think it's just low pressure but I'm not wasting my money since I am swapping it's motor to the S5 soon.

Rob XX 7

iTrader: (8)

heat will shrink in any body work, and it will expose less then perfect prep work

Simple colors never go out of style and you never grow tired of them

if you are even remotely thinking of a candy paint job be prepared for the increased cost, and the fact that you cannot repair small areas. A scratch on the side of the car will most likely mean a repaint of the side. Your spray environment must be as close to perfect as you can because any piece of dirt will show up like a dark mountain in that candy paint job. The person spraying the car has to also be experienced with those types of paint or at least how to properly follow the procedure and use the correct techniques for doing so.

A poorly executed candy paint job will look absolutely horrible and it will be alot of time and money down the drain when your sanding it off.

A standard basecoat/clearcoat metallic paint job would be better advised then a candy finish.

autocross_diva

iTrader: (1)

I absolutely agree with you. I'm not looking for the perfect candy paint job but I do want to go with a color I'm going to be happy with and I don't want something to not coordinate well with the interior.

Since the car will be auto-crossed, it's certain it will get marks so again, not looking for perfection but I am looking for nice and clean.

As for the quality of the workmanship. My dad has a garage to roll the body into to prep and get nice and clean and it's rolled outside on a non windy day to paint and rolled back inside to dry. He has a huge air compressor and spray gun to paint with and a smooth steady hand to make the stokes nice and even. He's really great at it.


So with what your saying..instead of going with something like the House of Kolors paint type, just go with a basic paint and a nice looking clear coat?

j9fd3s

iTrader: (3)

pick a nice color, one that doesn't need all the pearl/metal flake... the 2004-2006 Rx8 winning blue is nice, as is the 89-90 harbor blue.

also mixing grey in with black interior bits can be ok, the two colors at least go together.

autocross_diva

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for the color!!

Do you think the gray in the interior would clash with blue? Really anything I can think of that makes it a little easier to find seats. But definitely going to have black everything else interior since that's what I have.

j9fd3s

iTrader: (3)

i think grey and black would work, or blue and black, but black with blue and grey probably wouldn't...

autocross_diva

iTrader: (1)

ok

Rob XX 7

iTrader: (8)

house of kolor is a brand of paint, they have many different lines that they sell.
People say "go with house of kolor" because they heard it somewhere, but all brands of paint have a premium or specialty line within their paint.
Im saying to go with a standard basecoat clearcoat, it will still show the dirt when its painted but it wont be as bad as candy color, which is typically a basecoat, of lets say gold, then a "candy" coat which is nothing more then a translucent color such as a red, this will yield a very bright metallic orange type of finish. The issue is number one this is not a good paint to spray outside, its a all day affair between the sealer, base, candy, and finally clear. Anything landing in it will stand out really bad. I know this because I do it everyday. Second is as good as your dad may be if he does not do this all the time the paint is not forgiving in regards to application and environment like a standard finish will be.
It would just be foolish to put all that work into something that may see some bumping and grinding here and there, stick to something simple

JerryLH3

iTrader: (11)

Black rear seats are probably going to be fairly hard to find. It seems rear seats started to become less prevalent on S5 cars, and other than 10th AEs, black interior was only an S5 option. Come to think of it, I don't think I personally have ever seen an S5 with rear seats, but they are out there.

As far as colors go, I'm into non-flashy colors. Black, white, darker blues and silvers. Red looks good on FCs, I am just not a huge fan of red. Blue with a black interior would look good. If the rear seat is an absolute pressing need, I would throw in the gray, but keep searching for a black one or eventually have the rear seat redone by an upholstery shop.