Should I paint my FD flat black?
 

Well guys, I'm missing my car since its about 500 miles away and I can't have a car as a freshman here at UC Davis, so I'm trying to figure out what to do with the body. I've seen a few cars painted flat black, and to me its really appealling in thats its low maintainence, I can probably get the paint either very cheap or free, and I haven't been able to find a flat black FD in existence (at least not via google or the forum search). Its not going to be a showcar, more of a daily driver (until I get a beater). SCC did a 240sx in flat black (under there project cars section on www.sportcompactcarweb.com ), and I really like how it looks, plus it doesn't need to be waxed and won't stand out as much as the gloss black it currently has. So, the bottom line is, what do you guys think? Should i stick with the gloss black factory color when I do the body, or should I go with the flat black? Thanks for your comments and advice in advance.

hey whats up josh.Id say stick with the gloss black,Ive seen an fd with a flat black paintjob.It looks alright but I have to say that the gloss looks better.Ohh yeah.I got the blitz exhaust.It sounds awesome and im also seing some noticeable gains in power as well.Im very happy with it.

can't find the 240 under project cars...whats flat black?

flat black looks cheap. might as well go primer gray instead and put on a set of really cheap looking gold rims.

What's up with this invasion of 17 year olds asking incredibly lame questions? Anyone else getting very annoyed?

speeddemon7- I'm glad the exhaust worked out well for you

Androidmj- here is the address of the 1st page of the write up, you can see a side profile to the right of the article and enlarge it if you like: http://www.sportcompactcarweb.com/pr...cc_projsilvia/

artguy- you think it looks cheap? worse then flat grey primer? well, I don't much care for flat grey, it reminds me too much of muscle cars (which I do love), but not quite what I'm going for, but thanks for the input

clayne- well, you have the right to your own opnion, but I got my FD at 16, which was over two years ago, I've been on the forum since December 2001, and if its such an incredibly lame question, why waste your time answering or complaining? Do you need pity from members of the forum? I just wanted some more opinions before I spent any more time looking into this option, now if I asked what type of cams I can put in the FD, then I would deserve to be stoned to death, but, as I couldn't find any info or much less pics of a flat black FD, I came to the place that embraces sharing of information and opinions, the Forum. Now, it would appear you spend a lot more time on this forum then I do, but don't just assume something because I haven't posted a thousand times on the Forum. Remember, you can't listen and speak at the same time.

dont worry about it Josh.Clayne gets pissy sometimes.
Ive got a few pics of a flat black fd.Ill rustle em up for you.It looks pretty sweet.But the gloss is still better.

heres the ones i found

another

and another

one more

one more
 

one more

hmm any thoughts on the pics.Obviously theres at least one person looking at the pics so far.

i've always loved it. just have it done by repudable pro's. -the body striped and prepped, and painted. don't just tape it off.

Well....it's not for me, but if that is what YOU want, I'd say go for it. After all, you can always repaint a car if you just don't like it.

I don't really dig primer grey cars either, but I prefer that seeing cars that are running around with multiple color body panels, where they have been replaced after a wreck or whatever but haven't been painted to match the rest of the car.....grrrrrr! :mad:

GO with the flat black! ! really you should, i really like this finish !

well personally i think the factory black shows off the lines better then the flat and that the factory black is just a better colour in general but thats just my opinion.

doesnt black color absorb heat more than other colors??

I saw a flat black IS200 and it just not my taste. Bt on the other hand, i also saw an old Audi A4 station wagon and it looked real good in flat black.

I would say go for it dude... what matters is what you want and how you feel about it ;)

I think it looks like my black when I don't wash it: terrible. Thats just my opinion...go with what you like

Just so you know, the finish on that car in speeddemon7's photos is not "flat black", it's semi-gloss that still requires some prep and spray booth equipment. If you're thinking flat black like a primer finish, it won't exactly be "low maintenance". Dirt and bugs are tougher to get out of a rough finish than a gloss finish. And the paint will degrade much quicker over time.

Just FYI. Whatever floats your boat...

those pics in this thread do not look FLAT black.

flat black has no gloss sheen. its like primer grey. flat. yes?

I wouldn't do it. The car in those pics looks really nice but thats pretty glossy for a flat black. I think people that see your car might get the impression that your car just has a really bad paint job unless they inspect it well.

don't have a pro do it if your gong with flat black, i mean what woudl be the point? in anycase, i ahve seen flat black cars and some look fairly good, espeically the ones with chalkboard paint on them, you can make your own decals with chalk and have your friends write stupid stuff all over your car with it and then just wash it with water an have the stuff come off (very halarious :))

good luck

P.S. i wonder hwo well flat black reflects lazer beams as many cops use those now. im gonna try to check this out with CF as im working on a full CF FC :)

Correct. And actually, after reading the SCC info on the Silvia, it says they used spray can paint. :rolleyes: Must've used up quite a few spray cans to give that car any semblance of a decent coating...which I doubt they did. They'll be having to recoat/repaint that car very soon, as UV rays and constant weather beating will have that paint chipping/flaking off in no time...

Like I said.......do what ya wanna do, whatever turns your crank....