I'm shopping around for a 2009 F-150 S-crew FX4. I really had my heart set on a black one, but now I'm hearing horror stories about how hard black paint jobs are to take care of. I've never owned a black vehicle before. I understand that dirt shows up more on black and I'm ok with it looking a little dirty between washes. What I'm really worried about are permanent scratches or swirls.

The paint will probably take some abuse as I'll be driving this truck through brush and tall grass in my pasture, loading brush and firewood into the back, driving along country roads where you sometimes get sideswiped by small branches sticking out in the road, having kids and dogs climbing in and out of the bed... you get the picture.

To be completely honest with myself, once the newness wears off my care routine will probably consist of a weekly spray off at the self-serve car wash and a deep wash and wax every 6-12 months or so.

I understand that with treatment like this any color paint job isn't going to stay perfect for long. I just want to make sure that over the years black isn't going to look too terrible as compared to a lighter color. I'm ok with the "well broken in work truck" look, but not the "scratched up piece of crap" look.

Is the Ford paint pretty tough, or am I going to end up frustrated and disappointed unless I choose a lighter color?

 

My 09 is my first black vehicle.

It does show dirt... but for that 5 minutes its actually clean after you get it all cleaned up... its so dang good lookin!

Ford paint is as durable as anyone else's... i had a buddy who had a 98 Lariat and yeah it had its share of scratches and dings, but would still shine up if you took the time..

 

Black paint is like a hot lady... Might require a little more time to get ready, and paintence... but dang does she look good when shes all cleaned up. Well worth it.

 

I've found the best combination is a black truck *and* a fine woman...

Anyway, if you're **** about the appearance of your vehicle and you don't have the time to maintain a black vehicle, you might look into another color like sterling grey (which would have been my #2 choice). That said, four of the five vehicles I've owned have been black, and I've enjoyed every one and wouldn't change it. My 2001 Expedition, which I sold to a friend, is black and still looks great, especially after a good wash and wax.

Now, I don't take my vehicles off-road very much. If you're planning to scrape it up really bad, I'd look at white or silver.

By the way - red is even more maintenance than black.

 

white is your friend...covers up all the little stuff and appears clean even when filthy


black is a major PITA...both of my SUV's are black. Looks beautiful when clean, but 5 minutes later it shows every single speck of dust floating around


btw, the swirls and scrathes show through on the black...almost impossible to not have them

 

Any dark color paint will show symptoms of paint swirls, scratches and dirt. If you can live with that, get what you want. It sounds like your actually going to work your truck. Have fun!

Tim

 

We have a newer black Mustang here and it has some swirles and scratches, there's almost no avoiding it unless you're not going to drive it. I got a really great black wax in a bottle. Just squirt a little on and go over the area in question and it looks great. They sell colored waxes in most auto parts stores, I got this in RS Strauss, Auto Zone didn't have it.

 

If you want the easiet route its silver...not white.

 

Black cars look great right after they've been washed, and usually look like crap after they get a tiny bit of dust or water spotting on the. And water spots are worse because the black gets really hot in the sun and cakes on the dirt bigtime. Other dark colors are bad as well, but nothing is as bad as black. (That said, my black '68 Hemi Roadrunner was a KILLER looking car, sinister as hell, when it was clean.)

For a truck that you're going to use, I'd really consider a lighter color. What's even better than silver is a platinum/gold kind of color (dirty silver) because it most closely resembles dirt. But for low upkeep I still prefer white because the silver family colors--actually all metallic colors--look like crap if you ever need a single panel (or part of a panel) painted--my 2002 E150 van is white and I chose the white. It's never needed a panel painted, maybe because it's like bringing an umbrella so it doesn't rain If you ever had a single door or fender dinged, it's a real drag to have to paint the whole side of the truck or car.

Again, if you're going to use your truck and don't plan to wash it every day or two, polish out swirl marks, etc, a black one is going to spend a lot of its life looking dirty and crummy, whereas the white/silver/platinum truck will generally look way more presentable much more of the time. And if you live where you've got hot sun, black is gonna work the A/C a lot harder and generally bake the interior more for ya...

George

 

yo George said it best up above

 

Ive owned 2 black 150s(97 and 05) a black 250 (06) and currently own a black Lincoln Zephyr(06). Black looks great but shows every speck of dust/grime.My wifes car is white and I don't think its been washed in 2 years(04 Taurus 120K +). But my current truck is gray and its not bad about dirt either.

 

Neighbor is rebuilding a black vette and his wife's car is a black Pontiac Firebird WSX...he had a black Durango. Before that he had a nice white Ram 1500...after seeing my white 06 he got a silver Ram 1500 crew cab decked out with everything. He got tired of not having a truck and washing the black durango every week.

Oxford White when it is clean and waxed...is BRIGHT. Also think of the sun cooking your interior unless you garage park everywhere with a black vehicle.

 

I'd say go with a lighter color. My truck is white and it is so easy to wash and keep clean.

 

I have to agree witht the people saying white. Most of my trucks have been white. Last year I got the itch to get a black truck. Than I bought my wife a black mazda 3. I no longer have the itch to get a black truck. I pull my wifes car in the garage to wipe it down and it looks great as long as I keep it in the garage. That car really shines when Im down than she takes it to work the next day and its over.

 

It also matters where you live. I live in the desert and not only will it look and get dirty in the garage, it get HOT.

I have a silver F-150 and it does not show anything. It is even better than white, because the tan of dirt blends right on in.