Cadillac CTS-V - Black CTS-V

I am seriously considering purchasing a Black 2004 CTS-V since its the only color I like for the V! I have some concerns about owning a black car. My wife's black Infiniti M35 has orange peel and so does my brother's 5 series BMW. I looked at other high priced black cars and all ...ALL of them have some degree of orange peel. Does the Cadillac cars exhibit orange peel badly... particularly the black ones???

Another issue I have with black cars is... I polished and waxed my wifes M35 very very very carefully and still had swirl marks on them. Hell, I might have put them there myself!!!!! I used a microfiber cloth to polish and wax the car and that didn't do a dang thing for the swirl marks.

My concern is if I get the CTS-V... I do not want it to have orange peel and want it to be free of swirl marks. Is this possible for my black V??? Any recommendations on waxing etc would be GREATLY appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks in advance

53 views and no reply!!!! There has got to be someone that can help me out!!!!!

Actually, on my black 06 the paint actually is better than the other 4 black cars I've owned and is very glassy (no orange peel)

havent noticed much orange peel in mine... check the appearance and detailing section for the porter cable orbital buffer, it is the best way to keep the swirl out

I've had two black vettes.... it is a lot harder to keep clean, but it looks the best IMHO.

With the proper products and know how you can eliminate most/all of the swirl marks.....

You have to polish it with a buffer, doing it by hand will do absolutely nothing. Black is a hard color to work with, it needs at least a two step (heavy polish, final polish), maybe clay bar before that, then put a nice coat of wax on it. You can eliminate all swirl marks with the proper tools.

Can anyone point me in the direction of some great products (polish, wax etc) to get my black V looking sharp!!!!

Does anyone have a website that shows you how to properly use an orbital buffer?

i got lots of orange peel on mine.....

No orange peel on mine, lots of swirls. Has anyone ever seen a flat black car with no swirls-I have not. Black is tons of work, mine is garaged at home AND at work, but I still wash it each weekend-yes, I am OCD. I only use top-shelf car care goods, including towels, but the swirls are inevitable IMO.


Here is how a black V looks after a few (more like three-four) hours of hard work:

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u150/onebadcad/Darrens2cars014.jpg

It's been said "For the 15 minutes or so a black car stays clean, it's BEAUTIFUL."

:)

I have two black vehicles, an 02 stepside and the CTS-V.

I use red can Meguiar's and very old cotton bath towels to start with and finish up with black can Meguiar's, again with old cotton towels. Old flannel sheets work well also.

No swirls and you can't see the color, only the reflection of what's next to it. :D

check out tropicare... they should have a link on the sideboard they are a sponsor... they have all the right tools and products

I love black. I mean, I LOVE black. Dang near got one, but got the stealth gray instead. No swirls. You might want to consider it.

I have always ordered from properautocare.com , in no way am i endorsing them, but it is the only place where I have found menzerna polish. I use menzerna PO83RD now (It is called super intensive polish in some places) and the PO105RD, or something like that. It is for hardened clear coats, but works on all conventional clear coat finishes. Use that with a porter cable polisher, and it usually works really well on a black car. If you are close to chicago, I might be able to show you how to do it.

It is a production vehicle and you said it yourself....every other car you looked at had some degree of orange peel. You may want to buy one and have it painted if you cant drive the car without worrying about something the size of a finishing nail head on a badass car that is designed to haul ass with class. My opnion is to buy one and enjoy the engine ,trans, rwd and every other spec that makes it the only car of its kind. Either way you will be happy and I will bet that you will foret about alittle orange peel after you drive it.

You have to polish it with a buffer, doing it by hand will do absolutely nothing. Black is a hard color to work with, it needs at least a two step (heavy polish, final polish), maybe clay bar before that, then put a nice coat of wax on it. You can eliminate all swirl marks with the proper tools.
The key to avoiding swirls is to use 100% U.S. made cotton applicators and towels. The polyester in cheap applicators and towels is what swirls the paint. Straight from the Zaino web site and my personal experience.

Chuck

Just get it wet sanded, this will cut down on almost all of the OP effect.

Corn Starch on an old baby diaper or something soft. This is an old trick from the show car guys to get rid of the swirls.