I ordered my car last Sat. (June 17th) and decided to go with the anthracite paint however the dealer said it is going to be roughly 3 weeks before they can have one in and ready to go since there are none available in western Canada. I had ordered the Dynamic Navi package with the Aspec so they're having a tough time locating one for me in that particular color however.

They do currently have a black one in stock which they could install the Aspec kit onto and therefore I would be able to have that one sometime next week so I would like to know from those of you who already have your cars.. which color should I go with in terms of looks and maintenance?

I've seen pics of both cars with the aspec package but I figured I would just ask anyways. Since the wheels are a "gunmetal" color I don't know which body color suits them best. Thanks in advance! ( I can't wait to have my new car )

 

get the car you want,never settle.....................BTW anthracite would look better,but I am biased.

 

3 weeks is nothing!!! If you wanted the Anthracite... wait for it... don't settle for a color just because it is available earlier.... get what you want....

I didn't wait and I got a 5AT.. traded it in later for the EXACT SAME CAR but with 6MT.... trust me... waiting is worth it.....

Also, just an FYI.. if they have a non-aspec, it is alot cheaper to add the aspec parts you want afterwards.. you could get the non aspec and fix it up yourself!!

 

hmm, good point. The only reason I'm toying with this idea is the dealer told me about the black one and he said if I went with it they would give me free service for 4 years (Including oil changes and such).
I personally don't mind black at all... they're going to have it ready for me to look at on monday so I'll have a few days to mull it over. I just don't like how black paint is tougher to keep from look worn and dusty.

 

Anthracite with the gunmetal rims is the best combo, IMO

 

While black is a little more work to keep looking good, when it is clean, I don't think anything looks better. I'm willing to put in the extra work for the black, but it is your car, so get what you want......


BTW 03CoupeV6, That is a great avatar!!!

 

My first choice was anthracite...I wound up with black (wait in 04 in CA for an Anth. 6psd was months and months) I'm happy with black, but there are those days when I see an anthracite and just wish I had one of 'em.

 

Isn't it though.. so true

 

Thats's easy.. REAL men drive black cars. Seriously they are a bitch to keep clean, but they definately look the best. What color is the interior on the black?

 

my 1st choice was black, but then i saw the anthracite, thought that it would be easier to keep clean, an di oved that color too and i love it!

 

anthracite FTW!!!!!

I am biased as well

 

i'm telling you.......NBP IS FREAKING AWESOME. To help w/ maintenance.. i recommend getting the California duster. Wash your car and use the nano spray wax which is really easy to apply. Then during the week, if your car accumulates some dirt.... use the california duster to get rid of the dirt... easy as that.. it will keep your ride looking clean and turning alot of heads. Just to share with you my experience w/ the NBP... when i'm on the roads and i run into TL owners w/ other colors, they all turn their heads to check out my ride and i'm sure they are envious

 

I agree with sammieboy. except for the ca duster. I don't find they work too well. Never the less, black is definately the way to go. The black actually has a hint of blue under the top coat which is unbelievable!! I see anthracite tl's EVERY DAY! I hardly see black. I bet if we took a pole, most members have anthracite. I had to wait almost 2 months for my black on black w/ nav but it was well worth it. When it's fresh waxed with the paint looking dripping wet, you need a napkin for the drool.

 

I would get the Anthracite over the black. I had 2 white cars prior to buying my anthracite 3 weeks ago. I thought I might go black this go around. Man, am I glad I didn't. If you can't devote the time to keeping black looking good you will pull your hair out. Most on this site that have black keep their cars nice and clean but that takes a lot of time and effort. Some aren't willing to do this so make sure you can answer that quetion first. IMO Anthracite is a striking/classy look and turns heads just as much as black will. Get what you want. Get the A-spec after you buy the car as was posted earlier. You will save money. Keep us posted.

 

Here is a little taste of what you could have.

If you wait!!!

You decide.

 

If I had to chose black or anthracite I would get anthracite. But get what ever makes you happy IMO.

 

Love those rims and tires.

gurney

 

I've had 2 NBP TL's and although black is awesome looking, the swirl marks drove me crazy. I never drove either car in snow or rain, kept it garaged, did the Zaino thing, but STILL had swirl marks. The color is stunning, but keeping it looking great on a daily basis is almost impossible. I loved my 2002 TLS, but finally just got sick of constantly trying to keep it looking good. I sold the car, bought a 2004 Anthracite TL, and I'm SO happy with the Anthracite I couldn't even begin to explain why, except it's just easy to keep looking good. Even when the car is dusty, it still looks great. NO SWIRL MARKS!!! Don't be swayed by seeing the car in the showroom...it's not going to look like that for long. After the first wash, you'll start seeing swirl marks...and they WILL drive you crazy.

 

I'm biased too - get the car you want. Worth the wait. Anthracite is a gorgeous color.

 

Thanks

 

Going with anthracite!
I might get the car first since they said it might be an extra week for the Aspec package to arrive so then I will just drive it until then and give it back and have it all installed. Should have the car in less than two weeks and the Aspec in about 3!
I will have picks when I get er'!

 

You won't regret it....trust me!!

 

What are they (rims and tires) and where did you get them.

Thanks,

gurney

 

1. TSW Thruxton
2. 19 x 8
3. ?
4. Toyo Proxes 4
5. 245/35/19
6. No drop yet
7. No rubbing
8. Auto trans
9. Transfered sensors

I got them from Wheel Warehouse in Anhiem CA.

Click here for thread.

 

Stay away from black! I had a black M3 in a previous life & despite being the baddest ride ever produced, I'd never get a black car again. They look great when new & clean, but that quickly goes away. Not only will you spend much more time keeping it clean, you'll very soon see the swirls & scratches no matter how careful you are. And STAY AWAY from those California dusters. Dust is extremely abrasive & no matter how careful you are, dragging the dust over the paint WILL cause scratches. And on a black car, you only have to look at the dust & it will leave scratches behind.

Yes...I'm biased as well....love my anthracite.

 

 

I've also had the same problems with my black cars, but I use a California Duster on my Anthracite TL, and providing the dust hasn't been on the car too long (read daily), it comes right off without leaving swirl marks. I've got many coats of Zaino, so the dust literally comes off without leaving any marks...that stuff is so slippery nothing sticks, even dust. Anthracite RULES!!

 

Anthracite is faster.

I agree with everyone. Black is much harder to keep clean and you notice subtle scratches much easier on black. I have a black Maxima and an anthracite TL. The anthracite does hide the dirt a little better. Go with what you want---never settle!!!

 

Black looks best at night and under the lights. Daylilight shows ALL the imperfections.

If not WDP.......then Anthracite is the better choice

 

Bro go with the Anthracite. I'll have to admit Black is the most striking color out there. when it's clean it looks great. But Anthracite is more practical (as previously stated) and still good looking.

 

As others have noted, NBP is a definite head turner, when it's clean. But when it's dirty, it looks like &*it. It's one of the hardest colors to maintain and you need to dedicate time for that. AM, on the other hand is an easy one to upkeep. And the dirt/dust doesn't show as much. That said, the choice is strictly personal and totally your decision. Good Luck!

 

Good choice.

 

Dealer said that the car would arrive on the 15th of July. Apparently there are no Anthracite Dynamic Navi TL's in Canada so they are shipping one from the factory. In a couple of weeks I will have some pictures of the car and the pedals which should arrive at the end of July! Thanks for all your opinions but I know I've made the right choice since it was what I originally was going for!

 

I had Anthracite 04 TL and love the car. We wanted the black at that time with a navi and happily settled for the Anthracite. The Chance however came up for a NBP and we jump on it. The Black is more work but some something I don't mine doing.


Bottom Line. Get what you want as others have said. I waited 6 months for my 97 Pontiac GTP because of the color. 9 years and almost 200k later, I'm glad I waited.

Hang in there.

 

congratz, good choice

 

Just as an update. I am picking up the car on Sat. (July 8) at 1pm, I cannot wait.

 

Those i dont like anthracite like you do but I completely agree with you on the black thing. This is my first black car and when i saw it at the dealership i just thought right away.. thats sex on wheels . Now getting lazy on the keeping it clean deal.

1 more day man great pick!

 

If you don't wash the black, it will start turning anthracite.

BTW, to avoid swirl marks, don't swirl. Some people may have got the wrong idea watching Karate Kid's "Wax on Wax off" scene. Whenever washing, waxing, etc your car, use a top to bottom motion for vertical panels and front to back for horizontal. Avoid scrubbing back and forth or swirling motions. Also, use a clean soft cloth (100% USA Cotton towel works well for me). This will prevent most visible swirl marks and fine scratches. The trick is to keep the cloth clean by either swapping them out frequently or rinsing them between panels, and using just the right amount of pressure. The above is more a preventive measure. Once you have swirls marks, you'll have to buff/polish them out or you're SOL.

Black is more trouble to keep clean but its not impossible. You do have to be a little more careful, since black will show fine scratches more easily than other colors. But if you know the right technique, its not that bad.

 

Damn spot on! I fell in love with a freshly wash NightHawk Black 6MT on the Acura lot! A year later, still looks great clean!, but every damn blemish is a damn issue in my book and the dirt, oh the dirt. The Anthracite was a great choice!