How has the black and sliver paint been holding up?
Senior Member
Joined: 07-05-2008
Posts: 5,464
From: Akron Ohio
I own a black ss and a silver gtp.
Silver is easy to take care of but to touch up paint is near impossible with the metalic.
Black takes a little more work but it cleans up well. Touching up black is so easy and making chips vanish easily.
Black don't get dumped more often as the truth is there are more black HHR's than most colors. I know over half the SS are black alone.
Most people just don't know how to care for black paint and how to deal with it. There are some things that can make it easier if you learn what to do and what tools go use.
Some other observations on colors.
Yellow attracts bugs in the Spring. They are a pain to be around as they bugs are all over.
Red is great and easy to care for and easy to touch up. Attracting tickets is a Urban Legend.
White to me at least is as hard to keep clean as black. It may not show dust but it shows everything else.
Gray and Silver are good to no show much dirt but it often will lose it;s shine and is hard to touch up.
Blues are popular. The dark blues will be hard to keep clean as black and the lighter Blues are better. Metallic blues are also hard to touch up.
As for the black it takes a little more work but often pays back for showing the best shine. I show a Black car and drive a back SS and I said 3 cars ago no more black but here I am again. I have gotten to the point I can detail just about any car to a level as good or better than some pro detailers. I have purchased the right tools and have the shop in my garage set up to make it less difficult.
I find if I detail a small part of the SS every time I wash it it keep the over all vehicle in prime condition and take so much less of my time. 15-20 mins each time it makes for a lot less time involved at one time.
A Porter Cable orbital 6" buffer and Megires pro Cleaner and Hand Polish make for a easy clean up. Follow up with clean Micro Fiber towels and cloths. If you have not discovered Micro Fiber no matter the color you need to start.
Metalic reds are the worst to touch up as to get the tone and the metallic right is hard. But our Metallic red jewel coat Malibu is not too hard to care for.
Silver is easy to take care of but to touch up paint is near impossible with the metalic.
Black takes a little more work but it cleans up well. Touching up black is so easy and making chips vanish easily.
Black don't get dumped more often as the truth is there are more black HHR's than most colors. I know over half the SS are black alone.
Most people just don't know how to care for black paint and how to deal with it. There are some things that can make it easier if you learn what to do and what tools go use.
Some other observations on colors.
Yellow attracts bugs in the Spring. They are a pain to be around as they bugs are all over.
Red is great and easy to care for and easy to touch up. Attracting tickets is a Urban Legend.
White to me at least is as hard to keep clean as black. It may not show dust but it shows everything else.
Gray and Silver are good to no show much dirt but it often will lose it;s shine and is hard to touch up.
Blues are popular. The dark blues will be hard to keep clean as black and the lighter Blues are better. Metallic blues are also hard to touch up.
As for the black it takes a little more work but often pays back for showing the best shine. I show a Black car and drive a back SS and I said 3 cars ago no more black but here I am again. I have gotten to the point I can detail just about any car to a level as good or better than some pro detailers. I have purchased the right tools and have the shop in my garage set up to make it less difficult.
I find if I detail a small part of the SS every time I wash it it keep the over all vehicle in prime condition and take so much less of my time. 15-20 mins each time it makes for a lot less time involved at one time.
A Porter Cable orbital 6" buffer and Megires pro Cleaner and Hand Polish make for a easy clean up. Follow up with clean Micro Fiber towels and cloths. If you have not discovered Micro Fiber no matter the color you need to start.
Metalic reds are the worst to touch up as to get the tone and the metallic right is hard. But our Metallic red jewel coat Malibu is not too hard to care for.
Last edited by hyperv6; Jan 19, 2010 at 05:44 PM.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 07-10-2008
Posts: 423
From: Not necessarily Humbolt County
I own a black ss and a silver gtp.
Silver is easy to take care of but to touch up paint is near impossible with the metalic.
Black takes a little more work but it cleans up well. Touching up black is so easy and making chips vanish easily.
Black don't get dumped more often as the truth is there are more black HHR's than most colors. I know over half the SS are black alone.
Most people just don't know how to care for black paint and how to deal with it. There are some things that can make it easier if you learn what to do and what tools go use.
Some other observations on colors.
Yellow attracts bugs in the Spring. They are a pain to be around as they bugs are all over.
Red is great and easy to care for and easy to touch up. Attracting tickets is a Urban Legend.
White to me at least is as hard to keep clean as black. It may not show dust but it shows everything else.
Gray and Silver are good to no show much dirt but it often will lose it;s shine and is hard to touch up.
Blues are popular. The dark blues will be hard to keep clean as black and the lighter Blues are better. Metallic blues are also hard to touch up.
As for the black it takes a little more work but often pays back for showing the best shine. I show a Black car and drive a back SS and I said 3 cars ago no more black but here I am again. I have gotten to the point I can detail just about any car to a level as good or better than some pro detailers. I have purchased the right tools and have the shop in my garage set up to make it less difficult.
I find if I detail a small part of the SS every time I wash it it keep the over all vehicle in prime condition and take so much less of my time. 15-20 mins each time it makes for a lot less time involved at one time.
A Porter Cable orbital 6" buffer and Megires pro Cleaner and Hand Polish make for a easy clean up. Follow up with clean Micro Fiber towels and cloths. If you have not discovered Micro Fiber no matter the color you need to start.
Metalic reds are the worst to touch up as to get the tone and the metallic right is hard. But our Metallic red jewel coat Malibu is not too hard to care for.
Silver is easy to take care of but to touch up paint is near impossible with the metalic.
Black takes a little more work but it cleans up well. Touching up black is so easy and making chips vanish easily.
Black don't get dumped more often as the truth is there are more black HHR's than most colors. I know over half the SS are black alone.
Most people just don't know how to care for black paint and how to deal with it. There are some things that can make it easier if you learn what to do and what tools go use.
Some other observations on colors.
Yellow attracts bugs in the Spring. They are a pain to be around as they bugs are all over.
Red is great and easy to care for and easy to touch up. Attracting tickets is a Urban Legend.
White to me at least is as hard to keep clean as black. It may not show dust but it shows everything else.
Gray and Silver are good to no show much dirt but it often will lose it;s shine and is hard to touch up.
Blues are popular. The dark blues will be hard to keep clean as black and the lighter Blues are better. Metallic blues are also hard to touch up.
As for the black it takes a little more work but often pays back for showing the best shine. I show a Black car and drive a back SS and I said 3 cars ago no more black but here I am again. I have gotten to the point I can detail just about any car to a level as good or better than some pro detailers. I have purchased the right tools and have the shop in my garage set up to make it less difficult.
I find if I detail a small part of the SS every time I wash it it keep the over all vehicle in prime condition and take so much less of my time. 15-20 mins each time it makes for a lot less time involved at one time.
A Porter Cable orbital 6" buffer and Megires pro Cleaner and Hand Polish make for a easy clean up. Follow up with clean Micro Fiber towels and cloths. If you have not discovered Micro Fiber no matter the color you need to start.
Metalic reds are the worst to touch up as to get the tone and the metallic right is hard. But our Metallic red jewel coat Malibu is not too hard to care for.
I agree, I love black but I hate to maintain it. Decisions, decisions!
I have the process down on my GTO, it's just the struggle with black.
Senior Member
Joined: 11-15-2008
Posts: 1,599
From: Newburgh, NY
I have black and have had no problems with the workmanship of the paint application. No peeling or discoloring. I used to have a silver P/U truck and currently a pewter one. IMO, black definately looks the best when clean and worst when dirty. Silver doesn't look the best, but still sharp when clean, but it also looks much better when dirty.
I think that my HHR is more of an eye catcher than my pickup, because I tend to keep them both clean.
I think that my HHR is more of an eye catcher than my pickup, because I tend to keep them both clean.
Senior Member
Joined: 07-05-2008
Posts: 5,464
From: Akron Ohio
As much as I like black I did see aAqua colored SS [sorry the colors name excapes me at the moment] last Saturday and I do have to say it was sharp!
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 07-10-2008
Posts: 423
From: Not necessarily Humbolt County
Thanks everyone I think I have enough to work with,
TK
Senior Member
Joined: 05-13-2009
Posts: 466
From: Western North Carolina
So pretty
Im in OC/SoCal and have no problem keeping my baby clean.
(In this pic, the car was dusty.)
I wash it once a month with water, it gets clay/barred/waxed about every 3 months. The rest of the time it is detailed about once a week, with quick wipe downs when needed. My color of choice was always IBM -- but have no regrets about getting my black beauty.
Sure it is a little more work than another color, but an HHR in black is awesome. Go for it!
@ngelita
(In this pic, the car was dusty.)
I wash it once a month with water, it gets clay/barred/waxed about every 3 months. The rest of the time it is detailed about once a week, with quick wipe downs when needed. My color of choice was always IBM -- but have no regrets about getting my black beauty.
Sure it is a little more work than another color, but an HHR in black is awesome. Go for it!
@ngelita
Last edited by HillsdaleHHR; Jan 21, 2010 at 07:38 PM. Reason: Removed pic from quote
Senior Member
Joined: 07-05-2008
Posts: 5,464
From: Akron Ohio
It si not due to the plastic as much as it is the fack you have this big flat surface on the front.
the other issue is the hood. Unlike other cars the HHR hood is tappered. That means you can get stone chips on the front top and sides.
A bra is not the answer. A clear cover for the front is the best bet.
THis is why I tried to stay away from the metalic color. At least with red or black you have a chance to fix it.
I even has a stone hit the rear gate. Not sure how but I has a Chip on the tail gate and the stone was in the snow on top of the bumper that did it.
