I tried, but I just cannot stand Black on my 997.
I love everything else about the car, but I can't seem to keep it looking clean on a regular basis without having to clean it once a week.

I am very busy and I drive this car 100+ miles every day 55 miles to work and 55 miles back home. My 997 is always dusty and dirty looking one or 2 days after detailing.

Very very sharp looking car when clean!!!!
But again, only for a couple of days.

So, either I buy another 997 (will be my 4th one in 3 years!) or just paint this one.

My concern is that I am not sure I can come close to the quality and durability of the original factory paint. I am willing to deliver this car to "The Best" place in the country for "The Best" paint job possible. I was considering a type of Grey. Either Slate Grey, Arctic Silver, or GT Silver. A color that is so easy to keep looking clean.

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. I would be willing to fly to whatever shop you recommend to take a look at some of their work.

thanks!

 

Repainting the turbo will de-value the car so much that it would be more economical just to sell and repurchase one in the color you want. I also have a Black TT and know exactly what you mean, but its just one of those things you have to live with. Black cars are beyond gorgeous when the are clean and look awful when they are not.

Another suggestion is search the detailers forum for tips on how to keep the car looking shiny in between details. I use a cali duster and quick detail spray to keep mine looking as clean as possible.

 

My GT silver looks great after two weeks, even up close shes mighty dirty but from a few steps back you would not notice the dust outside of the wheels of course.

I still try to wash her by hand weekly but when time does not allow I dont sweat it.

 

Not worth repainting it, even if it was done by the best shop in the country. Invest your money with a professional detailer who can wash your car weekly and detail it once a month. Black has the highest resale value. My last 2 911's were black and it was a love-hate relationship. I switched to a 2007 GT Silver 997 Turbo which is drop-dead gorgeous and is a very forgiving color. Can't see swirl marks and you can see the air intakes, gills and body trim better than the black because with black, everything blends in. Black also hotter in the warm weather. Don't sweat the small stuff. If you really hate the black and it bothers you, sell your Turbo and seek out another non-black 997. Remember everything can be fixed to your liking. You only live once, be happy with your car. Just my 2 cents

 

I've got a bodyshop in Staten Island NY, would love to do the work, I know it would come out perfect, but still I am insisting that you dont waste your money. Sell this one and BUY the color you want. It is much more cost effective, and if money is not an issue why not just buy another in the color you want anyways.

 

I think getting a new car will be much better with the factory color you want, I too am sick of black and cleaning it, I wanted the Champion fashion gray, but the Vin won't match the car and it devalues the car alot. just trade it in and get the factory color you like, if you want to get your car a different color than the factory is not offereing, paint it. I've heard good things about Premier.

 

i suggest u buy another car to drive to work in, that should solve your problem

 

I am getting the feeling that not many 997 TT owners ever paint their cars.

This is the info I was looking for.
So, I will take the advice of finding a person to detail the car weekly or 2x/month and figure on spending about 250-500 per month on having a clean shiny black 997.

Thanks for the advice!!

 

Before you do anything drastic why don't you have the car "wrapped" in a different color. Would be an alternative and also would protect the paint until you were ready to sell. Just a thought.

 

Black cars are a labor of love. There is no easy way . If it's not for you .. there's always arctic silver which looks clean even when its dirty .

Washing the car is cheaper than trading it in .

 

don't ever re-paint unless you must, there is nothing like factory original paint.

 

This is the best idea of the lot, but the 2-3K that it would cost would buy a lot of detailing.

Or have the car clear bra' completely so that you cannot scratch the paint and you can just have it cleaned by anyone.

 

Just trade with a guy that has always wanted black.

 

Agree with above. Had a black 997 C2S and had the same problem as you. Even when it wasn't dirty, it was dusty as hell and looked terrible. Painting will kill resale. I'd try vinyl wrap and see if that will solve the problem.

 

I have never seen such focus on the negatives of a car's color . In fact I often wonder if it's a regional indoctrination too as i have noticed a high concentration of car owners in 91 octane zones take issue with a black car.

There is a huge positive aspect of a black car which I feel ought not be overlooked . It is gorgeous . So what if its work ? Anything worth attaining takes some effort and to have the sexiest bad *** 997tt one has to invest a little extra time .

The dust is still present on a silver car . If the black only reveals it sooner then why not be vigilant about car care?

Once upon a time the OP loved that car enough to spend a lot of money to buy it. Of course its his choice whether to repaint it, trade it in , wrap it , but it seems to me that all of those choices are more work than just taking care of the car .

Maybe I am missing something . I still remember dreaming of owning a Porsche when I was a child and the last thing I ever would have complained about was washing my dream car . I never forgot .