+++1

 

Totally agree here, I just did the same on my black 991.that came in last month. I did a full paint polish then opti coat all but the hood and front bumper.
Then I had the hood and bumper clear bra installed.

 

Thats exactly what I am going to do!!! I think Im going to clear bra everything in front of the doors though, and redo the rear fender clear film.

 

Basalt Black will look clean for 30 minutes and regular black will look clean for 15 minutes. I take the extra 15 minutes of cleanliness any day. I must be colorblind, basalt looks pretty black to me.

 

I debated black vs. basalt for a while myself and decided on basalt. Flat black of course is pretty slick when clean, but it flattens the car's appearance IMO. It's also the most common choice, which can be good or bad depending on your priorities.

Side-by-side, up close, basalt is noticeably lighter, or hazier than black -- if you're using black as the ruler. But to appreciate it I think you have to lose the idea that they're 'competing'. It's something else entirely; a much more dynamic and nuanced color that reflects light from its surroundings. When clean, in direct light it has a sheen and pop like no other. Check out this video.

Objective concerns aside (upkeep, resale), I'd say if you're really looking for black, get black. Otherwise I'm afraid you'll find yourself looking at basalt like it isn't "black enough". If you like black cars, but want something with a little more intrigue (dare I say character), get basalt.

Hopefully this is helpful -- or hopeufully I've successfully possessed you with my bias? Haha not sure what the goal is here but I thought I'd share my opinion/reasoning.

Best wishes.

 

Pure Black - all of my Porsches -except for my Carrera GT, which I spec'd in Basalt thinking it would be interesting and more manageable and and and - BOTTOM line - I did NOT order my 918 in basalt - .......

 

I faced the same dilemma when I ordered my 997.2.

I ended up going with the Basalt because of the nice metallic flakes in the paint. Also easier to keep clean.

 

This is really interesting stuff! does this have an impact on depth of color though? do you have to reapply it after a certain period of time?

 

I have Basalt.

Haven't noticed a brown hue but I do see a bit a dark purple occasionally.

When next to a regular (clean) black car it does look considerably lighter.

I also like regular black but any marks would bother me too much.

If I had to do it over I would get the Agate Grey (with the red interior).

 

Generally about 5 years or so, depends on how you use your car. If its left outside and you DD it, then you are looking a 3-4 years.

You still need to wash your car carefully and take care of the paint, but it really adds that extra layer of protection.

The depth is not going to be the same as a high quality wax, but its still very good. It really comes down to the prep work, your detailer has to make the paint perfect before applying Opticoat.

 

Hey, thanks for the replies everyone. I think I'm gonna choose Basalt Black. I went to one of the dealers yesterday to compare them side by side, and yes, the Basalt does look lighter than the regular Black. However, the brand new black on the lot outside already had swirls. I like the regular Black slightly better, but I think the swirls would bug the heck out of me.

 

I'm not sure that's correct. When I had my R8 in black pearlescent I had very visible swirls despite the fact that the paint had lots of reflective specks in it.

 

Great! Apply Cquartz Finest and you are ready to go!

 

I have three black cars. I've learned how to care for the color so the incidence of any swirls is really reduced to the bare minimum. I almost never touch the surface of the clear with a towel. I always dry the car after a deionized water rinse witha leaf blower. If I use any towel on the surface, it is a very fine microfiber towel. I'm not saying you wil never get a slight swirl or scratch, but there are so few which can easily be removed with a professional detail once a year.

 

So if you just washed your car, and suddenly you get bird poop dropping, is this your opportunity to use a towel and a spray detailer rather than wash the entire car?