Solid Black or Basalt Black?....
Discussion
Solid black can look a bit better (blacker, shinier, glossier) but is less resilient - it's much easier to keep a metallic car looking nice, so it's what they'd rather have back come trade-in time. Choose it for yourself though. It may cost a you a little when you're done with it but you'll have had the pleasure of owning what you wanted 
cayman-black said:
Have had both. I like cleaning my cars. Basalt always looks a little grey besides solid.
But if i was buying new today i would go Basalt.
I prefer driving my cars!But if i was buying new today i would go Basalt.
Whilst black cars can look good 4 years with a metallic black RS4 was long enough- seemed to spend a lot more time cleaning it than driving it. A fault I intend to rectify with its replacement.
If you are a polisher then solid black, but it only looks at its best for about 9 seconds after you finish cleaning it. If you are a cleaner but not permanently spotless owner then Basalt is probably a better option as isn't quite as conspicuous when less than gleaming. If you leave it grubby a lot and spend your time driving it then it matters little - go solid if new or whichever is cheapest used and spend the price difference on extra fuel.
Just MHO [I am not a polisher, my last one was solid, my current is basalt and both colours look lovely to me].
Just MHO [I am not a polisher, my last one was solid, my current is basalt and both colours look lovely to me].
Both look great. My Cayman S is solid black. When clean it looks fantastic and no other colour looks better IMO - especially after a polish. It gives a lovely deep, reflective shine and finish.
It should also be easier to touch up stone chips, and easier to respray certain panels and get a perfect match with the rest of the car than a metallic finish.
On the downside, it is a pain in the arse to keep clean, and seems to show even the lightest of surface scratches (but then maybe I'm just inspecting it too closely). Stone chips can be annoyingly obvious too.
ETA: Pictures of shiny finish
It should also be easier to touch up stone chips, and easier to respray certain panels and get a perfect match with the rest of the car than a metallic finish.
On the downside, it is a pain in the arse to keep clean, and seems to show even the lightest of surface scratches (but then maybe I'm just inspecting it too closely). Stone chips can be annoyingly obvious too.
ETA: Pictures of shiny finish
Edited by ChipsAndCheese on Tuesday 14th February 11:13
I have basalt black, though I didnt really pick it over all other colours since I bought it used & was the best car I saw at the time.
On one occasion, when returning to the car in strong sunlight, to me it looked like it had a slight hint of dark purple in it - which didnt look that great against the tyres. Though when do we ever have strong sunlight - prob about once a year. A decent bit of wax sorts it out.
I think it looks a bit more special that the solid black.
On one occasion, when returning to the car in strong sunlight, to me it looked like it had a slight hint of dark purple in it - which didnt look that great against the tyres. Though when do we ever have strong sunlight - prob about once a year. A decent bit of wax sorts it out.
I think it looks a bit more special that the solid black.
erics said:
Solid black is much much nicer. Check my profile pic..
Check out my vid! 
Solid black blatently the detailers favourite. More work but better finish at the end of the day...
Got fed up with people asking me if my basalt was purple etc
Of course when given carte blanche Porsche Design chose solid not basalt.
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