I have a black 07 IS250 that I leased about 4 months ago. I don't mind the fact that it only looks clean for only a little while after you wash the car because well that's life, but the thing that is really bothering me is the 'swirl marks'. Black looks really good, but it is very hard to maintain a clean, new look.

I am consedering trading in my car for a Smokey Granite, but I have a few problems:

1st, I do have a 48 month lease ( I know bad decision, but I learned from my mistakes)
2nd, Because of my commute I already have 8k miles !!!

Here is what I consider doing:
Either try to sell it on one of the lease trading sites such as leasetrader.com
or
purchase the car and sell it or do a direct trade in. The lexus financial website shows the lease payoff amount at $32,111.

What would be my best option? Or should just learn how to polish myself.

Oh I forgot to mention that I do want to keep and IS250 for a while and my plan had always been to lease while I raised my credit score and got my raise and then purchase the car this coming year.

 

You mean 48 months right? :P

 

Wow you do have a problem. Good luck getting out of that one. LOL

 

Ok, Ok I made a typo Back to my problem, people... ( I need to go back to school !!)

 

just learn how to polish... or get it professionally polished once for like 80 and you'll be good for 6 months

 

I have the same issue, it looks horrible in certain light and in normal light it looks really good...... just get a good wax job or use zaino like alot of us and just stay on top of it.

 

Anyone have any feedback ??

 

Get it polished up and learn how to keep the swirls down to minimum from doing a little research in the care care forum here or on autopia.org.

Black takes much more work but it's worth it IMO.

 

BTW, I have Smokey Granite and it's just as "swirly" as black IMHO. As others have stated, a good polish and wax job should do the trick... I have to do that to my IS about every 4th wash or so

 

I have a SGM and it is pretty hard to maintain also. I don't go to car washes and I never let the dealer wash my car. Swirl marks are annoying and I polish and/or wax every 3rd wash. Just have a professional detailer buff out the swirls and you'll be fine.

Terrance

 

Most clear coat finishes show swirls unless you're absolutely perfect in your wash/dry methods. Black is the worst, as you have discovered. Unless you're willing to put some time into your finish and avoid gas station car washes, you're never going to be satisfied with the look of your paint.

You have the following options:

1. Learn to live with it.

2. Buy a PC or similar buffer and an abrasive polish, and level the clearcoat. Then seal and/or wax.

3. Buy a sealant with fillers in it, which will temporarily mask the swirls. I think NXT might help in that regard.

Personally, I have a PC buffer, and spent the better part of this morning polishing out the SGM on my IS350. It looks extraordinary now, but regular washing WILL cause marring over time. You have to be willing to polish your paint at least once or twice each year to keep it looking nice, unless you go with option 1 or 3.

Good luck.

 

I just setup an appointment for this Saturday with one of our own members (kenjimaru ) for an exterior detailing job that will hopefully get rid of the swirls. He knows a guy that does this kind of job for a good price. I will post some pics once its done and I guess I will try to take care of the car and never, ever take it to a car wash again !!!

If for some reason I still want to change the car for another color, say for example silver or white, or for one with nav what did you guys think about my options that I mentioned above ???