Did a little Svending today

"Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing." (granfury) 06/24/2020 at 19:59 • Filed to: None

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Only did the passenger wheels and a basic exterior wash before I was drenched in sweat and had to quit. Engine compartment cleaned up as well. I was going to apply some 303 but I couldn’t find it. The cleaner I used doesn’t exactly stink , but the fragrance reminds me of a combination of cinnamon and urinal cake. I need to get the steam cleaner plugged in and do some interior work, and I think it would probably help with the wheels as well. There’s a few more dents and dings than I recall, but after eight years of street parking I kind of expected it.

And after eight years I still love this thing...

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. 06/24/2020 at 20:50

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Fun colorful manual compact minivans are not easy to replace. I wish the 5 many more trouble free miles. Fantastic color.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 06/24/2020 at 21:06

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I have blood type O. The downside of being a universal donor? I can’t get blood from anyone except another person with type O. Similar thing with this color (but not exactly - you’ll see what I mean).   This is a one year only color on this body style . Every time I see parts for a red Mazda5 they’re for a 2013 -2015 model and thus a different color so I can’t use the parts without repainting - only parts from a 2012 will work on mine without paint (unless I want it to look stupid). I’d  love to have the later mirrors with the turn signal indicators, but they weren’t available in 2012 so I’d have to paint them. I wouldn’t mind the rear spoiler and side skirts, but good luck finding them from a red 2012...

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. 06/24/2020 at 21:14

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I have the same issue except the paint code is just plain missing from any documentation on my car. Just absent from where it is supposed to show up. Infuriating because I am going to have to buy some touch up eventually.

The spoilers look cool. Maybe you could take them to a paint a shop and get all the accessories painted at once. Mazda was good at accessorizing at that time. My brother had a Mazda6 with the glorious basket handle spoiler.

I need a new fender but the chances of me ever finding one in the junkyard are basically 0 if I am picky about the color.

I recently had a guy who paints cars for a living come over and ask about the color.  That’s how you know.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 06/24/2020 at 21:51

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Finding paint codes online should be relatively easy. Unlike today’s German cars, which seem to be available in only white, black and 16 indistinguishable shades of silver, most manufacturers only offer one shade of a color in any given year. I do remember trying to get some paint for the W210 thinking that it would be easy since the car was just a plain refrigerator white; that’s the description I gave to the parts guy. Oh no, he said, white is one of the tougher colors to match. I had to provide the precise year and variant to make sure I got the correct shade of refrigerator.

I actually have my current  paint code memorized. I have a weird thing for memorizing such things; for example, some of my passwords are 33-digit numbers using a pattern system I developed. In the case of my Mazda5 I just recall the engine from a Porsche 928 4 - it’s spelled out right on the intake manifolds, namely 32V:

I was watching some YouTube videos about Porsches and they mentioned paint code L041. Immediately that triggered a memory of my Rabbit GTI and 968 which were also painted in L041, or, in other words, black. Another video called out a part number from a 944, something like 191 103 207. Based on my time working in the VW parts department 33 years ago I instantly recognized that part as being from a 2nd generation Jetta (chassis code 191) and was an engine part (100 series). It kind of freaked me out a little that I still knew this since I haven’t owned a VW since 1990 or worked at a dealer since 1987...

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. 06/24/2020 at 22:00

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I can not remember anything of importance or any dates or numbers ever. I’ve developed a very narrow good memory for car details but I can barely tell you what day it is.

I’ve done lots of research on this color. It’s called Autumn Metallic and is a dark reddish orange with a bright bronze gold flake. I’ve found three different paint codes for it, not to mention the other shades of red the car came in. The sticker in the glove box literally has a blank box where the code is ALWAYS printed in GM vehicles. The only mistake Lordstown made with mine.

To make it more confusing, I’ve only ever seen two LS (bass) trim ones in that color like mine. Most of the few that were sold were high trim ones where an expensive paint option made more sense.

It was probably 2012 only. 

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 06/24/2020 at 22:35

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Interesting notes about your paint color. I’m surprised that GM would use the same paint name but have different codes for it, but then again I frequently am surprised/not surprised by their actions. Right now I’m thinking about what my dad is going to do for his next car. He really likes his Volt, but the lease is up in a year and he obviously can’t get another one. I don’t know if he’s ready to go full electric - he still seems a little hesitant. But half the gasoline put in that car in 2018 was put in by me when I borrowed it and put almost 4 whole gallons in it after driving 250 miles in one day. He was talking about buying it, but for some reason mom interjected with a solid ‘No!’ although I don’t know what her objections are.

Copper Red Mica (32V) was an extremely common color on all number of Mazdas right up until 2012 when my car was built. If/when I get a Miata I’d love to find one in 32V, but I think that the NC was the only one that came from the factory in this shade. It’s funny - when if play GT6 or Forza, especially if I had a Mazda, I’d paint it in this color. The common red from 2013 became Zeal Red Mica, but it’s the fancy Soul Red Crystal Metallic they charge extra for that really looks great. Some friends of the family recently bought a new Mazda6, a car that still looks incredible all these years after it was released, in Soul Red. The wife knew that there was an extra charge for that color, but somehow got it in her mind that the paint alone was $4,000. I had to explain that no, the paint was only about $650, but that they bought a higher trim level model, and that this was the main reason that it was $4K more than the others. That shape in that color? Perfection.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. 06/24/2020 at 22:48

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I found someone else with the same issue.

It appears the “GGT” code I found online was right but that is also to a color called Seraph Orange Metallic. But it is things like this totally inaccurate preview image for a different source that have confused me. Sometimes the preview color will be that of the metal flake like this or sometimes it is the dark red paint.

And the only thing particularly remarkable about the color is that everyone sees it differently and can’t agree on what it is. Orange, red, brown, bronze, I’ve heard it all.

And most touch up paint stores list several near identical in preview colors under slightly different codes with similar names, though I’ve never seen a GM vehicle close to the same shade.

Mazda knows how to make a good red. I prefer darker reds but the Soul Red is just heavenly, especially on the 6.

Someone get that man a B olt or just buy the car off lease.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 06/24/2020 at 23:17

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I love to look at those fancy paints, but I hate having a car painted with metallics and pearls. Even with the right paint code, it’s damn near impossible to match. It took the Ford dealership three tries to get the paint right on her Explorer after it was wrecked. Just look at this! That was their first try. The door (on the right) is the original color.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > TheRealBicycleBuck 06/24/2020 at 23:21

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Kinja’d

I’ve found the color to be excellent at masking dirt, for a shade of red at least. It’s true that the density of the flake makes a good match near impossible. My paint in particular was an  expensive option for a reason because it is an unusually complex mix. I had a paint guy compliment it at a gas station a while back and he noted that very few paints on that end of the segment have such a dimension to them. I don't expect a perfect match but some touch up would dramatically improve the look.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 06/24/2020 at 23:23

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That is a nice color on the Cruz - good choice. I really liked the Cruze and thought it was one of the best things (besides the Volt) that GM had come up with in years. Too bad the world went CUV crazy and doomed it to an early death.

I didn’t have a whole lot of color options on my 5 since the 6MT model only came in three colors, and there was only one with the 6MT within 150 miles of my home. I took what they had, along with the 20% discount. I wanted the dark grey, like my last BMW, but settled for the red, and in retrospect I’m really glad that I did - so much now unique than another grey vehicle.

If mom insists on dumping the Volt and I can’t convince her to change her mind, a Bolt would probably be a good choice (if they’re still making it in 2021...) They have her E320 wagon if they need maximum range sans anxiety. Dad’s retired and doesn’t drive as much as he used to, and with the solar panels on the roof it’s not like he has to worry about the cost of charging. The one thing that could really stop him is interior color. Like me, he absolutely refuses to own a car with a black interior, and he prefers leather to cloth. His Volt is somewhat rare in that it has a grey leather interior, doubly rare since it’s the base model. I’m good with cloth despite having many cars with leather, but it has to be a light shade. Right now I’m dealing with trying to get stains out of the interior of my car, and I’m starting to fondly remember how easy it was to maintain leather. Normally my interiors stay clean because I don’t, er, didn’t eat in my car, but this whole COVID thing has changed my dining out habits. Somehow some Buffalo sauce spilled on my seat, and now I must deal with it.

Maybe I can convince dad to lease a Model 3. He’ll blend right in with the other 1,627 Tesla owners in his neighborhood...

TheRealBicycleBuck > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 06/24/2020 at 23:26

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Doggoneit! Try refreshing. It may be double-posted this time!

Red is a good color for some dirt. Red in Oklahoma is an excellent choice. A lot of the dirt up there is red.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > TheRealBicycleBuck 06/24/2020 at 23:45

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Clay is red here and I usually park outside in some dirt. It is not bad at hiding grime either. The only exterior car filth I really mind is road grime you get from driving in the rain.

It worked and that is unacceptable for such a new car where it really matters.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. 06/24/2020 at 23:59

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I also dislike all black interiors. I also dislike all gray interiors. I want an variety and/or contrast. Like this: (I seriously got so lucky accidentally buying the single best color combo from the factory. Some had all black). I don’t mind leather but I prefer cloth for the longevity. Cloth can also be more visually interesting but really it is largely on a case by case basis which interior option I prefer.

This doesn’t look too dreary.

I do wish auto manufacturers wouldn’t limit the interior colors so much based on trim since it’s not like they have to certify it or anything to be compatible with different engine options.

True leather is slightly easier to clean but it also requires more care to stay intact over many years as it gets dry and cracks. Bummer on the sauce. It sucks but at least it wasn’ t someone else that caused it. I’ve had some substantial difficulty getting the seats uniformly clean with spray on wipe off products. Maybe I should just rent a carpet doctor. 

What 300,000 miles does to leather:

I love the Cruze. It is literally everything you could possibly ask of a car besides being fast. Sort of a perfect hybrid between a large car and a small car.

I don’t see the point of giving up an electric after you have tasted the Volt when you still have an ICE car for that one long trip you may or may not take. Bolt for the budget. Model 3 for the adventurous. End of discussion.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 06/25/2020 at 00:55

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That’s not the result of just 300,000 miles - that’s just cheap leather. I don’t like the quality of leather used on most domestic and Japanese cars. On German cars it can be good if the car is expensive enough; VW? Maybe not, but Mercedes, at least back in the day? Good stuff. You should have seen the interior on my 525i. Other than some slight cracking on the outer bolsters on the drivers seat the interior was perfect, and this was after nearly a quarter million miles.

I don’t really like grey interiors, but if it’s a choice between grey and black I’ll take grey every day. The 968 had grey, but the options on that car were so perfect I overlooked the interior color (although I might not have if it was black). The W210? It’s what was on the lot that wasn’t black...

My first car, a VW Dasher wagon, had dark brown “leatherette”. It looked nice but could burn your legs on hot SoCal days of you were wearing shorts. At least that car had excellent air conditioning. My second car had a red interior, and that was my favorite thing about it, aesthetically speaking.

Red interiors are awesome, as long as they’re on the darker side? Bright red? Pass. Oxblood? Yes, please.

And you haven’t seen anything until you’ve seen a Ferrari 308 in dark grey with an Oxblood interior - wow (although a dark green metallic would also work well with that interior color)

You’re right - there’s no additional certification costs for different color interiors, but there are two factors at work that keeps us buying from a limited palette - ease of manufacturing and dealers afraid of getting stuck with something unsellable (like a tiny, sporty minivan with a manual transmission...) When the comedian Adam Carola bought his DB9 he wanted green with a red interior. The dealer didn’t want to order it because they thought nobody else would want it if he backed out of the deal. When the car arrived they put it on display in the showroom and everybody loved it, especially since it was such a fantastic change from the usual dull combinations that the dealers order out of fear. I’d love to custom order a car just to have something out of the ordinary. I spent some time the other day designing my ultimate Panamera Sport Turismo Hybrid, in dark blue with a deep red interior. Absolutely gorgeous, but then again, for $231K it better be. I was trying to build a Cayman GT4, but quickly lost interest when the only interior color was, you guessed it - black. I bet that if you paid them enough they would probably change it, but you shouldn’t have to.

The ‘60s and ‘70s were the glory days for different interior colors, although at least on the domestic side there wasn’t enough contrast between interior and exterior color. Blue with blue. Green with green. Beige with beige. NO! And then VW did the same stupid thing when they started making Rabbits in Pennsylvania - yuck.

But you know what the world needs more of these days more than anything? Green interiors. Not neon green or some other eyeball-assaulting shade, but deep, rich greens.

Contrasting carpet or matching, it doesn’t matter - green is good...

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. 06/25/2020 at 01:10

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The new Navigator’s interior is a sign of good things to possibly come. The subtle color really makes it feel special.

If there is one thing I can’t stand it is a lackluster interior that doesn’t have the balls to throw in a hint of contrast anywhere. I hope this trend of alternative luxury brands getting brave with their interior colors trickles down to us plebs.

Green interiors are good. I love a good contrast between the exterior and interior color. Red seats in a black car, tan seats in a green car, the list goes on and on. Even just some fun cloth inserts in the seats can make a car feel special. Dealers can be afraid of “special” though because that can be a tough sell to someone who is already thinking of their next car.

What exactly do you have against all black and all gray interiors? My brother’s Fusion has that terrible water- stain-O-matic cloth that feels terrible and you can’t remove the water stains by any means. It is just a sea of washed out gray bleah. It depends on the quality of the cloth and leather which I prefer. Luxury leather can usually be re conditioned to regain some life but leatherette simply isn’t luxurious so I don’t know why people still buy cars full of it.

An all b lack cloth interior is a much greater sin than a sea of black leather.