Rain drops

I've noticed the same on my grey one. I guess we could wax/polish the car to make the paint more slippery?

 

Well, the only answer I can think of for rain drop retention to a paint color would be orange peel in the paint adding "traction"/ fiction.

IMO easiest answer to resolve....apply a thick coat of wax.

Harder answer to resolve...wet sand, polish, wax to attain a "super" smooth surface.

 

When I've had some really old cars in the past, the paint had lost all the sheen and rainwater would wet it all over. If, on the other hand, I waxed the car the rain would pool into globules on the wax. Their surface tension was inhibiting the water from spreading evenly over the surface of the paintwork.

So, I suspect you are witnessing the effect of a good waxing on the car from new. Keep us posted with anything you discover.

 

RCO is correct. The more times I wax my car, the water "beads up" and just stays there on my parked Prius.
Depending on the temperature, sometimes the water beads will remain there for hours. It takes about 15 minutes of driving for the water to blow off.

But I still will wax my car several times a year, for paint protection. It's always parked in the sun. Fortunately, I have never seen water spots on the painted surfaces… Only on the windshield when it dries.

 

Spring and Fall I wax. Once a year would probably suffice, but meh: keeps me off the streets.

 

Modern polymer sealants have 99+% of the appearance of a good wax and last much longer. New semi-clear coat sealants last even longer but higher cost. Both bead the water, the water blows off when driving, and both shed dirt very well resulting in a car that stays pretty clean.

 

I have probably given too much thought to this.....
I don't really think it has anything to do with the color...but more to do with a waxed vehicle and a newer vehicle with a strong clear coat.
That is the water is suppose to bead up.
It may be MORE visible on black...but I don't really think it is beading up any more than any other vehicle with a similar finish waxed/clear coat pedigree.

I park in a "Apartment" parking lot..and have always noticed that with my newer vehicle...usually with a coat of wax or protectant on it, hours after a rain storm I will walk out to notice my vehicle STILL covered in rain drops....while older vehicles, and/or vehicles with owners less motivated to wax and care for their vehicles finish, have dryed to a bone.

And then I wonder...is it really better that my vehicle is still wet?

But the general acceptance is that water beading...is what you want. Flat..non beading water may dry faster....or not be as visible, but it means there is less a layer of protection between the elements and your vehicles metal.

I try to wax....twice a year...fall and spring...and maintain with "Instant Wax' sprays inbetween...and my vehicles...both Prius and now Fit..both have always been covered in beads of water. And....I don't think it has or had anything really to do with color. Most protective products are designed to promote water beading...not water sheeting.

 

That's right Noor. In fact, it's "spot on"

 

I have Rain-X in the windshield wiper reservoir, and I use Rain-X spray on window cleaner to wipe the windows, and I've even applied car wax to the windows a couple times… But I still get water spots.
I give up.

 

I can't see waxing the windshield. I occasionally use heavy-duty automotive glass cleaner and a cloth, which basically strips off all films, as far as I know. Go over the wiper blades with the same cloth, damp with the cleaner. No problems with spotting or wiper judder.

 

The water spots come off easy enough. It's just that there's no product that will prevent them in the first place. The beading spots will dry on the glass while the car is parked. Rain-X won't prevent spotting. But hey, it's a very minor issue. (and I don't need to waste any more money on Rain-X )

 

About time you started investing all this cosmetic cash into into char grilled with fries.

 

Thats a very good idea!

 

The whole point of Rain-X is that it is supposed to bead-up, so the beads blow off easily when you drive, and you can see clearly without even turning on the wipers. Also makes cleaning off bugs much easier.

 

Yes, thanks, it is supposed to work like that. I don't mind water beads, but when you're parked for a day or two and then the sun comes out it just turns to spots.

We must have really dirty rain around here, because after the rain the car is pretty filthy and spotty. But I also have a white car. Anyway, no big deal, it's the least of my worries.

 

IMO the main problem is not a windshield but rear window, especially the bottom portion of it.
In rain condition its get dirty instantaneously together with the whole gate around a plate area. And this mess is difficult to reach for cleaning.

 

We had 2 good rains. It's funny how the water beads won't blow off my Prius. Maybe I have waxed my car too much? I drove around town for an hour, and the water beads never left the hood, or the rear hatch, or anywhere else I could see. Is all the air directed underneath the car??? I don't remember my Camry being like this.

Same with the windows. That darn Rain-X won't allow the water beads to run off the windows. My 4 side windows and the 2 rear windows had so many water beads, it was difficult to see out. The water just stayed there the whole time I was driving. (Lowering/raising the windows didn't help). Rain-X is a good spray on cleaner in dry weather, and it removes dirt and dried water spots, but it sure won't let the water run off when it's raining and beading up.

A Prius c pulled up next to me, and she didn't have one bead on the windows, just a few beads on the doors.

 

Many moons ago, I heard it said that if you rubbed a raw potato over your windscreen it had the effect of allowing the rain to flow across the screen and not form beads. Seriously! You could try this at least once to see if it still holds true, then let us all know if you wouldn't mind.

Cross my heart, I'm not kidding you on this. UK is famous for its rainfall!

 

That would probably just make me hungry.