[hermiti]

I finally picked up my G42 M240I Thundernight Metallic w Tacora Red Leather Interior, Shadowline fitted with 791M black wheels. My first impression was that the car looks significantly different in person. From the pictures that I've seen the front hood looks enormous in relation to the rest of the vehicle. However, in person everything looks well proportioned and the vehicle is much smaller than I imagined. The second thing that I noticed was how incredibly scratched the car was, more scratched than vehicles that I've had for 3+ years. Either this paint is incredibly soft, shows scratches well, or the dealer did a terrible job. The scratches are primarily on the panels not covered during transport. I normally, don't let the dealer prep the vehicle but all of their other vehicles looked flawless. Paint correction is definitely needed. Just a warning.

With that said the car looks amazing, in my opinion. Less than 5 minutes from the dealer I was already getting honks & thumbs up. It's really an interesting color that seems to take on different looks depending on the environment.

I picked up the car in the DC area, and made the long trip back to Tennessee, my wife was pleased with the ride quality and in comfort mode it is very luxurious. No matter the road it seemed to handle road imperfections with ease. This vehicle seemed to take a little bit of time to get used to in regards to how it handles. Commentary about the looseness at center steering is true. I found that while passing large vehicles that the buffeted wind coming around them seemed to just so gently nudge the vehicle away but the lack of on center feel made it hard to manage initially. The car actually pulled me back into the lane quite a few times. The longer I drove the car the less of an issue it was. Thankfully for me, I live in an area that has lots of back roads and limited interstate driving, where is where I think this thing will really shine.

The paint is interesting, when it is not in direct light to be more of a flat color with futuristic vibes, in the direct sunlight it reminds me of the high quality enthusiast paint job that you might find on a classic car, at night it reminds me of black on how it reflects light with the clear distinction of being distinctly different, at sunset the purple is transformed into a burgundy gemtone which reminds me a lot of the red interior in the softness of its color.

At day two and 600 miles in, the car is really growing on me, the handling really feels fantastic around town, the differences in throttle and sound between comfort and sport are quite dramatic. My wife is definitely happy about that, she thought this car would loud like my Alfa Romeo 4c which has no muffler from the factory. The black wheels and the red calipers really look great in my opinion, it's a shame you can't get the wider tires and the other performance options with this wheel spec.

All in, this car is amazing, here are some pics, they aren't the greatest. More to come once I actually get the paint correction done.

[idontsave]

Nice to see another Thundernight/Tacora owner take delivery

Congrats!

[hermiti]

Originally Posted by idontsave

Nice to see another Thundernight/Tacora owner take delivery

Congrats!

Thanks. There should be a build/picture thread for each color.

Out of curiosity, did you notice a lot of scratches when you picked it up from the dealer?

[idontsave]

Originally Posted by hermiti

Thanks. There should be a build/picture thread for each color.

Out of curiosity, did you notice a lot of scratches when you picked it up from the dealer?

My paint was swirled to hell by the time I got there but I believe it was due to the dealer having washed the car before I had the chance to tell them not to.

The paint does seem to swirl fairly easily though. I noticed it the other day after a single pass with a clean microfiber towel on my clean trunk lid.

[hermiti]

Seems that ceramic coating is a must.

[idontsave]

Originally Posted by hermiti

Seems that ceramic coating is a must.

Yep... already got full front PPF with stage 1 polish/correction.

Waiting a bit before ceramic coating as it'll be accompanied by two-step paint correction and I figured I might as well enjoy the car for a bit first.

[hermiti]

That's a good call, I'm doing the full front also, with full ceramic with wheels & tint. Appointment isn't until the March 9th though with a three plus day install time.

[Roadwar]

Pics are fine. Beautiful car. Enjoy!

[hermiti]

7 days in, car has been great. It has been the perfect mix of refinement and excitement. This hasn't been the fastest car that I've ever owned, but I'm always surprised how I always underestimate how fast I am going. With that said, I'm looking forward to modding this car and making it my own into something truly special.

Some may say that the handling off-center is a problem, but for daily driving around town and on back roads it has been a pleasure. Everyday I feel like I am learning something new about the car. In two weeks I am getting PPF and ceramic, and plan on getting a roof rack.

[khoa@x-ph.com]

Saw this color in person last week and I was impressed of how good the new G42 looks

[hermiti]

Went for my first fast drive through the devil's triangle this afternoon, it was great to use more of the car than I use on a daily basis. I really pushed it, and it did surprisingly well even with the run flat all season tires. I had no issue with the car, definitely feel like the car needs a driver mod.

Brakes did great, I felt like the tires were the limiting factor, but that almost made it more enjoyable.

Also I put on my BMW roof rack on, which I'll need for our bikes. I still need to mount those but I'll do those later.

[hermiti]

Look at that rack...lol

Anyways, here's some pics, the car is really dirty not washing until I get paint correction, PPF, and ceramic coating.

[hermiti]

While my car is away getting PPF & Ceramic...these arrived. Can't wait...

[cdumitru78]

Congratulations, great color. I second the paint issue, I think paint on these is soft. My local dealership got a thundernight in as well, I was super tempted but upon inspection the car had so many swirls I passed. I think their detailing guys got their hands on it first. Luckily a Brooklyn grey showed up shortly after and the sales guy called me as they were unloading it. I got to it within the hour, it still had some swirls, but significantly better so I bought it. I will certainly do the paint correction, ppf and ceramic coating as well. The shiny black plastic around the front grille is a swirl magnet too! Will you ppf the rocker panels too?

[FeckinSpaceman]

Originally Posted by hermiti

While my car is away getting PPF & Ceramic...these arrived. Can't wait...

Trouble maker


CAI and Strut Bars?

[hermiti]

Originally Posted by FeckinSpaceman

Trouble maker


CAI and Strut Bars?

You got it, also ordered some red bolts from probolts for the braces. I'm keeping the purple & red theme going.

[hermiti]

Originally Posted by cdumitru78

Congratulations, great color. I second the paint issue, I think paint on these is soft. My local dealership got a thundernight in as well, I was super tempted but upon inspection the car had so many swirls I passed. I think their detailing guys got their hands on it first. Luckily a Brooklyn grey showed up shortly after and the sales guy called me as they were unloading it. I got to it within the hour, it still had some swirls, but significantly better so I bought it. I will certainly do the paint correction, ppf and ceramic coating as well. The shiny black plastic around the front grille is a swirl magnet too! Will you ppf the rocker panels too?

Yes, the rocker planners are getting covered as well as the full front. I think the issue with the paint is that the paint isn't fully curing before it's getting washed. Maybe there are some other costs being cut from products coming out of the Mexico plant.

[mechman]

Originally Posted by hermiti

Yes, the rocker planners are getting covered as well as the full front. I think the issue with the paint is that the paint isn't fully curing before it's getting washed. Maybe there are some other costs being cut from products coming out of the Mexico plant.

I thought about PPF for the rockers as well but I changed my mind (for now) and ordered the TLG mudflaps to get more protection (maybe) considering I am in Michigan and the roads are a disaster with salt in the winter and roadchips in the spring and summer.

[hermiti]

Check out the tiktok video posted by the detailer of the process, pretty cool:

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZTdUqtTPs/

Just got PPF, tint, and ceramic. PPF on the rockers and about halfway up the door and full front.

[hermiti]

Just picked up my car today with PPF, Ceramic TInt, & Ceramic Coating...looking hot

So happy to get all the swirls out of the paint.

[hermiti]

Day 2, of PPF, Ceramic, etc...It still looks amazing.

[FeckinSpaceman]

Originally Posted by hermiti

You got it, also ordered some red bolts from probolts for the braces. I'm keeping the purple & red theme going.

Love it! You have me kinda wishing I went with the Tacora interior

It looks hot and I'd probably be a little less anxious than I am with the oyster.