Mazda's quality strikes again

[Antonio DiMarco]

I can see what you're saying but...

I was getting ready to leave work yesterday. I go to open the back door on the driver's side to put some things on the back seat. I hear a popping noise and see the trim piece barely hanging on and the trim piece on the front door popped up. Now it was on in in the low 70's in Baltimore yesterday and I don't park in the direct sunlight. What kind of cheap double tape did Mazda use? I can just add this to the second letter that I am sending to Mazda North America about the cheap paint that they use.

I wanted to eventually remove the trim, but I rather have done that when I was ready. I did not want to spend my time after working all day working on Mazda's mistake. (bang)

Last weekend I did a fresh wash, claybar and wax of my silver ms3 and wouldn't you know something smacked my bumper hard enough to remove a half moon of paint about a half dollar in size. I was pissed, I had also picked up the Lankga Paint chip fixer thingy and did not have an easy time using it. In fact it didn't do much good with regular pin head-sized chips. Evenry time I used that damned card the touch-up paint would pull out of the chip!.Even more annoying was the paint I got from Mazda was a shade darker than the factory paint. So now I got a number of small dark silver specks on the nose of my MS3 with a half dollar area of layered tough-up to cover up the bumper chip. I'm annoyed but I have to put things in perspective. For the money this car still offers great value. And being on the manufacturing/consumer product industry I know that there will always be compromises. I'm just a little sad that this type of minor damage has happened in less than a year since I bought the car. I'm also regretting buying Silver, which I originally chose becasue it would supposedly hide imperfections and dirt. The black paint on my 04 Mz3 seemed to hold up soooo much better over 3 years and 42,000 miles. And At the time I was driving on the highway 90% of the time!

Who knows maybe someone will back into me and I'll be able to get the bumper complete repainted.

 

[Betelgeuse]

Nope. I would say I got what I paid for if I had acquired the same amount of chips over a 5 year period. The amount that I have acquired is unacceptable no matter how much somebody pays for a vehicle.

You're not going to find a dealer to fix your paint chips, not one. Too many factors are involved for them to just say 'oh yes, there are no paint chips tsb but because we like you so much were going to repaint the front of the car under warranty, come on in good buddy and just sit right down here'. That's definately not a realistic scenario. So, learn to deal with it or get your custom paint job.

Anyway, as mentioned already, many (including myself) would really like to see how bad these chips are, care to post a pic or 2?

 

[john blutarski]

Do you do a lot of highway driving? I'm just saying if you're putting a lot of highway miles on your car then you should expect chips. I know these cars chip easily but if you're commuting on the highway every day you're going to get chips no matter what the car.

 

[Mazda3]

I currently own Mazda's number 4 and 5 for me. Never had any concerns with any of them. Quality and fit/finish is second to none in this price range.

 

[Antonio DiMarco]

+1

I currently own Mazda's number 4 and 5 for me. Never had any concerns with any of them. Quality and fit/finish is second to none in this price range.

This is Mazda #6 for me and the newest designs (3, CX7 etc) are the best design and quality at this price point. FYI I went by a volkswagen dealership with a few used late model jettas and Passats in the lot and they had 20 to 30,000 miles on them and had many rock chips across their hood.

 

[Zimmer]

i'd be okay with the chips i've accumulated on mine except two huge ones right on top of the hood and i'm scared to fix myself.... I've fixed others with some success... anyone have know of a place or someone talented that would be willing?

 

[lynx17]

I have both an '02 Jetta with 92k miles, and a Metro Gray MS3 with 2500 miles. The Jetta has enough chips in the hood that I'm considering having it repainted (passing snow plows spreading salt on the freeway sucks...). I haven't noticed any big chips in the Mazda yet.

One thing I've noticed is that the Mazda makes a lot more noise going over loose sand/gravel -- anybody else notice that?

Not sure if its just the fender liner material or design or what, but what I'm hoping it's NOT is the rocker panels getting pummeled. Hoping to pick up some RallyArmor flaps just in case, at least for the winter.

 

[Kurt07]

You're not going to find a dealer to fix your paint chips, not one. Too many factors are involved for them to just say 'oh yes, there are no paint chips tsb but because we like you so much were going to repaint the front of the car under warranty, come on in good buddy and just sit right down here'. That's definately not a realistic scenario. So, learn to deal with it or get your custom paint job.

Anyway, as mentioned already, many (including myself) would really like to see how bad these chips are, care to post a pic or 2?

I will take some pictures when I get home frome work provided it is not raining.

Do you do a lot of highway driving? I'm just saying if you're putting a lot of highway miles on your car then you should expect chips. I know these cars chip easily but if you're commuting on the highway every day you're going to get chips no matter what the car.

This is why I am holding this paint to a higher standard. My last car, my wife's car, and now my MS3, are all highway driven. You couldn't tell on my last car and my wife's car plus my wife's car is the winter beater.

Of course I expect chips. I would be foolish if I didn't. What I did not expect is the amount of chips. Again, I hold the finish of this car to a higher standard just based on vehicles that I have owned and currently own and cost less than a MS3.

 

[Mazda3]

One thing I've noticed is that the Mazda makes a lot more noise going over loose sand/gravel -- anybody else notice that?

That is true VW definately has a quieter ride. Mazda has had trouble figuring out the road noise thing. Supposedly the new 6 will be the quietest car in the mid-size class, so it sounds like they have now remedied this problem. Look for the 2010 redesigned Mazda 3 to be significanlty quieter.

 

[Betelgeuse]

That is true VW definately has a quieter ride. Mazda has had trouble figuring out the road noise thing. Supposedly the new 6 will be the quietest car in the mid-size class, so it sounds like they have now remedied this problem. Look for the 2010 redesigned Mazda 3 to be significanlty quieter.

Quiet usually means softer suspension. The ms3's suspension is pretty stiff for performance reasons. Plus many enthusiasts love the feedback from the road. I for one, like feeling every dip or imperfection on the surface. Sometimes something as simple as the type of tire(side wall height, rubber type etc)can make a difference in the ride quality, noise.

 

[lynx17]

Yeah, I don't mind a little extra road noise, but that's not *quite* what I'm talking about. It's more like dirt and gravel that the tires kick up hit noisier surfaces on the vehicle (body panels?).

I suppose it could just be soundproofing material on the VW making the difference, but I cringe every time I drive on loose surfaces because it *sounds* like I'm sandblasting my rocker panels...

 

[Zimmer]

Yeah, I don't mind a little extra road noise, but that's not *quite* what I'm talking about. It's more like dirt and gravel that the tires kick up hit noisier surfaces on the vehicle (body panels?).

I suppose it could just be soundproofing material on the VW making the difference, but I cringe every time I drive on loose surfaces because it *sounds* like I'm sandblasting my rocker panels...

are they just softer tires picking up all the little pepples and kicking them up?? What did u have on ur vw?? Just wondering

 

[CWPspeed3]

I know exactly what road noise your talking about, I'm quite surprised at it as well. The tires are pretty soft and pick up a lot more than other tires I've had but even on seemingly clean roads ill hit patches and it will sound like I'm driving on a dirt road. I wonder if mud flaps will help, also I wonder if those rally armor ones will ever come out.

 

[lynx17]

What did u have on ur vw??

Kumho Ecsta MX, so I doubt the MS3 tires are any softer/stickier. Though, it is possible they've lost some of their pebble-tossing power over the two years I've had them.

I wonder if those rally armor ones will ever come out.

I keep hoping...

 

[Betelgeuse]

Yeah, I don't mind a little extra road noise, but that's not *quite* what I'm talking about. It's more like dirt and gravel that the tires kick up hit noisier surfaces on the vehicle (body panels?).

I suppose it could just be soundproofing material on the VW making the difference, but I cringe every time I drive on loose surfaces because it *sounds* like I'm sandblasting my rocker panels...

Ah I see. Yeah it's probably just the design of the underside and I'm with you on the soundproofing materials idea. I really don't think Mazda meant this car to be very quiet though. I hear the pebbles sometimes and just don't worry about it.

 

[Sleeper 362]

You want 500 extra pounds on the car? If not, deal with the noise. The steel used in this car is just as acoustically quiet as the BS acoustic steel some of these other car companies are offering as a selling point. The rest of the silence comes from softer bushings (less handling), quieter tires (more yeilding, less handling), or more sound deadening material (more weight).

You want less chips in your paint, don't drive up North. That is like complaining about paint fade in Miami, WTF do you expect when they throw sand and salt on the road in the winter.

My freinds Ford GTs door panel fell off at the dealership when he bought it. He didn't write his congressman because of it, he let them fix it right there and went on about his business. He paid 225K for that car and he took it in stride as long as it was fixed. Yall paid 25K for yours.

Enjoy the car for what it is. A car that rivals the Germans in every department for 2/3s the cost. It does what it does and when you may have a little bit of a problem here and there it still delivers the grins. That is what warrentys are for. I have owned and drove a lot of different vehicles and this car is one of THE best I have owned. The problem is a lot of you won't take it into a turny turn track and you will never know where these cars shine the most.

 

[Antonio DiMarco]

+10

You want 500 extra pounds on the car? If not, deal with the noise. The steel used in this car is just as acoustically quiet as the BS acoustic steel some of these other car companies are offering as a selling point. The rest of the silence comes from softer bushings (less handling), quieter tires (more yeilding, less handling), or more sound deadening material (more weight).

You want less chips in your paint, don't drive up North. That is like complaining about paint fade in Miami, WTF do you expect when they throw sand and salt on the road in the winter.

My freinds Ford GTs door panel fell off at the dealership when he bought it. He didn't write his congressman because of it, he let them fix it right there and went on about his business. He paid 225K for that car and he took it in stride as long as it was fixed. Yall paid 25K for yours.

Enjoy the car for what it is. A car that rivals the Germans in every department for 2/3s the cost. It does what it does and when you may have a little bit of a problem here and there it still delivers the grins. That is what warrentys are for. I have owned and drove a lot of different vehicles and this car is one of THE best I have owned. The problem is a lot of you won't take it into a turny turn track and you will never know where these cars shine the most.

Nice...

 

[Zimmer]

You want 500 extra pounds on the car? If not, deal with the noise. The steel used in this car is just as acoustically quiet as the BS acoustic steel some of these other car companies are offering as a selling point. The rest of the silence comes from softer bushings (less handling), quieter tires (more yeilding, less handling), or more sound deadening material (more weight).

You want less chips in your paint, don't drive up North. That is like complaining about paint fade in Miami, WTF do you expect when they throw sand and salt on the road in the winter.

My freinds Ford GTs door panel fell off at the dealership when he bought it. He didn't write his congressman because of it, he let them fix it right there and went on about his business. He paid 225K for that car and he took it in stride as long as it was fixed. Yall paid 25K for yours.

Enjoy the car for what it is. A car that rivals the Germans in every department for 2/3s the cost. It does what it does and when you may have a little bit of a problem here and there it still delivers the grins. That is what warrentys are for. I have owned and drove a lot of different vehicles and this car is one of THE best I have owned. The problem is a lot of you won't take it into a turny turn track and you will never know where these cars shine the most.

they fixed the door panel.... I'll watch them fix paint chips.

 

[Kurt07]

Update time. I got a call from Mazda North America this evening. I am to call the dealership that I purchased the car from and scheduled an appointment. They(Mazda) made the dealer aware that I would be calling. We shall see.

 

[_jp]

well lets all hope they dont take a collective dump on your hood or give you a tampon.