Mazda paint quality question, and concern with door dings.

[andygold]

Considering purchasing a 2015 CX-5, and I'm curious about the paint quality. It seems with the SKYACTIV treatment, weight is being pared down (possibly very thin windshields?), and I was wondering if Mazda is using a very thin coat of paint on these vehicles.

I had a 1993 Mazda protege that the paint on the hood/fenders/doors would chip pretty much just from looking at it. I remember the green paint with the grayish primer showing everywhere from hundreds if not thousands of chips. It looked like my hood had been sandblasted!

My 2002 Subaru Impreza WRX was markedly better, but the World Rally Blue aluminum hood had dozens of chips, again with a very light colored primer showing beneath.

My 1983 VW GTI also had thin paint and door metal, with black paint and white primer (what were they thinking????)

My daughter's Honda CR-V (which is now my daily drive), and my wife's 2000 Odyssey both have over 150,000 miles each on them. Mine has maybe 3 or 4 chips in the hood, with none whatsoever in the few door dings (very few door dings as it seems like they use some relatively thick metal in the doors). The Odyssey has suffered about a dozen or so chips in the hood...during the last 14 years. My daughter purchased a 2011 CR-V to replace the '03, and on the way home (on a ferry) from the dealer, a car in the next lane bashed her door (I'd never heard her swear like that before (rant) ), but no ding, no dent, no paint damage. The guy might have ended up swimming had their been damage

So, of all of my vehicles over the past 30 years, the Hondas had the best paint by far, and seemed to be the least likely to get door dings.

How do the current Mazda's in general stack up, and how does the CX-5 specifically stack up in terms of paint chipping and resistance to parking lot door dings? I think I read somewhere on one of the forums about a possible issue with the blue paint....

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

Well, my 2013 paint has paint chips everywhere on the front bumper, and lesser the hood. More than My Ford escape that I owned for 5 years ever did by a longshot. I don't know about the other model years/paint colors. My paint color is not offered anymore.

 

[Kedis82ZE8]

I had a 3M Clear Mask put on mine. This covers the front, headlights, front part of the hood, front of mirrors, door edges and door handle area.

 

[CC58]

I have a blue CX-5 about 7 months and not a scratch or ding yet. Previously had a 2007 Honda Civic and that paint began to discolor and peel after 5 years. Honda did a paint recall on several colors in that time frame. They also extended the engine warranty to 7 years for 2006-2009 Civics due to eventual engine block cracks. Sold mine after getting recall paint job, and glad I didn't have to go through engine replacement recall. No brand is perfect.

 

[CX-SV]

2.3 years/30K miles of CX-5 ownership, 2 front fender dings from somebody's door.

 

[runtohell121]

On my 2014 CX-5 (13 months of ownership, 10.5k miles), there are about 5+ paint chips on the front bumper, not much on the hood yet. No dings on the doors/fenders. Seems like the paint is about the same or maybe worse than my 2010 Honda Insight though there are at least 15+ paint chips on my Insight after 4 years and 60k miles...

 

[katman]

My 2003 jetta has thick paint. I live in one of the windiest areas in the country, some people replace windshields every two years because the wind pits them. Jetta with 180k has decent paint but is still pitted. Honda has very, very, very thin paint, just enough to keep the metal from rusting on the lot. My '98 had red primer, red paint with tinted red clear.It had lots of bare metal peppered spots when i sold it.
My CX5 has the optional white, don't know how thick it is yet as it has no pits. I did get a full vinyl bra for it, goes from lower bumper to top of roof, no damage. This is what you need if you are concerned about pitting.
The metal is very, very thin. If you get a ding, you might be able to pop it out. If not, paintless dent removal can.

 

[paris1]

15K miles on a Sky Blue 2013 and not a mark on it from rocks, doors or anything else. I'm ultra careful about where I park, keep the car garaged and don't tailgate. Mazda paint quality, IMO, is comparable to any other manufacturer in this price range. No better, no worse.

 

[MikeM.]

My 2013 CX-5 has been doing a lot of bush whacking on over grown Forest Service roads and the paint is undamaged. It get's light surface scratches that can only be seen when the light reflects at the optimum angle but they will buff right out. Modern paint is thinner but much harder and more durable than automotive paints from yesteryear.

Still looks great and I've never even waxed it.

 

[Kedis82ZE8]

Fortunately I work early early enough to get a special parking spot that is 1.5 times the normal size and a garden on one side. I have always parked way out and find spots with only one side where someone can pull along side me.

MIKEM: Good to know that paint is holding up well with offroad.... I am in protective mode right now but I plan to to be in the same arena as yours. The first major scratch or ding is always hard.

I usually wax every 6 months. This product makes waxing fairly easy.

 

[paris1]

My 2013 CX-5 has been doing a lot of bush whacking on over grown Forest Service roads and the paint is undamaged. It get's light surface scratches that can only be seen when the light reflects at the optimum angle but they will buff right out. Modern paint is thinner but much harder and more durable than automotive paints from yesteryear. Still looks great and I've never even waxed it.

Uhh, question Mike. How do you know all those surface scratches will "buff right out" if you've never waxed it??

 

[V8toilet]

I made my own door ding protectors and I wish I could rip pictures from an IPad to this forum to show you. My first CX5 was liquid silver and by 28k miles the front bumper was peppered from all the rocks and road salt from around here with lots of highway driving. I just noticed a chip on the roof of mine today where the paint around it is bubbling because water is getting underneath the paint. I was kind of surprised about that one. The rest of the car is doing okay but I have a clear bra on it this time.

 

[robertmazda]

I'm just shy of 2 years and 36,000 miles. Sky blue paint. No complaints here. A few chips, but nothing unexpected that makes me think this paint is any worse than others.

 

[Seminole]

Funny I have a 2009 Civic in the family and the paint on that is terrible. At least it's roof hasn't developed the dreaded cloudy roof http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1092810_2006-2013-honda-civics-will-get-extended-paint-warranty

So far I've found the CWP paint on my CX-5 has held up pretty well. A few small chips but nothing that Dr. Color Chip didn't take care of. With proper care and waxing there is no reason the paint shouldn't stay showroom new.

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

I was toying with the idea of having my car wrapped white, for a change of pace.. I think it would look tight with my wheels/roof bar black + it would save the paint lol

 

[SayNoToPistons]

Having a 2008 and 2009 Civic in blue and white, I beg to differ. My S.O. had a silver 2001 CRV and the clearcoat failed on most parts of the car, and the plastic sections chipped itself to bare plastic. Though Mazda (and Mercedes) is known for horrid orange peel.

 

[MikeM.]

Uhh, question Mike. How do you know all those surface scratches will "buff right out" if you've never waxed it??

Because they are shallow scuffs caused by whacking branches and small saplings. They are only surface scratches caused by fine dust between the branches and clearcoat. The paint is really hard.

Although I recall I had to pay about $200 extra to get the Pearl White so maybe it's better than the no-cost colors. I just know it's tough stuff.

 

[Skorpio]

I made my own door ding protectors and I wish I could rip pictures from an IPad to this forum to show you. My first CX5 was liquid silver and by 28k miles the front bumper was peppered from all the rocks and road salt from around here with lots of highway driving. I just noticed a chip on the roof of mine today where the paint around it is bubbling because water is getting underneath the paint. I was kind of surprised about that one. The rest of the car is doing okay but I have a clear bra on it this time.

I would be interested in seeing your DIY door protectors. On the ipad, you can download the Tapatalk app for free. From there, you can load pics from the ipad via the app.

 

[cybercruiser]

Although I recall I had to pay about $200 extra to get the Pearl White so maybe it's better than the no-cost colors. I just know it's tough stuff.

Yeah, it was $300 extra for the Soul Red(with Perl, still not sure what the perl in the Soul Red means??), but, I'm really really hoping it holds up better than red cars I've had in the past that eventually sun-fade to pink.

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

Yeah, it was $300 extra for the Soul Red(with Perl, still not sure what the perl in the Soul Red means??), but, I'm really really hoping it holds up better than red cars I've had in the past that eventually sun-fade to pink.

I believe it's called "Plasma Purple".