Paint on my Mazda 3

[Fstgrl5050]

Does anyone else notice how damn thin the paint and lack of clearcoat is on this damn car. I had some scratches fixed and used a buffer and it took off the clearcoat and some of the paint, so now I have some light white spots on my car. Oh well. I guess it's my own fault. :mad:

 

[macklum]

Common complaint . Car manufacturers need to save money ,less paint more profit ,let the consumer pay for as new paint job

 

[krstofer]

my car was egged a few weeks ago. There are egg shaped scratches in the door now. It's crazy how easy it is to scratch the paint.

 

[Sir. SpeedALot]

my car was egged a few weeks ago. There are egg shaped scratches in the door now. It's crazy how easy it is to scratch the paint.

Dude, that sucks. I had a 96 Camaro that was egged and the marks never came out. I tried buffing and polishing it, but no luck. Some people just have no respect...

(nuts)

 

[Loose]

Sorry

my car was egged a few weeks ago. There are egg shaped scratches in the door now. It's crazy how easy it is to scratch the paint.

That sux krstofer.

 

[dulog]

Sorry to hear that krstofer & Fstgrl5050, that sucks.

Fstgrl5050, I'm wondering how exactly the paint got buffeed off? Also what was the tool (orbital, rotary, brand?), the pad and the polish you were using. Sorry about all the questions I'm just trying to learn more. I've been spending a lot of time lurking around on autopia.org lately. It's pretty helpful when it comes to paint care and problems.

 

[B_blake53]

Sounds like someone has no idea how to use a buffer. Next time try a piece of 2000 wet dry paper use it wet, sand scratch lightly, then buff with some 3m perfect it III compound. If the scratch is still there then I would suggest painting.

 

[Newf]

damn, what kind of buffer man? 80 grit? j/k

Paints on all cars are getting pathetically thin. My last civic was crazy thin and drove me nuts.

We have the environmental regulations to thank for thin paint...same reason why there is so much orange peel in paints as well. If it makes you happy, mazda's paint is one the most environmentally safe paints used of all auto manufactures ( they won an award even). So, all that paint falling off, ain't hurting the planet one bit

 

[krstofer]

I guess one of the reasons I like silver cars so much is, when there is a scratch it is not as noticable. Oh well, if it get's too bad I will just have to fork over the bux....

The other cheapie thing I noticed is it seems the metal is weaker in newer cars. It seems to give alot easier than it does on older cars.

 

[goldwing2000]

I guess one of the reasons I like silver cars so much is, when there is a scratch it is not as noticable. Oh well, if it get's too bad I will just have to fork over the bux....

The other cheapie thing I noticed is it seems the metal is weaker in newer cars. It seems to give alot easier than it does on older cars.

You are correct, sir. The structural steel on today's cars is the same thickness as body work on cars 60 years ago!

It's all about weight reduction and fuel economy (and making things cheaper, of course)

 

[krstofer]

You are correct, sir. The structural steel on today's cars is the same thickness as body work on cars 60 years ago!

It's all about weight reduction and fuel economy (and making things cheaper, of course)

Yeah, I used to have a 71 lemans that I couldn't dent with a baseball bat. I'm afraid a stiff wind will total the car.

(headshake

 

[styles_t]

last year my civic was egged in October - i knew who did it (it was the damn kids on the block that i'm always telling them to get away from the car) anyhow - i waited for the next day in the damn cold and i threatened those kids made them wash my car - it must've been around 25 degrees

 

[Fstgrl5050]

Sounds like someone has no idea how to use a buffer. Next time try a piece of 2000 wet dry paper use it wet, sand scratch lightly, then buff with some 3m perfect it III compound. If the scratch is still there then I would suggest painting.

It was a big scratch. And I didn't actually fix it myself. Hell all I can do is drive it and put gas in it..lol

I used the touch up paint that was given to me to fill the scratch. It was all the way to the metal. Then it was wet sanded smooth then buffed. I don't remember what kind of wax was used but it wasn't done by someone who doesn't know what they are doing. I guess like everyone said, the paint is thin and so is the lack of clearcoat. Lesson learned.

 

[dulog]

It was a big scratch. And I didn't actually fix it myself. Hell all I can do is drive it and put gas in it..lol

I used the touch up paint that was given to me to fill the scratch. It was all the way to the metal. Then it was wet sanded smooth then buffed. I don't remember what kind of wax was used but it wasn't done by someone who doesn't know what they are doing. I guess like everyone said, the paint is thin and so is the lack of clearcoat. Lesson learned.

I'm not sure how bad these white spots you describe are, but I wonder if the place you took it to should be liable for the damage they did especially since you mention they didn't know what they were doing. If this is a detailer or a body shop it's they're resposibility to know what they are doing, and to have insurance to protect themselves when things like this come up.

 

[ZippityZoomZoom]

9 or 10 coats of Zaino and a garage and my car still looks great after 6 months and 3700 miles. BTW the thinner steel panels don't pose a danger in a crash, it's the structural elements of the car.

 

[pkchung987]

so..

i just got my mazda 3 hatchback.. and to avoid all the trouble with paint peeling off is there any coating that i can buy and apply? or even professionaly? whats the best coating to put on to make ur car look better and cleaner and safer???

 

[dulog]

i just got my mazda 3 hatchback.. and to avoid all the trouble with paint peeling off is there any coating that i can buy and apply? or even professionaly? whats the best coating to put on to make ur car look better and cleaner and safer???

many, many opinions on that. the best and most experienced advice I've found has been on autopia.org and detailcity.com