2012+ Mazda5 Paint - Issues

[Orangutan]

I'll try and get a picture or two up later. Does anyone else have problems with the paint on their 5? Mine has incredibly soft/weak paint, which chips at the drop of a hat. I just had it detailed over the weekend and as I did the walkaround before the job itself, I saw dozens of paint chips on the hood from road debris. I had previously patched quite a few chips so these were all new. I've had half a dozen cars before this and not one of them suffered chips in this way. There are a couple chips and gashes elsewhere but it's primarily the hood that is just torn apart. I've used touchup paint to cover the chips because I'm worried about rust given Mazda's history of rust issues, but it looks like trash. I have a plan for when I can spend a bit more time on it to help mitigate future chips and cover old ones (Turtle Wax Black Box + plastidip), but it's ridiculous.

 

[m5pa]

I think this is a Mazda thing. Mazda being the bit player it is in the automotive world ( compared to giant Toyota or VW for example) they can't spend as much on paint and still keep costs down. I too find the paint very thin, as well as the sheetmetal. Our 2008 GT developed two rock chips in the hood on its maiden voyage home, though that was 400 miles of NY and PA turnpike. I remember when Car and Driver did a long term test of the first gen Miata (20+ years ago now) that they complained about the paint being very thin and swirling easily. Most older Mazdas(10 years lets say) I see in my area all have some case of rust going.

I noticed while doing my rear shocks little specks of rust on the lip of the wheel wells of our 08 GT. I live where the roads are salted in the winter like they are pretzels, so it's not a complete shock. But at only 30k, it does make me wonder how long it will last. I use an orbital and paint sealant twice a year, guess I have to pay more attention to the lip of the wheel wells now!

My best car for paint was my 04 Jetta Wagon that was actually made in Germany, not Mexico or Brazil. Almost as good as the 95 S Class my parents have or their 04 Lexus RX.

 

[Rally Man]

Actually it's not just a Mazda thing. The Honda Fit was notorious for getting chips and scratches easily on the front bumper and hood. That's a major complaint on the Fit forums. I think it's just a cost cutting measure, some manufactures due it now, or might be just down to the car model. In this case, the Honda Fit is the bottom of barrel for them. I'm sure the strong yen is hurting manufactures and forcing them to due these cost cutting, but none more then Mazda. Either way, it stinks about the paint issues.