Paint Quality

[Surfsup]

Am I the only one that thinks Mazda's paint quality is horrible? I have little chios and bubbles on my hood that are not "rock" impacts. There is one area that is bubbling about an inch by 1/2 inch under the clear coat. WTF?

I keep it garage parked at home AND at work. The paint gets very little exposure to the elements.

My wife's car sits outside during work, never washes her car...ever, never waxes it, never cares essentially, and her paint looks great - and her car is a year older than mine! Toyota Corolla.

I doubt I'll ever buy another Mazda again, and I'm too busy to take a day off to take it to the dealer to tell me it is normal vehicle wear and tear. So I'm curious if others have paint issues????

 

[minnesotaart]

What year? My paint is perfect, same as the day I took delivery.

 

[bmninada]

Is it white or soul red?

 

[mazdadude]

Would love to see a picture of your chipped and bubbling paint.

However without examining it, if you are in an area that uses salt or de-icers on the roads, than most likely that is to blame. Not the sun or rain like you are suggesting.

 

[ocinsomniac]

My 2016 CX-5 was the first new vehicle that I've ever had (and I've had many over the past 30-40 years) that did not necessitate me to do a machine paint correction buff out due to swirls, minor scratches or etched on water spots. I was fortunate to find my vehicle very shortly after it arrived on the dealer's lot so they did not have time to have their prep-monkeys to wash & swirl it, and it was not exposed to any acid rain.

Whenever I pick up a new vehicle, I insist the dealer prep guys lay off from prepping it - which means no wash or wax, and if the protective vinyl is still on the body panels to leave it be so I can take care of it.

I was truly amazed when I got it home and put it under the fluorescent lights that there was not a swirl to be found, so I just proceeded to wash and clay without having to take out my machine and polishing compound. A three step Zaino job the next day, and my new CX-5 has the finish to perfection I always desire with a new vehicle, minus half the work, as it does to this day six months later.

I have well over 30 years of detailing experience, some of it professional in my earlier days, and I must say that my first Mazda really impressed me with its paint quality

 

[Natey]

It's a Mazda. They put a lot of bang for the buck into that car. No it doesn't have Lexus paint, but it's also not 700 bucks a month to lease.
Drive it, enjoy it, and don't forget to wax it. (yes)
Pretty much every Protege on this forum has rust problems, including mine. I'm not hating on the brand, just realizing that there was a couple trade offs. I'll take Mazda's great driving dynamics and iffy paint over Ford Focus interior plastics or Hyundai...everything (have you ever driven one? I couldn't believe the one I rented was a 2015 car!).

 

[madar]

I had mine for 3 weeks before it was out in a 10 minute hail storm with 1/2 inch hail. I was horrified. When it was over I went out to look at it expecting all kinds of damage. Know what I saw? Nothing! The paint stood up to the hail. No one will convince me the paint quality is horrible on these vehicles. If you feel you have a real problem then yes, you need to take time out of your schedule and have it addressed.

 

[Tccox]

Paint looks pretty nice to me on my 2016. Less orange peel than was on the BMW. Having my detailer detail it tomorrow and treat it with Cquartz protective coating

 

[robertmazda]

No complaints about the paint on my 2013.

 

[Surfsup]

if you are in an area that uses salt or de-icers on the roads, than most likely that is to blame. Not the sun or rain like you are suggesting.

I'll get a pic posted this weekend. Basically this suggestion is way off base. I've owned a lot of cars (I'm in my 40s), many +5 years in this Chicago environment and have never seen this, nor has anyone I know and I, like most, know a lot of people that own cars.

 

[Surfsup]

Is it white or soul red?

Soul red.

 

[mazdadude]

I'll get a pic posted this weekend. Basically this suggestion is way off base. I've owned a lot of cars (I'm in my 40s), many +5 years in this Chicago environment and have never seen this, nor has anyone I know and I, like most, know a lot of people that own cars.

Can you tell I hate de-icers? I apologize for the salt biased suggestion, and I look forward to some pictures...

Another thing that happens more often then you think, is that the vehicle has had a repair done to it between the delivery boat and the dealer salesman. Is the bubbling limited to a single body panel?

 

[JonW]

It's still under warranty, no? Take it to the dealer and have them fix it.

 

[MikeM.]

So I'm curious if others have paint issues????

My CX-5 has seen over 3 years of driving on ski area access roads with gravel, sand and de-icers and I'm thrilled with the high quality of the paint, still looks new. I also off-road quite a bit where the alder saplings scrape along the side body panels and the paint is amazingly durable.

 

[karlmagnum]

I'm eager to see the pics. By the way, have you tried talking to your dealer about it?

 

[Ride92]

My 2016 CX-5 was the first new vehicle that I've ever had (and I've had many over the past 30-40 years) that did not necessitate me to do a machine paint correction buff out due to swirls, minor scratches or etched on water spots. I was fortunate to find my vehicle very shortly after it arrived on the dealer's lot so they did not have time to have their prep-monkeys to wash & swirl it, and it was not exposed to any acid rain.

Whenever I pick up a new vehicle, I insist the dealer prep guys lay off from prepping it - which means no wash or wax, and if the protective vinyl is still on the body panels to leave it be so I can take care of it.

I was truly amazed when I got it home and put it under the fluorescent lights that there was not a swirl to be found, so I just proceeded to wash and clay without having to take out my machine and polishing compound. A three step Zaino job the next day, and my new CX-5 has the finish to perfection I always desire with a new vehicle, minus half the work, as it does to this day six months later.

I have well over 30 years of detailing experience, some of it professional in my earlier days, and I must say that my first Mazda really impressed me with its paint quality

I am jealous! The CX-5 being my first new car off the dealer lot I did not know how bad they could mess a car up! I bought my car on a Saturday and by the time they finally got around to doing the Out the Door check the service department was closed for the day. They didn't adjust tire pressure or top fluids off like windshield washer, not that big a deal. But because service was shut down they couldn't put it through their wash system so they hand washed it. With, apperantly a dirt bucket filled with dirty water and dirty rags. I've never seen so many swirls on a brand new car. I decided best course of action was to fix it my self. So after compounding and polishing with the DA it was looking right again. I'll know for next time to not have them wash or prep the car and look for one that hasn't been test driven a lot or has very many miles.

 

[GP 2004]

Am I the only one that thinks Mazda's paint quality is horrible? I have little chios and bubbles on my hood that are not "rock" impacts. There is one area that is bubbling about an inch by 1/2 inch under the clear coat. WTF?

I keep it garage parked at home AND at work. The paint gets very little exposure to the elements.

My wife's car sits outside during work, never washes her car...ever, never waxes it, never cares essentially, and her paint looks great - and her car is a year older than mine! Toyota Corolla.

I doubt I'll ever buy another Mazda again, and I'm too busy to take a day off to take it to the dealer to tell me it is normal vehicle wear and tear. So I'm curious if others have paint issues????

Are you sure that your paint is factory original? Sometimes cars are damaged when they are driven off the boat and are repaired locally, then delivered to the dealer.

 

[mazdadude]

Are you sure that your paint is factory original? Sometimes cars are damaged when they are driven off the boat and are repaired locally, then delivered to the dealer.

Yes, it is not easy getting these things on and off of the boats....