I've had my v-red 8 for 3 weeks now. I've waxed it 4 times...I use Collinite, not Zaino....just my preference.

From day 1, I noticed there are places on the car where the paint surface is "rough" to the touch....even after waxing. There is no visible sign of orange peel or paint damage....you'd have to touch it to know what I'm talking about. And its not the entire car that has this rough feel, only in spots.

The car also has overspray (red paint) underneath on the undercarriage. Is this normal? My car wasnt somehow re-painted at the dealer was it?????? My car is a dealer trade that sat in the original lot for 5 months. I'm not sure why it didnt sell for so long.....

someone calm my fears!!!!!!

Can't help you about the paint - but I know that around here they really are over stocked, and plenty of 8's are sitting on the lots for months. So I wouldn't jump to any conclusion based on that.
Mine did have a rough patch on the - I forgot what they call it - the black plastic strip that runs down the edge fo the door behind the window - but that was just a compression thing from too much force. The service manager took a look, ran his hand over it and it is going to be replaced.

clayblock
Just use clayblock.

Overspray? From what I'm reading it doesn't look good. I'd have that car checked top to bottom. Got any pics of the overspray? I'd say the car was probably repaired. Where is the rough spots? can you take off some interior panels to see the inside of that spot to see if the body panel is perfect? Worth looking into, but I hope it's just minor.

Could be the "Sticky Tack" or the protective stick on shield used in shipping the vehicles for protection of the Flat surfaces- Could not tell from your message, however, if the "rough feel" is only on the hood or trunk deck, then it is most likely the glue residue from the protective film- Your dealer can easily remove, which should have done as part of the dealer prep.

I’d take it to a reputable body shop and ask for their opinion. And in case Mazda does the painting process differently on the 8, you may want to call a different Mazda dealership that also does bodywork to ask how it is painted from the factory. If they paint the panels individually, then overspray probably isn’t good. When you say dealer trade, does that mean it's used? If so it may be worth doing a Carfax.

I'm wondering if the other dealer had damaged the car , had the repair done and the new dealer new nothing of the damage. The overspray is the big thing, there shouldn't be any.

When you mean "undercarriage" are you refering to the suspension and subframe or just the bottom of the car chassis. I'd say that if there is overspray on the gloss black suspension arms means that the car has been repainted and I would start looking for damage to the car elsewhere.

The first new/used car I bought was a 1979 Olds Starfire hatchback coupe. It was on the used car lot of a major area car dealer in Juction City, Kansas. after about 3 months of ownership I stared noticing a weird reflection on the glass under the rear hatch. It of course was ony noticable at night.

Well I started investigating and soon found a bulb and associated socket and wiring harness lying in the right hand fender well behind the right rear wheel, under the carpeting. I then walked around the vehicle and noticed that there was no right rear marker light! WTF? The car was in a wreck and they welded a right rear quarter from a 1978 Starfire to my 1979 car and it did not have the marker light. I then pulled up the carpet and removed the seat cusions and found gobs of shattered glass.

:(

There are strategically placed areas that are reinforced against road debris. Rough textured. Is this perhaps what you're refering to?

I called the Mazda dealer where the car was traded. They claim that there was no damage to the car that was repaired or repainted. I didnt check the suspension arms for paint, I'll check those tonight. Would a dealer "lie" about this?????

Check out another 8 and look for similar paint "problems". Dealer's DO 'lie"!

Would a dealer "lie" about this?????

If they can legally get away with it, sure. Which is why my recommendations were to try independant resources.

Can some of you check under your 8's (look under the car near the middle...I have paint splash to the center of the car). If none of you have this, I'm in trouble....

I noticed some overspray on the undercarriage while changing my oil the other day. Didn't think anything of it; figured it was just from the sequence of building the car. I noticed it mostly on the "rail" part that runs down the long axis near the side. This was on the passenger side; didn't check the driver's.

As for the paint not being perfectly smooth as long as it looks okay I'd recommend some type of clay. It's something you should do anyway to get the paint in top condition and much easier, imo, than getting it resolved by service. If the clay doesn't take care of it, yeah, then go to dealer.

Originally posted by porschegeorg
Can some of you check under your 8's (look under the car near the middle...I have paint splash to the center of the car). If none of you have this, I'm in trouble....

Got any pictures so we can do a comparison?

Yeah, I've got a touch of blue overspray on my undercarriage. I don't think it's anything to worry about. My car was brand new from the factory when I got it.

Originally posted by Nubo
I noticed some overspray on the undercarriage while changing my oil the other day. Didn't think anything of it; figured it was just from the sequence of building the car. I noticed it mostly on the "rail" part that runs down the long axis near the side. This was on the passenger side; didn't check the driver's.

As for the paint not being perfectly smooth as long as it looks okay I'd recommend some type of clay. It's something you should do anyway to get the paint in top condition and much easier, imo, than getting it resolved by service. If the clay doesn't take care of it, yeah, then go to dealer.

I checked the drivers' side and it has overspray underneath too. Those darn robots.... :)

THANKS SO MUCH ALL OF YOU!!!!!! I checked the suspension parts yesterday and there was no overspray. I only have it on the undercarriage "longitudinal rails" (pardon my 914 speak). I think I'm okay.

Thanks again for everyone who posted to this thread!!!! I really appreciate it!!!!!

I've got the same "rough" patches on the front fenders and the hood

I got my car with 8 miles, I figure it's just some sort of protection- any answers? there wasn't anything really that I could see

when I got my RX-8 the paint was ruff to just like you are discribing. It too was on the lot for 5 months. I also trieded a couple layers of wax and it was smoother but not as smooth as it should be. I read here:

http://www.bettercarcare.com/articles.php?articleId=15

And put some car polish on it I used what I had at home (miguires polish and swirl remover)but anything will work and it was nice and smooth.