...just a few thoughts.
Upon finally taking delivery of our new ride, the question of how should the renesis be broken in? Go gentle, or fast & furious? If we are to take the go gentle route, how long are we to do so?

Also, I have seen some talk about maintenance over the first few months. Specifically regarding waxing, sealants & treatments.
What are some good ideas on this. How long do we wait to slather a wax job to it? What products are best?

I for one would love to see some feedback on these inquiries! :cool:

I don't know the proper way to break in a rotary, but odds are there will be instructions in the owner's manual -- read 'em, follow 'em, and you'll be fine.

Regarding paint care: The surface is safe to wax the day the car rolls onto the dealer's lot. The paint is baked onto the car in the factory, so you don't need to wait 60-90 days for it to cure. Now, what you should do to actually take care of the surface -- there's a lot of voodoo/theory about what works best. But, if you're happy with how the finish on your current car has been maintained, keep doing it. I personally use Megiars products. Some people like Mother's. Others swear by Zanio (sp?). I think that all three of the brands I mentioned will give you excellent results.

Keeper ... TY

Refer to some of east moon's earlier posts. He quoted a 1000km (~620mi) break-in period not to exceed a certain rev limit. Check out his posts, but more importantly as keeper said, follow the directions in your owners manual.

Regarding the paint, I'd suggest doing the claybar treatment to get off the crap that got on it during shipping from Japan. After that lock in that shine with Zaino. :)

What about that Dura Shine stuff they advertise on TV - never wash the car again, etc etc etc?

For the paint, I plan to do the same thing I did with my current car when it was new (it's 2 years old now, but the paint is still very clean, deep shine, no swirls):

a) Wash with dish soap (removes wax)
b) Clay bar + car soap to clean the paint
c) Apply Zaino
d) Apply more Zaino
e) Apply even more Zaino :D

--SL01

I could be wrong, but I suspect there is nothing unusual about the paint and it's maintenance. I've ordered a Titanium GT/6mt and I have a Titanium Miata. In the course of a year, I've waxed it once with a Meguire product, but wash it regularly and wipe with Meguire finishing stuff every so often when it's not very dirty. After 15k miles, 6-8 autocrosses, lots of hot sun (live in the south on the coast), it still looks like new. BUT, I think it depends on where you live. It it gets subjected to snow/ice/salt, or in and around a large city with bad air, then you may need to give it a little more TLC. My Miata still looks good enough that it been selected for a auto show on Hilton Head in November.:D

Originally posted by SL01
For the paint, I plan to do the same thing I did with my current car when it was new (it's 2 years old now, but the paint is still very clean, deep shine, no swirls):

a) Wash with dish soap (removes wax)
b) Clay bar + car soap to clean the paint
c) Apply Zaino
d) Apply more Zaino
e) Apply even more Zaino :D

--SL01
that's what I'm talking about! :)

I'm buying it to drive, not to coddle!

Originally posted by eccles
I'm buying it to drive, not to coddle!


...FAST & FURIOUS THEN I PRESUME?

I just went and looked at Zaino's web site and I have a question. Which Zaino should be used, #2, #3, or #5?

Originally posted by JerryR
I just went and looked at Zaino's web site and I have a question. Which Zaino should be used, #2, #3, or #5? There's a FAQ on the site too :)

Yes, and I read it, but it left me wanting. Let me elaborate on my question.

1. Does the RX-8 have a clearcoat finish?
2. According to the Zaino FAQ, I should get Z-1, 2, 5, 6, _and_ 7., and of course they'd like me to buy as much Zaino as possible. For you people who use Zaino, Zaino, and more Zaino, what do you recommend for real world Zaino use on a car that won't be going to shows but which I do want to keep looking good?

Thanks,
Jerry

Originally posted by JerryR
Yes, and I read it, but it left me wanting. Let me elaborate on my question.

1. Does the RX-8 have a clearcoat finish?
2. According to the Zaino FAQ, I should get Z-1, 2, 5, 6, _and_ 7., and of course they'd like me to buy as much Zaino as possible. For you people who use Zaino, Zaino, and more Zaino, what do you recommend for real world Zaino use on a car that won't be going to shows but which I do want to keep looking good?

Thanks,
Jerry
I think your best bet is to visit Autopia (http://www.autopia.com) , as they are full of info we don't have :)

>I think your best bet is to visit Autopia , as they are full of info we don't have

That Autopia link goes to a site for dental scheduling software. You're right, they seem to be full of information not available on this forum. Thanks, my teeth are much cleaner now.

I have the Z1, Z2 for clearcoats, Z5, the car wash and detailing spray, whichever numbers those are. I don't wash my car that often, maybe once every two weeks in the summer and I still have a half bottle of the car wash left. The quick detailing spray is awesome but the more you use it, the faster you need a new one of course.

I have put on two coats of Z1 and probably 10 coats of Z2/Z5 over two summers and I have used maybe half of each bottle of Z2/Z5. Like the website says, it's better to use less more often. Apply it very thin. Looks like my initial investment of about $100 Canadian will last me at least 4 yrs.. This is for the Zaino products only of course.

Honestly, I find Zaino to be very easy to apply and take off compared to "conventional" waxes.. And it really lasts a long time! I put on about 5 coats last summer.. last coat was about September.. We had a VERY tough winter in Toronto.. my car is STILL beading as of now and it looks quite well after I wash it. But it's time to put on a couple of coats again..

Btw, now that the ZFX is available, it eliminates the need for Z1 and speeds up the curing process..

You'll have to find out if the colour you choose is a clearcoat or not.. most likely it is.

To sum up, I think Zaino is a great product for lazy people like me, I like my car shiney but don't like hand washing it/waxing it/drying it. :) It makes the whole process as easy as possible and lasts a long time and as you can see from how much product I have left, it's not THAT expensive in the long run.

Here are some pics of my car after only one coat of Zaino.. :)

http://images2.fotki.com/v15/photos/4/42946/184171/1030379_IMG-vi.jpg
http://images2.fotki.com/v14/photos/4/42946/184171/1030384_IMG-vi.jpg
http://images2.fotki.com/v15/photos/4/42946/184171/IMG_1371-vi.jpg

Haha.. Herc meant this.. http://www.autopia-carcare.com/

Thanks much, Quick_lude! Mine will be titanium, btw.

I do pretty much the same thing as Quick_lude and have used about the same amount of Zaino over the past two years.

But, I've used both Z1 and Z-FX (Z-FX wasn't available when I first started using Zaino). Z-FX is great stuff--really speeds up the whole process. One caution about Z-FX--it might not have much of a shelf life. When I went to Zaino the car last month, I found the Z-FX had dried up--could have been a bad seal from when I last closed the bottle, not sure--anyone else experience that? The Z1/Z2/Z5 were all still good to go.

--SL01

Originally posted by Quick_lude
Haha.. Herc meant this.. http://www.autopia-carcare.com/

They don't even sell zaino there.... are their products as good?
Expensive, but he makes convincing write-ups.

I feel like I want to be lazy and just order a Perfect Shine Kit, a Detailing Clay Kit, a Complete Wash Kit, and a Interior Detailing Kit.

Too much?

Originally posted by JerryR
1. Does the RX-8 have a clearcoat finish?


Every car made for at least the last 10 years has had a clearcoat finish. You usually see that disclaimer because cars without a clearcoat still drive around on the road. For example, the '84 ranger I used to have...

I find it is important that you don't let the dealer pre or wash your car when take delivery. While waxing my new '99 Miata back then, a week after I took delivery, I've found swirl mark all over.

Originally posted by Keeper
Every car made for at least the last 10 years has had a clearcoat finish.Not true - some of the recent Miata colors have been non-clearcoat.

I've read that RED colours are the ones without clearcoat sometimes.. :confused: but it's best to ask..

Definitely DO NOT let the dealer wash the car before delivery.. If you are anal they also should let you take the protective tape off by yourself.. :)

Originally posted by eccles
Not true - some of the recent Miata colors have been non-clearcoat.

Your kidding?! Ick...

Ok, well, there are two "easy" ways to tell if you have a clearcoat or non-clearcoat finish (in my experience anyway).

1) The finish looks matte without wax on it
2) Whatever you apply wax with will change to the car's color (waxing will pull paint off of the car).

http://www.autopia.org

When you are notified your car has arrived, advise the sales guy that you want only the white sheeting/plastic removed in and out, and only to remove the cosmoline slime from the paint(salt water protection=required for overseas transport). Maybe a soap-bath/armor-all/windex, but NO WAX OR POLISH if you want to seal the paint yourself. He will get with the service dept. to arrange your request. Dealers want a perfect delivery so will occasionally wax the hood/roof/decklid on darker cars. Let them know you want to do it yourself and you won't dink them on the Customer CARE delivery survey. I spent 3 years doing PDI's and pre-delivery detailing and prepping cars in the condition the customer wanted, from a basic wash to full paint/undercoat/scotchguard/pinstriping(*gag*). Last thing that should come out of the car upon service drive delivery should be paper floormats with a broad smile on the customer's face when you hand over the keys. (That was always the best part, helping them to adjust the seats and tune their fav radio stations, especially when they were cuties.) :)

I'm very excited for all you guys/gals. Congratulations! Santa Claus is making a rare summer visit, and we've been waiting a helluva long time here, haven't we? ;)

Originally posted by JerryR
Yes, and I read it, but it left me wanting. Let me elaborate on my question.

1. Does the RX-8 have a clearcoat finish?


I would guess that all the paints but the Yellow has clearcoat.

The Mazda web-site specifies that the Black is definitely clear coated. I believe that most if not all modern metallic paints have clear coat and that includes the mica paints so I would guess that they are clear coated, although I can't guarantee it without seeing it. The Yellow is not listed as clear coated and since it isn't metallic, and in the light of the specification of the Black, I would also guess that the Yellow is NOT clear coated. Which is kind of weird because most cars are clear coated these days.

Sorry that I can't be more helpful

-H

I just checked, the green is "Mica" as opposed to "Clearcoat". You have to go to the Mazda website and build your own - it can be CC (clearcoat), M (metallic), or MC (mica). Any idea what mica means?

Anybody else have any "nicely worded" letters or a form of some kind that they are going to submit to their dealerships before the car arrives so that they know what you want done to the car and what you don't want done?

I want to get something to them in the next couple of weeks, but I don't want to come across as some pain-in-the-ass customer to them. I just want them to be aware of what my wishes are about what is done and what is not done to the car before I take delivery.

Let's come up with some examples. I'll start working on something and post it.

You guys offer some ideas of some of the things that will be pertinent to help me out. I've got a few ideas from reading this thread, but more would be helpful.

This is part of a letter I sent back in March to my dealer.

March 25, 2003

On the web, the forums indicate that many orders for the RX-8 are being confirmed and VIN numbers are being distributed. Any word on my VIN yet?
>
>Also, I am very excited about getting my new RX-8 and have a few important points to make. Since I have paid a deposit and have a signed agreement, the car is mine. As such I would appreciate the following:
>
>1. The car should not be driven for any purpose except if necessary to fix any mechanical problems that needs to be addressed before delivery to me.
>
>2. No demonstrations or test drives should be given to other customers, your employees or anyone, without my permission in advance.
>
>3. 2,000 RPM on the engine should not be exceeded for any purpose. It should not be unnecessary to drive the car beyond 10 miles per hour and less than 2 miles should be on the odometer when I pick it up.
>
>4. Do not install a license plate on the front of the car.
>
>5. Do not install any dealer stickers anywhere on the car.
>
>I don't mean to be a pain about this, but I have been waiting over two years for this car and it is very important to me. I know you will understand and comply with my requests.
>
>Please, confirm that you have received this message. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you.

i'll go with the real zymol or mother or 1 Grand paste wax

dish soap with clay bar

polish, wax then seal

Originally posted by LesPaul
This is part of a letter I sent back in March to my dealer.

March 25, 2003

On the web, the forums indicate that many orders for the RX-8 are being confirmed and VIN numbers are being distributed. Any word on my VIN yet?
>
>Also, I am very excited about getting my new RX-8 and have a few important points to make. Since I have paid a deposit and have a signed agreement, the car is mine. As such I would appreciate the following:
>
>1. The car should not be driven for any purpose except if necessary to fix any mechanical problems that needs to be addressed before delivery to me.
>
>2. No demonstrations or test drives should be given to other customers, your employees or anyone, without my permission in advance.
>
>3. 2,000 RPM on the engine should not be exceeded for any purpose. It should not be unnecessary to drive the car beyond 10 miles per hour and less than 2 miles should be on the odometer when I pick it up.
>
>4. Do not install a license plate on the front of the car.
>
>5. Do not install any dealer stickers anywhere on the car.
>
>I don't mean to be a pain about this, but I have been waiting over two years for this car and it is very important to me. I know you will understand and comply with my requests.
>
>Please, confirm that you have received this message. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you.

Good letter.. don't forget to tell them NOT to wash the car. 99% of the time that's when you get your first swirls.. :mad:

Thanks to LesPaul & DonG35miata, I have taken their suggestions and will provide the following document to my dealer within the next two weeks:

I’m writing to let you know how much I appreciate all of your and <salesperson's> help and cooperation in assisting me in acquiring a 2004 Mazda RX-8. I know there were moments when I made a pest of myself, but you were always patient and helpful and maintained your sense of humor.

Now I want to make a pest of myself one more time, and I hope you will equally understand.

My request has to do with a few matters concerning the preparation of the RX-8 before it is delivered to me. The following list covers my concerns and what I’d like the prep to include (or not include). I’m sure you will take care of these items, without exception; in the event there is an issue with any of my requests, please make me aware ASAP.

1. My car should not be driven for any purpose, except if necessary, to fix any mechanical problems that need to be addressed before delivery to me.

2. No demonstrations or test drives should be given to other customers, your employees, or anyone, without my permission in advance.

3. 2,000 RPM on the RENESIS Rotary engine should not be exceeded for any purpose. Proper break-in is essential to its reliability, and we both want to avoid possible warranty issues.

4. It should not be necessary to drive my RX-8 above 10 mph, and less than 6 miles is expected on the odometer when I inspect my vehicle at your dealership prior to taking delivery.

5. Do not install a license plate on the front of my car. A <Dealer Name> Mazda rear license plate frame may be installed, if you desire.

6. Please do not install any dealer stickers anywhere on my vehicle. The car by itself will draw spectators, and I will gladly make anyone aware of where to purchase one from. Please supply me an ample supply of business cards for that purpose.

7. Please do not put any pinstriping on my RX-8.

8. Do not wash or wax the car. I plan on using Zaino to seal the paint finish.


I hope I don’t sound like a pain in making these requests, and I am sure you follow many of these procedures. Your understanding in this is appreciated. Any Customer Survey that Mazda requests from me will include the highest marks possible, provided all of these requests are met.

It has been a pleasure to deal with you and Bentley Mazda up to this point.

I’ll follow up by telephone in a few days to discuss this letter.

Sincerely yours,

Can you even move it out of a parking space without the engine going above 2000 RPM?!?!

By the way......what is the break-in "rules". I thought you were not supposed to rev it past 7000 rpm for the first 500 miles or something like that.

I know I've read it somewhere......

In my original letter to the Dealer I asked not to rev beyond 6,000 RPM. The dealer agreed to all my suggestions but mentioned that his instructions were to stay below 2,000 RPM. Seems odd to me too.

Originally posted by 91vert
By the way......what is the break-in "rules". I thought you were not supposed to rev it past 7000 rpm for the first 500 miles or something like that.

I know I've read it somewhere......


THATS EXACTLY WHAT I WAS WONDERING! ANYONE?.. ANYONE??