Katia

I had a small accident in my RX8 (03 velocity red) and the garage is telling me that they can't match the colour! I have bought the car second hand and the original owner is telling me that the car has never been re-sprayed, that is the original Mazda colour, but the garage are saying that under the bumper the colour is different from the rest of the body which means it has been re-sprayed. Anybody here that can tell me who is telling me fibs? I want my car back

Gravey

iTrader: (3)

Could be the part that has a different colour was replaced previously, and then painted to match. I don't see why it's a big deal that it WAS a different colour.

ShinkaEvo

iTrader: (3)

If the color is different, then it's been painted.
Someone has to.....u just need to figure out who....and why?

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Do you actually have a different color? Or does the shop just not have the ability to match the color?

I suspect the latter is more likely.
Here is a close up of what you should be seeing if it is still the stock color:
HPIM3526.jpg?t=1258304721

I could easily see a body shop not having the skills or paints to be able to match the tri-stage paint, in which case you need to find a different body shop, because it certainly IS matchable. Not cheap, but still matchable.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Very matchable by a competent shop. I have seen many VR RX-8's get resprayed and match perfectly and I have seen a few that did not match perfectly (my own). But there is almost always a color difference between the bumpers and the metal parts in certain lighting and temps. I have a stock never repainted 2009 trunk with the lip spoiler and the trunk itself and the lip spoiler do not match.

This is Hoss-05's car a couple of years back after the bumper was resprayed (it was LY). the drivers side door was repaired, and the front left fender was repaired.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9krpmrx8/5949205386/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9krpmrx8/5949214132/

and it again after the MS kit was added.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9krpmrx8/6397262407/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9krpmrx8/6397259993/

Katia

Thank you so much for your replies, the garage have been bad since the beginning so I more inclined to think that they don't know what they are doing. I can see from the picture posted by RIWWP that my colour is no different! I don't suppose any of you has actually seen what colour is under the bumper?

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Under the bumper? I don't follow what you are asking. Or do you mean on the underside of the hood and engine bay?

Katia

I mean if you take the bumper off

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

You mean the back side of the bumper? or the crash bar behind the bumper?

200.mph

iTrader: (9)

thats not clearcoated

Katia

well, the garage didn't specify which bit, by I guess they meant the body of the car and crash bar as supposed as the actual bumper, because I would expect the back of it to be a slightly different colour. Basically they are telling me that that bit of the car is red but not the same red as the rest. So I am wondering if the car is painted first without the bumpers and then again the final colour with the bumpers on by Mazda, if that makes sense

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Ah, yes. Not every piece of the car is painted with the body color, and only the exterior sheet metal gets clear coated or mica'ed. The red base coat will look different with no mica or clear coat. It also won't be nearly as polished (or polished at all)

Katia

That is what I needed to hear RIWWP! They are taking me for a ride because they are so incompetent and because I am a woman they think they can get away with it.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Here is a pic of behind a VR's bumper. Some mods here, but ignore that. You can see the apparent color difference. This is normal.




A blue one showing another example of how the base coat looks different without the rest of the treatment:




(Even ignoring the dust/dirt/etc...)

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Yeah nothing that gets seen normally has flake in it, or is clear coated.

For example:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9krpmrx8/4983369555/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9krpmrx8/4896190501/

Katia

You are an absolute star! Is it ok if I use your pictures for my insurance to see? I will demand a courtesy car and that my car is moved to a different garage.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Not my pics, but I don't see any reason why you couldn't use them.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Oh, pearl beat me to it

Katia

Fabulous! I will post pictures when I get my baby back
Thank you so much!

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Katia,

I'm not sure what you are unhappy about, are you upset that those parts of the car do not match the exterior? Or are you upset that the body shop thinks the car was previously wrecked and just can't match the paint?

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

I'm guessing that the bodyshop is giving her BS about not being able to match the skin color because of that, and she isn't happy with the bodyshop as a result.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Either way it sounds like the body shop doesn't know what the hell they are doing.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Agreed.

Katia

I am unhappy about the fact that the garage has kept my car for a month now and they are telling me that the colour is not original and they can't match it, and the proof is not original is in the parts of the car behind the bumper. And they are waiting for some specialist to come back with the magical formula.....

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Okay, gotcha. Yeah they are jerking you around for sure. Let your insurance company know, they may be able to assist.