Does the RX-8 have problems with rock clips on the nose of this car?
 

Does the RX-8 have problems with rock clips damaging its paint job on and around the nose & fenders of the car?

A lot of wide & low profile, round nose cars have this problem and usually means a paint job, or a protect mask like a Bra for the vehicle. Is this a problem for the RX-8 as it is for the Porsches or S2000s and any other low standing round nose sports car.

If so how is this countered? The invisible Bra/Mask any news on this? Lebra black mask is it any good?

If not why is this so? How is it avoided?

Yes - I currently have five chips. Two on the front bumper, two on the hood, and one on the fender.

:banghead:

Sounds like you answered your own questions... Yes the RX8 is susceptible to nose dings. You can get a Bra to protect your paint job. You may also want to consider getting oil cooler screens and ac condenser screens if you don't already have them.

Mazda paint is like egg shells. Subject to damage easily.

They have been building houses/buildings like crazy around where I live, but with close to 9k miles on the car, I've had a bunch.
I've filled about 12 on the bumper, hood(alot) and even roof. Mazda paint sucks and is very thin IMO. My old civic was sitting lower and used to be alot harder to chip.

My hood is covered with nicks in the paint... thanks El Paso.

Others have already responded about the paint. I have also found that the windshield seems to be more susceptible to chipping/cracking than other cars. I seem to recall other threads in this forum that also report that the paint and/or windshield glass is fragile on the RX-8.

Cheers

it's a low car with a painted nose. It's going to get chips. Deal with it or buy a beater to drive. Personally, I can live with a stone chip every now and then for the fun this car generates (ghosts in the machine notwithstanding).

Yes, but the thin and weak Mazda paint doesn't help things.

Mine has tiny little chips all over the hood and its only 1.5 years old.

I have tons of little rock chips all over my bumper and a few on my hood.. Yes its annoying to look at.. Oh well, one day i'll just get it professionally painted again..

Don't drive behind trucks or ride people's asses.

You guys like the looks of your car soi much you don't want to cover the nose with a bra or better yet what about the invisible bra kit for the nose and the out side mirriors? Wouldn't that solved the chiping and windsheild problem with aero tilt, (sending the debri overthe top of car) built in the Lebra mask?

Yeah, I have the clear bra

Mine's a lease - therefore I would have to put on my care face to worry about it.

From what I read on here, clear bra is best applied when the car is new or very newish.

Yeah, if you put it on when new, it will keep the headlights from sagging as the car gets older.

Nothing a quick trip to your plastic surgeon can't fix. Ooops. Sorry--you meant the car. ;)

I have a full clear bra.

Yes, you will get chips where the clear bra is not covered. Some really nasty rocks will tear the clear bra and leave a little hit mark. After 40K New England year-round miles, if I shine a bright light directly on my clear bra, nothing but pitting reflects. However, that pitting is in the clear bra, and the paint is intact underneath. So, when the light doesn't hit it directly on, then all of the color is there.

So overall, it's worth getting the clear bra, unless you drive the car just a few K miles a year and avoid winter driving.

Getting headlight film is really nice. I had 36K worth of pitting on my headlights after 1.5 years. I replaced the film and ta-da, clear headlights again.

every car will get rock chips. clear bra is a great investment.

YES we have problems with rock chips galore.

problem is solved with either $500+ clear bra -or- $120 mazda nose mask. also helps if u learn to not follow the car in front so close and don't constantly look at the front of your car.

out of sight, out of mind... <lol>

ive put 40K+ miles on my carr -- its a brilliant black from 5-7 feet away its not that bad but when you get close it looks like someone had a bit of fun with a sandblaster on my paint.

Agreed, paint is shit, especially on the side aero flares.

i have a couple of chips on the nose but thats it. im not too worried about it. Its fiberglass so it wont rust. I have the stock nose right now, if the chipping gets worse, it'll give me a chance to repalce it with the MS nose...

I dont know any low riding car (300zx, mr2, rx7, etc...) who doesnt have front end paint chip damage due to rocks flinging up from the road because of trucks and cars. 2 objects moving 50+ mph colliding isnt to forgiving for any paint job. I dont feel that mazda skimped on the paint rather, even if they did ad more layers of paint, this problem would still occur.

I don't think its layer that needs to be improved, perhaps Mazda needs to improve the hardness of the paint somehow.