Is anyone else having a problem with the paint chipping off the front of their RX-8? I am constantly trying to clean "bugs" off that end up being missing paint flecks.

Is this from driving at high speed, because the car is so low, or a problem with the paint being cheap?

I have lightning yellow if that helps....

 

Haven't had a problem. Do you drive mostly highway? If so, that can cause the paint to chip... what I did when I firt got my car, was I washed it, and I waxed the car, and applied 2 coats of wax to the front bumper. I wax my front bumber at least twice a month. I've noticed that bugs and tar come off easily with plain water and a soft cloth.


Do you drive close to trucks/SUVs? Those are known to kick debris.

 

I have that problem. The front of my car has little chips all over it. Actually I have chips on the ROOF of my car too. I have Velocity Red, and unfortunately that color shows the chips pretty well...

 

My red car is a debris magnet. I already had to have the entire hood replaced last year when a large hunk of road garbage whacked it, and just last week another spinning piece of crap kicked up by a car in the next lane over bounced off my hood, leaving a 2-inch long scratch in the paint.

The paint on these cars does seem soft to me (Miata owners also complain about this). Even if I'd had a bra on the car, it wouldn't have prevented the aforementioned damage. When you're forced to drive in close proximity to other vehicles traveling at high speeds (i.e., any California freeway), your car's gonna get tagged eventually. All you can do is try to keep a decent distance between you and them, and when the inevitable happens, grin and bear it.

 

I noticed lately tons of debris (trash, tire parts, loose nuts, dead animals) all over the California freeways on the 605 N, and 5 Freeways. What's with the frickin tires...

But ya, paint is a bit thin... paint chips all in the front. Paint chips on the sides next to vents... oh wells. Time to paint it.. Purple now.

 

Wow, you're hitting dead animals? were they dead BEFORE you hit them?

 

Nah, I just see a lot of dead animals on the Freeway. 3 Dogs this past weekend. On 4th of July I saw this Chihuahua looking dog on the side of the freeway, alive still.. and I got the number of the animal shelter to come pick the dog up. I would have, but I already drove past that area, and couldn't just stop the entire freeway to grab the dog.

One of my wacky things to do, call animal shelter to save a dog. :P Now I wish I have the number for "Tire junk on freeway" to get picked up.

 

Color doesn't have anything to do with it. Low slung areo shaped cars are all prone to nose chips, especially if one does a lot of highway driving. That's why the car bra companies exist.

 

I agree with RX-Hachi but I don't like the bras. I too wax the front of the car every 1 to 2 weeks which helps a lot.

 

I've been lucky so far, with only one small chip. Some tips I use:

- Stay in an open lane if possible with no cars in front

- Don't follow cars too close on the highway

- Never stay behind big trucks or any vehicles that don't have fenders

- Never ever stay behind a truck that is open and/or has cargo like rocks or other debri

- Look out for dusty or dirty roads

 

Thanks for everyones input!

 

I think it's crappy paint.

I got 3 decent chips on the nose within the first month of ownership.

I had them filled and bought a bra (for the car!).

I now have two chips on my a-pillar and one on my roof. Nasty deep ones too.

I'll cry along with you.

---A

 

Yea, I'm getting chips too. Honestly - I beleive the paint is really thin on these cars.

 

omg... it's PAINT, not bullet proof tank armour. this stuff happens, which is why you should wax your car or get a bra of some kind (like the 3M clear bra stuff).
i can honestly say that i've never seen a car that sees any amount of driving without chips on the hood.

 

I just went out an looked, and found two right away! Must be thin paint One on the front nose, and another on the side of the front driver's side fender.

 

I second Wakeech. Paint vs. a stone at 70mph -- the stone wins. This is another reason to strive to keep to the "4 second rule" when cruising, especially on freeways. Not only is it safer, but if that's not reason enough it keeps you out of the "chip zone". The pebbles and stones that cause chips are usually only airborn for a brief time. Follow well enough back and that debris has largely settled. You will still get some chips from debris kicked up from adjacent lanes and "bouncing" stones, but they will be far fewer.

 

Wakeech,

I can honestly look at the front of one of my other cars, all of which have been on the road longer, driven under the same conditions, on the same commute, and see FAR fewer chips.

Understood that any paint job won't totally repel the effects of flying objects... the RX-8 paint just seems worse than most.

To top it all off I just today got hit by a rock in the windshield and now am the proud owner of a quarter sized star crack right in the driver's sight line. Time for my third windshield.

---A

 

I totally agree with Livitup, I have a 02 PR5 and noticed so much more chip spots in the front end then my 01 corolla. My 8 is on its way to overtaking the corolla too, my wife and I both drive the same way to work everyday. Just my opinion but I think mazda went cheap on the paint.

 

I doubt you drive as fast with your Corolla that's why fewer paint chips. I tend to drive about 80-110 mph, so that's why I get mine. I use to drive a Civic going around 80mph and some chips. Own a G35, drive about 80+ and some small chips. If I drove a Neon, I doubt I'll make it to 65mph, thus fewer paint chips.

 

There isn't a highway within 100 miles of here where that would be possible, even at 2:30 am.

As soon as there is more than a car length between me and the car in front of me, someone immediately fills it.
To attempt a "4 second rule" would mean traveling backwards.

I just got home from a quick trip out to Silver Spring and back at 2:30am on the Capital Beltway.
I was never more than 100 feet behind a vehicle in any lane at any speed for the entire 30 miles - there is just too much traffic, even in the dead of night.

 

Yea but if the bug's where as big as us they would be as strong as tanks LOL! I'm just joking, but waxing the car will help a lot when it comes to washing off that bug crap. They just dont stick to wax that bad?.

 

The other car I drive to work sometimes is a BMW 325i. It is fully capable of reaching the same speeds as the RX-8.

In any event I almost always set the cruise control on 62 when I make my morning commute, as about 40 miles of it are on a sparsely driven county road that the sheriff's department and state police love to use for revenue generation. (See Here)

Next idea?

---A

 

I just drove from Olympia to Seattle yesterday up I5, and when I got back home - three more paint chips!

 

I bought a bra. I use it every day. I take it off when I have a date. What is sacraficed in looks, is saved in protection. I have had the bra on for 7 months and have no scratches or wear marks as a result. The front of my car is flawless, despite being surrounded by gravel pits in the Irwindale area of SO CAL.

 

LOL! Why would you risk getting your car chipped while on a date?

rx8cited