So far no chips in the paint, can't say the same about the f'ing window though
 

I just found another tiny chip in my window. The first few got me sick now I just accept that the window glass is soft. I have a 1990 Maxima which I have owned since new that does not have one darn chip. Why do they make the glass so soft now for safety or some dumb thing:D

My experience with Mazda's is their windshield galss indeed chips easy but is very resistant to cracks. When I have replaced the OEM Mazda units with aftermarket units the opposite was true.

I went through two windshields on the Miata, but have managed to avoid chips on the 8 so far (I bought it in January). I've never heard of "soft" glass, flatso - are there really differences in the hardness of windshield glass, or have you just been unlucky?

Not a materials scientist but harder glass would be more prone to chipping. Softer glass would be more resilient.

Stay further back from the big rigs and all the SUVs.

well the glass can be designed to reduce impact if say a head goes through it so that is why I used the term "soft glass". I am not sure if that is the case but seems like a possibility. May be back luck but just seems strange that a 15 yo car has none but a 6 month old one has 3. Just glad they are all low on the windshield so I don't notice them that much.

I have also noticed this on my RX8. I have only 4K miles on it and there are multiple pits (at least 5 or 6). I had a Miata before this, same roads and about 60K miles, but had no pits. I wonder if it is just the design of the car? Seems like more small rocks seem to bouce off this window as compared to other cars I have driven. I am waiting for the one BIG rock so I will get a new window through insurance ;)

I have a 2000 Miata Special Edition and an RX8. The Miata windshield has a lot of very small pits in it. Proabably a result of the sand found on Southeastern North Carolina roads. So far, the Rx8 seems more resistant to pitting.

OK, if you think about this a bit, the more aerodynamic the car, combined with a low ride, will equal more pits.

It's simple, the air is light, it moves over the frame, the rocks aren't, the go smash. If your car rides low to the ground, you're going to get more rocks.

I learned this with my Honda CRX a few years back.

Ok, here in Southern Calf. I have started to take a survey.

So far any Rx 8 with a few miles on it has pits in the windshield.

The only time I have ever received pits is after driving through a sand storm.

I have several cars and they have less pits than the new RX8.

I think Mazda has defective windshields. A 94 Buick Skylark with less pits than a new car, a 2001 Diamonte, a 1999 Diamonte a 2002 Eclispe. Oops, my 65 Ford is close, but the Rx 8 still wins with more pits.

Cheap windshields in Rx 8's!

I don't have any pits, but I have two major rock chips, and one of them is right in my line of sight. The damn sun catches it and shoots a prism of light into my eye... I've got to find a place to repair it if possible. I agree that this windshield is not of the same quality as my Miata- I put 100k miles and many rocks and debris hit the windshield at highway speed over it's life, and never had any chips. The rocks would leave a ring of dust/powder when they made impact, but no chips. Not so on the 8... :(

I somehow got a pit on the side of my car. I also have a shitload of paint chips from driving behind SUV's. I really don't care much for my car's paint job, as long as I'm not drenched in primer like a ricer.

Sorry about the windshield flatso.

All the little damages my car gets are battle scars.

Chips/cracks......
 

I have to agree that the RX-8 glass is 'softer' (and I really don't care why.)

Here in the North we get a lot of chips and cracks, fact of life, deal with it! But this car has WAY more damage in the 15 months I've had it.

My first was a little chip at the bottom, then it crept higher and higher, heading for the 'line-of-sight', then a huge rock that made a three inch crater up by the mirror. Finally, a third pebble hit RIGHT on the end of the first crack - stopping it dead!

I will probably leave it for the winter, then start fresh in spring, but it does look like hillbillies own it!......uurgh! :mad:

S

I've got more chips in my windshield than in any other car I've ever driven. And now there's a huge crack, and we have no idea where it came from. Never had to get a windshield replaced before until now. I've noticed more rocks seem to hit me than in other cars I've driven- maybe it's just something about the 8.

Yeah, I finally got so tired of fixing chips that I just check it once a week and clean whatever is there, and touchup once every couple months. And thats just the nose of the car. The glass must be made of putty cause I also have quite a few chips in it already.

I have to agree with everyone-I too have some pits. I try to avoid following big rigs and gravel trucks but if you drive the freeways hard to escape. All the Mercedes that I have had also pit very easily so I think it is more the glass than aerodynamics. After first pits/chips I just try to forget about them.

Bob