I suspect there may be many factors that contribute to the problem and to the likelihood that an individual owner will experience the problem. It could be influenced by the temperature, humidity winter road treatment methods, as examples. This forum is a small non-representative sample of all Mazda owners. (As you mention, your few hindered mile analysis is also a small sample.) I suspect the members of the forum pay more attention to their vehicles than the average owner. I also suspect that owners with problems are more likely to sign up for the forum. I am surprised that the typical car reviewer never mentions the problem. They tend to stress what a great color it is.

I would guess that the fact that in the first year of the life of your Mazda there has been few chips, there is a much better chance that you won't have the problem to the extent that others have.

Bottom line, individual results will vary.

 

 

Use a microfiber cloth to dry....Just found out that bath towels are sometimes abrasive. Seems to help.

 

 

 

I believe there are two related problems. The chips are obviously the bigger problem. Secondarily, it appears the paint is so soft that it scratches easily. The microfiber cloth to dry would help with scratches from drying the car but not the chips.

 

Hey folks, just curious: is the paint chipping still as big a problem on 2019 models as it was on 2018's and earlier? Or did they make some changes to at least reduce the problem (I doubt it is eliminated.)

I currently drive a 2007 Mazda3...really happy with the car overall and no paint chip problems. I am looking to move up to a 2019 CX-5 and I love the Soul Red, but if the paint chip problem is that bad I may have to reconsider.

Are the other colours very vulnerable to chipping too?

Thanks!

 

We do have a 2018 CX-5 and have no issues with the soul red paint. It's been used now more than a year and about 11.5K miles driven.

 

Does anyone have a 2019 model they are having paint problems with?
Does anyone have an MX-5 ND colour that is actually thickly painted and durable?

I'm sorry to hear about all of the problems with the soul red / soul red crystal. I've been seriously considering buying an MX-5 RF 2019 new because all of the pre-2019 ones i've seen has the bonnet is littered with stone chips. This seems to be regardless of colour although soul red appears the worst with possibly ceramic being the best. I went to visit one with the dealer claiming it was immaculate showroom condition since it had only done 2000 miles since 2017. It had several stone chips and swirl marks. And this is the paint that is supposed to be better than soul red crystal. I'd actually be heartbroken spending £25-30k on my first new car only for it to be all chipped up and ugly after such a short mileage and period of time.

I have considered going with Xpel PPF but that costs about 10% of the car's value for what equates to thin sticky-back plastic. I also noticed when inspecting Xpel vehicles that it doesn't go right to or over the edges so there are still gaps where you paint is not entirely protected. Furthermore, it's possible that the film may let some stone chips through. Then there is the worry of what happens if you need to take a section off due to damage or when it starts to look unsightly - is this thin, brittle paintwork going to survive PPF removal or is the paint job going to be damaged?

I'm starting to reconsider choosing soul red crystal or even buying an MX-5 at all give what I've read on here. Perhaps a used Boxster might be the way to go. Is it too much to ask to have a decent paint job when spending £25-30k on a new car and £790 extra on factory paint?

 

Might be a hit or miss issue. We own a 2018 soul red and it is now almost 1.5 years. No issues at all with the paint.