tiga

My car is about month old now and I just found a rock chip in the center area of the hood. It is small but the first one. Anyone else have the chips on the hood or mainly the front bumper. I am very careful not to follow too close to other traffic. Even if I had the clear bra it would not have helped cause it is just about half way up the hood.

NgoRX8

iTrader: (1)

I have a chip on the hood, very small one though. I would say from a rock as well. And from pictures I've seen of the clear bra, it wouldn't have helped me either.

Mugatu

iTrader: (1)

i have about 200 chips all on my hood and the front bumper of my car. i am convinced that the Mica paint is the weakest paint I have ever witnessed in my life. I currently am having my Mazda dealer look at it for possible problems.

chips are one thing, but i feel that weak paint is the culprit here.

glassetcher

If you do a search for "clear bra" you'll find a lot of info. Anyway, the followng is my experience.

https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-discussion-3/no-clearbra-bumper-58675/

I am VERY happy with my installation of a "clear bra" product. Every day I marvel at how good it DOESN'T look ( it is virtualy invisible!)

Zoom, Zoom

LiveBlues

I have two chips (both from the same small rock) in the center of the rotor emblem in the hood. I saw the rock coming. Couldn't avoid it. It hit once and then skipped. I need to hit it with the touch up paint, but I know that it will still be noticable, especially to me. I feel your pain.

SlowLude

I got rock chips all over the hood too. It would be worse without the clear-bra. Man, I should just clear-bra my whole car!

KRNrx8Driver

I feel your pain, my car has atleast 4-6 rock chips T_T a stupid semi went a little into the shoulder while i was driving down from Iowa to Atlanta GA (where i currently reside) and it chipped my paint T_T i was about to cry. but if you find a good solution let me in on it too best of luck :D

msrecant

I have big chip on the front bumper and a few real small ones on the hood. Who Cares!

Of course I have had the car for over two years, and use it for my daily ride, so I probably have given up on maintaining a showcar finish. :D But I remember the old days when my RX-8 was new and each chip was a dagger in my heart so I can relate to what you are feeling. On a positive note, I have been very happy with the finish and how well it has held up over time. Exceeded expectations!

If the paint chips bug you then the only answer is probably a clear bra and making a real effort to not follow trucks/busses too close. I can't think of any way to completely avoid them if you are going to drive the car. Touchup paint also makes them a lot less noticeable if you can get the knack of putting on as little paint as possible.

Do a search as there are several good threads on fixing paint chips.

tiga

thx guys, I guess just hearing about others with rock chips makes it a little easier. I guess it is a car and unless u keep it in the garage a few chips are bound to happen.