Has anyone else noticed that the paint on the hood is considerably thinner than it is anywhere else on the body of the RX8? I take care of my own scratches/dings/overspray/runs in my paint, and I'm pretty good at making blemishes disappear. I've wet sanded/clayed/and polished just about every panel on my car, but this weekend I've met my limit: the super-model thin paint on the hood.

Yesterday I put a dime-sized dark mark in the paint when I went through the clear, and did the same today (an inch to the left) while repairing the first. The first isn't repaired and the area now looks worse. I'm losing confidence in my ability to make an area of this size (now about a half-dollar) disappear seemlessly into the paint around it. For those of you who have dealt with this issue before, can you offer any advice before I replace the hood on my beautiful NG with one made of carbon fiber?

 

Peak hours bump... help me out, 8-ers!

 

I'm afraid it's time to sand and repaint the hood.

 

Should be even paint all the way around.

 

I recall older Mazda's having this problem as well. Is it the thickness of the paint or the clear?

 

I think its both. When I bought my 8(used), The clear coat had started chipping and the silver paint underneath was noticeably faded. Besides a few minor spots on the clear coat on the front bumper and fenders, the paint looks excellent. I'm seriously thinking about just replacing the hood with a CF one though.

Also, does anyone know approximately how much it would cost to re-clear coat a whole car?

 

1k or more, sanding takes time

 

Its AT LEAST the clear... I went through it in record time, even though I had just given the front bumper the same treatment with great results. So, I've been patroling the forum and craigslist trying to find a carbon fiber replacement.

I dont know what it is about Mazda paint... Its beautiful until you actually drive the the car.

 

I think it's pretty thin on the hood & the trunk. I noticed 3 new scratches on the hood today from what appears to be a bird walking on the car? I rarely drive it, so it sits in the same parking spot all day, every day. I don't know where else the scratches would have come from. I'm thinking of getting a cover for it considering I only drive it maybe once every 2 weeks or so.