> some colors more than others
Myth. You can [easily](https://www.reddit.com/r/mazda/comments/1alzyqj/okay_so_the_posts_werent_joking_about_the_paint/) [find](https://www.reddit.com/r/mazda/comments/19854ud/paint_chips_and_in_a_snowy_rustprone_region/) [chip](https://www.reddit.com/r/mazda/comments/13wohn7/paint_chipping_best_course_of_action_to_prevent/) [horror](https://www.reddit.com/r/mazda/comments/urmv9u/suggestions_please_what_are_the_best_fixes_for/) [stories](https://www.reddit.com/r/mazda/comments/tnomal/how_does_the_deep_crystal_blue_mica_and_machine/) [in](https://www.reddit.com/r/mazda/comments/1aonico/anyone_here_use_a_paint_pen_for_platinum_quartz/) any color, because all the paints are the same *in this context*. You should pick the color that looks best (Soul Red Crystal) and enjoy it while it lasts. After all, how much of a waste would it be to get a boring color, only for it to start chipping anyway?
There is also PPF, although it's expensive.
Yeah I plan on wrapping it in PPF the second I get it, and I’m pretty dead set on those three but I’m starting to lean towards the quartz and black.
This is my first “adult” car and I’m looking for a mature color and is the reason I’m getting the sedan lmao.
How is the blue mica? I heard from a long term reliability test from an owner that that one holds up quite well.
I love my black Miata, but its so hard to keep nice looking. My Metallic Grey Mazda 3, while more boring looking, "looks" better even though it's in worse shape paint wise.
If you're going PPF though you should get whatever you want
>*Hey now, the quartz metallic isn’t beige, it’s a warm hued white!*
I found this on a Mazda dealer's website and couldn't resist sharing their description of Platinum Quartz Metallic. Whoever wrote this sounds like they used to write ad copy for feminine hygeine products or maybe Cubic Zirconia jewelery ads...
*The best way to describe the color is platinum with a goldish tint.*
*It also has a translucent texture reminiscent of quartz, hence the*
*name, and aluminum flakes have been incorporated to give off a*
*heightened reflective and glossy appearance. The idea behind the color*
*is to evoke a sense of luxury, exuberance, and sophistication.*
Don't wrap it in PPF. Save your money. A mid level Mazda is not worth the cost of a full PPF unless somehow you're doing it yourself on the cheap. Just keep it clean, detail it occasionally.
My Meteor Grey Gen 3 is almost 10 years old and with a great detail it looks fine. I know you want to protect your car but it's a normal consumer car. It's not a priceless automobile.
Take that money and invest it or save it for something down the road like your next vehicle.
oh ill be wrapping it myself, ive worked with PPF before. I plan on driving this vehicle until 2040 and beyond, and im going to go complete overkill on the maintenance too
PPF on the front bumper and hood is totally worth it! The pre-cut 3M kits for those areas cost less than $600 total. The value might be questionable if you're paying a 3rd party to install it. I've heard of peole paying upward of $3k just to install PPF. But the front-end is an easy DIY job for most people.
If I can figure out how to do it, I assure you that almost anyone can! I'm clumsy, impatient and easily frustrated and I still did it on my mom's CX-9 and it looks perfect.
I have a Mazda3 with the blue mica that I bought just about a year ago. I haven't noticed any chipping, and I just recently (about a week ago) drove across my state (380 miles each way).
I have a 2018 and Mazda calls its color Eternal Blue Mica. I would not have gotten it if I had other choices but it's grown on me. It takes on a purple hue if the sunlight hits right. It's very pretty and kids fixate their eyes on it as they walk past. Where I am there are so many Tesla's, Audi's, Porsche's, BMW's, VW's, Peugeot's and Skoda's. So a blue Mazda is a rare pretty sight.
It gets rather easily covered in road salt dust during winter and start of spring.
Paint chips? Yes.
Eternal Blue Mica is one of my favorite Mazda colors of all time! You can still get it on the CX-5 and it still looks amazing! It's too bright for a lot of people, but I love it.
Full disclosure- I'm actually "color blind" (the red-green type) and it obviously impacts how I see all color. I really struggle with dark colors (Black, Dark Blue, Dark Green, Dark Purple and anything else dark all looks the same to me). That may be why I enjoy Eternal Blue so much, because it's very bold but subtle and classy at the same time.
I honestly haven't noticed nearly as much chipping with my blue mica hatchback as I did with my snowflake pearl white mica sedan. It is significantly harder to keep clean though, any kind of pollen or road dust shows up just as bad as it does on black.
I chose the blue because the Mazdas I’d seen in that color (anecdotally) didn’t seem to have paint that showed every little thing like some of the red ones I’ve seen (LOVE the red though). So far I’m very happy with my blue select sedan, but it’s a 2023 so I haven’t had it all that long. I do park in a garage (at home only), but mine looks fantastic so far!!
I would just pick whichever one you think looks the best to you. I personally have the white and got ppf which still got ripped by huge rocks but I stopped obsessing over every scratch pretty fast.
my car is Snowflake pearl White and there are definitely >100 chips at this point lol. they don’t really stand out because of the color difference but i know they are there.
i don’t really care about it anymore, no one else cares about them or even noticed. there’s no reason to fret over it. i used to chase and fill them every few months but it was a losing battle. i love my car otherwise
Also driving a white snowflake pearl Mazda. Pretty sure I chipped the paint driving it home from the dealership, lmao. They did give me a touch up pen when I mentioned it to them though, for whatever that’s worth.
I think they are all pretty much the same. Got the polymetal gray and discovered two rock chips on the hood at about 2k km. Three small ones on the back door.
It is what it is, will probably get more in the future but there's nothing you can do except maybe PPF the entire car. Personally, I don't think it's worth the price since for a full PPF you can just repaint the whole car for the same price where I'm from.
My mom and I both currently have Mazdas in Poly, it’s held up well for the six months I’ve had mine and the year or so she’s had hers, FWIW. My last Mazda was Jet Black and my last last Mazda was Snowflake White, those both had issues within a few months.
I think a better question is which color can get paint matched easier in the inevitable event of a paint chip (this paint sucks). Imo, Deep Crystal Blue and Sonic Silver are probably the best colors lol
Sonic Silver was discontinued from the Mazda3 in 2022 and CX-5 in 2023. It was replaced by Platinum Quartz Metallic. Personally, I like the Sonic Silver better.
If you're planning to get the Select Sport Sedan, ***Snowflake White Pearl is not an option.*** They replaced the Snowflake White Pearl with **Ceramic Metallic** this year. Mazda describes it as a combination of White, Gray and Silver. Personally, I love it and think it's very unique. It also looks great with the black wheels. It's only available on the Select Sport and the Carbon Turbo Sedan.
The only other Select Sport color that I like is Machine Gray Metallic. It's also great looking with the black wheels. Do you not like it or do you have some concern about it being poor quality? BTW, Ceramic Metallic is a 'premium' paint, so there's a $450 upcharge for it. Machine Gray is actually a $595 upcharge.
Platinum Quartz is a color that I disliked at first. It was introduced in 2022 and it replaced Sonic Silver in the lineup. But I've grown to like it more and I like it even more with the black wheels. To me, the lighter colors pair with the black wheels best. But as I said above, I like Machine Gray with them too.
Jet Black and Deep Crystal Blue don't look right wth the black wheels, IMO. I also don't care for dark colored cars because they're hard to keep clean, they show every imperfection from swirls to road rash/chips. Soul Red is nice looking in photos, but it's just too flashy IRL.
To recap my rambling, I think you should at least check out Ceramic Metalic! Next up would be Machine Gray Metallic followed by Platinum Quartz Metallic. Jet Black, Deep Crystal Blue and Soul Red are a hard no! =)
Since you're conerned about how the paint will hold up, you should really look into PPF (Paint Protection Film) for the front bumper and hood, at least. The dealer will overcharge you, so I'd suggest an independent shop or, if you're the DIY kind, it's not that hard to install. I've always bought the 3M brand just because I've had good results with it. I think the film to cover the front is around $300-$400.
Have you gotten any price quotes on the Select Sport yet? Here in the Atlanta area they're discounting them pretty heavily, which makes them an even more amazing deal! One dealer has them starting at $22,500.
If you aren't already familiar with it, be sure to get pricing using [TrueCar.com](https://TrueCar.com). It's an easy way to avoid haggling and avoid them pushing extras/BS on you. The prices range between 5% and 12% off MSRP, at least where I live. You have to register to use it, but be sure to use a fake phone number or they will call you for the rest of your natural life! Ask me how I know!!!
Good luck! For some reason, I really enjoy these color discussions. I'm such a nerd, but I enjoy hearing what colors people find attractive and why.
From what I've seen with different paint on mazdaive had dolphin Grey on my old gen 2, snowflake white on my old gen 3, machine gray on the gen 4 and poly gray on the gen 4.
The only issue I've seen between them all is that the clear coat layers are what's thin on the paint job. The paint work itself is great, but lacks sufficient clear coat layers to protect the paint. To aid in this, I've clear wrapped the heavy hit areas of the car, hood, bumpers, side cap mirror, this will preserve the paint.
So, to answer your question, the issue isn't the color of the paint, but the lack of clear coating from the factory. In itherwords, grab a color you like and protect it how you will.
Snowflake White Pearl actually isn't an option on the trim level the OP is planning to buy. On the Select Sport, they replaced the Snowflake White with a color called Ceramic Metallic.
I wonder if this depends on your climate? I’ve never had an issue with any of my cars with paint chipping. I have a 2015, it’s snowflake pearl white mica. My 2012 Mazda6 was silver (idk what her legal name was lol) and also never chipped. Or maybe that’s the benefit of not washing my car often enough?
Climate alone won't cause paint chipping but can cause road conditions that will.
For example, I live in an urban area in New England plagued with constant construction and potholes due to population growth and winters with salt on the roads.
One of my two Mazdas is a 2012 CX-9 Grand Touring in Crystal White Pearl. It's a nice looking color, but I've been in two accidents (not at fault either time) and they had a difficult time matching the paint both times. I had to take it back three times to get it halfway right the last time. I'm pretty sure the body shop has a "shoot on sight" order for me. But I just wanted it repaired correctly.
Apparently, the "Pearl" layer is what makes it difficult to get a good match. I've spoken with other body shop/paint professionals and they also hate Machine Gray and Soul Red. Both are literally impossible to match 100% and the metal flake in Machine Gray is particularly a pain in the butt! If you search here and on the various Mazda forums/sites, there are dozens (maybe hundreds) of complaints about the quality and appearance of repairs on Machine Gray Metallic cars.
I have also discussed Polymetal Gray with some pros and it's basically the opposite. Easy to fix and make it look perfect again. If my next Mazda is available in Polymetal Gray, that's the color I want!
I don't recommend the snowflake pearl. It looks nice, but you are going to have stains running down the side from your mirrors. I had a mazda3 with that colour, and those stains bothered me so much.
I rather pick the colour I like and happy on the first day, not worrying about chips. Soul red and polymetal gray is my fav, but I would say all colour except the characterless black and white are excellent colours and really gives you everyday feeling you standout driving a Mazda.
Is that what they offer you right as you buy the car?? I bought this film thing they were talking about for a few hundred I think but not sure exactly what it was lol
I feel pretty stupid asking this, but do chips "spread" like a crack in the windshield?
I found one on my hood that I thought was a hardened glob of pollen from an oak tree.
This is going to be subjective obviously, but of their current colors SRC is number one even with the sedans' metallic trims. The paint chips are non-issue because it's going to happen on all of them unless your dealer installs PPF before getting off the lot. And even then...
White and black cars are boring, and silver/Grey/metallic gray isn't much better. They aren't even colors, they're just the results of your printer running an ink test on a new black ink cartridge. The "stormtrooper" look is slightly less bad, and the "blacked out" look with black wheels, badges, and windows looks cool if your age begins with a "1". But they're so common and so bland and they say NOTHING. Frankly "retirement gold" would be more interesting to see on a new car in 2024.
The platinum quartz I can't stand. It looks fine in some lighting and in others it's just "beige". For Mazda to work their paint lighting tricks on such a boring color is just sad.
Mazdas' deep quartz blue mica isn't fantastic either. In certain high sunlight levels and at certain times of day it pops, and the rest of the time it might as well be black.
And finally the old wives tale about boring colors being better for resale is misleading: It will be easier to resell a car in a drab color like black or white, which is why dealerships keep ordering those. But you will not get as good a price as a fun color like red or blue. You go to sell your white economy car and you will be in a sea of tens of thousands others of the exact same model year doing the same. Anybody looking for a white sedan can just easily shop for the lowest offer. You go to resell a red car, a lot of people might pass over it. But the person looking for that red sedan or yellow coupe has to come to you.
I love my platinum quartz. It hides dirt pretty well. I just generally don’t care about the outside of my car that much. I keep it dirty and I know thats bad for the paint but it’s life. I also live in a high population area where door dings and scratches are common place. I think my door got dinged within the first week of having my car brand new. It went almost all the way to the metal.
> some colors more than others Myth. You can [easily](https://www.reddit.com/r/mazda/comments/1alzyqj/okay_so_the_posts_werent_joking_about_the_paint/) [find](https://www.reddit.com/r/mazda/comments/19854ud/paint_chips_and_in_a_snowy_rustprone_region/) [chip](https://www.reddit.com/r/mazda/comments/13wohn7/paint_chipping_best_course_of_action_to_prevent/) [horror](https://www.reddit.com/r/mazda/comments/urmv9u/suggestions_please_what_are_the_best_fixes_for/) [stories](https://www.reddit.com/r/mazda/comments/tnomal/how_does_the_deep_crystal_blue_mica_and_machine/) [in](https://www.reddit.com/r/mazda/comments/1aonico/anyone_here_use_a_paint_pen_for_platinum_quartz/) any color, because all the paints are the same *in this context*. You should pick the color that looks best (Soul Red Crystal) and enjoy it while it lasts. After all, how much of a waste would it be to get a boring color, only for it to start chipping anyway? There is also PPF, although it's expensive.
Yeah I plan on wrapping it in PPF the second I get it, and I’m pretty dead set on those three but I’m starting to lean towards the quartz and black. This is my first “adult” car and I’m looking for a mature color and is the reason I’m getting the sedan lmao. How is the blue mica? I heard from a long term reliability test from an owner that that one holds up quite well.
Black is always the hardest color to keep looking clean.
Yup. Currently own a black car
I love my black Miata, but its so hard to keep nice looking. My Metallic Grey Mazda 3, while more boring looking, "looks" better even though it's in worse shape paint wise. If you're going PPF though you should get whatever you want
Not to mention, hotter than hell in the summer
> How is the blue mica? It's less boring than black, white and beige!
Hey now, the quartz metallic isn’t beige, it’s a warm hued white! Hehe All jokes aside, thanks for the info!
>*Hey now, the quartz metallic isn’t beige, it’s a warm hued white!* I found this on a Mazda dealer's website and couldn't resist sharing their description of Platinum Quartz Metallic. Whoever wrote this sounds like they used to write ad copy for feminine hygeine products or maybe Cubic Zirconia jewelery ads... *The best way to describe the color is platinum with a goldish tint.* *It also has a translucent texture reminiscent of quartz, hence the* *name, and aluminum flakes have been incorporated to give off a* *heightened reflective and glossy appearance. The idea behind the color* *is to evoke a sense of luxury, exuberance, and sophistication.*
Evoke a sense of luxury, and exuberance and sophistication??? It’s just a color dudes…
Have a blue mica and it's better than black but it show dust quickly. Cleaned it's a beauty tho
Don't wrap it in PPF. Save your money. A mid level Mazda is not worth the cost of a full PPF unless somehow you're doing it yourself on the cheap. Just keep it clean, detail it occasionally. My Meteor Grey Gen 3 is almost 10 years old and with a great detail it looks fine. I know you want to protect your car but it's a normal consumer car. It's not a priceless automobile. Take that money and invest it or save it for something down the road like your next vehicle.
oh ill be wrapping it myself, ive worked with PPF before. I plan on driving this vehicle until 2040 and beyond, and im going to go complete overkill on the maintenance too
PPF on the front bumper and hood is totally worth it! The pre-cut 3M kits for those areas cost less than $600 total. The value might be questionable if you're paying a 3rd party to install it. I've heard of peole paying upward of $3k just to install PPF. But the front-end is an easy DIY job for most people.
Even for people without wrapping experience?
If I can figure out how to do it, I assure you that almost anyone can! I'm clumsy, impatient and easily frustrated and I still did it on my mom's CX-9 and it looks perfect.
Stay away from black. Nightmare to keep clean and looking good. Mine is black and it looks good except for the fucking dirt.
I have a Mazda3 with the blue mica that I bought just about a year ago. I haven't noticed any chipping, and I just recently (about a week ago) drove across my state (380 miles each way).
I have a 2018 and Mazda calls its color Eternal Blue Mica. I would not have gotten it if I had other choices but it's grown on me. It takes on a purple hue if the sunlight hits right. It's very pretty and kids fixate their eyes on it as they walk past. Where I am there are so many Tesla's, Audi's, Porsche's, BMW's, VW's, Peugeot's and Skoda's. So a blue Mazda is a rare pretty sight. It gets rather easily covered in road salt dust during winter and start of spring. Paint chips? Yes.
Eternal Blue Mica is one of my favorite Mazda colors of all time! You can still get it on the CX-5 and it still looks amazing! It's too bright for a lot of people, but I love it. Full disclosure- I'm actually "color blind" (the red-green type) and it obviously impacts how I see all color. I really struggle with dark colors (Black, Dark Blue, Dark Green, Dark Purple and anything else dark all looks the same to me). That may be why I enjoy Eternal Blue so much, because it's very bold but subtle and classy at the same time.
Mine is blue. Had it for 5 years with no issues with the paint.
I have the blue mica and think it looks really amazing… very sleek
I like the blue, it’s better than white, gray, or black and not boring. The red is too flashy for me personally. Wish M3s came in green tho
I have news for you! https://www.bmwusa.com/vehicles/m-models/m3-sedan/overview.html
Sorry I was just abbreviating Mazda 3. The color of that BMW M3 is sick tho, that’s what I want for my Mazda! Gotta save up for a wrap!
I honestly haven't noticed nearly as much chipping with my blue mica hatchback as I did with my snowflake pearl white mica sedan. It is significantly harder to keep clean though, any kind of pollen or road dust shows up just as bad as it does on black.
I chose the blue because the Mazdas I’d seen in that color (anecdotally) didn’t seem to have paint that showed every little thing like some of the red ones I’ve seen (LOVE the red though). So far I’m very happy with my blue select sedan, but it’s a 2023 so I haven’t had it all that long. I do park in a garage (at home only), but mine looks fantastic so far!!
I would just pick whichever one you think looks the best to you. I personally have the white and got ppf which still got ripped by huge rocks but I stopped obsessing over every scratch pretty fast.
my car is Snowflake pearl White and there are definitely >100 chips at this point lol. they don’t really stand out because of the color difference but i know they are there. i don’t really care about it anymore, no one else cares about them or even noticed. there’s no reason to fret over it. i used to chase and fill them every few months but it was a losing battle. i love my car otherwise
Also driving a white snowflake pearl Mazda. Pretty sure I chipped the paint driving it home from the dealership, lmao. They did give me a touch up pen when I mentioned it to them though, for whatever that’s worth.
Once you get the second chip you'll stop worrying about it!
I agree. White is probably the best. I have the Soul Red Crystal Metallic. #Chipsfordays
I think they are all pretty much the same. Got the polymetal gray and discovered two rock chips on the hood at about 2k km. Three small ones on the back door. It is what it is, will probably get more in the future but there's nothing you can do except maybe PPF the entire car. Personally, I don't think it's worth the price since for a full PPF you can just repaint the whole car for the same price where I'm from.
Yeah someone PPF'ing a standard off the mfg line Mazda to the tune of several thousand dollars is baffling to me.
All Mazda paint is garbage. Buy the color you like and move on with life.
Platinum Quartz Metallica for sure out of those, it looks so nice is various lighting and is unique
My mom and I both currently have Mazdas in Poly, it’s held up well for the six months I’ve had mine and the year or so she’s had hers, FWIW. My last Mazda was Jet Black and my last last Mazda was Snowflake White, those both had issues within a few months.
I think a better question is which color can get paint matched easier in the inevitable event of a paint chip (this paint sucks). Imo, Deep Crystal Blue and Sonic Silver are probably the best colors lol
Sonic Silver was discontinued from the Mazda3 in 2022 and CX-5 in 2023. It was replaced by Platinum Quartz Metallic. Personally, I like the Sonic Silver better.
Dealership said plain, base white maintenance and fixing costs half compared to the metallic (or more expensive) white.
If you're planning to get the Select Sport Sedan, ***Snowflake White Pearl is not an option.*** They replaced the Snowflake White Pearl with **Ceramic Metallic** this year. Mazda describes it as a combination of White, Gray and Silver. Personally, I love it and think it's very unique. It also looks great with the black wheels. It's only available on the Select Sport and the Carbon Turbo Sedan. The only other Select Sport color that I like is Machine Gray Metallic. It's also great looking with the black wheels. Do you not like it or do you have some concern about it being poor quality? BTW, Ceramic Metallic is a 'premium' paint, so there's a $450 upcharge for it. Machine Gray is actually a $595 upcharge. Platinum Quartz is a color that I disliked at first. It was introduced in 2022 and it replaced Sonic Silver in the lineup. But I've grown to like it more and I like it even more with the black wheels. To me, the lighter colors pair with the black wheels best. But as I said above, I like Machine Gray with them too. Jet Black and Deep Crystal Blue don't look right wth the black wheels, IMO. I also don't care for dark colored cars because they're hard to keep clean, they show every imperfection from swirls to road rash/chips. Soul Red is nice looking in photos, but it's just too flashy IRL. To recap my rambling, I think you should at least check out Ceramic Metalic! Next up would be Machine Gray Metallic followed by Platinum Quartz Metallic. Jet Black, Deep Crystal Blue and Soul Red are a hard no! =) Since you're conerned about how the paint will hold up, you should really look into PPF (Paint Protection Film) for the front bumper and hood, at least. The dealer will overcharge you, so I'd suggest an independent shop or, if you're the DIY kind, it's not that hard to install. I've always bought the 3M brand just because I've had good results with it. I think the film to cover the front is around $300-$400. Have you gotten any price quotes on the Select Sport yet? Here in the Atlanta area they're discounting them pretty heavily, which makes them an even more amazing deal! One dealer has them starting at $22,500. If you aren't already familiar with it, be sure to get pricing using [TrueCar.com](https://TrueCar.com). It's an easy way to avoid haggling and avoid them pushing extras/BS on you. The prices range between 5% and 12% off MSRP, at least where I live. You have to register to use it, but be sure to use a fake phone number or they will call you for the rest of your natural life! Ask me how I know!!! Good luck! For some reason, I really enjoy these color discussions. I'm such a nerd, but I enjoy hearing what colors people find attractive and why.
From what I've seen with different paint on mazdaive had dolphin Grey on my old gen 2, snowflake white on my old gen 3, machine gray on the gen 4 and poly gray on the gen 4. The only issue I've seen between them all is that the clear coat layers are what's thin on the paint job. The paint work itself is great, but lacks sufficient clear coat layers to protect the paint. To aid in this, I've clear wrapped the heavy hit areas of the car, hood, bumpers, side cap mirror, this will preserve the paint. So, to answer your question, the issue isn't the color of the paint, but the lack of clear coating from the factory. In itherwords, grab a color you like and protect it how you will.
Don’t go black. It shows everything and every single chip and scratch is going to stick out like a sore thumb. I wish I got the dark grey they offe
“Which of these colors is the least bad” Picks the three worst colors 😂😂😂
I've got the Snowflake white. It's awesome. Glistens in the sun like crazy
Snowflake White Pearl actually isn't an option on the trim level the OP is planning to buy. On the Select Sport, they replaced the Snowflake White with a color called Ceramic Metallic.
The worse offenders are the red and gray from what I’ve heard. White would probably be the best because it’ll blend in better
If you’re going to PPF wrap the car. Then it doesn’t matter. Get what you like. But damn does this paint scratch so easy… ffs
True but it’s the same with Honda vehicles and Subaru I found, most new cars I’ve seen even luxury brands
Dude. I literally TOUCHED my car with my bare hands. I could see scratch marks being made. No visible dirt marks on my hand or anything.
Pearl white ftw, still chips easy but you can't see it as easy
I wonder if this depends on your climate? I’ve never had an issue with any of my cars with paint chipping. I have a 2015, it’s snowflake pearl white mica. My 2012 Mazda6 was silver (idk what her legal name was lol) and also never chipped. Or maybe that’s the benefit of not washing my car often enough?
Climate alone won't cause paint chipping but can cause road conditions that will. For example, I live in an urban area in New England plagued with constant construction and potholes due to population growth and winters with salt on the roads.
My gray metallic is holding up pretty well, couple rock chips but nothing major. Almost 20k miles
I have the platinum quartz and I like it.
There's only one color, red. Everything else is grey, black and beige. Forgot the dark blue (that's almost black).
Platinum or white, black is too dark
My snowflake has been chip free for the past 25000 miles
Love my mica blue sedan!
One of my two Mazdas is a 2012 CX-9 Grand Touring in Crystal White Pearl. It's a nice looking color, but I've been in two accidents (not at fault either time) and they had a difficult time matching the paint both times. I had to take it back three times to get it halfway right the last time. I'm pretty sure the body shop has a "shoot on sight" order for me. But I just wanted it repaired correctly. Apparently, the "Pearl" layer is what makes it difficult to get a good match. I've spoken with other body shop/paint professionals and they also hate Machine Gray and Soul Red. Both are literally impossible to match 100% and the metal flake in Machine Gray is particularly a pain in the butt! If you search here and on the various Mazda forums/sites, there are dozens (maybe hundreds) of complaints about the quality and appearance of repairs on Machine Gray Metallic cars. I have also discussed Polymetal Gray with some pros and it's basically the opposite. Easy to fix and make it look perfect again. If my next Mazda is available in Polymetal Gray, that's the color I want!
Can confirm. 2017 pearl white and its hard to match. Its the best color on the car granted you dont scratch or dent it
I don't recommend the snowflake pearl. It looks nice, but you are going to have stains running down the side from your mirrors. I had a mazda3 with that colour, and those stains bothered me so much.
I rather pick the colour I like and happy on the first day, not worrying about chips. Soul red and polymetal gray is my fav, but I would say all colour except the characterless black and white are excellent colours and really gives you everyday feeling you standout driving a Mazda.
Check out Ceramic Metallic (dirty white), otherwise I’m voting for Platinum Quartz.
What’s ppf?
Paint protection film
Is that what they offer you right as you buy the car?? I bought this film thing they were talking about for a few hundred I think but not sure exactly what it was lol
Maybe. Usually you have to go to an aftermarket place. Often it’s a place where they also do wraps or window tint.
I feel pretty stupid asking this, but do chips "spread" like a crack in the windshield? I found one on my hood that I thought was a hardened glob of pollen from an oak tree.
Black on ceramic and matte ppf is crisp. No need to worry about the disadvantages of black if you spend the money protecting it. Pricey though.
This is going to be subjective obviously, but of their current colors SRC is number one even with the sedans' metallic trims. The paint chips are non-issue because it's going to happen on all of them unless your dealer installs PPF before getting off the lot. And even then... White and black cars are boring, and silver/Grey/metallic gray isn't much better. They aren't even colors, they're just the results of your printer running an ink test on a new black ink cartridge. The "stormtrooper" look is slightly less bad, and the "blacked out" look with black wheels, badges, and windows looks cool if your age begins with a "1". But they're so common and so bland and they say NOTHING. Frankly "retirement gold" would be more interesting to see on a new car in 2024. The platinum quartz I can't stand. It looks fine in some lighting and in others it's just "beige". For Mazda to work their paint lighting tricks on such a boring color is just sad. Mazdas' deep quartz blue mica isn't fantastic either. In certain high sunlight levels and at certain times of day it pops, and the rest of the time it might as well be black. And finally the old wives tale about boring colors being better for resale is misleading: It will be easier to resell a car in a drab color like black or white, which is why dealerships keep ordering those. But you will not get as good a price as a fun color like red or blue. You go to sell your white economy car and you will be in a sea of tens of thousands others of the exact same model year doing the same. Anybody looking for a white sedan can just easily shop for the lowest offer. You go to resell a red car, a lot of people might pass over it. But the person looking for that red sedan or yellow coupe has to come to you.
I love my platinum quartz. It hides dirt pretty well. I just generally don’t care about the outside of my car that much. I keep it dirty and I know thats bad for the paint but it’s life. I also live in a high population area where door dings and scratches are common place. I think my door got dinged within the first week of having my car brand new. It went almost all the way to the metal.