I’m looking at used ND2 and ND3 1.5s. Deep crystal blue and machine grey.
The blue ones I’ve seen in the metal seem to get paint chipped on the front bumper, wings and bonnet.
Is it the case with both these colours? Is one less prone to chipping than the other? Or are they as soft as each other?
Thanks
More than likely as soft as each other to be honest, its not just the softness of the paint being water based, its also the fact its thinly painted (the same for all colours).
Do they both show a white primer underneath when chipped, like the blue does? Very visible unfortunately
It’s a fact of life unfortunately. Ceramic wrap helps if you try and find one that’s been wrapped from new or use the chips as an excuse to get the price down and get busy with the touch up stick.
I have a deep crystal blue ND which has white primer ‘speckles’ visible on the boot lid where my hand goes to close the boot. It looks like it is contamination from before the blue was applied as the top coat is intact.
Personally I would choose the colour you like best and enjoy it. Marks, stone chips, fading are inevitable over time. Try to keep on top of paint work obviously, but don’t get too hung up.
All cars of all colours are susceptible to gravel rash if they’re not protected in some manner.
Short of a bonnet-bra, which has it’s own downsides, you’ll struggle to avoid the inevitable.
Regular top-ups of wax will help, but only so far, and not every owner of an MX-5 is a committed enthusiast.
As soon as you buy the car buy a touch in paint stick too, genuine Mazda paint matches well.
(Shudders)
Whats worse, little white flecks or paint blobs 
Just speaking from my kack-handed experience
I have the Deep Crystal Blue and yes it has the almost obligatory chips.
I tackle them with a touch up kit, (colour and clear laquer), followed a couple of days later by wet and dry 3000 grit and soapy water. 2 or 3 coats of polish, (i use Auto Glym super resin) seems to help keep the chips to a minimum. They are not really noticeable unless you look closely, but you can’t stop them whatever the colour.
Dark cars generally show white/light chip flecks. Light cars show dark undercoat flecks. For a reason!
At least….that’s how it was when I were a little lad and lived in a shoe box with a family of 8 in the middle of the street. No doubt about it. Neither my 2 Monzas, Capri 2.8i, or Renault 25 2.5 litre turbo had any such issues. But our newish 4000 mile Swift has already picked up a couple of “grit blast” chips…and I do not tailgate….anywhere. From on coming vehicles I’m certain. Water based paint sucks. And that is despite £300.00 worth of Gen 3 paint guard done before delivery.
Definitely not white flecks, at least red touch in paint blends in better on mine.
I had an NC crystal white metallic, why is it when that chipped all you saw was black under the paint, the actual plastic bumper colour I assume?
Sage advice!
Having had 6 of these little cars, the last being a soul crystal red RF, when choosing a new one it had to be Aero Grey, not only because I liked it but it hopefully will display future chips less. That said, my recent red (44k) just needed a day in a paint shop (£240) to have the many chips converted from white to red. It looked much better (& the three layer paint touch up was not the favourite for professionals to use) but not perfect. The answer - choose the colour you like best as thats what you will enjoy each day.
PS got mine ceramaic coated asap
The grey should last well. The navy have been using it for years!
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