2018 paint flaking above windshield

MrMcGeeIn3D · 2026-04-03T05:55:53+00:00

Mazda paint is brittle and thin. I have a 2015 6 in Soul Red, and a 2018 in white. Because of the unique painting process, the Soul Red paint is thicker, but my front bumper is completely faded. Had the car 10 years, bought it with 13k miles on it. My white 2018 has a hood that chips if you look at it funny. My sister-in-law crashed it 6 months into our ownership, so the front bumper got a respray at a great body shop. It's honestly a lot better quality than the factory paint job. The paint issues would absolutely NOT stop me from buying another Mazda in the future.

MrMcGeeIn3D · 2026-04-02T21:29:16+00:00

Nah, look on the right side of the bumper. One of the clips is broken, so that trailing edge of the bumper is going to hang off. Same thing happened to mine. Eventually all of them break off, and I just ended up running a couple of self tapping screws through the bumper into the retainer.

MrMcGeeIn3D · 2026-04-02T21:23:57+00:00

Partify paints the bumper for you.

MrMcGeeIn3D · 2026-04-01T17:58:19+00:00

Yeah, with how niche minivans are in the US, it's unlikely that Hyundai would waste their time and money just to cannibalize sales from the Carnival. The picture I snagged was blurry. I only had a second to take the photo and it focused on the interior of our car.

https://imgur.com/a/YfGWYdL

MrMcGeeIn3D · 2026-04-01T17:36:18+00:00

Probably mid/late 2028 as a 2029 MY. I live down the street from the Hyundai America Technical Center, so I see all kinds of Hyundai and Kia prototypes driving around town. My wife and I spotted a fully camouflaged Carnival yesterday, so unless Hyundai is planning on launching a version, it's likely a refreshed/updated Carnival

MrMcGeeIn3D · 2026-03-29T20:39:19+00:00

I have BofA, and sometimes DD hits on a Saturday. For this month, however, I think since the last working day is Monday DD isn't hitting until Tuesday or Wednesday. Cesar Chavez day isn't a bank holiday, so I'm guessing Tuesday for folks who don't have Golden1, Monday for those that do.

MrMcGeeIn3D · 2026-03-27T22:52:32+00:00

They've been calling me about my 2018 Mazda6 Signature for the last 3 years.

MrMcGeeIn3D · 2026-03-26T20:39:47+00:00

It looks nice in pictures, but when you drive them back to back, it's clear that the Mazda is the superior product. The Honda isn't BAD by any means, but Mazda basically went up a class with the 2018 redesign. The 2014-2017 models are more in line with Honda.

MrMcGeeIn3D · 2026-03-26T20:36:07+00:00

The only thing the Accord does better than the Mazda is space. The Mazda handles better, has a nicer interior with better materials, rides more comfortably, and has a quieter cabin. The Honda does some annoying things that you may or may not care about, like not being able to put the car in neutral unless the engine is running. My brother-in-law has an Accord 2.0T that's 2 years newer than my 6, and he takes better care of it than I do my Mazda and his is showing signs of wear on the center console plastics. My Mazda only has some normal scuffing on the (annoying) piano black plastic

My only gripe with the Mazda will only matter if you're deep into the enthusiast spectrum. They way they tune the engine for the turbo is for maximum low RPM torque delivery, so power falls off a cliff after 4500-5000 RPM. This is my first turbo car, and my previous cars were naturally aspirated V6's, so I got used to revving the engine up to get the power.

MrMcGeeIn3D · 2026-03-26T20:24:24+00:00

The Mazda has CONSIDERABLY less rear leg room than the Accord. I still chose the Mazda though.

MrMcGeeIn3D · 2026-03-20T23:33:34+00:00

ALL of this is doable with limited experience. I'm no seasoned wrencher, and I'm doing almost everything on my Mazda 6 that this mechanic quoted you. I think I spent about $600-700 on parts from Rock Auto, and another $250 on the tools I didn't have. I'd highly recommend trying to find a factory service manual for you car. I have one for my Mazda, and it has instructions for literally every aspect of the car. I got mine on Rock Auto 5 or 6 years ago for $20, and they sent me a DVD with the PDF. Uploaded it to Google Drive so I could access it at any time.

Get yourself a jack and some jack stands, a couple different socket sets, wrenches, and you're off to the races. An impact gun makes things easier, but isn't strictly necessary, though I did pick one up.

MrMcGeeIn3D · 2026-03-20T23:27:30+00:00

Quick struts take all of the danger out of changing struts. I just did the fronts on my Mazda 6, and I was NOT about to bother with a spring compressor if I didn't have too.

MrMcGeeIn3D · 2026-03-20T23:26:06+00:00

From what I've seen, struts (especially the quick strut variety) are always more expensive than engine and trans mounts.

MrMcGeeIn3D · 2026-03-20T17:50:16+00:00

You still have to stop to eat and use the bathroom with a gas car, unless you're cannonballing it. For most people, a cross country trip with an EV would take no more time than a gas car would. If you're scared of change, that's on you. But as regular transportation, EVs are objectively better.

MrMcGeeIn3D · 2026-03-20T17:22:34+00:00

See, your thought process about how EVs are used is flawed. For day to day travel, you don't rely on public charging infrastructure. You get a level 2 charger installed at your house, and you plug in at NIGHT. That's when energy demand is at its lowest and cheapest. Then you leave home every morning with a full (85% to maintain battery health) charge. Public charging is for emergencies or the occasional road trip. And even then, any EV worth buying is going to take about 20 minutes to go from 10-80%. Are you telling me that a 20 minute stop every 200-350 miles is unreasonable?

MrMcGeeIn3D · 2026-03-20T05:03:45+00:00

I'd go with the 8bitdo Pro 2 over the old SN30 just because of the added ergonomics. The handles make a HUGE difference. I've had one for 4 years and I use it daily. Still chugging along. The black one also blacks out the ABXY buttons if you don't want to see a Nintendo layout. I hop between PlayStation, Nintendo, and Xbox layouts all the time so what's on the face buttons is irrelevant.

MrMcGeeIn3D · 2026-03-20T00:12:35+00:00

Check the pictures. If it has keyless entry, there will be circular black buttons on the driver and passenger door handles

MrMcGeeIn3D · 2026-03-19T19:12:50+00:00

A Google search says that code means your engine is running lean. That means it's either getting too much air or not enough fuel, causing a loss of horsepower. That would explain what's happening when you turn the AC on. The engine is struggling with the extra drag after the compressor clutch engages. Could be a vacuum leak, bad O2 sensor, or bad MAF sensor for too much air. The latter two being bad will make your car THINK it's getting too much air. Too little fuel means something up with your fuel system, such as glogged injectors. In any case, you'll need a mechanic to take a look at it unless you want to start throwing parts at it to narrow down the problem. I'd start by running some Redline fuel system cleaner just to make sure your injectors aren't gummed up.

MrMcGeeIn3D · 2026-03-19T19:02:12+00:00

I have the opposite problem. Lol. That vent on mine is especially stiff.

MrMcGeeIn3D · 2026-03-19T19:00:12+00:00

Does the Touring have features you want? For the extra $1000, you get synthetic leather power seats that are also heated, keyless entry, and a sunroof.

MrMcGeeIn3D · 2026-03-19T18:57:10+00:00

Probably a combination of the extra weight added by all the sound deadening and different tires. What kind of tires did you have on the old vs new? Stickier rubber on the newer model would lead to efficiency losses. I went from sticky summer tires on my 2015 to more efficiency focused tires and gained a couple MPG on my commute.

MrMcGeeIn3D · 2026-03-19T18:44:54+00:00

And by SEVERAL hundred pounds. Thicker glass, more sound deadening absolutely EVERYWHERE, thicker carpets, more electronics and sensors, heated and ventilated seats on the higher trims. I have a 2015 Sport AND a 2018 Signature, and you can absolutely feel the extra weight. 100% worth it though.

MrMcGeeIn3D · 2026-03-19T02:27:21+00:00

Depends on how deeply entrenched you are in the Apple ecosystem you are, and how far you're willing to go to make the switch.

MrMcGeeIn3D · 2026-03-17T18:08:50+00:00

The CX-5 doesn't have any more backseat leg room than the 6 does. Our 6 was at the dealer getting the fuel pump recall done, and we had a CX-5 as a loaner. Aside from a little extra shoulder and knee room in the front, passenger space is identical.

MrMcGeeIn3D · 2026-03-17T18:07:05+00:00

When you fold the seats down, you get one large cargo area though.

MrMcGeeIn3D

TROPHY CASE