IMO Best Looking Red out there now....

[TTQ B4U]

Not sure what others think, but to me Mazda makes one of the best looking red colors around. Soul Red Metallic is definitely a color I like. Those that don't know, I got rid of my Infiniti and will rock my son's car until things normalize in the world and we're back to traveling for work. Really made no sense for us to have my car if it didn't get used except for an occasional local errand. In the mean time, I'll rock the Lincoln until it goes away in spring. Until then, this is my wife's new-to-her 2018 CX-5 Touring that we picked up in Late December with just over 32k miles on it. It's been in service just over 30 months and was in need a of a make over.

Overall the car was in good shape less the swirls from a lifetime of tunnel washes. The treatment here given Mazda also has about the thinnest paint out there, was to get it between 85-90% correction leaving room for future polishes and re-coatings as needed. Maybe not a long term ride for her but I would expect we'll keep it 5-7 years at minimum.

I put it through it's full paces of course, including a full steam extraction the day we brought it home. A full leather treatment including a leather coating and a full engine cleaning.

After enjoying some time off for the holidays it was time to get to the exterior of it. Here I did my premium enhancement polish, basically a good 1-Step Correction which included a base-coat primer as a prep for the ceramic coating heading its way.

Ceramic wise, it received the full treatment, Glass Coating on all windows and mirrors, Wheels were polished and ceramic coated, Plastic Trim and Cladding was cleaned and stripped then coated to keep it black and fresh too. Paint coating wise, this one received 3-Layers of CarPro's offering. Two products including their newest Silicon Carbide Ceramic. Finally door jams were polished and sealed as all too many manufacturers leave them dull and lifeless with minimal clear coat on them.

My Approach Included:

• Polished with my Flex XCE using both Yellow Rupes Pads and Lake Country Orange Flat Pads
• Rupes iBrid Nano with yellow Rupes Pads used for small areas like door jambs, etc.
• Car Pro Essence was the polish of choice
• Griot's Fine Glass Polish was used too
• Rolite Fine Grade Plastic Polish for Tail lights then polished with Essence too
• Coating wise:
  • CarPro Fly Bye on Glass
  • CarPro Dlux for Trim work
  • CarPro Cquartz UK 3.0 was the first layer
  • CarPro Cquartz NEW SiC made up the two subsequent layers
  • GYEON Q2 RIM for wheels
• Meg's Hyperdressing for tires
• Meg's D4510 Plastic Coating for engine bay area

Now onto the pics. Typical grey weather in Ohio but at least mother nature gave me a few dry minutes to take her outside for photos.



So how bad was it? Let's just say the paint matched the tail lights

Engine is cleaned but up next will be the underside of the hood. Pretty much the only part I didn't get to this time.

Trim all coated including the cowling area which always takes a beating

Doors and Door Jambs all polished. Aftermarket Door sills installed too.

The Gold Metallic Flake really pops under the lighting. Can't wait to see her all cleaned up in the sunshine

 

[Klasse Act]

In the 2nd from last pic you can clearly see the gold in the paint Spesking of paint, not sure which year they made a switch, but there's Soul Red and then came Soul Red II, I'm thinking yours is the latter

Mazda has come a long way since Ford let them go, now they're going a bit upmarket, looking to compete with Acura.

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[psnt1ol]

I considered getting the CX5 early in 2020 but ended up with a Subraru Crosstrek. The standard all wheel drive was the decision maker since I also travel between 3 states regularly for work. To be honest... if I knew 2020 was going to that bad , I would have held off in buying a new vehicle all together. LOL

I am not a red car fan but this red looks nice. Nice job!!!!

How was your experience with Carpro SIC??? What was your process in determining when to remove SIC?

 

[TTQ B4U]

In the 2nd from last pic you can clearly see the gold in the paint Spesking of paint, not sure which year they made a switch, but there's Soul Red and then came Soul Red II, I'm thinking yours is the latter
Mazda has come a long way since Ford let them go, now they're going a bit upmarket, looking to compete with Acura.

Good to know on the color. I'll have to look into it so I'm up to speed. For sure on the up-market for Mazda. Again, we almost got it back in Spring 2018 but went for the Lincoln. Loved the car and honestly, I'd have bought it if the price delta between the two wasn't so much. Normally I wouldn't advise buying a lease out but I would have if the used market wasn't so strong as they would have likely made me a deal. It's all good. The interior of the Mazda is nearly on par with my old S4. Similar look and feal and it's super quiet. Dare I say quieter than her Lincoln. Definitely rides better given it's not on thin sidewall 20's. I would love to upgrade the wheels as it would look WAY Nicer, but she'd just curb them like she did the Lincolns (face palm). At least these have a higher sidewall to protect them.

She'll miss the power but overall Mazda has done a great job ensuring it moves out okay. No powerhouse but it's surprisingly well tuned for around town. All in all it was an awesome bargain.

I considered getting the CX5 early in 2020 but ended up with a Subraru Crosstrek. The standard all wheel drive was the decision maker since I also travel between 3 states regularly for work. To be honest... if I knew 2020 was going to that bad , I would have held off in buying a new vehicle all together. LOL

They get cross-shopped a lot. The new CX-3 is the one that the Crosstrek competes with now for sure. This one is AWD thankfully. They do a pretty good job of implementing it too. Have only had it out in the one snow fall thus far but it performed very well. Not much if any delay in the power shifting from front to rear.

How was your experience with Carpro SIC??? What was your process in determining when to remove SIC?

This was my first go-round with it. I layed it down over top of UK 3.0 so I'll have a better feeling next time when it's on first. Not sure if putting 1 layer of UK 3 and 2 layers of SiC will matter but I wanted to try it as I've read they are good together.

Initial impressions are the UK 3.0 is easier to use. Flashes far quicker is mainly why. To me the SiC takes a while to flash thus slowed me down a bit. The second layer of it was easier to remove but then it was already on top of two other layers of coatings thus making it pretty slick. No grab to the final layer at all. Again, I'll see what SiC is like over Essence right from the start next week when I do a customer's car. Stay tuned.

 

[briarpatch]

Beautiful work

 

[Klasse Act]

I considered getting the CX5 early in 2020 but ended up with a Subraru Crosstrek. The standard all wheel drive was the decision maker since I also travel between 3 states regularly for work. To be honest... if I knew 2020 was going to that bad , I would have held off in buying a new vehicle all together. LOL

I am not a red car fan but this red looks nice. Nice job!!!!

How was your experience with Carpro SIC??? What was your process in determining when to remove SIC?

Did you know the CX-5 has available AWD? The Subie has a bulletproof AWD system but with all the traveling the Mazda saves you big time at the pump and is a nicer place to be in, pretty important with your job and all

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[psnt1ol]

Did you know the CX-5 has available AWD? The Subie has a bulletproof AWD system but with all the traveling the Mazda saves you big time at the pump and is a nicer place to be in, pretty important with your job and all

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This was not my 1st Subaru. I had an Outback for years and years until I drove it to the ground...LOL There is almost a cult following for Subaru from Subaru owners. I simply am not that guy.

The AWD for subaru is standard across all trim levels while the CX 5 is not. The sticker price between the two is a couple thousands more for the CX 5 AWD. Subaru been doing AWD forever and I like to think they figured it out by now. Mileage is actually slightly better with the subaru (27 city / 33 highway). On my last trip from Reno, Nevada to San Francisco, CA ... I averaged 38 MPG (5 miles over speed limit all the way through in the middle of the night) !!! The Mazda do have a nicer interior when compare to a comparable equipped crosstrek.

Like I said before.... If I knew 2020 was going to be that bad, I would have held off. LOL

 

[psnt1ol]

Good to know on the color. I'll have to look into it so I'm up to speed. For sure on the up-market for Mazda. Again, we almost got it back in Spring 2018 but went for the Lincoln. Loved the car and honestly, I'd have bought it if the price delta between the two wasn't so much. Normally I wouldn't advise buying a lease out but I would have if the used market wasn't so strong as they would have likely made me a deal. It's all good. The interior of the Mazda is nearly on par with my old S4. Similar look and feal and it's super quiet. Dare I say quieter than her Lincoln. Definitely rides better given it's not on thin sidewall 20's. I would love to upgrade the wheels as it would look WAY Nicer, but she'd just curb them like she did the Lincolns (face palm). At least these have a higher sidewall to protect them.

She'll miss the power but overall Mazda has done a great job ensuring it moves out okay. No powerhouse but it's surprisingly well tuned for around town. All in all it was an awesome bargain.




They get cross-shopped a lot. The new CX-3 is the one that the Crosstrek competes with now for sure. This one is AWD thankfully. They do a pretty good job of implementing it too. Have only had it out in the one snow fall thus far but it performed very well. Not much if any delay in the power shifting from front to rear.



This was my first go-round with it. I layed it down over top of UK 3.0 so I'll have a better feeling next time when it's on first. Not sure if putting 1 layer of UK 3 and 2 layers of SiC will matter but I wanted to try it as I've read they are good together.

Initial impressions are the UK 3.0 is easier to use. Flashes far quicker is mainly why. To me the SiC takes a while to flash thus slowed me down a bit. The second layer of it was easier to remove but then it was already on top of two other layers of coatings thus making it pretty slick. No grab to the final layer at all. Again, I'll see what SiC is like over Essence right from the start next week when I do a customer's car. Stay tuned.

I am looking forward to it. Thanks...

 

[Klasse Act]

I'd say the CX-30 is more on par with the CrossTrek rather than the CX-3. The CX-3 is based off of the Mazda 2 and the CX-30 is basically a lifted Mazda 3 or the CX-4 in other countries markets.

Acura should be worried about Mazda as they have the quality and tech to compete with them and although the new TLX is AMAZING looking with PERFORMANCE to match...Mazda has the new Mazda 6 coming soon...RWD & inline 6, surely an AWD version will be available but its REAR WHEEL DRIVE BASED

Does anyone remember when we made exciting cars

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[Sizzle Chest]

Nicely done and I agree that they have some great colors! Full of pearl, flake and now...super depth, gloss and shine! Nice!

 

[Klasse Act]

Nicely done and I agree that they have some great colors! Full of pearl, flake and now...super depth, gloss and shine! Nice!

Imagine a 9 1 1 Turbo S in Soul Red II color to match option

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[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Just to chime in,

When I read the title of this thread I chose to >click< on the thread and read it to see what your opinion was for best looking red paint.


Without knowing you choose Mazda, this is what I was going to say. The Mazda gets my vote. The Mazda Soul Red Crystal Metallic looks like CANDY APPLE paint. Freaking incredible looking color.

I detailed a Mazda SUV with this color paint for local car guy, Jim Serra, can't remember if I did a write-up or not?

 

[BudgetPlan1]

Not sure what others think, but to me Mazda makes one of the best looking red colors around. Soul Red Metallic is definitely a color I like.

Mazda Soul Red is one of my favorite colors as well. Ford Ruby Red Metallic is/was pretty nice too. Candied Apple under a nice coating...tasty. Honda's Aegean Blue Metallic is another nice one.

If I was ever able to order a new Porsche with Paint To Sample, wonder if they'd be offended if I said "Could ya do Honda Aegean Blue?" :laughing:

 

[Klasse Act]

Mazda Soul Red is one of my favorite colors as well. Ford Ruby Red Metallic is/was pretty nice too. Candied Apple under a nice coating...tasty. Honda's Aegean Blue Metallic is another nice one.

If I was ever able to order a new Porsche with Paint To Sample, wonder if they'd be offended if I said "Could ya do Honda Aegean Blue?" :laughing:

Nope...as long as the check clears

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[LEDetailing]

Awesome color indeed. This Mazda red always catches my eye. It looks especially good in full sun.

 

[Klasse Act]

I'd like to throw that red on the Infinit alphabet soup model, coupes and sedans in the mix too

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[FUNX650]

IMO:
-That Mazda Red is as pretty as a picture;
-But, GM’s 2021 Red Mist Tintcoat
is nothing to sneeze at:

Bob

 

[Klasse Act]

IMO:
-That Mazda Red is as pretty as a picture;
-But, GM’s 2021 Red Mist Tintcoat
is nothing to sneeze at:

Bob

Is that your car Bob?

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[Desertnate]

Fantastic work!

I am big fan of Mazdas. The Soul Red is an amazing color and the CX5 is the one of the only SUV's I'd seriously consider owning. Mazda seems to have a knack for building SUV's that ride and handle like a car and better then just about anything else.

Probably a reason why Mazda Motorsports always has at least one DPi car in Soul Red.

 

[JDGolden]

I agree with the Soul Red being out of this world for an OEM color. Of course your work is impeccable as always.