This one is a bit of a personal post. Outside of the art thing, I've got several other interests. One of which is driving and maintaining my car. A Mazda RX 8 R3.

Mazda rx8

It may not be a Lamborghini or Bugatti, but Mazda RX-8 is renowned for its distinctive design and exceptional driving dynamics, making it a standout sports car in its class. One key feature is its innovative rotary engine. The Wankel rotary engine in the RX-8 delivers smooth power delivery and high rev capabilities, contributing to a thrilling driving experience.

The RX-8's four-door configuration, unusual for a sports car, adds practicality and convenience without compromising its sporty appeal. The unique freestyle rear doors provide easy access to the rear seats, making it a more versatile choice compared to traditional coupes. The well-balanced chassis and precise steering further enhance the car's handling, allowing drivers to navigate corners with confidence.

Moreover, the RX-8 showcases Mazda's commitment to design aesthetics, featuring a sleek and aerodynamic exterior. Inside, the cabin is thoughtfully designed with driver-oriented controls and comfortable seating. While the RX-8 is recognized for its performance, it also offers a level of comfort and functionality suitable for daily use.

In essence, the Mazda RX-8's combination of a distinct rotary engine, striking design, handling prowess, and practicality sets it apart, making it a go-to for enthusiasts seeking a sports car that excels in both performance and everyday usability.

And did I mention, it looks awesome in pearlescent white?

So, what have I been up to?

Including some extensive chip an scuff repair, I gave my RX8 an extensive deep clean and detail which in total totted up to around 40 hours! Most of that was down to removing thousands of tiny black specks from the paintwork, the first step is ask yourself where to start when restoring a car and then comes the others. Still not sure if it was tar, tree sap, break dust or carbon dust from the exhaust, but it was a time consuming pain to get rid of them all. Hopefully if I keep it regularly shampooed and waxed it's not going to need so much attention in the future.

Full detail consisted of~

Alloy Kerbing Repair:
- Sand
- Primer
- Sand
- Primer
- Paint
- Blend
- Paint

Stone Chips Repair:
- Chipex Tri-coat

Exterior Clean:
- Pressure Wash
- Fallout Remover
- Shampoo
- Rinse Wash
- Claybar+ Detailer

Polish:
- Resin Polish
- Gloss Sealant
- Wax Layer

Extras:
- Tyres- Black
- Plastics- Black
- Chrome Clean
- Glass Polish

Interior Clean:
- Hoover Floor, boot etc
- Seat & Side Panels
- Leather
- Gloss Plastics
- Matt Plastics
- Glass

Results:

There was a nice sun set while I was driving along so I pulled over into a nearby lane and took these with my 'HTC One' phone. Not ideal, but with a few Photoshop contrast adjustments, they'll do :)

This one is a bit of a personal post. Outside of the art thing, I’ve got several other interests. One of which is driving and maintaining my car. A Mazda RX 8 R3.

Mazda rx8

It may not be a Lamborghini or Bugatti, but Mazda RX-8 is renowned for its distinctive design and exceptional driving dynamics, making it a standout sports car in its class. One key feature is its innovative rotary engine. The Wankel rotary engine in the RX-8 delivers smooth power delivery and high rev capabilities, contributing to a thrilling driving experience.

The RX-8’s four-door configuration, unusual for a sports car, adds practicality and convenience without compromising its sporty appeal. The unique freestyle rear doors provide easy access to the rear seats, making it a more versatile choice compared to traditional coupes. The well-balanced chassis and precise steering further enhance the car’s handling, allowing drivers to navigate corners with confidence.

Moreover, the RX-8 showcases Mazda’s commitment to design aesthetics, featuring a sleek and aerodynamic exterior. Inside, the cabin is thoughtfully designed with driver-oriented controls and comfortable seating. While the RX-8 is recognized for its performance, it also offers a level of comfort and functionality suitable for daily use.

In essence, the Mazda RX-8’s combination of a distinct rotary engine, striking design, handling prowess, and practicality sets it apart, making it a go-to for enthusiasts seeking a sports car that excels in both performance and everyday usability.

And did I mention, it looks awesome in pearlescent white?

So, what have I been up to?

It's my RX8's 5th birthday in a couple of months time and decided to make it a little prettier by fixing dozens of chips, scuffs and giving it a thorough clean [in progress].

This is one of the more noticeable bodywork scuffs. I fixed up around 30-35 other small chips.

Repaired using the Chipex system. An 'ok' result. Better than it was, at least.

After adding some primer with a brush and a bottle of touch up paint off of eBay for £6 for the wheels, I used some of the Chipex blending solution to help level it out.

These were pretty badly curbed in places so needed a little sanding before repainting. These photos are taken after sanding and priming with the primer filling in some of the curbing gaps.

I'd say these repairs are only 85% perfect, but to professionally recondition and spray the wheels alone might set me back £200-£300, so more than adequate for an interim fix up job before perhaps having them fully restored to perfection by a pro in a few years time.