2003 Mazda Touch Up Paint (58 OEM Colors)

The 2003 Mazda Vibe

Ah, 2003. The year "Zoom-Zoom" became a personality trait and the Mazda 6 finally retired the aging 626. Whether you were tossing a Protege through corners or hauling the family in an MPV, Mazda was leaning hard into the "metallic" future. Our database shows a healthy 17 colors for this year-a spread that proves Mazda wasn't afraid of a little flair. You had the high-tech shimmer of Titanium Gray Metallic and the deep, moody Nordic Green Mica. It was an era of transition, moving away from the flat solids of the 90s and into the era of heavy pearls and micas that look like a million bucks when the sun hits 'em just right.

Paint Health Check

But let's get real: 2003 puts us right in the heart of The Peeling Era. Back then, manufacturers were perfected the "look" of clear coats but hadn't quite mastered the "forever" part. If you're looking at your Miata or Tribute today, you're likely seeing the dreaded delamination. It starts as a faint white haze on the hood or roof, and before you know it, the clear coat is flaking off like a bad sunburn. Once that top layer lifts, your Classic Red or Strato Blue is defenseless against the elements. If you see "silver scales" on your horizontal surfaces, that's not a feature-that's your clear coat waving the white flag.

Restoration Tip

The golden rule for 2003 paint? Seal those chips before the clear lifts. In this era, a tiny rock chip is more than just an eyesore; it's an entry point for moisture to crawl under the clear coat and start the peeling process. If you spot a nick in your Sunlight Silver, don't "get to it next summer." Clean it, dab it with a precision color match, and most importantly, seal it with a fresh clear coat immediately. Think of it like a bandage for a scratch-if you don't seal the edges, the whole thing is going to unravel, and no amount of wax can save a panel once the clear has decided to part ways with the base.