2012 Kia Optima, new car prep and Opti-Guard coating

2012 Kia Optima Turbo, new car prep and Opti-Guard protection

This car belongs to a longtime client/friend of mine and he really wants to keep it better maintained then his previous vehicles. After explaining the options available to him he decided on Optimum’s Opti-Guard for the exterior and the Leather Masters duo on the interior. The overall condition of this vehicle was very good, having just over 5000 miles on it, but it did need a good claying and light polish. Given the condition and color of this vehicle I don’t have much for before pics…I actually debated even posting this one, but I kind of like the car and felt it was worth showing even if it was a cream puff job.


Process:

Wash – ONR
Wheels – Sonax Full Effect
Tires – Optimum Power Clean
Clay – Meguair’s Mild Clay with ONR as lube
Paint correction – Optimum (updated) Hyper Polish via GG6 equipped with 3” & 5” Optimum MF finishing pads
Paint Protection – Optimum Opti-Guard (Paint, trim, wheels, lights, jambs)
Glass – Meguiar’s D120
Interior – Quick vacuum, wipe down vinyl/dash with 1Z Premium Cockpit Cleaner, Leather Masters Strong Cleaner and Protection Cream on seats
Exhaust tips – Optimum Metal Polish

Before

Owner ran through a touch-less wash before he dropped it off…I told him to request his money back!!!








Black trim had significant marring but the paint itself was in great shape with only a few scratches here and there.



While I like the look of the front grill, it really is one of those grills that is a pain to clean. These were hand polished and then coated with Opti-Guard later.





New Optimum products arrived just in time.


My first go with the new Optimum MF pads



I’ve used various applicators for applying Opti-Guard now, but my favorite is definitely the CarPro micro sued applicators wrapped around the CarPro foam block.


On the door jambs and wheels the supplied foam applicator works best with all the crazy contours.


For the really intricate surfaces, like the front grill on this car, I like applying Opti-Guard via airbrush.


Much better and now cleaning should be a breeze!

 

Finished pics!

















I can’t believe this is a Kia!!!




Kia logo on door sill lights up red














I had hoped for sun to show off this nice pearl white, but unfortunately mother nature had other plans…guess the Brinkmann will have to do…



Thanks for looking!

Rasky

 

Not gonna lie...... my neighbor got one of these and they are very very nice. His wife has a Genesis sedan, again very nice car as well.

Fit and finish is very well done, and I think its far nicer looking then the competitors, camary and accord.

If you can get past the Stigma, the Hyundai and Kia Brands are giving the old standbys a run for their money.

Optima looks almost identical to the Es series from Lexus.

Very nice work.

 

Excellent work as usual Chad... and I did not know that car existed until this thread, have to say I really like it!

 

Great work on it looks great

But WOW have not seen this Kia before and it really look good! My parents got a 2011 Hyundai Sonata and I have to tell you I am impressed it is not the Hyundai of the past but on par or even ahead of its competitors

But dang cant get over the looks/lines of this one looks great and interior looks sprorty as well..

 

Excellent work Chad! I literally just finished Opti-coating my car, such a great product!

Do you reuse the suede towels or are they pretty much done for after one use?

-Kody-

 

Great job.

Not to knock on Kia or Hyundai. They have definitely come a long way, but everyone I have talked with who has worked on these cars, aka "the new Hyundai and Kias" says they are still built like a pile of garbage when compared to the more common Japanese and German brands.

 

maybe that is why they have one of the best warranties in the industry right now, still not sure if I would buy one.

the Optima in the picture is pushing 30K, id rather buy a used IS350 for that.

 

Not really sure either, but alot of people who work with these cars in body shops who take these cars apart and reassemble them generally have nothing good to say about the quality of it. Have you seen a Hyundai Equus? There's a dealership here that gets them every now and then, usually have to be ordered, but on a few occasions I have seen them up close in person. Very impressive. But the price out the door with tax is pushing $65-70k+. EDIT: that's pre-tax $65-70k for the Equus.

 

Wow, Kia have really stepped up their game, that car actually looks really cool. I guess build quality and reliability and such have yet to be seen, but it looks really nice. Great job on the detail, it's nice to see more "everyday" cars getting some love And I've really been happy with Opti-Coat so far...I have it on my GTI. Haven't washed it since I applied it back in August (yay college) and so far it really seems to be holding up well. I'm still getting beading on the upper surfaces and stuff, lowers and rear of the car are too dirty to allow beading but I can tell the Opti-Coat is working, not as much dirt or grime on the car as I would expect.

 

Great work Chad. We lucked out with weather this weekend; turning this in to a rather long detailing season (fortunately).

That foam block looks like a good idea for window towels that always seem to grab.

 

Thanks Guys!

I've been really impressed with both Kia and Hyundai lately, but I'm still not 100% sure I could buy one yet. The interior was actually really nice and the quality seemed comparable to my Acura.

Thanks Kody. I toss the suede towels and foam applicators. I do have a bucket with water and OPC sitting by for the towels I use to buff off with though.

It's amazing stuff!

Indeed! I was so glad we didn't get snow last night! I hate having a client pick up a car when the roads/weather sucks.

 

Nice work on the Kia! Hyundai and Kia have some pretty good quality/looking cars these days.

 

My in laws have a 02' Santa Fe. It's better than the ninety's Hyundai but by no means a great car. What is great though, is that it's 208k and still running. I think that's a good sign that the brand is changing. Fast forward nine years later from when they bought it and I think the company is still improving most noticeably in the past couple years, with the styling getting a good makeover.

 

Great Work Chad, I also like the look of this new KIA but I'm with karl on this I still would buy a used Lexus/Acura compared to the prices they are charging for this kind of money.

 

On a similar note, i was out cruising the other night and spotted one coming up behind me. I thought to myself, Wow what is that? I was expecting an Audi, or Lexus. WTF its a Kia?. While i wouldnt buy one, they have certainly come a long way and i can see them taking business away from Toyota and Honda with cars like this.

Nice work on the detail btw, Seems i need to invest in an airbrush. GTI grills are no fun.

 

Nice work on this car, looks great!

Hyundia and KIA will always be budget cars in everyone's minds, and that's not to say they are as ugly as they used to be.

However, when looking at what a KIA like this costs vs. a VW Passat, I don't see how anyone wouldn't just get the Passat!

 

Excellent work Chad!!! As always....

 

I'm really liking the new Kias and Hyundais. Great job Chad!

 

Thanks again guys!


I have always been a big Honda/Acura fan, and currently own a '08 TSX....that being said I have not been happy with a single car they have released in the last couple years. The 2012 Civic Si was a complete fail, and they are so behind the curve on technology right now. So many other car manufactures are putting in 6-8 speed automatics and Honda is still using the spare parts bin 5 speeds.

Toyota is kind of doing the same with their bland styling, though I do like the Lexus styling. My issue with Lexus is their price when equally equipped with class competitors (I'm sorry but HID's should be standard with any Luxury model). Lexus paint and their leather seats rock IMO and you can't argue the build quality, reliability, and resale value!

I tend to lease and look for the best bang for the buck. Looking to upgrade next year, cars in the running are the WRX, FT-86/BRZ, Golf R, BMW 135i, EVO X......I may even look at the 2013 Genesis Coupe as they really upped the power.