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Finally getting shit straight in my life... Getting my daily straight too... Starting a new thread to dedicate to my new-(ish) ride!!! No one is gonna look at my headlight thread anymore... Got that fixed!!! My plan is to primarily post about this car in this thread...
I was going uphill onto the interstate... Didnt completly floor it until 10 mph or so...
You saw all of the stuff in the car erlier in 3gen Ramblings erlier... Between a full trunk and backseat (moving), and going uphill with temp around 70F, it was really slow...
Believe me, this is as bad as it gets for this car, it's actually pretty quick for what it is!!!
Holy holograms and swirls batman! You need to get that thing detailed or DIY it at least. Black paint is a pain to keep up but rewarding when you get it looking just right.
Holy holograms and swirls batman! You need to get that thing detailed or DIY it at least. Black paint is a pain to keep up but rewarding when you get it looking just right.
I'm going to have to do a hand job paint correction...
Wash, clay, compound, wax...
By hand...
Technique I believe is to push hard and rub fast, work in small areas...
Compounding by hand is futile - you probably won't have enough energy to even figure out what pad/compound combination works before you're cramping.
My suggestion: Do a clay and wax, keep it protected until you can get your own dual-action or a local detailer to do their thing.
But for 168k miles it looks great! What year is it?
Thanks!!!
Thinking about doing a polishing compound, and just trying to get 50-75% of the swirls out...
It's worth a try...
It's a 2011... Manufatured in Korea, not Georgia... I think that alone makes my car a lot more special!!!
Someone on Optimaforums said I was brave for redlining a Kia with 170K miles... Ummm.... I beat on cars a LOT harder than that, LOL!!!
It has a lot of rock chips on the hood and all...
Should I do the touch up before or after wax, or during the paint correction process, like after clay/compound, but before wax? Advice would be greatly appreciated!!!
Belive it or not, I am the 5th owner!!! Well, owner 3 was a dealer, doesn't really count...
It even still has the OEM windshield, despite it having two small chips... One happened a couple monthes ago...
Looked at a few products at Autozone and other stores alike...
Here's a few that may help me... Black Wax Color Magic for Swirls Meg's light compound for Swirls Turtle Wax Color Magic for Swirls Meg's Ultimate Polish for Swirls (best bet maybe?) Turtle Wax Polishing Compound for Swirls
I know I should order a REAL polish and wax, but this isn't a show car or anything... I just want whats best that I can get easily... IDK, maybe I'll reconsider ordering wax...
A lot of those products for black paint will cover up the swirls but after a few washes, they'll be back. I know you don't want to hear it but you're really going need need an orbital to even begin to fix those swirls.
IMO you need to use a DA with Meguairs 105 with a cutting pad, then followed up by 205 and a less aggressive pad.. Then a polish and finally a wax or sealant for protection with a finishing type of pad... You could always use a combo polish / sealant as a LSP to save sometime.
But based on the photos if you don't use #105 & #205 to remove the swirls and RIDS, and instead use some of those other Black Wax products they are only going to fill in the swirls and in no time all the swirls will be back..
I agree with others, you need a real paint correction and try to keep up with it after. At 168K, it's due for some TLC.
I had my wifes optima lightly compounded, not a real correction, but it does need it. I wax the car once a week to keep it looking at its best. I'll post a picture of the car from last weekend detail. Less than an hour to wax the outside and clean up the inside and it's because I keep up with it every week.
The offer is still on the table, If I find the vehicle I want by early 2019, you can buy my Optima which is nicely modified, well maintained and has about 52K for a 2011.
A lot of those products for black paint will cover up the swirls but after a few washes, they'll be back. I know you don't want to hear it but you're really going need need an orbital to even begin to fix those swirls.
Totally fine with a basic orbital or dril attachment... Anything but one of those pollsters that can burn your paint in 5 sec, or throw the padd...
Had all three before, loved my old orbital and drill foam polishing ball!!!
The offer is still on the table, If I find the vehicle I want by early 2019, you can buy my Optima which is nicely modified, well maintained and has about 52K for a 2011.
And I know its easier to just remove the wheels, I may still do this...
Now, if I do remove wheels, it will take me 4 days... And I will need access to another car for those days... It'll have to be when the RDX is with me, which is every other week, for a few days...
Or I could plastidip with anthracite pdip, but thats going to peel and get messed up if a wheel ever has to come off, rotation, and the like...
I don't want to have to keep redoing and redoing...
Really avoiding pdip on this car, the oem chrome is really perfect... Also, its nice not havibg to worry during washes, "shit, don't tear the plastidip"!!!
I just noticed a little moisture in the drivers corner tail light... It rain yesterday and today... Not a big deal, they're only about $50 on eBay... It's not leaking too bad, it can wait a little while...
My Genny has almost 200k miles on it and I still get generally 30-31 mpg and well over 500 miles per tank. Of course my daily commute is 90 miles of mostly highway driving, but I am still amazed at how good on gas this car has always been (it has a 3.8 V6 with 290 hp after all)!
Your Optima just needs some wheels on it like 04WDPSeDaN's and it will instantly look a lot better. I think he got those Genesis coupe wheels pretty cheap too. At any rate, the 2011-2013 Optima's are still one of my favorite cars out there and I came really close to getting one a few years ago. The car really has aged brilliantly.
I LOVE the way the car looks... But, I just spent $900 for tires and a tpms sensor...
Anyway, the 2.4 is sometimes annoying, and I hate how the steering wiggles if you shake the wheel while rolling... Also, the suspension feels unsettled on an interstate cloverleaf... I have a heavy foot at times and I'm starting to fear I'll blow her up one day, she hates to rev...
IDK why, but my feelings are changing again and I hate it...
If so, that looks great.
or 
Got all excited for a K5 Blazer, found a Kia.
???
