Korean vs U. S. assembly

[Revvdmedia]

Just got the car back yesterday afternoon late. They buffed out the "dinnerplate" on the hood, repainted the hatch, and realigned the door.

The door works great, and the hatch looks like new. The hood is fine, but there are new buffer marks there now. Oh, well, maybe some good paste wax will tame them down.

I do have to say I'm impressed with how fast they took the car in and did the repairs.

A good detailer WOULD NOT leave "buffer marks." But if you're happy, leave it be.

 

[MerlintheMad]

@Mike_TX Often, fixes require several steps. I think the polish and wax approach is sensible. Then see.

A good detailer WOULD NOT leave "buffer marks." But if you're happy, leave it be.

 

[Revvdmedia]

@Mike_TX Often, fixes require several steps. I think the polish and wax approach is sensible. Then see.

That is likely the cause of any further marks noted. A detailer that focuses on quality over quantity always takes the least aggressive approach. If you can complete the task with a finishing polish, do that. If you need to go as far as a compound, or even sanding, expect that you need to take a few steps to get it down to [near] perfection. It sounds like here it's likely a compound was used, but was not followed up with a finer polish to remove the compound marks. Also possible there was contamination of some sort during the compounding. Detailers are in the business of making money though, so they won't do as I do and spend 12 hours detailing a car, unless they're getting paid sufficient money to do so.

 

[Mike_TX]

Note that this was not done by a detailer, but by a dealer body shop. They buffed out the strange circular defect on my hood, and I guess in the process left some marks. I don't lose a lot of sleep over stuff like this - I figure it's just a consequence of having a black car.

 

[antne]

After owning many Japanese cars, some assembled in Japan and some in the U. S., I guess I expected the Korean-built Kias to be well put together. At least as well put together as my two Optimas, built in West Point, GA.

But my 2018 Stinger has disappointed me in a few respects. For one, it has a dinner-plate-size defect in the paint on the hood (which I've posted about here). It also had the hatch "clunk", and it has a rattle above the passenger door somewhere.

Now it has a passenger door that has "drooped" enough in 6 months to cause the top left corner of the door to rub against the B-pillar trim and make the door "stick" when I try to open it, and it's beginning to damage the trim.

This is how much it has sagged:

View attachment 28124

(Sorry for the dirty car - we had just gotten back from a road trip.)

I went to my Kia dealer today, and the Service Mgr couldn't believe it. But he is sending the car to their body shop on Monday to adjust the door, see what they can do about the hood, and paint the decklid, which their touch-up guy had messed up after removing a spoiler I didn't want. I suspect they will paint the hood as well, which I don't like, but figure it's better than having it noticed when I eventually trade the car.

My Optimas had zero build issues, and were some of the best cars I've ever had. The Stinger ....... not so much.

2013 Optima SX

Lights/wipers control stalk shorted out
Both fog lights blew out
Both front side marker lights blew out
Rear license plate light blew out
High pressure fuel pump (underhood) quit
Steering wheel software failed
YMMV

 

[GenesisG70]

2013 Optima SX

Lights/wipers control stalk shorted out
Both fog lights blew out
Both front side marker lights blew out
Rear license plate light blew out
High pressure fuel pump (underhood) quit
Steering wheel software failed
YMMV

Then why are you looking into buying another KIa? LOL

 

[LegacyGTv2.0]

The driver's side rear door hinge was loose from the factory. I noticed it almost immediately and got it fixed. I bet something similar happen to OP's car.

 

[antne]

Then why are you looking into buying another KIa? LOL

Just was observing that the OP didn't necessarily cover every model of the car.