1998 Kia Touch Up Paint (9 OEM Colors)

The 1998 Kia Vibe

Welcome to 1998-the year of the portable CD player, the Bulls' second three-peat, and Kia making its "Xtreme" push into the American driveway. Whether you were tossing camping gear into a first-gen Sportage or fuel-sipping in a Sephia, you weren't looking for a flashy fashion statement; you were looking for a survivor. We've focused our collection on the true survivors of the era: the "Holy Trinity" of 1998 Kia finishes-Classic Red, Clear White, and Ebony Black. These were the colors that defined the brand's early identity, back when they were the scrappy underdogs proving they could handle the daily grind.

Paint Health Check

Listen up, because 1998 falls right into the heart of the "Peeling Era." In the late 90s, the industry was still dialing in the chemistry for two-stage finishes, and early Kias were notorious for clear coat delamination. If your Sephia's roof or your Sportage's hood looks like it's suffering from a bad case of road-rash sunburn, you're dealing with clear coat failure. Once that clear starts to "sunburn" and flake away, the basecoat underneath loses its UV shield and starts to turn chalky. On a Classic Red or Ebony Black model, this "creeping peel" can turn a clean car into a 10-footer faster than you can say "dial-up internet."

Restoration Tip

The secret to keeping a '98 on the road is aggressive chip defense. If you see a tiny rock chip, don't wait-seal it immediately before the clear starts to lift at the edges. If you're already seeing some light peeling, you've got to "feather" the edges. Take a fine-grit sandpaper (around 1000-grit) and lightly sand the edge of the failing clear until it's smooth and the "cliff" is gone. Once you've leveled that transition, apply your color and follow up with a fresh clear layer to lock it down. It's the only way to stop the air from getting under the factory finish and peeling the whole panel like a cheap orange.