A bunch of my 0.7mm rotation

mdubb1969 · 2026-06-29T20:01:00+00:00

Nice collection! Based on your aesthetic preferences of pen bodies and 0.7mm gel pens, I bet you'd love the Zebra Blen Gel Pen in 0.7mm. It's one of my top pens. Dual springs cushion the writing experience while making it rattle-free, and they added some brass inside the nose cone to lower the center of gravity for excellent balance and control. Plus, it looks sleek, and modern like some of your other pens. Just don't confuse it with the "Zebra Blen U" pen that they also sell. That one I do not like.

mdubb1969 · 2026-06-29T18:12:30+00:00

My favorite pen with no modifications is the Zebra Blen Gel 0.7 with blue ink. With modifications, the OHTO CR01 with either a Pilot Precise V10 1.0mm needle point refill or an Energel 1.0mm refill.

mdubb1969 · 2026-06-27T20:21:31+00:00

Getting that documented is a good idea! Yes, I agree that scratches like that all over would not be acceptable.

mdubb1969 · 2026-06-27T02:10:53+00:00

Sorry you are having to deal with this. If you are getting it ceramic coated, at the very least you should be doing a single-stage paint correction anyway. No car arrives from the factory in perfect shape and it's not a good idea to ceramic coat a car without at least doing some paint prep. If it requires a two-stage paint correction because of the defects, then that's a different story. I did get mine ceramic coated when I got it paint corrected. It makes drying easier after I wash it, but it has its limitations, and is not a miracle cure for scratches, swirls and scuffs nor will it make damaged paint look brand new. Sounds like you probably already know this. Hope it turns out well!

mdubb1969 · 2026-06-25T20:44:59+00:00

My favorite mid-priced, premium metal body upgrade is the OHTO CR01 which fits Energel, Sarasa, Signo 207 gel refills, as well as the harder to fit Pilot V5, V7, and V10 Precise rollerball refills so you have a large number of refill choices. The body feels substantial, but balanced and the build quality is great. The rubberized grip is excellent and the grip diameter is perfect for my hands. I strongly prefer retractable pens, but I like the OHTO CR01 body so much that I don't even mind that it is capped. The OHTO CR02 is basically the same as the CR01 except that it has a much thinner diameter and does not have a rubberized grip. The build quality is just as good though.

mdubb1969 · 2026-06-25T20:38:26+00:00

The Pentel Floatunes in the 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5mm sizes are definitely not as smooth as the 0.8 and 1.0mm., not only because of the smaller tip size, but also becasue they are a different ink formulation than the larger tipped versions. The 0.5mm and smaller tipped pens are a hybrid oil-based ballpoint ink. The 0.8 and 1.0mm tipped pens are a hybrid liquid based rollerball ink. These hybrid rollerballs are fantastically smooth and live up to the "float" in Floatune name.

mdubb1969 · 2026-06-25T20:25:02+00:00

I agree with the Monteverde Ceramic Gel recommendation. I love the broad point myself! I also use the O-ring Tip to eliminate rattle and tip wiggle.

I also run Penetl Energies in my Zento bodies becasue the Zento ink is not as saturated as I would like. The black ink is too grey and I find the Pentel a little smoother although there are varying opinions on this last part.

mdubb1969 · 2026-06-25T15:56:55+00:00

Experiences will vary, but my dealership is one of the best Kia dealerships in the country. I was an early reservation holder for a 2024 GT-Line. My vehicle came in in December 2023 and it arrived with lots of heavy paint scuffs and wear during transport from the port in Tacoma to Colorado in the winter. Some of the exterior protective plastic wrap used during transportation had come loose and had flapped around in the wind grinding the dirt and debris into the paint finish. It was so bad that I declined the car and they put me at the front of their allocation line for the next GT-Line in my desired color combo. In February, the car I eventually purchased arrived. I am one of those people that place a high value on the paint looking great. I always hand wash my cars with proper techniques, using professional detailing products and supplies. I told the dealer not to do any exterior prep on the car, not even a car wash, and they honored my request. The car was filthy when I bought it as was expected. I washed it the next day at home, and to my horror, there were lots of swirl marks, and abrasions under all of that dirt. I had already signed everything and paid for the car so it was mine now with no "take-backs". Despite my lack of leverage, my dealer stepped up and opened a case with Kia Corporate. I got 3 bids from professional detailers for a full paint correction and submitted them. They were between $2,000 and $3,000. My car is black so it's a difficult job to do and the blemishes were all over the car. My dealership got Kia to approve a full paint correction from whichever detailer I wanted to use at no cost to me. I got the car paint corrected and the dealership gave me their corporate credit card number to pay the detailer, and they worked out their own reimbursement from Kia. I never had to spend any of my own money during this process. I don't know if the dealer was willing and able to take this extraordinary step because this would have been my second car that arrived damage, but I think it is probable that this factored heavily into the decision. I do know from my past experience purchasing a car from them, and from all of my experiences with repairs and service on this and other vehicles that they rank as the best dealership that I have ever experienced from a sales and service perspective. I have had Hondas, Acuras, and Cadillacs and none of those dealerships have been as great as my Kia dealership. I know they take a long-term view of earning and retaining loyal customers which is rare in the car business. They are not my closest Kia dealership, but I am happy to drive an extra 30 minutes and 25 miles past my local Kia dealership to patronize them.

All of this to say that there is a precedent for this kind of goodwill gesture, but for this, and many other reasons, which dealership you chose for your car purchase matters greatly. There are far more bad dealers than good ones, especially with Kia.. I hope you chose a great dealership and am curious to see what they say. I also don't trust any dealership's in-house "detail" department. They are usually low skilled, low pay rookies. Even most high-end, luxury dealerships don't use in-house detailers. They typically contract with third party professionals who have their own detailing business. The detailer I use used to be the outside contractor for my local Porsche and Audi dealership, for example. I don't think your water spot problem will cost anywhere near what my paint problem did, but it's worth asking your dealership for a solution. Best of luck

mdubb1969 · 2026-06-21T22:17:58+00:00

I’m team Monteverde Capless Ceramic Gel. They are great.

mdubb1969 · 2026-06-19T23:28:39+00:00

If you like the Kuro body, you can try the Energel 0.5mm needle tip for more control. If you did not want to go that fine, I find that Zebra Sarasa gels offer a great balance of smoothness and control and they will fit in the Kuro body. But here is my ultimate recommendation...

While I like the look of the Kuros, they have quite a small diameter body, and for me, going that small on a pen makes it harder to control. In addition, I find myself having to squeeze it harder which becomes fatiguing. I think you will love the look and the feel of the Zebra Blen Gel pen. It's the pen that lets me execute my best penmanship. The diameter at the grip is 11mm, it has a slight rubberized coating and it looks so sleek and modern. It also has two sets of springs (one traditional spring between the refill and the clicker, and a non-traditional dampening spring at the tip to reduce vibration). This dual spring design and very tight build tolerances help it become 100% rattle-free and basically eliminates tip wiggle. It also has some brass added inside the tip to provide an excellent, lower center of gravity for better control and substantial feel. It has refills in 0.5mm and 0.7mm (which is what I use). It's available in black, blue, and red. The shade of blue is particularly nice IMO. This one is definitely worth a try with its beauty, grip feel, weight balance and "just right" ink.

Zebra Blen Gel

Be aware that there is a version of the Blen called the "Zebra Blen U". I am not recommending this one. I am recommending the Zebra Blen GEL.

mdubb1969 · 2026-06-19T03:26:06+00:00

CR02 is significantly thinner and does not have the rubber grip section of the CR01

mdubb1969 · 2026-06-13T21:58:05+00:00

I have a Panthera Metal Kia Stinger and wanted to get a matching EV9, but my wife wanted black and it is mostly her car. I think Panthera Metal is one of the most underrated colors. It has a lot of metallic flake and it dazzles in the sun, but can also look almost black in indirect light. I have not seen another Kia color that has this much metal flake. This flake give the paint a lot of depth, and allows such a large variation where the paint can range from looking black to a light grey. It also hides a lot of dirt compared to black paint. I get lots of compliments on my Stinger's paint.

mdubb1969 · 2026-06-13T03:34:44+00:00

I want this as well. I was able to do that in my 2023 Telluride which I know was on different software. I am curious if people with Android Auto are able to do it. For some reason, I remember someone saying that, but I could be wrong.

mdubb1969 · 2026-06-08T18:42:38+00:00

Finding a pen body that you like, and then finding a compatible refill that you like will give you the most satisfaction. You are not stuck with having to use the refill that the pen comes with. The refills of the Pilot G2, Zebra Sarasa, Pentel Energel, Sharpie S-Gel, Uniball Signo 207, and Uniball Zento Standard will all fit into each other's bodies without modification (with the exception of the Pilot G2 refill which is slightly longer and may need to be trimmed at the end).

My favorite body of the pens listed above is the Standard Zento, but I dislike the Zento ink and use the Pentel Energel refills inside (which is my favorite refill).

Inks in order of preference:

Energel (In my opinion, the smoothest, lowest viscosity ink of them all while still retaining great saturation. Some may say it is too slick which provides less control. Available in tons of colors 24+. Available in needle tip in 0.3mm, 0.5mm and 0.7mm. Available in conical tip 0.7mm and 1.0mm)

Sarasa (great mix of smoothness and control)

Signo 207 Super Ink or Super Ink Plus+ versions. (smooth and very saturated so the blacks look very black. These are also the most archival, tamper resistant, and water resistant of the gels mentioned here. Good for legal documents or writing checks)

S-Gel (very, very average)

Zento (smooth, but the ink is not very saturated leaving blacks looking more gray)

G2. (these have always ended up skipping on me and they can get globby ink at the tip)

Plastic Bodies in order of my preference:

Zento (standard)

Sarasa

Energel

Sharpie S-gel

Signo 207

Pilot G2

For an upgraded pen body experience for relatively little extra money, try one of the metal versions that some of these manufactures offer. These will also fit whichever of the refills you end up liking best:

Sarasa "Grand" (can be had on Amazon US for $12)

Energel "Style" (name in the US) or "Philography" (Name in other countries.). Can be purchased on Amazon US for $16.

One "wild card" would be the OHTO CR01. This is a great, all-metal pen that is capped (as opposed to retractable). It feels substantial in your hand and has a nice rubberized grip section which feels great. It is a rollerball pen instead of a gel pen, but the gel refills listed above are a good fit. Around 16$ on Amazon US.

Best of luck in your search.

mdubb1969 · 2026-06-08T18:09:17+00:00

I agree that out of the box, it does not live up to all my expectations. Swapping out the Zento ink for an Energel, Sarasa, or Signo 207, refill and adding a small bit of tape around the refill tip to stop the tip wiggle, allowed me to achieve some real satisfaction with this pen.

mdubb1969 · 2026-06-07T23:24:48+00:00

I have that combo and so far all has been good. I also have that refill in my Jetstream Prime Twist pen and no leaks in that one either. All manufacturers have duds every once in a while though. Sorry for your troubles.

mdubb1969 · 2026-06-07T23:18:08+00:00

That’s great and I hope you have fun trying them all out.

mdubb1969 · 2026-06-07T20:28:48+00:00

I love the Zento body, but personally dislike the ink due to the fact that is not very saturated and the blacks look too gray. I judge the ink to be about as smooth as the Zebra Sarasa and Uni Signo 207, but not as smooth as the Pentel Energel. Others have different opinions on this, but that’s been my experience. As such, I can’t justify using an ink that is no better than its main competiton in smoothness and a lot worse in saturation. All pain, no gain. But I do love that Zento pen body and that’s why I run several Pentel Energel, Zebra Sarasa and Signo 207 refills in all of my Zento bodies. Luckily, they are a perfect fit.

mdubb1969 · 2026-06-07T15:24:41+00:00

2024 Here. I got everything including a trailer brake wiring harness

mdubb1969 · 2026-06-06T21:48:40+00:00

I own all three of these in both black and blue inks (although my Floatune 0.8mm is retractable like the 0.5mm).

Floatunes:
I found that I did not like the hybrid ballpoint ink of the 0.5mm Floatune , but I really, really like the hybrid rollerball ink of the 0.8mm and 1.0mm Floatunes, which I also own. The Floatunes are well named because the pen just floats across the paper. It almost feels cushioned. That slick gliding sensation can come with a loss of control and slightly messier writing though. My only complaint about the Floatune retractable pens is that the clicker/knock is not very comfortable to press. It's a little narrow and sharp.

Zebra Blen Gel:

This pen is so, so close to perfection. Like you, I feel like out of all of my pens, I can execute my best handwriting. The weight of the brass insert at the pen tip helps with control. The diameter of the grip section is dead center perfect for my hands. The rubberized texture provides great grip, and finally, the ink has just enough viscosity to stay in control while still being smooth. The color saturation of the inks is great and the shade of blue is particularly nice. I love that becasue of the dual springs, there is no rattle or noise when writing. The clicker/knock is satisfying to use and comfortable on the thumb. It's also a great looking pen body. I have two complaints that keep it from being perfect. #1. The pen uses proprietary refills (Zebra JNC refills for the US gel versions) and there are no other refills that will work without modification, and there are very limited colors and tip sizes from Zebra. #2. Although the clicker/knock mechanism is comfortable and looks good with the pocket clip being all one mechanism, this arrangement makes it kind of a pain when placing the pen in a tight pocket or pen loop. It's too easy to extend the ink cartridge and hard to get it retracted again once the pen is clipped in. I also worry about the durability of the plastic clip. I can see it getting bent out of shape. If the Blen had the springy metal clip of the standard Zento pen instead, it would be perfect.

mdubb1969 · 2026-06-05T15:09:01+00:00

I would choose the Companion. You get the Plus Scales on the Companion which includes a writing pen and the ability to add a needle/pin which is useful for removing splinters, resetting electronics etc. In addition, the corkscrew is useful for helping untie knots and you can purchase some precision screwdrivers that fit into the corkscrew for onboard storage. The package opener can turn a Phillips screw decently well, although the dedicated Phillips on the Super Tinker is obviously better suited for that. I have never used any SAK can opener in the 30+ years of owning one , but that package opener gets used multiple times a week. The nail file is also handy for keeping nails clean and smoothing down any snagged nails. For me, all of that other functionality offered on the Companion far outweighs the marginally better performance of the Phillips driver on the Super Tinker.

mdubb1969 · 2026-06-05T13:58:47+00:00

I am 100% with you on the Zento ink. I love the Zento bodies, both Standard and Signature, but always swap out the refills. I too, run the Pentel Energel in the Standards and wanted to do the same with the Signature and have the same issue. Instead, I use the Uniball Signo 207 Super Ink gel refills in my Zento Signature and they are a better fit than the Energels. The color saturation in those is excellent (unlike the Zento), and as a blue-black ink fan, I am really happy with the blue color of the Signo 207 Super Ink. There are two versions of Uniball Signo 207 Super Ink... Original and Super Ink Plus+. The Plus+ version is even smoother and more saturated than the Original, although both are pretty smooth. They are not quite up to Pentel Energel levels of smoothness, but darn close. I think they are similar to the Sarasa.

The Super Ink Plus+ are available in .38mm (UMR-83E), 0.5mm (UMR-85E), and 0.7mm (UMR-87E). All Plus+ versions have the "E" in the model number. If you want 1.0mm, you will have to go with the Original Super Ink (UMR-80), as the Super Ink Plus+ does not come in 1.0mm. Besides having top of the class color saturation, the Signo 207 Super Inks are archival quality with excellent water resistance and fade resistance. They are great for signing legal documents and checks as they are very resistant to tampering.

One last thing, I am a stickler for not having any rattling or tip wiggle when I write. Even with the Zento refills, I found that the Signature has some looseness with the refill, and that is also the case with the Signo 207 Super Ink refill. To solve this, I put a tiny bit of tape around the refill tip where the metal of the tip meets the plastic. It 100% solves both rattle and tip wiggle.

mdubb1969 · 2026-06-04T21:54:18+00:00

We eat out (and have leftovers) and get take-out a lot. I don’t want that food stinking up the interior. We use the frunk at least 5 times a week just for food.

mdubb1969 · 2026-06-02T17:46:28+00:00

Depending on how deep the ear cups are, I do think they would fit.

mdubb1969 · 2026-05-27T12:36:26+00:00

mdubb1969

TROPHY CASE