Honestly, for a massive car like the Celestiq, most DIY kits are overpriced for what you actually get. I've had issues with flash times on high-end stuff before, which is a nightmare on those huge panels. If you want real value and a forgiving application, I'd skip the boutique brands and grab the Turtle Wax Hybrid Solutions Ceramic Spray Coating 16 fl oz. It's stupidly cheap but actually holds up for months and the slickness is insane for the price. Just prep it right with Klean-Strip Prep-All Universal Degreaser 1 Gallon first and you're golden. Good luck with the new ride!

Story time: I actually went through this last year with a black Lyriq and honestly, it was a nightmare. I tried a consumer-grade ceramic that flashed way too fast and left nasty high spots on those long panels. Unfortunately, those DIY kits can be risky on a car of this scale.

I compared a few options after that disaster:

- Option A: Gtechniq Crystal Serum Light 50ml vs. Option B: Gtechniq Ultra Serum.

Ultra is incredible but it's technically pro-only for a reason... if u mess up, u gotta polish it off. Personally, I found Gyeon Q2 Mohs EVO 50ml much more forgiving for a massive Caddy. It has a super long flash time so u don't have to rush. I'd definitely grab Gyeon Q2M Prep 500ml for the wipe down first. Just be CAREFUL, big panels are tricky! gl!

Can vouch for this

Exactly what I was thinking

Honestly, I've spent years detailing high-end EVs, and for a massive car like the Celestiq, you need a long flash time so you don't lose your mind. I recently did a similar scale project and CarPro CQuartz UK 3.0 50ml Kit is basically the gold standard here. It's super forgiving on those long panels and won't get sticky fast.

1. Use CarPro Eraser 500ml for the prep—it's critical for the bond.
2. Top it with CarPro Gliss 50ml for that insane slickness you want.

Trust me, the metallic flake will pop like crazy, right?

Honestly, after living with high-end paint for decades, the biggest thing I learned is that you really have to think about the long-term maintenance cycle before you even touch the car. With a flagship like the Celestiq, youre basically looking at a five to ten year commitment to that specific coatings chemistry. I remember doing a full correction on a bespoke project a few years back and I made the mistake of mixing prep from one brand with a coating from another. It looked great for six months and then the hydrophobicity just died because the bond wasnt perfect. So, my best advice is to just pick a premium brand like Adams Polishes and stick to their entire ecosystem from start to finish. Dont mix and match. If you go with any of the high-end stuff from Adams, you know the surfactants in the soap and the silica in the toppers are designed to play nice together. Like, literally just get their whole lineup and youll be set for years. It makes the decontamination and the leveling process way less stressful on those massive panels because you arent guessing about chemical compatibility. Just keep it simple and stay within one brand family and that Celestiq will stay looking like it just rolled out of the factory. Itll be sooooo worth it to avoid the headache of a failing bond later on.

tl;dr: This car is massive and the stakes are high. Be careful because a mistake on hand-finished paint is a nightmare to fix. Been thinking about your plan for a few hours and looking at the advice so far. Regarding what #1 said about honestly having spent years detailing high-end EVs, he is spot on about the panel size being the biggest hurdle. The thread is pretty split between using professional-grade coatings and just sticking to easier sprays, which makes sense given how much room there is for error on a Celestiq. I would honestly be very conservative here. If you havent coated a car this large before, the risk of high spots is real, and polishing them out of a brand new flagship finish is something I would avoid at all costs. Before you commit, I have two questions:

• How much experience do you actually have with machine polishing and leveling ceramic coatings on large surfaces?
• Are you prioritizing a one-and-done solution for several years, or are you okay with more frequent, safer maintenance to keep the finish perfect?