Is it too new? 2003 Kia Rio (DC) 1.3 Ice+ AKA 'The Beast'

[elstro1988]

A while back I put out a thread debating whether to buy a first-gen Rio for sprinting and hillclimbing. I caved in and subsequently did so. I'm not sure if it's too new to post about here though.....they are somewhat unloved and not 'petrolhead' cars after all and were built until 2005.

Initial first impressions - it's 82bhp engine made it seem like a rocket ship after my 45bhp 1.0 Nova but my God is it tedious to drive. Competent but dull. A total fridge on wheels. Have driven it day to day for a while and swapped with the Nova from time to time.

However, recently I've refused to drive it because the seller STILL hasn't sent me the V5C for it despite repeated phone calls, and it turned out he lied to me about the tax on it, so it's sitting on the drive until further notice - If it doesn't turn up ASAP I'm applying for a new one. It was due to be competing at Loton park this coming Saturday but due to this I've had to cancel

So I've had to hop back into my Nova (with a broken seatbelt clip - it goes in, but it's a curse word to unstrap. However I have a full Securon replacement belt on its way and I need to get to work so just have to suffer this for a bit) in the meantime but that's no bad thing. May be tinnier and slower but so much more fun!

ANyway back to the Beast.

Initial work has been 4 new List 1A compliant Pirelli Cinturato P1 tyres to replace the budget curse word and that made a huge difference to how it drove, as well as some CHevette HSR-esque stripes as there's far too many silver Rios about and I want it to stand out a little. 


Next job due for it once the logbook FINALLY rears its head is a stainless steel catback with Cherry Bomb backbox - two reasons for this. 1) the standard system is on its last legs and 2) the very sound of it stock emasculates me. 


2003 Kia Rio 1.3 Ice+ (DC) by Tom Ellis, on Flickr

Day of acqusition


2003 Kia Rio 1.3 Ice+ (DC) by Tom Ellis, on Flickr


Recently Added-248 by Tom Ellis, on Flickr

New tyres and Chevette stripes.


Recently Added-251 by Tom Ellis, on Flickr

With the Nova. Both are entered in the Service Hydraulics Speed Championship.

Not much to go on but it's early days yet. I'm sure I'll grow to love it once it's finally had a chance to stretch its legs on a hillclimb or sprint course.

If the old adage 'anything has potential' applies....

[homeforsummer]

Wouldn't call it retro myself, but 'anything has potential' definitely applies here, as does 'love for the unloved'. Weirdly, I've had a similar idea in the past to pick up an old Kia or Hyundai, since they're now dirt cheap, and turn it into something fun. What better car to absolutely hammer on than one you don't really care about?

[stealthstylz]

I had one, a Focus ST ended up meeting the scenery trying to chase me round the local B roads.

[waveman1500]

Good luck with the motorsport stuff!

I understand the whole concept of competing on a budget, but I would have thought there were quicker cars available in the same price range? For example the 3-door 1.5 litre Hyundai Accent of the same era had up to 102hp from a twin cam engine. Those cars are really popular for budget motorsport in Australia, particularly rallying.

[retrorob86]

Does the car have to stay standard to compete?

[elstro1988]

Thought I'd dig out this thread now the Kia (Beast) has competed in two speed events, one sprint at Snetterton and one hillclimb up Shelsley Walsh.

To cut a long story short. Anything has potential. Except this. It's slower than my 1-litre Vauxhall Nova in a competition setting. It's awful. I should have listened to everyone telling me no! So much so that after its final event on July 9, it's going!

Anyway, enjoy some professional snaps of it in action!

Snetterton:
All Photos-8047 by Tom Ellis, on Flickr

All Photos-8046 by Tom Ellis, on Flickr

All Photos-8045 by Tom Ellis, on Flickr

All Photos-8044 by Tom Ellis, on Flickr

All photos by Andy Leivers.

Shelsley:
Recently Added-389 by Tom Ellis, on Flickr

Recently Added-390 by Tom Ellis, on Flickr

Recently Added-391 by Tom Ellis, on Flickr

Recently Added-392 by Tom Ellis, on Flickr




Photos by Derek Hibbert.

Does not look right on a track does it.....?

[ettorebugatti]

Nah, you just haven't released its potential!

I recon you can get 2 seconds on Shelsey time with just tyres and lowering. Although it is a power hill.
Put some secondhand 15" alloys with a lower offset, find some cheap Toyo T1S 195/50R15 drop it 30-40mm and put some new shocks (KYB or Bilstein). And off you go.

[ChasR]

Jul 5, 2016 22:15:53 GMT ettorebugatti said:

Nah, you just haven't released its potential!

I recon you can get 2 seconds on Shelsey time with just tyres and lowering. Although it is a power hill.
Put some secondhand 15" alloys with a lower offset, find some cheap Toyo T1S 195/50R15 drop it 30-40mm and put some new shocks (KYB or Bilstein). And off you go.

As long as they are not B4s he'll be fine. On my Mondeo Estate Mk3 they were horrific! And I mean the car started having poor bump control over speed bumps and started having lift off oversteer on roundabouts when going over 30mph!

It was an auto as well to add insult to injury. The completely shot shocks on its predecessor were more predictable and that is saying something!

[alolympic]

If you're not feeling it, get rid, life is too short.

[deano123]

I don't understand why anyone would think this or any Kia would be anything but terrible on a track

Put a 2 litre 8V in the Nova (is this acceptable for your racing class?), they are quite capable cars

[Rob M]

I truly admire what you have done, take an unloved el cheapo old pogler and go racing!
Ok, its not fast but, surely, part of the fun is extracting every last morsel out of what you have? Maybe shave tenths of a second off your times by placing the car spot on into bends and stuff?
Ok, you can go out and by a faster car and have a fast car like everybody else but, maybe, the old heap you have now can be improved here and there, made a bit quicker, handle a bit better and give you a more enjoyable drive?
Just wondering, its nice to see 'unfashionable cars' go racing, more kudos.
Fair play to you!

[barryj75]

get a nice 8v in the nova 1.4 or 1.6 good set of carbs and cam make for quick fun car I have a 1.7 TD nova and that's great fun

[elstro1988]

Jul 6, 2016 18:14:26 GMT Rob M said:

I truly admire what you have done, take an unloved el cheapo old pogler and go racing!
Ok, its not fast but, surely, part of the fun is extracting every last morsel out of what you have? Maybe shave tenths of a second off your times by placing the car spot on into bends and stuff?
Ok, you can go out and by a faster car and have a fast car like everybody else but, maybe, the old heap you have now can be improved here and there, made a bit quicker, handle a bit better and give you a more enjoyable drive?
Just wondering, its nice to see 'unfashionable cars' go racing, more kudos.
Fair play to you!

I tried to extract every last morsel out of it up Shelsley but it wasn't having any of it! There really is nothing available for these cars save for the odd universal eBay fitment, maybe some lowering springs, alloys and List 1B tyres. I don't have the time, money, skills or interest to try and make it faster up hills - the gear ratios are horrid yet the engine itself feels somewhat sprightly and I haven't quite got the budget to hit up Quaife for a custom 'box.

All Photos-8664 by Tom Ellis, on Flickr


However, I took it to Blyton park on Saturday for its final event (I'm doing shelsley again in September in the Nova) and despite the rain halting things in the morning, and on a mildly moist track in the afternoon, it scored me another personal best, being 3 seconds faster around Blyton than the Nova's best time there in 2015 on my final run - I did train myself with Youtube videos of Blyton to make sure I got the lines right and didn't lose valuable hundredths by un-necessary braking, as well as remembering some advice I'd read on Pistonheads about getting the best from an Astra GTE 16v on the track (which helped me score a PB at Snetterton in May!).

All Photos-8685 by Tom Ellis, on Flickr

However, life is too short and I;m hungry for something new for 2017. I can assure you it will not be a fast car/sensible choice (Clio 182, MX5 etc) but another unloved old heap for £500! As long as it comes in a manual and has SOME talent underneath, anything is fair game - if it's been used in motorsport even once, it won't be considered.

Ford Fusion?
Daihatsu Charade?
Fiat Brava?
Nissan Almera?
Mazda 626?
VW Passat?


There's quite a bit of choice for the cheapo end of the market! I won't go silly and go MPV/SUV as high centre of gravity is perilous and also they're emasculating day to day drives.

[Rob M]

I love what you are doing!!
Ive even toyed with the idea of doing the same, so inspiring! We shall see.
How about, if you can find one, a Fiat Marea 2.0 20V jobbie, supposed to go like stink and, I presume, it shares a platform with others so general parts and maybe even upgrade parts should be available?

[The House]

Alfa 156?
Specifically the 2.4 jtd (the 150hp variant, so 2002ish). Handled quite well, I stuck a 50 quid ebay tuning box and it went like a stabbed rat, and also cheep!


This was mine. I wouldnt recommend cutting the springs though, looked cool but understeered more!

[elstro1988]

Jul 11, 2016 17:02:41 GMT Rob M said:

I love what you are doing!!
Ive even toyed with the idea of doing the same, so inspiring! We shall see.
How about, if you can find one, a Fiat Marea 2.0 20V jobbie, supposed to go like stink and, I presume, it shares a platform with others so general parts and maybe even upgrade parts should be available?

Do it! It's addictive, cheap and fun. Most money you'll pay out apart from entry fees is safety gear (overall, gloves, shoes, helmet). Licences weigh in at £45ish, club membership & championship registration (Service Hydraulics is the one I'm a part of) £36. 

Fiat Brava was a consideration - Marea saloons tragically rare Has the Italian soul and eager FIRE engines but not the sportiest of Fiats so fits the bill.


If I can justify the cost, a manual V6 Kia Magentis is a very attractive option....with Cherry Bombs I bet it will sound the business...

[jomfun]

What about a Daihatsu Sirion 1.3? Cracking engines. 103bhp. Understeer like curse word but with some suspension improvements could be made a heap better.

[Rob M]

Jul 11, 2016 21:00:31 GMT elstro1988 said:

Jul 11, 2016 17:02:41 GMT Rob M said:

I love what you are doing!!
Ive even toyed with the idea of doing the same, so inspiring! We shall see.
How about, if you can find one, a Fiat Marea 2.0 20V jobbie, supposed to go like stink and, I presume, it shares a platform with others so general parts and maybe even upgrade parts should be available?

Do it! It's addictive, cheap and fun. Most money you'll pay out apart from entry fees is safety gear (overall, gloves, shoes, helmet). Licences weigh in at £45ish, club membership & championship registration (Service Hydraulics is the one I'm a part of) £36. 

Fiat Brava was a consideration - Marea saloons tragically rare Has the Italian soul and eager FIRE engines but not the sportiest of Fiats so fits the bill.


If I can justify the cost, a manual V6 Kia Magentis is a very attractive option....with Cherry Bombs I bet it will sound the business...

Sounds all good.
Whats the crack regarding insurance??
I presume you have to tell your insurer its going to be used for competition?
I'm currently looking at some V6 Vectras, the ultimate 'sales rep car goes racing'
Even David Brent was driving one when he left The office and went out on the road selling......
I really need to get rid of one of my cars first.

[elstro1988]

Jul 12, 2016 14:48:44 GMT Rob M said:

Jul 11, 2016 21:00:31 GMT elstro1988 said:

Do it! It's addictive, cheap and fun. Most money you'll pay out apart from entry fees is safety gear (overall, gloves, shoes, helmet). Licences weigh in at £45ish, club membership & championship registration (Service Hydraulics is the one I'm a part of) £36. 

Fiat Brava was a consideration - Marea saloons tragically rare Has the Italian soul and eager FIRE engines but not the sportiest of Fiats so fits the bill.


If I can justify the cost, a manual V6 Kia Magentis is a very attractive option....with Cherry Bombs I bet it will sound the business...

Sounds all good.
Whats the crack regarding insurance??
I presume you have to tell your insurer its going to be used for competition?
I'm currently looking at some V6 Vectras, the ultimate 'sales rep car goes racing'
Even David Brent was driving one when he left The office and went out on the road selling......
I really need to get rid of one of my cars first.

Insurance, well the events are covered by the MSA so you don't need race insurance. As for telling your insurer, well.....it's up to you. I always have the mindset 'I need to drive home after this!' especially when 100+ miles from home (I live in Cambridge!).



This page tells you everything you need to know:





www.hillclimbandsprint.co.uk/allabout.asp



And a Vectra V6 is a brilliant choice actually - good engine but bolted to car that would 'stand out' and plus, if you wanted to go there, a stainless exhaust would make it sound fantastic. It was another consideration of mine actually.



Sensible choices, FYI include:



Peugeot 106 and 205, or a 306

Renaultsport Clio

MX5s

Scoobys and Evos

BMW 3-series.





I've also seen K11 Micras and Proton Coupés being used.



But who wants to be be sensible?


Re: Sirion 1.3....I think the odd Sirion has already been done but Idk. Like the thinking though.

[mikeyp247]

Mazda 626 2.0 is a good choice, some mates and I did a charity rally in one last year and it was great (even fully laden it was quite good). I understand the basis is the MK2 Mondeo, so parts are cheap and interchangable save a few engine bits. The one we had also had a TC button.

Love this budget racing idea, might look in to it.