Howdy, all. Long time lurker. I'm a college student with an itch to get back into the sport of kings. I've noticed a lot of KIA/Hyundai action here in the last few months and it looks like people trying to go fast on the cheap have found them to be a viable option.
My question is, is there a good guide to racing KDM cars? I know there's a guru on here, at a minimum, and I'd love to find something that walks you through them. At a minimum, I'm trying to figure out what's worth it and what's not on the auction block. Central TX likes wrecking Korean cars, apparently.
Thanks for the help, happy to be here, and gig em!
Bobzilla's spider sense just started tingling.
He should be here shortly to impart an entire encyclopedia of knowledge on you 
All you need to know is: RONDO. This is the OG Korean performance car, the benchmark by which all Korean cars are measured. Think of it as the Korean McLaren F1, 20 years later and Genesis, Kia and Hyundai are still trying to catch up to it. I won't bore you with performance stats like 0-60 in under 2 seconds, a top speed of 231 mph or the ability to haul 7 in luxury or tow 10,000 pounds, but they are impressive. The Rondo owns the 'Ring record for FWD, 7-passenger, normally-aspirated vehicles with roof racks with an astonishing 6 min 36 seconds.
Enzo Ferrari was quoted as saying his favorite car was the Rondo, followed by the F-40. Horacio Pagani modeled the Zonda's exhaust note from the Rondo. Bugatti Veyron test mules were powered by de-tuned Rondo engines for top-speed testing.
They are hard to come by these days, most are in climate-controlled collections or museums (The Peterson Museum has an entire floor dedicated to the Rondo) but when they cross the block, most sell in the $4 - $5,000 range so save some CL searches and cross your fingers.
@grm staff: Have you considered doing a Rondo buyer's guide with pinchvalve's expertise?
In reply to pinchvalve (Forum Supporter) :
That has to be the most outrageously tongue-in-cheek bit I've read in a long time. 
pinchvalve (Forum Supporter) said:
All you need to know is: RONDO. This is the OG Korean performance car, the benchmark by which all Korean cars are measured. Think of it as the Korean McLaren F1, 20 years later and Genesis, Kia and Hyundai are still trying to catch up to it. I won't bore you with performance stats like 0-60 in under 2 seconds, a top speed of 231 mph or the ability to haul 7 in luxury or tow 10,000 pounds, but they are impressive. The Rondo owns the 'Ring record for FWD, 7-passenger, normally-aspirated vehicles with roof racks with an astonishing 6 min 36 seconds.
Enzo Ferrari was quoted as saying his favorite car was the Rondo, followed by the F-40. Horacio Pagani modeled the Zonda's exhaust note from the Rondo. Bugatti Veyron test mules were powered by de-tuned Rondo engines for top-speed testing.
They are hard to come by these days, most are in climate-controlled collections or museums (The Peterson Museum has an entire floor dedicated to the Rondo) but when they cross the block, most sell in the $4 - $5,000 range so save some CL searches and cross your fingers.
Sounds like god's own platform. 7-passenger, you say? Does that mean a suicide seat, I've always wanted those.
This is funny because this just came home with me a couple weeks ago.
2.7l v6, with 132000kms. The 5 speed auto is surprisingly quick shifting in manual mode. It's very Tardis like inside.
I bought it to haul bikes and stuff, but now I'm starting to scheme how to firm up the handling.
Pretty sure it's just stiffer sway bars away from stomping a V70R.
Turbo_Rev said:
... an itch to get back into the sport of kings.....
Pretty sure the phrase "sport of kings" refers to horse racing, and has nothing whatsoever to do with {shudder, cringe} KIA/Hyundai. 
1988RedT2 said:
Turbo_Rev said:
... an itch to get back into the sport of kings.....
Pretty sure the phrase "sport of kings" refers to horse racing, and has nothing whatsoever to do with {shudder, cringe} KIA/Hyundai.
Like I needed another reason to abhor absolute monarchies.
Sorry ittook so long. Been working 60 hour 6-day weeks and prepping cars for track thingsies.
Question 1: What are you wanting to do? Autox? Rallyx? HPDE? Door to door? Drag racing (I know of some guys on islands doing stupid things with them)
Question 2: what's thebudget? I mean new you've got the Veloster N out now and the new Elantra N coming soon. For a littleless theres Forte GT, Elantra Sports, Veloster turbos etc. Used.... well the door is wide open.
They work well for shenanigans.
bobzilla said:
Sorry ittook so long. Been working 60 hour 6-day weeks and prepping cars for track thingsies.
Question 1: What are you wanting to do? Autox? Rallyx? HPDE? Door to door? Drag racing (I know of some guys on islands doing stupid things with them)
Question 2: what's thebudget? I mean new you've got the Veloster N out now and the new Elantra N coming soon. For a littleless theres Forte GT, Elantra Sports, Veloster turbos etc. Used.... well the door is wide open.
Any advice is gold whenever you can give it, no apologies necessary.
AutoX and maybe HDPE, although that would be a far off goal. I've got a lot of track theory (read: Gran Turismo 3) and very, very little experience, so I don't need to build a lot of car at once.
As far as the budget, I can afford the shoe or the string but not both. Full time starving student. I've mainly been perusing wrecked KDMs on auction sites. It's doable but I'll have no problem meeting a $2022 budget challenge, let's say.
In that vein, this would never be a street car. I can and will turn all my own wrenches, save for a cage (if it ever comes to that). The biggest problem, ironically, is storage but that problem might be taken care of soon ish. Until then, open to original ways of fooling apartment management into thinking that car is indeed operable and not, in fact, the losing participant of a head-on collision.
$2K is gonna be tough to find something not complete crap. Keep in mind the majority of these cars were considered cheap throwaways through the late 2000's. Plus used car prices now are just idiotic.
A few to stay away from (IMO): First gen Rio. They were left over Fozdia (ford/mazda/kia) cars. First gen Accent (96-99) have no support for suspension and 4x114.3 bolt pattern. GK Tiburons (2003-2009ish) even though I had one. Chassis is so weak and they are so old there's no a lot left.
Fun cars that aren't fast: 2007-2010 Rio/Rio5/Accent. Not a lot of aftermarket support but they are durable, fun, light and tossable. If you can find a 2003-2005 1.6L Accent 3-dr those are pretty fun. Terrible ergonomics and chintzy interiors but great fun and built like a tank.
First gen Forte's are a hoot. If you can find an SX manual you'll love the torque. You'll hate the open diff.
XD Elantras/Spectras (2001-2006 Elantra, 2004-2009 spectra) is a decent platform. Rear suspension isn't ideal but get it stiff enough it's fine. The 2.0L Beta isn't a powerhouse but it's durable and can take a beating. Swap to 5-bolt hubs/brakes from the GK Tiburon for more wheel and brake options. If you get really froggy you can swap in the 2.7/6-spd and a diff from the tiburon.
I'll just add that finding anything in this market right now is a challenge. I'm hoping to pick up a second car in the next couple of months and the 05-09 Accents are on my short list. Pre-pandemic, you could find them around the $2k price range all day long. Today, their $3.5-5k cars.... :(
-Rob
In reply to bobzilla :
That Accent reminds me of a quote from American Beauty:
"But it helps me remember... I need to remember... Sometimes there's so much beauty in the world, I feel like I can't take it, and my heart is just going to cave in."
Here's to you, Hyundai Accent.
Anyways, here's about what I'm thinking in terms of a starting point, with consideration given to bobzilla's excellent short list:
These aren't ideal specimens (automatics, wrong trim, not the best year, etc.) but you can see what's in my head, to a degree. No start, beat to crap, "cheap" learning platform. If I have to make a CAI out of PVC, so be it, as long as it works and is safe. Reality check, please.
This reminds me, is there any potential in the "luxury" or SUV KDMs out there? Amanti/Sedona/Sorento? For swaps or use as a platform. There's always a couple on the block and I wonder about them, since they usually go for peanuts.
I keep reading Bob expecting him to one day say "Yeah the 2010 Avante front subframe bolts directly into a 08 Rio rear for mid engine goodness. If you drill out the holes on the exhaust manifold a GT45 will bolt right on. Oh yeah they just came out with free software to tune it and bunches of tunes are available on line by the community."
In reply to Stampie :
"These Korean manufacturers, you know, they had this gentleman's agreement not to publish crazy horsepower numbers but they knew what they were doing when they designed those crossmembers."
In reply to Turbo_Rev :
I know next to nothing on the Rondo. The Rio, you can make a CAI out of the stock airbox. The filter is appropriately sized. H&R makes springs still. Super fun car for 110hp and the alpha is really durable.
In reply to Stampie :
the 2010 Avante(Elantra) is an odd duck. that whole generation was weird.
The later Rios like what Bob has aren't terrible (but not great either). They make more power than their Sundae Cup bretheren, and are relatively lightweight. You have to look at them in that context though, because you get outside of the word of tiny low power hatches and they are no longer impressive.
The older Kias like the Rio shown above with an auto, etc... You really have to ask yourself what you want to do with the car, because that is just an awful starting point. Lemons? Sure. Just about anything else? Slightly more budget/research/patience will get you a better car for the task most likely.
bobzilla said:
In reply to Turbo_Rev :
I know next to nothing on the Rondo.
Built on the same platform(s) as the ~ 00-18 Elantra/Soul/Forte. You can find them here used with the 175HP 2.0 DI and 6 spd manual.
Like all of those cars it would likely be just a matter of looking at the different ones and seeing which parts cross over. There's significant performance parts crossover between the Veloster (which is supposed to be on the Rio platform but isn't) and my 16 Forte.
Mr. Peabody said:
There's significant performance parts crossover between the Veloster (which is supposed to be on the Rio platform but isn't) and my 16 Forte.
It isn't? Everything I read/see online supports it being on the same platform, which is probably one reason the 1G Veloster is looked upon with disgust
I wouldn't mind the 1.6T from the Veloster in my Soul, it would make it more tolerable. But unless its plug 'n play, I'm not wasting that kind of energy on this berkeleying toaster.
