Is anyone rallycrossing a 2006-2011 Kia Rio/Hyundai Accent? My son owns the Rio and it's not a bad car. I can start finding them for <$2K and though one might make a decent rallycrosser/winter beater but speed parts aren't particularly common for them. Even shock absorber selection is limited.Suspension layout reminds me of a 2nd generation Golf, so maybe other manufacturers parts could be made to fit???? First thing I'd want to do would be longer springs and longer travel shocks. Anybody have any first hand knowledge to share?
There's a local, Andy Thomas, who runs the generation accent before. I believe the 1.5L turbo bits from the scoupe turbo bolt up. I'm not sure if there is a limited slip option out there, but I wouldn't be surprised if there was an obscure parts been sharing with Mitsubishi for that chassis that allowed for use of one from a DSM application, research would need to be done on that front. For suspension get a set of monotube struts, a coil over sleeve kit, good bump stops and eibach springs (you can select the length and spring rate from eibach after trying the springs that come with the sleeve kit out and deciding what you need after having used that as a baseline). I'm not sure about the newer models, but that should be a cheap, fun, capable, reliable formula for the previous generation.
I'll also add that the above would be the fwd platform I'd build on the cheap if not building a BG chassis Mazda. B13 sentras and 16v 1st Gen neons are getting close to hens tooth status to find without terminal rust, otherwise they'd be in the mix as well.
Some crazy kiwi did have a pretty epic ex WRC prepped one. Most have long forgotten that Hyundai had a WRC effort using the platform. Even the stock suspension travel is pretty impressive.
I'd consider a 1st generation Accent , but you never see any that aren't rusted to crap. They were a cheap,throwaway car and were treated as such. Same reason I can find $2K '07-'11 models for little money, but not yet beat to death. The fact that they're about the same size,weight and power as a 2nd gen VW Golf was what originally got me thinking of using one.
Down this way the first gens are still fairly plentiful, finding a manual can prove slightly difficult
Look for a 3rd generation Elantra (2001-2006) Lots of suspension travel, aftermarket parts exist because it shares platforms with the Tiburon. Great engine with a nice fat midrange and were more common in a manual trans than the cheaper accent/Rio. Also see the 2004-2008 Kia Spectra.
The 2nd gen Elantra shared a lot of Tiburon parts as well and might be cheaper to find than the 3rd gen. The 2.0 in the last couple years (99/00, IIRC) had decent power, just stay far away from the autos (one of the worst autos I've ever seen for getting power from engine to wheels).
2ND gen shares a lot of stuff with the third gen. They weren't as solid of a car as far as chassis flex goes. The XD chassis is a beast. 2900lb compact car empty with lightweight stuff already on it!
In reply to rslifkin:
the 1.6L that came later in the generation (theta platform iirc) is also a solid starting point. I had forgotten about tiburon parts sharing, definitely aftermarket limited slip options available there.
In reply to Bobzilla:
In fwd rallycross 2900 is a tank. I'm at 2046 with skid plates and lightbar.
captdownshift wrote:
In reply to rslifkin:
the 1.6L that came later in the generation (theta platform iirc) is also a solid starting point. I had forgotten about tiburon parts sharing, definitely aftermarket limited slip options available there.
1.6 is the DOHC Alpha. The Elantraa's in the US never recieved that drivetrain. The second Gen came with the 1.8L Beta and the 2.0L Beta for the 99-00. The 01-03 XD platform exclusively usedthe 2.0L Beta II. Uses the same architecture of the Beta with different cams/head and ECU control. the 04-06 uses a CVVT head on the Beta II.
The more you know......
captdownshift wrote:
There's a local, Andy Thomas, who runs the generation accent before. I believe the 1.5L turbo bits from the scoupe turbo bolt up. I'm not sure if there is a limited slip option out there, but I wouldn't be surprised if there was an obscure parts been sharing with Mitsubishi for that chassis that allowed for use of one from a DSM application, research would need to be done on that front. For suspension get a set of monotube struts, a coil over sleeve kit, good bump stops and eibach springs (you can select the length and spring rate from eibach after trying the springs that come with the sleeve kit out and deciding what you need after having used that as a baseline). I'm not sure about the newer models, but that should be a cheap, fun, capable, reliable formula for the previous generation.
I'll also add that the above would be the fwd platform I'd build on the cheap if not building a BG chassis Mazda. B13 sentras and 16v 1st Gen neons are getting close to hens tooth status to find without terminal rust, otherwise they'd be in the mix as well.
I love watching Andy drive that thing, lol....he's a fairly big guy and that car looks tiny with him in it. IIRC when he was running it he was finishing behind Jim Kelly's Escort GT and the Purple Probe. Andy ran his autocross Celica last year (and I think won his class in rallycross with it).
In reply to irish44j:
I saw a few photos on Facebook that lead me to believe that the stink bug is making a return this season 
In reply to DeadSkunk:
I never took my '07 Accent to an actual rallycross - and I've done rallycross(and stage rally) before - but I definitely drove it like that. Daily. 
That car loved to be sideways in the dirt, and did quite well airborne too! You really don't need to touch the suspension unless you're planning on going all-out for stage rally. The stock suspension has plenty of travel, and a set of off-the-shelf KYBs worked well & held up better than I expected. It was the most controllable car sideways that I've ever driven in dirt/gravel.
In reply to petegossett:
That sounds encouraging,I would expect the Kia to behave much the same and I know where there is a relatively cheap one. My son is planning on installing KYBs on his in the spring, so I'll test drive his even though it's an autotragic to get a feel for how they do.
theres a guy "0.o slow 1.6" on hyundai forums that has done much rallycrossing with his sedan.
he put tiburon koni strut inserts in his stock strut housings up front, e46 rear koni shocks.
http://www.hyundai-forums.com/mc-2006-2011-accent/140447-getting-read-track-day.html
http://www.hyundai-forums.com/mc-2006-2011-accent/138360-2-19-12-ridgecrest-rally-cross.html
another rallycrosser
http://www.hyundai-forums.com/mc-2006-2011-accent/132854-2011-scca-rallycross-nationals.html
there was also another guy whos no longer very active that lifted his accent.
http://www.hyundai-forums.com/mc-2006-2011-accent/126226-so-mrs-i-making-all-terrain-travel-rig-lol.html
captdownshift wrote:
There's a local, Andy Thomas, who runs the generation accent before. I believe the 1.5L turbo bits from the scoupe turbo bolt up. I'm not sure if there is a limited slip option out there, but I wouldn't be surprised if there was an obscure parts been sharing with Mitsubishi for that chassis that allowed for use of one from a DSM application, research would need to be done on that front. For suspension get a set of monotube struts, a coil over sleeve kit, good bump stops and eibach springs (you can select the length and spring rate from eibach after trying the springs that come with the sleeve kit out and deciding what you need after having used that as a baseline). I'm not sure about the newer models, but that should be a cheap, fun, capable, reliable formula for the previous generation.
I'll also add that the above would be the fwd platform I'd build on the cheap if not building a BG chassis Mazda. B13 sentras and 16v 1st Gen neons are getting close to hens tooth status to find without terminal rust, otherwise they'd be in the mix as well.
His silver Accent is my old car. I built the turbo kit for that car, but that's long gone. Pretty much a stock 1.5L in it (with some bits from when it was a FSP car). Those cars were late enough that there really wasn't any Mitsu crossover.
In reply to failboat:
Can't see all the pictures there, so I've registered on the site. I sense a rabbit hole coming soon. The rallycross videos did show and it looks like a fun car. Thanks for the links.
DeadSkunk wrote:
In reply to petegossett:
That sounds encouraging,I would expect the Kia to behave much the same and I know where there is a relatively cheap one. My son is planning on installing KYBs on his in the spring, so I'll test drive his even though it's an autotragic to get a feel for how they do.
Do yourself a favor and snag a set of H&R springs for it and mounts. The mounts are cheap and fall apart easily with age (Ask me how I know) and the springs are perfect. Very mild drop and a great ride/handling mixture.
captdownshift wrote:
In reply to Bobzilla:
In fwd rallycross 2900 is a tank. I'm at 2046 with skid plates and lightbar.
Dang thats light. What car is that?
In reply to Desmond:
BG chassis Mazda 323, carpet, speakers, rear seats, headliner, sound deadening, factory front seats and quarter glass removed. Sparco sprints, and lexan to replace quarter glass installed. Factory exhaust was also replaced by a ghetto sprint system. It will likely be a tiny bit heavier once the BP motor is swapped in on the account of the 16v head.
In reply to DeadSkunk:
the signal/noise ratio on that forum is pretty good and there are a few knowledgable members that hang around sharing info. sometimes you have to sift through some pointless crap to find the good stuff but its there, pretty typical forum and the search function works well. glad it helped.
(ive been on there since 2009 when i got my accent)
failboat wrote:
In reply to DeadSkunk:
the signal/noise ratio on that forum is pretty good and there are a few knowledgable members that hang around sharing info. sometimes you have to sift through some pointless crap to find the good stuff but its there, pretty typical forum and the search function works well. glad it helped.
(ive been on there since 2009 when i got my accent)
I think I still have a account there. Not sure. I was big on both Elantra forums while I had Porky.
A very clean 06 Rio with a stick happens to be on my local CL currently for $1800. If I wasn't still banned from buying cars it would be mine and I would be signed up for the first Rally X I could find.
The Rio has about 10 more HP and weighs about 200lbs less than my beloved E21 BMWs. I think I could have fun with that. Of course I would have to learn how to FWD, which may be too much for me to overcome.
