Burton Posted September 22, 2010 Report Share Posted September 22, 2010 The 2001 Grand Am GT that Kate was driving was really starting to nickel and dime us to death. Well, worse than nickels and dimes. Once we started adding up the reciepts and realized we spent nearly $3000 keeping that car on the road since January, we decided that kind of money would make a nice car payment. The Grand Am was our "reliable" daily driver, but Kate drives 50-60 miles a day, and since reliability was slipping and we could stand to spend less on gas, we decided to get something fairly econoboxish and cheap, but something that would be reliable and have a warranty. We also decided to just keep the Grand Am for me to use, since it has working air, and I don't drive much anyway. After coming close to getting a couple VW's, we decided on a new Kia Forte Koup. We got the SX one, which is the sport version of it and comes with the bigger engine- a 2.4. It handles better and is quicker than a lot of the other cars in it's class, and it's one of the cheaper cars in it's class too. IMO, it's one of the best looking cars in it's class too. It also has a 100k mile warranty, which is nice. We got an auto because it's mainly a commuter car, but it's one of those shiftable autos. The stereo sounds really nice- Nicer than the Monsoon in the Grand Am, which suprised me. It also has Sirius and links to phones with Bluetooth for hands-free talking when in the car. We won't be doing any real mechanical modding- Maybe a cold air intake and cat back at most. However, I will be doing a lot cosmetically to give it our own touch. http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10087/9-14-10_011.jpghttp://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10087/9-14-10_006.jpghttp://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10087/9-14-10_004.jpg And after I tinted the windows.... http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10087/9-20-10_005.jpghttp://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10087/9-20-10_006.jpg More to come after this weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrazilBoy Posted September 22, 2010 Report Share Posted September 22, 2010 Stripe it mang......looks good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AutoBodyGod Posted September 22, 2010 Report Share Posted September 22, 2010 (edited) I love the car, but I hope you ditch those wheels. Edited September 22, 2010 by AutoBodyGod Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burton Posted September 22, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2010 I love the car, but I hope you ditch those wheels. I'm sure we will when the tires wear out, but until then, they will be getting some painting. The whole wheel is black, but the silver parts you see are inserts which screw in from the back of the wheel. Right now the plan is to pop those all off and paint them body color, or maybe just leave them off and go with the all black wheel look. I'll be making my own fiberglass rear spoiler and maybe upper rear window spoiler. There are some available on Ebay for these things but they are stupid expensive, and I don't like the looks of most of the designs anyway. Other than that we'll be tinting the tails and doing some sort of treatment on the grilles. Oh, and we're gonna lose the kia badging too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooljs78 Posted September 22, 2010 Report Share Posted September 22, 2010 I like it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrongTyer Posted September 22, 2010 Report Share Posted September 22, 2010 Cool little car. I like where you car going with it. Ive never been a fan of KIA....who has? but this one looks nice. Its a 2 door! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burton Posted September 22, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2010 I was never really big into the Kias either, but from what I've been reading, they are trying to clean up their image and make some very nice cars so they aren't just a "cheap car" automaker. They hired a guy from Audi in 06 and have been redesigning all their cars or coming up with new modelsto try and get themselves better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrazilBoy Posted September 22, 2010 Report Share Posted September 22, 2010 Some inspiration for ya Mark.....http://sharkracing.com/acecart/bin/shop.cgi?action=list&cate=030000000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Project83 Posted September 23, 2010 Report Share Posted September 23, 2010 Honestly i actually hadn't even Looked at one of those before, but it is a good looking little car now that i have. Wheels don't look that bad to me... i like the body color idea for the silver parts though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burton Posted September 26, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2010 Been making some headway... Got the fiberglass spoiler bases laid, and the general shape in foam, ready for the final fiberglassing: http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10087/9-25-10_013.jpg Got the grilles modded and set up for some mesh. I made up 3 sets so I have the silver, black and body color, and will be able to switch back and forth. http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10087/9-25-10_007.jpg Also got the wheel inserts basecoated body color, but may add some black towards the middle of them because it's almost too much blue: http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10087/9-25-10_014.jpg More to come tomorrow, I'm sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burton Posted September 27, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2010 Got the fiberglass spoilers roughed in and off the car, and also got the paint work, and light tinting done. Still have to finish a little wiring for some lights tomorrow, put it back together, and clean it up, but until then.... http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10087/9-26-10_010.jpg http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10087/9-26-10_001.jpg http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10087/9-26-10_003.jpg http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10087/9-26-10_006.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fanta Posted September 27, 2010 Report Share Posted September 27, 2010 you don't even have the damn thing for a month and you're already molding fiberglass on it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmyers151 Posted September 27, 2010 Report Share Posted September 27, 2010 I like it. Supposed to be pretty nice little cars. Kia/Hyundai are def. coming up with some decent stuff lately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yzrider Posted September 28, 2010 Report Share Posted September 28, 2010 Very nice. Like it alot, very good choice in a daily driver thats also a looker. Economical and style all in one. Thats whats up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burton Posted September 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2010 (edited) The spoilers will be needing some work yet, but I got them molded and off the car. Also got everything put back together and cleaned up. I do have some lighting on the way too which will need to be installed, but at least it looks a little different than the rest of the Koups out there now... http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10087/9-28-10_013.jpg http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10087/9-28-10_014.jpg http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10087/9-28-10_015.jpg http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10087/9-28-10_016.jpg http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10087/9-28-10_017.jpg http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10087/9-28-10_018.jpg http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10087/9-28-10_019.jpg http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10087/9-28-10_020.jpg Damn, I just realized the tires are in serious need of some Tire Wet. Anyway, so far it's coming out real nice, maybe even better than I expected. For a Kia, it's not looking half bad. The only thing I'm not sure about is the mesh. I need to cut out the rest of the OEM honeycomb to make the mesh look better, but then I'm not sure if I want blue, black, or silver mesh. Good think I cut and painted a set of each so I can change them out from time to time. Edited September 28, 2010 by Burton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D_Venable Posted September 29, 2010 Report Share Posted September 29, 2010 Love the front end treatment Mark, tail lights look much better as well. I'm not sure on the wheels yet though, have you tried just the black without the inserts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nomad Posted September 29, 2010 Report Share Posted September 29, 2010 I saw one of these in traffic for the first time today. They look alot different to me in pics than it did in real life. I was very impressed with its lines and overall look in traffic. Great looking little car. Nice mods Mark, everything is well intergrated. Bravo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burton Posted September 29, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2010 (edited) I'm not sure on the wheels yet though, have you tried just the black without the inserts? The wheels look OK on the car just straight black. There are a few people in the Kia clubs that pop the inserts and just run them black. It looks OK, but Kate and I didn't really like the solid black wheel look, so it wasn't the best option for us. We thought about painting the whole rim blue then just do the inserts black, but then it would have been too much blue. We're both really happy with the wheels, so they will stay like this until the tires are worn out, and then we'll get a set of 18" wheels, something with a nice lip. Thanks for all the nice comments guys. I'm real happy with how it's turning out so far. Edited September 29, 2010 by Burton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
natedog_37 Posted October 1, 2010 Report Share Posted October 1, 2010 Nice. Love how Kia copies other care companys. looks like a civic coupe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burton Posted October 1, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2010 Yeah, actually I see a lot of influences from many cars in it's class, but I also see a little of the German influence too- The designer of the Forte came from Audi on '06. They may have copied a lot, but they took all the best stuff from the best cars, I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burton Posted October 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2010 Got the lighting on the front all handled, and now just have to finish out the spoilers, add some interior lighting and add a sub and amp. http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10087/100_0511.JPG http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10087/100_0520.JPG http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10087/100_0483.JPG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave-O Posted October 24, 2010 Report Share Posted October 24, 2010 I really dig these cars, they have an aggressive appearance [for being a Kia ]. You've done some good work Burton, I like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earl Posted January 19, 2011 Report Share Posted January 19, 2011 updates? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burton Posted March 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 19, 2011 Not much update wise... I still got a little more work to do to the spoilers, and we got some stereo stuff to put in it. I did make up a set of blue headlight tint skins for it, so I could have pictures to sell them. I love the way it looks, but the wife does not, so this is only temporary. I may try it in smoke when I get some of that film in.... http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10087/hl_off.JPG http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10087/all_angle.JPG I plan on making some kits for the SQs also. I'm gonna try to get a GP going on those this weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burton Posted March 23, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 (edited) Got the rear lip spoiler all glassed in and ready for finishing fillers and primer... http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10087/3-16-2011_020.jpg http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10087/3-16-2011_022.jpg http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10087/3-16-2011_024.jpg http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10087/3-16-2011_023.jpg I also got some LED light strips installed inside a while ago, but forgot to put up pictures. Sorry for the dirty floors, it's a daily driver, and our "driveway" is made of gravel and grass... http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10087/3-16-2011_025.jpg http://www.26liter.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10087/3-16-2011_026.jpg Edited March 23, 2011 by Burton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.