I'm in love.

"Takuro Spirit" (takurospirit)
09/22/2015 at 21:29 • Filed to: notacamry

And her name is Rio.

2008 Kia Rio5 SX to be exact. She’s got a 110hp engine, a 5-speed manual with DOGLEG REVERSE, 56,000 miles on her, funky red and black cloth seats, and is oddly optioned with A/C, fog lights, alloy wheels, alloy pedals, but manual locks and windows. CRANKS FO LYFE.

I took her for a test drive down to the lakefront where it smells of fish and though she has an unfortunate squeak in her clutch pedal somewhere, and a twirling noise from the throwout bearing (that sounds familiar, *cough*CAMRY*cough* but its not bad), but she’s got zip, zap, and zowwie.

I’m in love, and I don’t care about the road noise, the aforementioned clutch annoyances (it grabs kinda high, too), or the lowball trade in offer of $200 on my Camry.

I am in love.

I have forgotten all about that Magnum.

DISCUSSION (31)

Alex B > Takuro Spirit
09/22/2015 at 21:32

These don’t look that bad actually. Can’t comment on quality though.

Amoore100 > Takuro Spirit
09/22/2015 at 21:34

Wow, I have never wanted a Kia Rio of any sort until today...the wheels look great on it and nothing beats a stick shift in a wagon...might be a bit dull by some standards but I have to say, for basic reliable transportation with a bit of pep, that should do it!

not for canada - australian in disguise > Takuro Spirit
09/22/2015 at 21:39

Parents used to have an orange, 2009, base model Rio sedan. Was a good little car, quality was a bit flimsy at times, but overall it was solid.

Takuro Spirit > Alex B
09/22/2015 at 21:41

I’ve seen good things online.

dogisbadob > Takuro Spirit
09/22/2015 at 21:42

And when she sines, she really shows you all she caaaaaaaaaaaan

DrJohannVegas > Takuro Spirit
09/22/2015 at 21:47

Oblig:

Takuro Spirit > Amoore100
09/22/2015 at 21:49

It was a good little stick, too. Short throws, very direct. I was able to hustle it around easier than any other car I’ve just jumped into never having driven one before. I even heel and toed that thing back into the dealer’s lot.

Takuro Spirit > not for canada - australian in disguise
09/22/2015 at 21:49

Yeah its a bit tinny, a bit plasticky.... but that just means it’s LIGHTER. :D

Takuro Spirit > DrJohannVegas
09/22/2015 at 21:52

Or alternatively:

Bandit > Takuro Spirit
09/22/2015 at 21:53

Get your god damned Trans Am done

Wobbles the Mind > Takuro Spirit
09/22/2015 at 21:59

I loved my 2006 Kia Rio. Ultra-basic, only A/C and Auto were optioned on it. Drove it from 17,000 miles to 257,000. I just sold it a month ago.

There is a timing belt replacement every 60k miles. You shouldnt need to do the waterpump since it is considered a part that lasts the life of the vehicle, but you literally can’t put off replacing ALL of the belts. My belt broke at 68,000 miles and I lucked out on that. In fact I would say that 60,000 was always pushing it on the auxiliary belts. So you would have a pretty expensive bit of maintenance to do right when you purchase the vehicle.

mazda616 > Takuro Spirit
09/22/2015 at 22:07

My friend has a 2007 Rio sedan. Total base model. She loves it. Calls it the “Roller Skate.” Drives it 50 miles a day and averages 37 MPG. It has around 140,000 miles.

Takuro Spirit > mazda616
09/22/2015 at 22:09

I wanted a 2, that my wife calls a “shoe”, but there are none out there in my budget. This is as close as I’m gonna get. Thing’s a little go-kart.

Takuro Spirit > Wobbles the Mind
09/22/2015 at 22:12

Can’t be as hard as the one on my Camry...

Wobbles the Mind > Takuro Spirit
09/22/2015 at 22:22

I didn’t even know you had to change timing belts on Camrys. My mom has had a 2004 V6 since new. Over 220,000 miles and I know she hasn’t changed it ever. I thought it was a chain like most Camrys since the early 2000s but apparently it’s a belt.

Weird coincidence that you have models I actually experienced. If you have a Geo Tracker, Kia Amanti, or Outsmobile Achieva I’ll freak since I never meet people with these cars.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > Takuro Spirit
09/22/2015 at 23:51

Do it. Cheap to run, good gas mileage, and pretty fun to drive. If by dogleg you mean reverse is up behind first like German car, then it’s the same gearbox as my sister’s 08 sedan or my other sister’s ‘09. Rio 5. The 08 sedan got traded in on an older Mini Cooper and the 09 is still blasting through 50 miles a day in South Carolina.

shop-teacher > Takuro Spirit
09/22/2015 at 23:51

Hmm, an oddly compelling argument in favor of a car I’ve never heard a good thing about. I think you should get it.

Is the Camry still in rallycrossable shape? I’d give you $250 for it if it is :)

and 100 more > Takuro Spirit
09/23/2015 at 00:06

I too have always had a strange fondness for second-gen Rio hatches. Love those taillights.

and 100 more > Amoore100
09/23/2015 at 00:07

Slow car fast, slow car fast

Amoore100 > and 100 more
09/23/2015 at 00:12

That describes my Volvo V50 2.4i as well...168 hp in 3200 lbs will never be fast, but it is fun to drive...

duurtlang > DrJohannVegas
09/23/2015 at 04:39

I came here for this video. Thanks for not having to leave disappointed.

Takuro Spirit > Wobbles the Mind
09/23/2015 at 08:16

Mine was done at 90,000 and now the car has 242,000 on it.... I looked at it a while ago and noticed some small cracks, and the timing cover was filled with black debris I assume is from the belt slowly wearing away from all these years and miles.

Since its a non-interference motor I was just gonna let it go until it... went.

Takuro Spirit > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
09/23/2015 at 08:17

Correct, and it has that sports-car like lockout ring you have to lift to get it to go into R.

Takuro Spirit > shop-teacher
09/23/2015 at 08:18

The dealer offered me $200, and I think I can talk them up to $500 maybe if I drive it there..... once I remove the wheels/tires, stereo, dashcam hardwiring, and the speakers. I need to keep those.

Takuro Spirit > and 100 more
09/23/2015 at 08:19

If I buy it I’ll be replacing the left one, as it is cracked. I’ll send you the old one. :P

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > Takuro Spirit
09/23/2015 at 08:28

As far as the clutch grabbing hi, that appears to be a Hyundai Kia thing. Both of my sisters car is had the same thing, with the hydraulic clutch. My soul grabs a bit lower but it's a 13 with 50k.

and 100 more > Takuro Spirit
09/23/2015 at 08:45

Ok, it’s a deal!

It’ll be my first step in assembling a Rio from bits and pieces, since I don’t own one yet.

shop-teacher > Takuro Spirit
09/23/2015 at 09:00

Yeah, no sense in giving those away. You can probably get them up, I’m sure they’ve got enough profit margin in the Rio to toss you a few hundred more.

Takuro Spirit > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
09/23/2015 at 10:51

I was passed by a Rio sedan today that had that same twirling t/o bearing noise this morning. Maybe that’s normal too? I mean, they’re not VW’s or anything, they’re gonna make SOME noise, right?

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Takuro Spirit
09/23/2015 at 22:36

Yay, glad to see some more Hyundai/Kia love! :) That Kia Rio is the sister-car (same platform) to my DD ‘09 Accent, so same engine, same 5-spd trans., a lot of the same interior trim pieces! :) 110hp may not be much, but the little G4ED Alpha II engine is pretty spunky and I’ve always liked the solid feel when the shifter goes into gear and the throws are decently quick for an economy car. I’m pretty easy on mine and probably drive very “granny-like”, haha!

I don’t think it would be easy to heal-toe, so maybe it’s just that I have small feet....the gas pedal feels too far back “behind” the brake pedal to me for me to bend my foot comfortably that way.

They made sedan Accents and sedan Rios, and they made 2-DOOR Accent hatches and 5-DOOR Rio hatches....surprised they never made an Accent-based 5-door hatch, personally, but I love my little two door. Complete base model for me...manual locks, windows and mirrors, no ABS, no Cruise....I prefer cranks though, as much as I loved my old 2002 Subie Impreza wagon, the power windows were a pain in the winter....I’ve never had a problem getting my windows open on the Accent short of gently working them loose from the ice, but they always went up and down just fine.

Lots of interior plastic, but it’s prety solidly put together and durable...if you do buy the Rio, the plastic CAN scratch if you’re not a little careful....I’ve got a few on my rear hatch from not-quite-perfectly-loaded cargo...

I researched a lot before I bought it as I wanted something reliable and a LOT of places online bill the Accent/Rio as being a very solid little car. I’m coming up on my 96,000km Timing Belt replacement, so I can’t imagine that will be cheap, but basic maintenance means she’ll run better and last longer. Mine had 54,000kms on it when I got it in April 2013, up to 92,018kms now! :)

Comparison of our interiors (if you do get the Rio) - find the matching parts! ;)

Kinja'd!!!

Tohru > Takuro Spirit
09/25/2015 at 17:01

Too old. Gotta go with a 2003 Rio.