Rio mods suggestions

[zion_89]

Hello people,

I'm new on the site, I hope all of you are enjoying your Rio's .
I'm located in Costa Rica and just finished the process to get my own car, they will deliver it by Dec and I can't wait to drive it.

I'm getting the Kia Rio Sedan, Auto, In graphite color, in CR this model only comes in 1.4L at 107hp (white and silver cars are way too common here)

Here's a picture of it (not taken here but its exactly the same)



To be honest this will be my first car so I know nothing of it yet.

This is what I currently drive until I get my car:

I love it but it's very impractical for some aspects, very useful in others..

So anyways, I had a couple of questions about the car:

1. I want to change the rims but I'm very unsure if I should go for 15's or 17's (17's look awesome but the streets in here might make them more prone to flat tires,) which ones could you recommend? I'm planning to get dark ones but still unsure.

2. A friend tells me I can get up to 30hp extra by changing the exhaust and the air intake. Is it true?

3. What actual benefit do I get from changing internal lights for LEDS and external for xenon?

4. Any ideas about some easy mods I can do?

I like how the car looks stock, but I want to add a little something so it will stand out from any other Rio's near, people here tend not to mod new cars (which I think is boring).

Greetings.

[TJ85]

1. If you get proper tyres you wont have that problem as much as you would expect. You dont always have to go with low profile tyres when upgrading wheels. Also 18"s can fit on the Rio.

2. Haha.. No. Maybe if the Kia was a V8 you might see those numbers but its a small capacity 4cyl car. Exhaust and intake changes are very little hp wise. Exhaust and intake you get around 10-15hp on average. Many people then question the effort of it; why bother. You have have to understand smaller engines will give smaller results. With little cars its more about how they deliver over how much they put out.

What you can expect from changes to intake and exhaust on the Rio is big improvements in torque delivery in your lower and mid range RPM band. Depending on what style intake you go with you also see improvements in your upper RPM band.


3. Longer lasting bulbs??

4. Pinstriping, chrome black-outs, K badges etc. Everything else starts to cost money

[zion_89]

Thanks TJ85,

1. I will then get 17's after I research some tires that aren't low profile for them, also I need to chose color.

2. Lol yes I figured those numbers he gave me where a little over the top, maybe ill do those changes later on to improve torque.

3. Cool

4. Wow pinstriping looks great, but I might need a pro to be able to do it right haha, I will definitely do it on the back but very subtle, thanks.

I think I won't change the badges though, the kia ones aren't so bad.


If anyone has some other suggestions or ideas please reply

Greetings

[enoniam]

I've had good luck with "pinstripe" tape for simple lines running along the side of the vehicle. Not very expensive and not too hard to apply, and can easily remove if you don't like it.

[zergal]

Tint it!
here's what 20% all around would look like on that color..

[zion_89]

Originally Posted by enoniam

I've had good luck with "pinstripe" tape for simple lines running along the side of the vehicle. Not very expensive and not too hard to apply, and can easily remove if you don't like it.

Cool I will check how it end up looking and make a test once I have it thanks

[zion_89]

Originally Posted by zergal

Tint it!
here's what 20% all around would look like on that color..

That looks great!, I will speak with the dealer to see if they can apply that as soon as it arrives (is that expensive?). thanks

How do those 17's feel when driving it? I also see the headlights have that orange tint, I think US versions have that, here they come without that tint.

Greetings, love your car btw

[ocd_person]

Rear reflector lights. Always a good option.

[zion_89]

Originally Posted by ocd_person

Rear reflector lights. Always a good option.

Thanks ocd_person but I only found these:

I'm not sure how is the process to bring them though.

Ok great!, so far I have this list:

- New rims 17's (glossy or matte black, or matte graphite, hard to chose)
- Tint windows at 20%
- Exchange internal lights for LEDs
- Exchange headlights for xenon at 8000K
- Exchange reflector lights (if I get any here)
- Some kind of pinstriping (which I guess ill design later)

With this I'm sure it will look awesome.


Things I might add if the money is there:

- Veloster X band
- Better sound system (the one it has seems very good for me though)
- Improved exhaust
- Better air intake

If i'm missing something in the list please let me know

Also I found this spoiler


Has anyone tried or plans to try this?

Greetings people

[zergal]

Originally Posted by zion_89

That looks great!, I will speak with the dealer to see if they can apply that as soon as it arrives (is that expensive?). thanks

How do those 17's feel when driving it? I also see the headlights have that orange tint, I think US versions have that, here they come without that tint.

Greetings, love your car btw

It's usually cheaper if you go with someone else than the dealer... I think mine wanted to charge 300+ for the tinting, and I got mine done for less than half of that.

The combination between the 17" and "sport tuned suspensions" make the ride a bit harsh where I can feel every single bump on the road; but the steering is much responsive. I have a '11 rio5 and on 16" it feels a lot less bumpy.

I believe the orange is country specific..