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Home > Kia > Rio > 2003 > Dave T's Kia Rio

Vehicle Owner

Member ID: bpestilence

Location: Bothell, Washington

Vehicle Info

2003 Kia Rio

Bragging Rights

  • Top Speed108 mph
  • HP103
  • Weight2250 lbs

Major Upgrades

  • turbo

Ratings

    • Currently 3/5 Stars.
    • Currently 3/5 Stars.
    • Currently 3/5 Stars.
    • Currently 3/5 Stars.
    • Currently 3/5 Stars.

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Last updated: Dec 27, 2005

Hits: 13,237

Dave T’s Kia Rio:
“bpestilence's turbo Rio”

  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
31 guestbook comments

Year: 2003
Make: Kia
Model: Rio

First, the aesthetic mods:

bpestilence's 2003 Kia Rio Bothell, WA Customized with A'PEX Engine Electronics, APC Gauges, Custom Seats, Bazooka Subwoofers, Hurst Shift Knob, Custom Engine Comps., Mugen Strut Bars, Flowmaster Exhaust, Custom Header, Custom Intake, MSD Ignition, Bazooka Sub Enclosure, Pioneer Speakers, Pioneer Tweeters, Monster Cable Wiring, Bazooka Amplifier, Blaupunkt Head Unit, ASA Wheels, Kumho Tires, Custom Lighting - 12

Front headlight cleared corners.

bpestilence's 2003 Kia Rio Bothell, WA Customized with A'PEX Engine Electronics, APC Gauges, Custom Seats, Bazooka Subwoofers, Hurst Shift Knob, Custom Engine Comps., Mugen Strut Bars, Flowmaster Exhaust, Custom Header, Custom Intake, MSD Ignition, Bazooka Sub Enclosure, Pioneer Speakers, Pioneer Tweeters, Monster Cable Wiring, Bazooka Amplifier, Blaupunkt Head Unit, ASA Wheels, Kumho Tires, Custom Lighting - 26

Vasis rear bumper and custom "Turbo" emblem. Emblem made by AMECustoms, designed by me to match the "Rio" script.

bpestilence's 2003 Kia Rio Bothell, WA Customized with A'PEX Engine Electronics, APC Gauges, Custom Seats, Bazooka Subwoofers, Hurst Shift Knob, Custom Engine Comps., Mugen Strut Bars, Flowmaster Exhaust, Custom Header, Custom Intake, MSD Ignition, Bazooka Sub Enclosure, Pioneer Speakers, Pioneer Tweeters, Monster Cable Wiring, Bazooka Amplifier, Blaupunkt Head Unit, ASA Wheels, Kumho Tires, Custom Lighting - 48

Electroluminescent gauges. Gauge faces made in a simple process. EL foil can be bought on Ebay or in electronics stores (sometimes). With a 12v inverter, you can wire it up to the car's gauge lights. The faces are printed on transparancy, designed by modifying a scanning of the originals. Look like OEM, no? The "matching" 2-1/6" gauges are Street-Glo by APC, only one of which matches right. Currently using a boost gauge and a voltage gauge. I plan on replacing the worthless voltage gauge with a water temp gauge plumbed into the turbo coolant line, to keep an eye on turbo temps.

bpestilence's 2003 Kia Rio Bothell, WA Customized with A'PEX Engine Electronics, APC Gauges, Custom Seats, Bazooka Subwoofers, Hurst Shift Knob, Custom Engine Comps., Mugen Strut Bars, Flowmaster Exhaust, Custom Header, Custom Intake, MSD Ignition, Bazooka Sub Enclosure, Pioneer Speakers, Pioneer Tweeters, Monster Cable Wiring, Bazooka Amplifier, Blaupunkt Head Unit, ASA Wheels, Kumho Tires, Custom Lighting - 30


bpestilence's 2003 Kia Rio Bothell, WA Customized with A'PEX Engine Electronics, APC Gauges, Custom Seats, Bazooka Subwoofers, Hurst Shift Knob, Custom Engine Comps., Mugen Strut Bars, Flowmaster Exhaust, Custom Header, Custom Intake, MSD Ignition, Bazooka Sub Enclosure, Pioneer Speakers, Pioneer Tweeters, Monster Cable Wiring, Bazooka Amplifier, Blaupunkt Head Unit, ASA Wheels, Kumho Tires, Custom Lighting - 32

Custom Kirkey racing seat. This was left over from my Camaro. Instead of letting it go to waste, I took the Kia sliders and made custom mounts. It was a great improvement in comfort, and dropped a good 25 pounds out of the car.

bpestilence's 2003 Kia Rio Bothell, WA Customized with A'PEX Engine Electronics, APC Gauges, Custom Seats, Bazooka Subwoofers, Hurst Shift Knob, Custom Engine Comps., Mugen Strut Bars, Flowmaster Exhaust, Custom Header, Custom Intake, MSD Ignition, Bazooka Sub Enclosure, Pioneer Speakers, Pioneer Tweeters, Monster Cable Wiring, Bazooka Amplifier, Blaupunkt Head Unit, ASA Wheels, Kumho Tires, Custom Lighting - 47

Last gauge in the car: Wideband display. Here it takes the place of the OEM clock, and does a much more important job. Not only is the wideband important for my EMS, but it is nice to keep an eye on, even if I don't really need to.

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Vehicle Owner

Member ID: bpestilence

Location: Bothell, Washington