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hako226

sg
Posts: 10

Location: Singapore
Occupation: Air succ
Age: 121
V$: hmm
#1   2019-06-07 11:46          
Hey guys welcome to my roleplay thread
Im quite new to this, some pointers occasionally would be helpful thanks!

Hi guys, I go by the nickname of Hako, and I live in Singapore, a terrible place to be a car enthusiast in

I've been a car lover since young, and now that I'm at a ripe age of 21 I can finally buy my first car. Although many things such as taxes and lack of decent driving roads are sometimes bothersome to a local owner, it is strong passion that keeps us enthusiasts going, and I am proud to be part of such a community! Buying whatever I can afford while paying up my student loans, I'm hoping to take part in some meets or track days/autocross along the way.

Right now I'm currently driving my dad's old Mazda, but am going to pick up my new (2nd hand) ride soon



Here at the dealer, guess what I've picked up...

Finances:
$V20000 - $7900 = $12100

Added 38 minutes later:

Just gonna drop it now, here's what I've picked up



You're probably wondering why such a shitbox costs so damn much ($V7900). In where I live, we have something called a Certificate of Entitlement that acts as an extra tax, over the original price and original taxes of the car depending on engine cap.

These taxes can add up to nearly twice the original price of the car. Also, the certificate has to renewed every 10 years at an extra cost otherwise your car has to sold or scrapped.

Feeling really good to be in a ride I finally properly own. 156BHP isn't much but I feel like I'll still grow to like this car. The Kia Koup is a popular choice of ride here, and it's hard to find a 2.0 model left unmolested, like this one.



Or at least I thought it was unmolested. The car was stock apart from a terrible wrap, but some inspection after driving it home to my apartment's carpark proved otherwise. This car had aftermarket suspension arms, but was suspiciously coupled with stock shocks/springs and wheels. Couple of scrapes on the underside of the front bumper and sideskirts can only mean this once was a sceneboi stancecar, but had been de-tuned for selling. Hopefully this isn't too bad of an omen, and everything else in the car is working fine...Reasons why you shouldn't purchase cars off Carousell.

Immediately took the Koup to a local spray shop to try and get at least the body fixed



Peeling off the wrap revealed a rather bland White, so I had it sprayed in Metallic grey (which is still kinda dull but not really)



Plans now are to get some wheels and coilovers. Going for an entry-level track car cum daily build, rather than go back to its original stance car purpose.

Finances:
$V12100 - $V490 = $V11610

This post was edited by hako226 (2019-06-07 13:39, ago)




VISIT MY RP HERE!

Asahi

tr
Posts: 66

Location: Turkiye
Occupation: slrrturkey@gmail.com
Age: 23
V$: Broke
#2   2019-06-07 13:19          
welcome to our friend ;)

BigSmoke

id
Posts: 844

Location: Indonesia
Occupation: Following Those Damn Trains
Age:
V$: Broke
#3   2019-06-07 14:43          
Hello and welcome to the RP community, glad to have you here! :D
Having someone picking up a Kia as an RP starter is quite unique I should say, should make this an interesting build to follow! :D

I went to SG for a week around 8 and 9 years ago irl and yeah, I've heard about SG's cruel car tax and mod limitations. :morncoffee:
Quite a bummer indeed, which might explains why there are a lot of tuned Swifts and alike instead of proper performance cars, though nice and lovely Evos and Imprezas are also a common fixture, at least back then.

I should say you're off to a great, high quality start already! :cheers:
Though if you still need some pointers, luckily someone asked for it back then and I've answered the question here. Also, feel free to look around at other RPs as well for inspos! ;)

And lastly, good luck for the build! :cheers:
Still following the damn train since 1992

Visit my RP HERE!

Soju

kr
Posts: 1247

Location: South Korea
Occupation: Smuggling Soju
Age: 122
V$: Broke
#4   2019-06-07 15:16          
Welcome to the community! And you've found a really nice car there!

I live in South Korea so I could source you some parts for that car for cheap :)

Wypple

ar
Posts: 82

Location: Argentina , The Giant Nose.
Occupation: Student of the verb Study.
Age: 20
V$: NO
#5   2019-06-07 16:12          
Ummmm nice ride there! at least here in south america is very rare that a car guy choose a KIA to modify, good luck my boy.
_________
| My Mods |
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
i6 BMW Modifications.

hako226

sg
Posts: 10

Location: Singapore
Occupation: Air succ
Age: 121
V$: hmm
#6   2019-06-08 13:02          
Thanks for the welcomes guys

# BigSmoke : Hello and welcome to the RP community, glad to have you here! :D
Having someone picking up a Kia as an RP starter is quite unique I should say, should make this an interesting build to follow! :D

I went to SG for a week around 8 and 9 years ago irl and yeah, I've heard about SG's cruel car tax and mod limitations. :morncoffee:
Quite a bummer indeed, which might explains why there are a lot of tuned Swifts and alike instead of proper performance cars, though nice and lovely Evos and Imprezas are also a common fixture, at least back then.

I should say you're off to a great, high quality start already! :cheers:
Though if you still need some pointers, luckily someone asked for it back then and I've answered the question here. Also, feel free to look around at other RPs as well for inspos! ;)

And lastly, good luck for the build! :cheers:

Sure I'll take a look around! And yea we've still got loads of evos and STIs running our streets, hasn't really changed :D

# Soju : Welcome to the community! And you've found a really nice car there!

I live in South Korea so I could source you some parts for that car for cheap :)

Thanks man, that's an offer I can't refuse :)

Added 42 minutes later:

Update 2

I'm off to a nearby shophouse workshop, owned by a good friend of mine, Lim. He told me he has some 2nd hand parts on good offer and in quality condition, and I should come over for a quick look. Although his workshop is small, it has enough equipment to offer a wide range of services,

This subie was already at the workshop before I arrived. Owner was here to fit some brand new TE37s, remove some trim and beefen up the tune before a track meet at Sepang next week.



Fitted a set of Brand new Tein coilovers and Brembo 4-pot brakes, and also adjusted the alignment. Planning to be able to at least attack corners in the Koup since it's engine won't pull much on straights (At least at this stage)



Owner of a Ford Focus ST left behind some 18 inch MOMO Heritage 6s in exchange for other rims some time ago . Lim had it sold to me at a good price. Also fitted some brand new Yokohama Neova rubber to keep these new shoes grippy.

I personally think these wheels look pretty good. Was lucky to have find such gloss white ones in decent condition.



Really excited with my new set-up, I took the koup out for a quick spin around the nearby streets. It cornered nicely as expected, but didn't really push when I put my foot down.



I decided to drive it back to the workshop. It was time for some serious engine work...

Finances:
V$11610 - V$680(coils) - V$970(brakes) - V$820(rims) = V$9140

This post was edited by hako226 (2019-06-08 13:45, ago)




VISIT MY RP HERE!

BigSmoke

id
Posts: 844

Location: Indonesia
Occupation: Following Those Damn Trains
Age:
V$: Broke
#7   2019-06-08 15:11          
You're making a nice progress, and the wheels blends nicely with the rest of the setup! :thumbsup:

For the engine department I'd say start with cam, ECU and valves tuning first. They're generally cheap and can yield some nice power figure bump easily :D
Still following the damn train since 1992

Visit my RP HERE!

Sleepin mOnkey

jp
Posts: 2459

Location: Japan Universe, Milky way ,Solar system, Earth
Occupation: Automotive engineer Student
Age: 32
V$: 14.750
#8   2019-06-09 03:14          
that kia looks clean man
Roleplay: A engine Builder and tuner that lives in Japan and Builds cool stuff.
Cars: Corolla Levin coupe Tog/show car
180SX s13 350hp SR20DET 6MT Babe 1
Supra Sz JZA80 2jz-Gte Vvt-i 2000's Hotboi
240sx Vert HOTBOI 2

CLICCC...

Lagano

si
Posts: 1739

Location: Slovenia West side
Occupation: Taking it easy
Age: 24
V$: :$V
#9   2019-06-09 12:42          
That's a pretty cool coupe you got, despite those terrible taxes in Singapore i've heard about. Now it looks quite mean with the new suspension and wheels! What kind of engine work will you do though?

Soju

kr
Posts: 1247

Location: South Korea
Occupation: Smuggling Soju
Age: 122
V$: Broke
#10   2019-06-09 13:46          
nice choice of wheels and the suspension setup :)

hako226

sg
Posts: 10

Location: Singapore
Occupation: Air succ
Age: 121
V$: hmm
#11   2019-06-12 09:00          
Thanks for the comments guys!

# BigSmoke : You're making a nice progress, and the wheels blends nicely with the rest of the setup! :thumbsup:

For the engine department I'd say start with cam, ECU and valves tuning first. They're generally cheap and can yield some nice power figure bump easily :D
# Lagano : That's a pretty cool coupe you got, despite those terrible taxes in Singapore i've heard about. Now it looks quite mean with the new suspension and wheels! What kind of engine work will you do though?

Yea Imma probably start with cam, valves, and maybe better intakes and exhaust. ECU and tranny would be possible too.

Added 1 hour 30 minutes later:

Update 3

The Koup has been siting in Lim's workshop for a couple of days already, as Lim needs some time to help me fit and also fabricate parts for the Kia's engine. I've ordered some parts online too, which are coming in later today. In the meantime, I've gone back to using my Dad's Mazda 3 to get around.



On my way to pick up a some packages (car parts!) from the post office headquarters in the CBD area.

My Dad's thinking of giving his Mazda to me. He doesn't drive it around as often anymore, and with its COE coming to an end, he no longer has much reason to keep it with him (he doesn't plan on renewing the certificate either).

Drove back down to the workshop with the stuff I've collected. It was quite early in the morning, and Lim was already there working on the Kia. Love the dedication he has to his work! He had spent the morning optimising the Kia's suspension earlier (stiffening the front shocks, perfecting the alignment etc.)



The koup is now running around 2.4 degrees of camber on the front, 1.9 on the rear. Shocks are also 0.10 lower on the front.

With my packages brought over, work could finally start on the engine.


Amazing 4K image

Lim went straight into pulling off the rocker. I noticed that he had already taken off the stock intake manifold and replaced it with an aftermarket one (He later old me that it was a custom manifold, fabricated from an aftermarket ITB meant for the Honda B-series)

Aftermarket parts are almost impossible to find for the Kia's Theta II engine. I rung up Soju, who was living in South Korea, for help in sourcing an aftermarket camshaft compatible with the Kia's engine. And he did eventually find one :D and got it for me at a cool price of V$800!



After installing the new camshaft, a lighter rocker cover was fitted along with a new Mishimoto radiator. Lim did his work with the valve timings and also fitted a new HKS hi-power exhaust system (which was the only part that was easy to source for)



Later, a guy with a laptop came over to the workshop to help us out with the ECU. It didn't take long for him to upload new software to the Kia, and the perfomance upgrades to the Koup were finally almost done. Lim helped raise the final drive of the transmission before taking it onto the dyno...

FInances:
V$9140 - V$800(Soju's camshaft) - V$410(ITB) - V$330(rocker) - V$310(radiator) - V$550(HKS exhaust) - V$520(ECU work) - V$150(random other services) + V$415(paycheck oof) = V$6485

This post was edited by hako226 (2019-06-12 10:32, ago)




VISIT MY RP HERE!

BigSmoke

id
Posts: 844

Location: Indonesia
Occupation: Following Those Damn Trains
Age:
V$: Broke
#12   2019-06-12 13:09          
So you're saying there's a huge chance you'll get a 2nd toy to play with? Yaaaaay :bananajump:

Koup's progress also looking good and promising. I'm glad you accepted Soju's offer, he's a great, lovely and legendary guy :D
Still following the damn train since 1992

Visit my RP HERE!

Soju

kr
Posts: 1247

Location: South Korea
Occupation: Smuggling Soju
Age: 122
V$: Broke
#13   2019-06-12 13:57          
Looking really nice! It's fresh to see ITB setup on those engines, since most guys here put turbo on it :)

The camshafts were really hard to find in new condition, so take a good care of it :)

hako226

sg
Posts: 10

Location: Singapore
Occupation: Air succ
Age: 121
V$: hmm
#14   2019-07-07 05:04          
# BigSmoke : So you're saying there's a huge chance you'll get a 2nd toy to play with? Yaaaaay :bananajump:

Koup's progress also looking good and promising. I'm glad you accepted Soju's offer, he's a great, lovely and legendary guy :D

If I get hold of the 3 I'd probably have to sell it tho, it's not the best of value to keep haha. And yes, Soju's definitely a real cool dude!

# Soju : Looking really nice! It's fresh to see ITB setup on those engines, since most guys here put turbo on it :)

The camshafts were really hard to find in new condition, so take a good care of it :)

Thanks man, I'll be taking good care of it! ;) I did consider fitting a turbo kit actually, but local regulations would make it real hard to pass inspections and stuff so I decided to save myself from that trouble haha

Added 47 minutes later:

Update 4

Dyno results are back, and the Koup is making a sturdy 219 bhp oof.

Time to start some weight reduction work! Stuff like the front grille, some plastic mouldings and trunk carpets are the first things to be gone. Also bought some bits to both lighten and dress up the Kia, such as lighter interior bits and some extra aero.

Threw on some bright red Bride Zeta IIIs that I had ordered online



Nice Momo Prototipo that I got for cheap, 2nd hand but in decent condition



Also some gauges woohoo. I'll have to either remove or rewire the boost gauge since it's non-functional on this car.



Also a random spoiler that Lim had lying around his garage. He told me that it had been left behind by an owner of a Vios sometime ago, and that he had no idea where the wing originally came from or why it was mounted on a Vios. My guess is that it was one of those shitty Duraflex fits-all kinda things, but I still bought it anyway since it didn't look too bad.



And so yes there I've went and spent V$15K on a Kia, very cool.

Finances:
V$6485 + 4 X V$415 - V$400(seats) - V$80(wheel) - V$120(gauges+rewiring) - V$20(weird ass wing) = V$7525

For now my plans are to save up for a trip to japan, and I've signed up as a Uber driver to earn some extra funds on the weekends. Anyone up there living around the Chiba or Osaka area? Would be real cool if we could meet up or something haha :D

This post was edited by hako226 (2019-07-07 06:04, ago)




VISIT MY RP HERE!

BigSmoke

id
Posts: 844

Location: Indonesia
Occupation: Following Those Damn Trains
Age:
V$: Broke
#15   2019-07-07 07:07          
The touring car racer vibe is strong with this one! The Koup has turned out some nice power figures as well, well done! :thumbsup:
That spoiler is defimitely an icing on the cake, fits the touring car look very well.

Most of us are in Tokyo, though some of us are in Osaka as well. I don't know anyone who lives in Chiba though, but there could be one. I myself live in Tsukuba, which is one and half an hour from Tokyo. No not the circuit (which is in Shimotsuma, a neighbouring city), but quite close to it, 18 kms from the track).

Franklin(well, Franklin) and MACKAY(Mack) used to live in Osakabefore moving to Tokyo recently, and I think so does Marcus(marcus915) but I could be wrong. The one that is definitely living in Osaka right now is Richard (azm613), which recently visited Tsukuba (as well as my crib).
Still following the damn train since 1992

Visit my RP HERE!

Soju

kr
Posts: 1247

Location: South Korea
Occupation: Smuggling Soju
Age: 122
V$: Broke
#16   2019-07-08 04:25          
Oh I see some simple yet bold upgrades on the Kia :)

hako226

sg
Posts: 10

Location: Singapore
Occupation: Air succ
Age: 121
V$: hmm
#17   2019-07-13 04:04          
# Soju : Oh I see some simple yet bold upgrades on the Kia :)
# BigSmoke : The touring car racer vibe is strong with this one! The Koup has turned out some nice power figures as well, well done! :thumbsup:
That spoiler is defimitely an icing on the cake, fits the touring car look very well.

Most of us are in Tokyo, though some of us are in Osaka as well. I don't know anyone who lives in Chiba though, but there could be one. I myself live in Tsukuba, which is one and half an hour from Tokyo. No not the circuit (which is in Shimotsuma, a neighbouring city), but quite close to it, 18 kms from the track).

Franklin(well, Franklin) and MACKAY(Mack) used to live in Osakabefore moving to Tokyo recently, and I think so does Marcus(marcus915) but I could be wrong. The one that is definitely living in Osaka right now is Richard (azm613), which recently visited Tsukuba (as well as my crib).

Thanks for the comments guys :)
And oh that's real cool! @BigSmoke could I maybe stop by for a day? Tsukuba circuit happens to be on my trip itinerary haha




VISIT MY RP HERE!

BigSmoke

id
Posts: 844

Location: Indonesia
Occupation: Following Those Damn Trains
Age:
V$: Broke
#18   2019-07-13 05:46          
Oh sure sure, feel free to stop by my crib! :D
Still following the damn train since 1992

Visit my RP HERE!