Kia Pride epic shite rescue - times three.

[dollywobbler]

I've suggested he tries that too...maybe if I agreed to buy 100 copies?

 

I think for now, I'm going to try sneaking in a dedicated 'almost Japanese' section. Then I can talk about my Nippa in public (one of my contributors also now has a Nippa!).

[Braddon81]

I had an H-plate Mazda 121 LX as a daily for a while about 9 years ago - that was a 1324cc carb engine with no discernible rev limiter, and embarrassed many a lower-end A4 and 3-series during my ownership. It'd stay with a 318i up to 50, and leave a 316i for dead. Loved it.

 

Mirado wheel trimmed for extra Aerodynamic speed!

 

I havent seen a Pride on the road now for a good few years but round my parts there are 2 121s still doing the rounds. One in turquoise and this white one I spotted back in October.

[gricer]

 

 

That's a nice story and the family history of the blue car is great. Is the donor not worth re panelling with the take off bits and getting through a test to use as a run about? 

 

I think it's a bit rotten underneath - I will get it looked at, as it's mechanically sound. I'm a bit loath to kill it, given its history, but it was never properly undersealed, and I suspect it's not worth spending money and effort on - I'd rather spend it on the van, TBH. And I'm probably going to need most of the interior for the van too.

[gricer]

 

 

Or buy a Penza and drive it back to South Africa and return with a boot full of biltong and OSF spares. 

 

There's a flaw in that plan - the SA cars were badged either Ford Laser or Mazda 323. SAO was a UK invention (derived from SAMCOR, the SA plant) by the Mazda/Kia importer, and the badges were made and fitted in the UK. The only Sao Penzas are the ones sold in the UK. And they may or may not be extinct. Finding one is someone else's challenge!

[gricer]

 

 

Is the H-plater on a carb?

 

I think they all are. Fuel injection came in late 94.

[oldcars]

Carlo - Don't worry - I know Kia UK very well, and they're aware of the car's existence. Hopefully we'll be doing something this year with them.

 

Beko1987 - Yes, the plan is to have a mint blue car and a mint red van.

Your group of Prides look super. What do you call a group of Prides, is it a Lion 

Bit cheeky to ask but any idea where i could get two wings for my Shuma cheaper that £100 each plus vat from the local dealer?

[gricer]

To be honest, if you can get Shuma wings, get them! £100 is not bad for something so rare - try finding a new Vauxhall Viva HC wing for less than £200.

[oldcars]

I really need them, both are holed now. Just need to get saving. 

[Jim Bell]

Can you not Part-ex the current wings?

Or sign up to a five year 0% apr 14% deposit finance sheme for a nice new pair of Shuma wings? I bet theyd throw in a crossaint and a cup of weak tea.

[oldcars]

Can you not Part-ex the current wings?

Or sign up to a five year 0% apr 14% deposit finance sheme for a nice new pair of Shuma wings? I bet theyd throw in a crossaint and a cup of weak tea.

Shuma wing doorstep challenge

"Would you swap two rotten Kia wings for two brand new ones"

Has 2 second think "Yes" 

[Alexg]

Excellent stuff Gricer. Proper Autoshite content and a great read.

[Alexg]

In 2015 I popped into Maidstone Kia. Service department were rocking this badboy. Nice to see they're supporting Kia's efforts to push upmarket

 

[drum]

Top threading.

It has left me confused though, as I was given a lift to Bell St Tech in Dundee by a pal in '86 and '87 in a kia and I always thought it was a Pride. Must have been something else if H is the earliest.

[gtd2000]

There's a flaw in that plan - the SA cars were badged either Ford Laser or Mazda 323. SAO was a UK invention (derived from SAMCOR, the SA plant) by the Mazda/Kia importer, and the badges were made and fitted in the UK. The only Sao Penzas are the ones sold in the UK. And they may or may not be extinct. Finding one is someone else's challenge!

Ahah!

 

So that explains why I'm not seeing one solitary SAO Penza here at all then...I'm typing from Jo'burg!

[gtd2000]

You might need to add one of these to your collection...

 

 

[gricer]

Or a Pride Beta. Sadly I only have the model, which is worth more than a real one!

 

[vulgalour]

The very important question is whether or not you've been able to find a supplier for some whitewall tyres?  Especially since the van was sporting one as late as 2014.

[Jams]

I learnt to drive in one of these

[gricer]

 

 

The very important question is whether or not you've been able to find a supplier for some whitewall tyres?  Especially since the van was sporting one as late as 2014.

 

I actually have three original whitewalls - the spares in each of the three Prides. I wouldn't want to risk it on 25-year-old rubber though, so I'll either use them as patterns or try and see if the original supplier (Hankook) still does the the same tyre. Suspect I'll have to do the whitewalls separately.

[vulgalour]

Pride holy grail for me is to see a metallic pink one on whitewalls.  I've seen a white one on whitewalls many, many years ago and a pink one on regular tyres, but never the unicorn.

[RayMK]

We had a white 5 door in nineteen ninety something.  2nd gear was obstructive and it was showing rust stains on its pristine white paintwork, mainly around and on the hatch. Oh, and the sunroof leaked.  Wife loved it and it went well. It had the odd combination of a carburettor and a catalyst but was always well behaved. I read somewhere that the 5 door has a longer wheelbase than the 3 door.  

[Rod/b]

I love Prides, they're ace. I chased one across Europe about 15 years ago in a Volvo 440 and could barely keep up with the wee thing, it was well rapid.

 

Who fancies a red one for £150?

 

https://www.gumtree.com/p/kia/1998-r-kia-pride-1.3/1208146069#

[JohnK]

Thanks for the plug Rod, it'll have full MOT on this week and be slightly more expensive but it still won't break the bank 😉

[Rod/b]

Ha! I should have known it would be somebody on here's!

[loserone]

Not sure about those wheeltrims mind, but I never got round to painting the wheels..  Bet it'd roffle well, I should have done that really when I got rid of it.

[JohnK]

Aye the wheel trims are just £9.99 jobbies but it just provided an instant tidy up without having to spray the wheels as the steels on the drivers side are different colours if I remember correctly.

 

Epic little cars, I have been tempted to keep it as a runabout.

[vulgalour]

 

 

 

[Chris2cv]

I had one of these very briefly, which I borrowed from the garage about 10 years ago. Seemed a great little car and I was half tempted to buy it until I went over 25 miles an hour and the car sounded like it was trying to rip itself to pieces. There was loud banging from the engine, the steering wheel suddenly felt disconnected and there was a horrible smell. Surprisingly, I didn't buy it! 

 

   It was fine when I slowed down, and they didn't believe me, but then the boss took it for a drive and came back very pale, before lending me a different car!

Further investigation revealed that despite about 40,000 miles and general good condition, it hadn't been serviced for 8 years!   Some years later, I borrowed a trade in Picanto. It was better. Not much better, but better.

 

  That said, haven't seen one for years, and wish you a lot of luck with yours. Just because I tried a crap one doesn't mean they all are, but maybe the garage are trying to kill me as this far from the only time they have done this to me. Not customers, just me!  (I should probably add that I work at this garage, and they were all trade ins_ 

[gricer]

Pride holy grail for me is to see a metallic pink one on whitewalls. I've seen a white one on whitewalls many, many years ago and a pink one on regular tyres, but never the unicorn.

[gricer]

The metallic pink is a later colour, after the whitewalls had gone. Never an official combination. Original colours were limited IIRC - white, silver, red and metallic blue.