My Name is Ryan and I’m 22 years old. I live in Long Island, New York and go to college in Chicago, Illinois for Traditional animation, which means drawing is my favorite hobby and then cars.
At first I didn’t want to go to college because of majority of students graduating with debt, so I took off two years after High school working two full-time jobs. Which is where the source of my money came from to heavily modify my car.
A couple years ago I didnt know too much about cars and had no plans to mod my car, but being around friends who were extrememly in the tuner scene, it influenced me.
How long have you owned your Spectra?
I’m the only owner of this car since June of 2005.
What cars did you own before?
Previously I owned a $400 1993 Pontiac Grand Am.
Honestly, what was your intention when you bought your Spectra?
Well my grand ams transmission failed after I replaced it so I was lookng for a car with better conditions. I was originally looking for a used daily driver, and a 2004 Suzuki Forenza fit my description at the time. As I was at the Suzuki dealership a salesman was offering me to purchase a 2004 Kia Optima, I noticed this black car sitting alone in the corner as if I were meant to purchase it.
In a few words, describe the style of your Spectra?
Sleek and Sexy. I love BMW’s, so the style of those cars attracts me a lot and was my influence.
What do you like the most about Spectra?
I like it because it’s black. I have a fetish for black vehicles.
Is there anything you don’t like about it?
Even though it’s supercharged it’s still slow, but I had no intentions to make it fast to begin with. I just wanted more kick in the engine. With every car that looks good, there are a group of haters who hate that specific car, so I hate them and hate that about owning a ”nice” car with personal style.
What is it that makes your Spectra look unique?
I think it looks unique because it resembles a few cars out there and has a very clean show car look to it.
What accessories have you installed so far?
So far I have a:
-10psi MP45 supercharger w/ 2.5” pulley
-ported supercharger inlet to 65mm,
-65mm throttle body, headers,
-short ram intake,
-full 2.5” catback exhaust system,
-polyurethane motor mounts,
-Tension bodykit with SRS front bumper,
-changed every interior LED from green to blue,
-gas powered hood lifts,
-H&R lowering springs,
-rear strut bar & rear sway bar,front sway bar,
-R1-GTR-10 18” rims,
-Twin projected angel eye headlamps,
-KFX grill,
-oil cooler, oil catch can, transmission cooler,
-2900cc fuel injectors,
-aluminum performance radiator,
-aluminum pulley system,
-glowshift gauges, boost, air to fuel,
-transmission temperature gauge,
-custom shiftkit,
-Hifonics amplifier,
-tinted tail lights,
-one mtx 12” subwoofer, hifonics amplifier,
-Kenwood excelon 4 channel amplifier,
-dvd/gps touch screen in dash monitor and kenwood excelon speakers all around.
There’s more, but other minor stuff that I can’t remember.
What’s next?
Nothing as of now, I think my mod list says enough is enough. But I do have one more modification to do. I need to install my new headlamps that I just received.
Who helped modify your Spectra?
Most of the mods I did myself but the supercharger install was done by Maximum Tuning in Seacliff, NY. It was a bitch to put in, 3-4 hours & 100% bolt on my ass…
Products of which tuning company did you use?
Seouful Racing, KFX, LC Engineering, Red Line Tuning, Ark, Glowshift, Kenwood Excelon, MTX, Hifonics, Accolade Bodykit and K&N.
How would you rate your car; on a scale from 1 to 10?
Looks I give it a 10, performance well you be the judge.
How would you pimp your ride if you had no limits?
I would build my car into a road legal, 12 second quarter mile car. I would definitly want to turn it into the utimate street sleeper.
What do people say about your Spectra?(get any comments?)
Yes all the time. People think no one is crazy enough to modify a kia so it mistakenly gets called a BMW, a Scion tc, a Saab, and a imported Honda Civic all the time. When people do find out it’s a Kia they are pretty shocked.
What would you advise to Kia owners who might be looking to customize their cars in future?
Visit Streetkiaz.com and register there. It’s a cool car community for Kias but all are accepted. We’re like a large family there and we all highly support each other and give positive criticism towards each others cars.
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March 8th, 2008 at 10:47 am
thats one kik ass bodykit! this is the best kia mod ive seen! bring us more, himi!
March 8th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
where was this interview? who conducted it?
March 8th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
CONFIRMED!!! No more spectra 5 after 2009. Instead it will be a Civic SI fighter 2 door coupe Spectra. Plus, the borrego est. mpg is 28 HWY!! Incredible. Also, new SOrento in 2010, now FWD w/ 7pass option
March 8th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
This is straight from Korean RD dept. our owner just got back from a US dealer meeting in Korea.
March 8th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
what???? cerato5 discontinued????, but the cee’d ED will be not the replace???
March 8th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
the TD will replace cerato but there wont be a hatch variant of it but a competitor for the civic Si with 2 doors. sorento with 7 passenger option… thats great. is that mpg for the V6 or 8?
March 8th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Has anyone heard of a Kia codenamed VG? I read it about it being a premium sedan and was supposed to debut I think in 09′ as a 10′ model.
March 8th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
nope. I havent.
March 8th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
this car is cool!
I like it.
March 8th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
I was looking for info on the VG but stumbled upon something that lit up my face! here’s what it said:
2008 ————– Borrego/mohave
First Half 2008: — Morning/Picanto Minorchange, Soul crossover(AM codename), Pride/Rio Minochange, Successor of Cerato (TD codename), Lotze minorchange
First half 2009 : — Next gen Sorento (XM codename), VG (Grandeur badge)
Second Half 2009 : Successor of Opirus (CH Codename share with Hyundai BH), XK coupe (Hyundai BK brother model), SL Suv
Opirus will be redesigned!
March 8th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
what??? BH and BK will be shaared?!?!!??? yay!!!! best thing ive ever heard! hope the BK/XK will be the kee concept with the awesome wraparound greenhouse!!
however, im not too impressed that the sorrento will grow up. its size and layout is perfect. not too big but not too small either. rwd with awd option… it will be missed. RIP BOF construction!
March 9th, 2008 at 3:43 am
I’m glad you placed that up there K sport. So if next Amanti does share the Bh platform and the bh has the same liter V8 like the Kue then the Amanti’s front end really could have cues from the Kue concept. So I was right about the VG. Is it just me or does it seem that Kia is getting a sedan between the Amanti and Optima. So KIA is getting two coupes a spectra and Kee. I’m guessing the kee is to compete with the Pontiac Solstice.
March 9th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
FWD Sorento?? WTF?? I am now pissed off at Kia!!
March 9th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Its OK. there’s time until that. anyway its not a problem as Kia is looking for ways to sell more. crossovers are popular now.
March 9th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
I do not like going with the crowd. I never have. I have always wore different clothes, had different interests, and done different activities. It IS ok to be different!!!!!! I have always been different! What is wrong with being different? Yes, I agree, Sorento MUST be redesigned, but don’t wreck it! KEEP IT BOF!
March 9th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
So next Amanti will share a platform (and hopefully engines) with Genesis?
March 9th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
Hey guys, I see there is a lot of interest about Kia future models, so this week, I will search for some informations about future Kia vehicles and post an article on blog.
I was thinking if you could tell me more about this interview and Ryan’s Spectra. Do you like it? What do you like about his car…
March 9th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
himi-the article about Ryan’s Spectra is fantastic. I love his black Spectra and I started modding my ‘99 Sephia by getting the 70,000 mile Yokohama radials and Konig Diva wheels. I loved my ‘99 Kia Sephia after that(hence my Edmund.com forums nickname!!)and it really changed the handling of the rig. I could toss it much more after those tires and wheels.
As for more Kia future building information, we could always use it. I look forward to more. Also, I may be wrong here, but k-Sport’s post above does not mention actually starting production on a Kia Kee Coupe. Not quite yet.
March 10th, 2008 at 4:29 am
yeahh, you’re right . they might take cues from it though.
March 10th, 2008 at 6:50 am
Truedat, k-sport. I have a feeling they might trim it’s length down a tad, like in that one blog on here where they chopped off part of the length and super-imposed the different rear part of the Kee, eh? Cues from it, for sure.
March 10th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
28 MPG for the V8 engine on the Borrego
March 10th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
What?! The V8 engine gets 28 MPG on the highway? Wow the V6 must be in the 30’s then.
March 10th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Hey Colby, does four pistons in the Borrego shut off when you get to a certain speed or do all eight keep on running?
March 11th, 2008 at 12:01 am
Why would they, if they did that they would need to be replaced every 50,000 miles. F that!
March 11th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
yeah, the pistons would still be moving with no petrol to pressurize and would just get worn out. and another thing is that they’ll cause more vibs.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Yes, acutally the v8 does shut off 4 of the 8 at cruising speeds, when cruise control is on. Otherwise it runs off all 8.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
but that is 6 mpg better than the competition
March 11th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
O great! now what? I’m finding more and more problems in Kia’s products these days.
March 11th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
If Kia can make it work, fine, otherwise forget it.
March 12th, 2008 at 3:43 am
does a V8 have 2 flywheels to drive each set of four pistons? if its like that then they can shut off one set of four and there’ll be no vibs. thats only if it has two flywheels
March 12th, 2008 at 4:58 am
I remember having to get a flywheel replaced on 1991 Buick Riviera. The engine had to be pulled, the transmission had to come off………engine had to be replaced. The dumb mechanic didn’t secure the engine tight enough to the forklift it had been raised out on, and it fell and was wrecked. It is cool to watch an engine be rebuilt.
March 12th, 2008 at 11:23 am
How many cylinders?
March 12th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
The cylinder deactivation has been used by Honda, Toyota, and now Chrysler and GM for a while now without incident. It doesn’t really wear out an engine any faster; if anything it prolongs cylinder life by removing the pressure and heat from combustion out of 4 of the 8. And no, Boris, the V8 only has one flywheel, each bank of cylinders shares a common crankshaft/flywheel.
If the Borrego does indeed have cylinder deactivation, I believe it will further improve Kia’s competitive edge. The products are awesome and every year they get better and better. I’m still waiting for them to bring out a coupe for me to trade in my Tiburon for. Maybe soon….
March 12th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
O thanks. I was waiting longer than expected for an answer. thanks. So I’m all in for VCM engines after what you said. BTW, you’ll have to wait for mid 2009 or wait for 2010 for the coupe that you want from Kia.
I never knew that toyota used this technology. Its probably coz there catalogues arent very informative.
March 12th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
You know what’s funny. We’re supposed to talk about the Spectra and here we are talking from future models to Borrego and nothing really said about Ryan’s Spectra.
I like it. I just don’t really have much to say since I saw the TD on spy shots.
March 12th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
noticed that I, colby and Greg havent said anything about the car. I did ask where the interview was conducted and by who but nothin about the car.
March 12th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
its a nice spectra- we have one here at the dealership that is sup’d up
March 12th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
Hahaha you guys are funny. I’m actually the owner of the car. Good to see positive comments about my car. lol
March 12th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
Hey Ryan, welcome to Kia-world!Despite all of the off-topic talk, I still think your Spectra is one of the best and most unique Kia I have ever seen. You have showed our readers that Kias can be fun and look cool just as any other Honda, BMW or anyother sporty car!
I hope this interview will encourage others to modify their Kias too in the future!
Again. thanks for participating in an interview!
March 12th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
You should see one of the Optimas at the dealership! The dealership uses it as a show car and it has placed several times. It is a 2007 black EX with Amanti’s engine (still FWD format), tinted windows, lowering kit, red special upholstered leather interior. Massive lower air intake and wheels built to look like the Kee’s! It has the same chrome-tipped exhaust, but special mufflers, it has a supercharger, chiptuned, for a total horsepower outcome of 312! Original stock HP: 185. 127 extra horsepower. They had to do a lot of mods to get the Amanti’s engine and all of the performance kits in there. I saw it leaveing on a trailer towed by a Sorento, but couldn’t get a picture of it in time. Very nice! They spent a total of 85,000 dollars on the MSRP, engine, kits, uphulstery and ect. They have won over 130,000 dollars in prize money since last December. that is a nice profit of 45,000 dollars!
March 12th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
K-sport, if you wanted to know the cylinders of the Riviera, 8. It was a V8. 15 MPG! I will p ost a picture of it on one of the forums
March 14th, 2008 at 3:34 am
Buicks were pretty standard bearers of V8 engines for ages.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
Damn, Dude this car is SICK!!!!! I want your car. lol
September 19th, 2008 at 7:00 am
hey Ryan like i said on SK MP62 is a mans blower that MP45 will never pull as much as MY SNIPER.
September 22nd, 2008 at 6:18 pm
hey whats up i wanted to know how u changed your light on the inside of your car. hit me up 769 232 0908 my name is leonard i am very interested in how u moded your car
November 16th, 2008 at 7:08 am
Hi I’m also interested how did you change color on dashboard.I have 2005 Kia Spectra and i hate that green color.
November 24th, 2008 at 3:52 am
Hi I’m also interested how did you change color on dashboard.I have 2008 Kia ceratoand i hate that green color
December 3rd, 2008 at 5:04 am
hay mann my names josh i have a 02 spectra that im starting to work on.i also live on longisland..and despratly looking for the blackhouseing headlights and lips and skirts for my car.please give me a call 631 487 1420
December 27th, 2008 at 12:29 am
Hey I love the car. Where’d you get your headlights done like that???
March 17th, 2009 at 7:11 am
where did you get the blue leds i want to do the same blue look no worries im in cali we will never cross paths hahah plaeas let me no
March 18th, 2009 at 8:11 am
hey, I too am interested in the headlights and the blue LEDs. Is it hard to install? Please give us a link or some help on where to get these blue lights. The green is so ugly! Thanks!
carlbrut@live.com
April 17th, 2009 at 3:15 am
Hi, Im interested in your spectra its the finenest I’ve ever seen.
I from the west, can you hook up with what you have so I can make the spectra like your? where I can get those of what you have on your car?
the head light, body kit, etc. its the BOMB>
get back at heavenmalay@hotmail.com
thanks
April 17th, 2009 at 3:15 am
Peace
July 24th, 2009 at 6:51 am
i am o fellow owner of a kia spectra. also have a hooked up engine, special paint job, etc. the only thing i need to complete my car are the pimp ass headlights u have. if u can please hook it up where u got it at i would trully appreciate it. you can reach me at eladire@yahoo.com
September 11th, 2009 at 3:34 am
where did you find the angel eye headlamps for the kia spectra
February 1st, 2010 at 9:08 am
Where did u get those halo headlights from cause i got a kia spectra too
February 1st, 2010 at 9:09 am
email me about those halo headlights at bee8917@aol.com
March 12th, 2010 at 8:21 pm
where did you get your headlights
March 13th, 2010 at 4:20 am
has any one had problems getting the correct front wheel bearing for a 2004 kia spectra sedan?