My Korean Warm Hatch

Author
Discussion

Alwayzsidewayz2

Original Poster:

76 posts

107 months

Friday 23rd February
quotequote all
Hi,
Been a long time since I was on the site.

At the end of last year I really wanted to stop using my 90s Celica as my daily car. She was great fun, but I was slowly killing her with a daily commute and trips for work or longer road trips were not ideal.

So I started to look at options for a used but much newer daily.
I like owning different cars and this car was to replace my last daily, a V70R that had been amazing but fiscally challenging.

My wants were
Manual gearbox
5 doors
Low key looks
Decent steering feel
Good ride Handling balance and compromise, I have a car on coil overs if I need to count change on an A road, I don't need another car that can do that trick!
Low maintenance, I sadly do not have the free time I used to have, being out racing every weekend with my Lad
Fun to drive but not OTT, I do not need mega bhp, crazy exhausts and race buckets all covered in carbon fibre
Good Warranty, After the V70R I need a car that does not drive me to counselling
Interior Buttons...This is a must have, I cannot abide the touch everything modern screen life

So after much searching and driving I found a very unlikely candidate

A car I did not know existed, that in this model does not fill the classifieds and one that so far has served me well

What Have I got

a 2020 Kia Ceed GT

201 bhp
6 speed Manual
1380kgs
A touchscreen, but with buttons

It had 8,500 miles on it, one owner
4 years off warranty left
Unmarked and with back seats and boot not used.









Done a little over 2000 miles in it now

Likes
Really fun chassis, lots of grip, turns in well and is playful, not ultra responsive, but good fun on a B road
A decent ride, runs Pilot sport 4s, but only 18" thankfully
Good seats
Its quick enough, a decent TD or baby EV is far faster in a straight line, but the midrange punch is enough for some fun and its not overpowering the fronts
Heated Steering wheel is very nice
Sound, not too loud, just a bypass for both boxes when in sport, but enough so it does not feel like you are piloting a toaster. It gives it some character.

So so
Fuel tank is tiny, despite low 40s mpg range is still barely 360 miles
Gearbox is a touch notchy
Stereo lacks any bass, This model misses out on the JBL stereo upgrade and it shows
Rev Hang, its got a very odd flywheel effect that road tests mention and its just hangs on to revs, which at first is odd. You can drive round it, but race car responsive it is not.

Is it the best Hatch, no not by a long shot, its not even a great "warm Hatch" A Fiesta ST will leave it standing for example and cripes a 130N on the same platform is a far faster and more accomplished flyer.
However its balance of daily driver on motorways and town roads and fun B roader is really good.
I have done some decent length journeys and its just so comfy

No one knows what it is too, It looks like any other Ceed, which I guess I like as it blends in, even though there are a few sportyish touches

Anyway thats my GT, or warm Hatch
Celica to follow as thats the project car and long term wallet killer!

CarlosSainz100

582 posts

127 months

Friday 23rd February
quotequote all
It's the chicken korma of cars. But all the better for it. Those seats look really comfortable.

Kingdom35

1,014 posts

92 months

Friday 23rd February
quotequote all
I have the 2014 version and everything you’ve said I can relate to.
But what I like about it other than pound for pound it’s great value is….no one really knows what it is or what with a bit of modification it could be. Ie underrated but decent in most areas.
I’m not a fan of the Ford “everyone and their chav son has one” Fiesta ST so I pumped for this Kia Proceed GT Tech.
I like to make myself feel like I’ve bought something that’s a “smart” choice. Keep telling myself that

I’m now on the look out for the step up and contemplating a Kia Stinger just again because it’s even more underrated.

Here is wishing you continued happy ownership

Alwayzsidewayz2

Original Poster:

76 posts

107 months

Friday 23rd February
quotequote all
Thank you guys.
I had no idea about this car.
The only way I found it was by using the options you get when you use Autotrader.
I remember the past GT with the 4 little spot lights and the 3 door looks, very interesting car to be honest.
As you say pretty much everyone walks past it and takes no notice. So it goes very much under the radar.

Kingdom35

1,014 posts

92 months

Friday 23rd February
quotequote all
ZX10 I believe username pointed me in the Proceed GT’s direction.
Like you say under the radar and that’s just fine with me.
It’s by no means the final word in motoring. But does it really have to be. We could go on forever upping a budget but there is always a sweet point. This is it for me in the unique, warm hatch arena.
My mpg though is early to mid 30s - 33/34z
Which reading your comments at least they improved this.

Mad Maximus

473 posts

10 months

Friday 23rd February
quotequote all
She’s a good looking clean car. I would say that’s hot hatch territory with that power and that weight, maybe not super hatch but very nice.

BEAMS 162

179 posts

54 months

Saturday 24th February
quotequote all
Hi Rich,good to see you posting up.I've done a thread on CJN and the Accord Euro R on here.Looks like you've had a decent buy there,certainly better than the Volvo you had? Next time you're down this way i'll try and get to Buckmore Park to catch up and watch Harrison racing again!

Court_S

13,851 posts

184 months

Saturday 24th February
quotequote all
That’s got to be boardering on a hot hatch given the Golf GTI was around 200bhp for ages.

These are a pretty good looking car. Two of my cousins have shared a C’eed for a while and it’s coped well with the abuse of two teenagers learning to drive etc.

Mr Tidy

24,318 posts

134 months

Saturday 24th February
quotequote all
I think I must have read the same recommendation as you OP because a while ago I found myself looking at these on Autotrader, but that's as far as I got!

Yours looks great too (I do like red cars) and 201bhp isn't exactly gutless. As someone said everyone raved about the MK5 Golf GTi when it came out and that had a similar output.

Maybe I need to look again!

anonymous-user

61 months

Sunday 25th February
quotequote all
NIce

A remap will take it to a punchy 250hp too


Prolex-UK

3,555 posts

215 months

Sunday 25th February
quotequote all
Kingdom35 said:
I have the 2014 version and everything you’ve said I can relate to.
But what I like about it other than pound for pound it’s great value is….no one really knows what it is or what with a bit of modification it could be. Ie underrated but decent in most areas.
I’m not a fan of the Ford “everyone and their chav son has one” Fiesta ST so I pumped for this Kia Proceed GT Tech.
I like to make myself feel like I’ve bought something that’s a “smart” choice. Keep telling myself that

I’m now on the look out for the step up and contemplating a Kia Stinger just again because it’s even more underrated.

Here is wishing you continued happy ownership
Get a stinger.... Awesome car

Alwayzsidewayz2

Original Poster:

76 posts

107 months

Sunday 25th February
quotequote all
Thanks for all the postive Replies
Had no idea they could re map to 250, thats interesting.

It was actually pretty hard to find a local example for sale, I am guessing they were not popular new.

The fastback estate looks nice too, but sadly auto only, and much as I respect mondern Autos, i wanted a manual.

Only downside is electric handbrake, which even after a few months i find awkward.




Mr Tidy

24,318 posts

134 months

Sunday 25th February
quotequote all
Alwayzsidewayz2 said:
Only downside is electric handbrake, which even after a few months i find awkward.
Oh dear - that's put me off a bit. frown

mooseracer

2,114 posts

177 months

Monday 26th February
quotequote all
I have a feeling these don't play nicely when mapped - worth doing some research if you were thinking of it.

Must admit I didn't know they did a GT version of the Ceed, as well as the ProCeed. Nice, I hope it servers you well.

croyde

23,926 posts

237 months

Monday 26th February
quotequote all
Nice. I considered one after driving an ex's Ceed for a couple of years.

I was impressed with what came as standard on her's although an asthmatic engine so the GT would have been a great upgrade and pretty much under the radar car.

Enjoy!

Alwayzsidewayz2

Original Poster:

76 posts

107 months

Monday 26th February
quotequote all
Mr Tidy said:
Oh dear - that's put me off a bit. frown
Yes its less than ideal. No idea why they built it with one, as there is space for a physical one instead.

I would still say test drive one. I was not expecting much, maybe i let my assumptions and pre conceived thoughts colour my judgement.

Its definitely not a wow car, but as daily fun car it ticked my boxes.

On the remap, it will stay std for the warranty term at least.
Cheers for the heads up

Dynion Araf Uchaf

4,683 posts

230 months

Monday 26th February
quotequote all
this car has the same basic architecture as the Hyundai i20N.

It's good for getting parts like brake discs and pads cheaper than direct from Hyundai ( The discs are half price for example).

I would be amazed if there is a remap available, maybe a tuning box or similar.

Alwayzsidewayz2

Original Poster:

76 posts

107 months

Tuesday 19th March
quotequote all
So Now some 3000 Miles in

Few More observations
It has a small issue on start up. Its cold start idle is rough as. Which I actually like, it starts and sounds like an old grumpy car from the 80s. It soon settles down to its normal modern sound, but that first thing off cam splutter and burble is fun

Thank goodness for buttons, I now have my pre drive off routine sorted and can get going without worrying about nanny assists. It would drive me crazy doing the same via touch screen menus

Economy never drops below 33 - 34mpg even on a good thrash which is way better than I thought it would be

B roads are proving to be really enjoyable with the car nicely balanced, but the brakes are not up to the rest of the car. Twice now I have had some brake fade, so different pads are on the cards.

Having recently spent 4 hours stuck on the M42, the seats are still as good as ever and really are a bonus for me.

The front screen sensors for the wipers are awful, Its like on auto they do the exact opposite of what is need, light rain they go for it, heavy rain they take a break, relax and grab an easy chair!

New front tyres are on the cards soon, the current Pilots sports are starting to look worn and wet weather grip has got noticably worse recently.


Kingdom35

1,014 posts

92 months

Tuesday 19th March
quotequote all
Alwayzsidewayz2 said:
So Now some 3000 Miles in

Few More observations
It has a small issue on start up. Its cold start idle is rough as. Which I actually like, it starts and sounds like an old grumpy car from the 80s. It soon settles down to its normal modern sound, but that first thing off cam splutter and burble is fun

Thank goodness for buttons, I now have my pre drive off routine sorted and can get going without worrying about nanny assists. It would drive me crazy doing the same via touch screen menus

Economy never drops below 33 - 34mpg even on a good thrash which is way better than I thought it would be

B roads are proving to be really enjoyable with the car nicely balanced, but the brakes are not up to the rest of the car. Twice now I have had some brake fade, so different pads are on the cards.

Having recently spent 4 hours stuck on the M42, the seats are still as good as ever and really are a bonus for me.

The front screen sensors for the wipers are awful, Its like on auto they do the exact opposite of what is need, light rain they go for it, heavy rain they take a break, relax and grab an easy chair!

New front tyres are on the cards soon, the current Pilots sports are starting to look worn and wet weather grip has got noticably worse recently.
Thought id add in my experience against yours

Start up - i always wait for the car to settle/slightly warm, ie down to 1k revs, its a turbo after all.

Whats your pre drive off routine out of interest and which buttons? haha

My average on my 10mil commute up B roads is 33-34 mpg too BUT if you thrash it, it does go down so youre not doing the thrashing right, go off and enjoy the car more haha....the economy is a little let down tbh, low 30s even being conservative.

Seats are wonderful, best ive experienced in that price range, BUT beware of the foam leaving the seats...very annoying and well known issue as well as bolster tears/wear

Sensors - Not experienced that problem

I have Runsports all round, very nice tyre for a decent price, BUT Costco membership and Michelin offering at the same price so thats my next stop.

Agree on the brakes, they can be a bit scary at times. Yet to upgrade

Id say overall apart from maybe a Fiesta ST (which everyone has....dont be a Sheep) these are Top 3 in the 6-8k price range.

Great read, keep it coming

culpz

4,930 posts

119 months

Tuesday 19th March
quotequote all
Mr Tidy said:
Alwayzsidewayz2 said:
Only downside is electric handbrake, which even after a few months i find awkward.
Oh dear - that's put me off a bit. frown
Are you looking at buying one?