Per the other thread foubd and brought home a 2023 gravity gray forte gt manual. All the tech and doodads , manual trans and turbo goodness.
39 miles in, averaging 30.9mpg and I can tell you 19*, snow and Michelin PS4 summer tires mean I can blow the tires off in the first three gears. Stereo seems good. Standard Kia navi tech easy to use etc. drives really good.
more later.
How is the headroom with the sunroof?
In reply to Datsun310Guy :
Good. There's a lot of room in these.
6', hand sideways on top of my head. Helmet not an issue
These look like a hidden gem.
Finally, let me know if you have questions on anything. I have these things figured out pretty good. I saw you mention 8.5" wheels. Depending on offset you will be tight. I just put on 235/45/17 Conti DWS06 on 17x8 48mm offset. The tires are exactly flush with the fenders. The rear has about 3/8 clearance from shock cover and front has just under 1/2 inch clearance from strut. So there is some room but not much. I finally have mine dialed in perfect with several affordable things that make the daily drive more refined. Careful with the brakes doing any hard braking over 80mph, they are ok but are not as big as they should be. You can do better than 30mpg, I am managing 35-40mpg backroads to work.
In reply to 2023BD :
It's 29 and super windy here this weekend. We weee running 70-75 this afternoon into 30mph headwinds and blowing snow. I'm not worried about the fuel economy. Besides Korean cars don't get their best for a good 10k+ miles anyway.
we put 80miles on it today and I just keep loving it more and more.
12" frr rotors should be fine with this. One of my friends is tracking his elantra sport. Brakes with good pads haven't been an issue for him yet. But this is a daily. Not a track car. I have one of those.
I am trying to get Hawk to make pads for this platform since it fits so many other models as well but so far nothing. The only one who makes a performance pad is EBC but they want $170 for a front set.
In reply to 2023BD :
Ebc sucks. I get to that point I'll have gloc or Porterfield make me something.
I forgot about Porterfield. They have them.
Porterfield Brakes AP1855 - Porterfield Brakes Official Site (porterfield-brakes.com)
Porterfield Brakes AP1813 - Porterfield Brakes Official Site (porterfield-brakes.com)
OK, first weekend impressions, granted it finally got above freezing today and the car has Michelin PS4 summer tires from the factory so it's not the ideal conditions.
Basic impression: I love it. Styling is great. Aggressive without being over the top. Ride is really good and it's probably the quietest Korean car I've owned to date. Normal mode feels like a larger, softer, slightly more powerful Rio. Sport mode gets silly. Not sure I like the piped in engine noise in sport mode but the throttle response is amazing. Why haven't they always been that good? Fuel economy is slowly going up. Keeping my foot out of it is really really really hard.
Shifter is the best I can remember of all the Koreans we've had (accent, Elantra, Rio, Forte 1). It's got resistance that the Rio shifter is missing without being heavy, it's accurate and precise. It's not an CTR shifter, but it's also no where near that price. Steering is heavier than I remember. But that steering wheel is awesome. Wasn't sure I'd like the flat bottom when driving a little more spirited but it's one more way to know where the wheels are pointed.
Seats rock. I really am not a leather/faux leather fan but these are good. Probably going to be hot this summer.
I did get some free floormats and wheel locks (that are coming off asap). I just need to find a cheap tint source again.
EDIT: the stereo... holy hell this thing is nice. Harmon Kardon clear and crisp (to my broken ears) and depth I haven't had in a while.
I am loving mine more everyday as well. Perfect combo of price, power, handling and comfort. You can unplug the wire to that annoying engine noise speaker, it is under the plastic cowl grill. I was able to sneak under the plastic cowl without taking the wipers off, it is dead center at the bottom of windshield.
2023BD said:I am loving mine more everyday as well. Perfect combo of price, power, handling and comfort. You can unplug the wire to that annoying engine noise speaker, it is under the plastic cowl grill. I was able to sneak under the plastic cowl without taking the wipers off, it is dead center at the bottom of windshield.
Now that is good information.
You do realize I am going to be an awful influence on you to enhance what a great car this Forte GT already is.
In reply to 2023BD :
You always were.
Datsun310Guy said:How is the headroom with the sunroof?
I'm 5'18"...got my 23 GT about a month ago. I fit well.
Datsun310Guy said:These look like a hidden gem.
The GT manual list for just under $26K with freight included. The GLI is similarly equipped at just under $33k and does not have as good a warranty. I can sacrifice the GLI's air-conditioned seats and like 59 lb/ft or torque and 28 hp for almost $7000--the Kia 1.6 still feels *and sounds* pretty rowdy. I don't miss my base model '19 GLI.
bobzilla said:Per the other thread found and brought home a 2023 gravity gray forte gt manual.
All the cool kids have Gravity Gray GT
In reply to FSP_ZX2 :
And a tune will find most of that missing power if you just had to have it. I'm not used to it and find myself at speeds I am not anticipating.
In reply to bobzilla :
I'm content as is. I would rather not jeopardize any warranty, even though the piggybacks can be unplugged. I'm going to do a 22mm RSB and a K&N drop in...that will be fine for me. I have the FSP ZX2 and I have a MR2 Spyder as toys. I want a reliable, comfortable driver that gets decent MPGs and is enjoyable to drive. The Forte is all of that right now.
Sounds like a nice ride and and I dig the color too!
Is the Kia "GT" comparable to Honda's Si badge?
In reply to BlueInGreen - Jon :
Yes. Only a few grand cheaper iirc. 1.6turbo, 6 speed trans, all the doodads. Just shy of 3k lbs and 201hp/195tq
In reply to FSP_ZX2 :
That's where I am. Rio can now be full time race car and this can be my comfort vehicle. That's idiotically faster than my racecar. I might be doing it wrong.
FSP_ZX2 said:bobzilla said:Per the other thread found and brought home a 2023 gravity gray forte gt manual.
All the cool kids have Gravity Gray GT
Thats the truth. 
In reply to 2023BD :
Dibs on the wheels
i did do my first mod yesterday. Front plate came off. We don't require them and it looked terrible
bobzilla said:In reply to 2023BD :
Dibs on the wheels
i did do my first mod yesterday. Front plate came off. We don't require them and it looked terrible
If your dibs are on my oem wheels your too late. My wife already has them claimed for her 2023 Forte LXS once I take her snows off.
You'll need to log in to post.
