This is how they do it at those Concours D'Elegances? Putting the prize up on the roof. Anyway, this is it. The golden driving rod, as glorious...
winner of the Barrelbrigade 2019.
It's corona time, and there hasn't been anyone in the newsroom for weeks. A great opportunity to steal something from someones desk.
Right, the Barrelbrigade. The idea still stands. Three editors will buy a car for a maximum of €500, and they need to get the most points with it.
The editor who gets the most points in the coming weeks, will win the the Golden Driving Rod.
And this year, I've chosen to go on an adventure with this Kia Rio. And that has a reason. If you ask people who really, really know me...
to summarize me with one word, they'll all say 'Lifestyle'. And they're right, because if I'm not kitesurfing, I'll be camping in the canyon...
or I'll be abseiling the Mount Everest. And for that, you always need a lifestyle-wagon. And the Kia Rio is the perfect example of such a car.
I've bought it from a private owner who had owned it for five years, and for that €500 I got three quarters of a tank and a free CD.
That's a great deal. I'm not really sure what engine is in the front, but I'm certain that I'm going to find out.
But up until now, I really like it. It suits me as well, don't you think? This Forest Green-color, typical Asian 90's-interior,
they even kept in the new millennium. I do have to admit, there's a serious note to it. As a second-hand car editor, I don't see Korean cars...
very often in Klokje Rond or something. So I'm really curious how cars like this keep up when they're of age.
This very Rio has almost done 215.000 km and it brakes, steers and changes gear like it's new. That doesn't mean I'd recommend it,
because Korean cars from this age are kind of vague. It heaves quite a bit, the steering is senseless, I don't know where
the gears are. Over there is one. Also, the steering isn't sharp. Hairpins are virtually impossible, really.
However, it works and it has kept working for all these years. I'm very curious how it'll hold up. Just like I'm curious to find out what the guys...
have bought as well.
It's a typical Nic de Boer-lemon. - I'd almost say 'What is it?'
A Rio, really?
Here you go guys. The winner of 2020. - What's with the antenna? Does that make it faster?
Oh yeah, it's all about aerodynamics. I've had that done. - Nic, come on. If you get a Rio, not that I ever would myself,
but you always get the bright colors right? The bright green, or orange? I mean, this isn't a color. Be honest.
What are you talking about? This is a beautiful Forest Green. - Stéphan, look at this.
There's some sort of strip over here. I don't know what it's called. - A smoke strip! You can smoke in the car without opening the windows.
You say that, but I say it's additional airconditioning, without using too much extra energy.
It's from Vught? VUGHT. - Yep.
Right Nic, if I want to associate you with a Kia, I'd always go for the Kia Pride. Not a Rio, this is much too funky for you.
This is lifestyle Stéphan, something you couldn't possibly understand. Do you want to take a look under the hood?
Sure! What is it? A 1.3? - I don't know, I still have to look that up. It's very quick.
This had an RS-version as well. The Kia Rio RS. - It used to have nicer headlights as well, I imagine.
This is a GS, Stéphan. - Ah, a connaisseur.
Where do I open it? - Frank, how could you possibly forget how to open it?
And you call yourself a car journalist? - How would I know? But, look at that?
There's a lot of room for improvement I'd say. - It ticks like a Korean clock, boys.
What engine is that? Mitsubishi, Mazda? Or is it a real Kia? - We'll have to find out. There's a whole world opening up for me.
There's something loose here. Maybe we can connect these two? - I think it's so new that that's not possible.
It doesn't fit Nic. What's this. - Don't touch it.
I want to know if this is a 1.3 or a 1.5, Nic. - Look it up yourself then.
Yeah, let me run a license plate check. - May I look inside, Nic?
Be my guest. Of course you may. The previous owner was a very tidy. He vacuumed it and all.
Very neat. - You do have nice music aboard.
That's right, a free CD. - Something else, a Kia Joice would've been much better for Nic.
One of the ugliest cars ever. Some sort of Mitsubishi Space Wagon with a square nose. That would've fitted him much better.
Other than that, it's all old age if you ask me. - If you crash, you've got a big stripe in your face man.
You should take care of that. - I'll duct tape it after this, I promise.
You do have all-around electric windows, I don't have that. - Boys, car report incoming. How can he not know what he's bought.
It's a 1.3-litre GS, producing 75 horsepower. - And it still produces all of them, just let me prove you.
On the rolling road? Oh, we'll alert Ghisbert in advance, that there's something with 75 horsepower coming.
Can I close the hood now? We still have younger viewers.
Don't shut it too hard. Neatly. - I do have to say, the body still looks decent. These small usage signs...
are usual. Nothing wrong with that. - The hub caps aren't very pretty either.
They haven't seen lots of sidewalks, it's just paint falling off. - There's some damage here as well.
Is this a shooting brake Nic? - Yep, it absolutely is.
So actually, this is the Kia Proceed avant-la-lettre? - Yep. Or a Mercedes-Benz CLS, as people sometimes call it.
So Kia was so disappointed by this Rio, they've made the Rio a very normal car after this?
I think so, and that's too bad if you ask me. This is the ultimate Korean style icon.
When was it first introduced? 2000? - Around that time, and it was built in 2001, so it's pretty young as well.
Has it had a towing bar? - No, it's all standard.
Boys, I'm going to put my stickers on. - Well, you see what the weather is doing when this car comes around.
It starts raining even harder. There's even a sunscreen over here. - Just let me put my stickers on. Frank, what are you going to get?
You're up tomorrow? - Well, you'll find out in a bit. This car looks neat, but if you see mine,
you'll know you're done. - Just wait until you see mine.
Right boys, the Barrelbrigade is fully-sponsored this year, so christmas is going to be a lot of fun for the De Boer-family.
Tomorrow, it's Frank's turn. I don't have the slightest idea what he's going to buy.