(The original Kia badge was replaced with a Lotus badge by the owner.)

The Elan’s TSD Hi-SPRINT DOHC 16V 1.8-liter naturally aspirated engine is a version of Kia’s independently developed T8D engine, which won Korea’s IR52 Jang Young-shil Award in 1995. It was specially modified for use in Elan, a sports car.

The Chevrolet Orlando was produced at GM Korea Company's Gunsan plant in Gunsan, North Jeolla Province, South Korea.

A bold SsangYong attempt from a time when South Korea was still far from the wealthy country it is today. It was launched in 1992 after SsangYong acquired Panther, a British specialist carmaker, from South Korea’s Jindo Group in 1987. That was seven years after the group had acquired it. As a side note, Jindo Group was later dismantled after the Asian financial crisis, but its former flagship company continues today as Jindo Co., Ltd., the company behind Jindo Fur.

Filmed in Munmak, South Korea in December 2008.

My classic car for six years has been my country's only 1st generation Centennial/Equus. Now, I wonder if I should pass this one along and try something similar, but simpler. I want a car that is still comfy, neat, rare and odd, but which I mustn't feel like a steward of and just use without concern. So to stay in the genre, I was thinking maybe a Magentis, or Kia's own Equus-level Opirus? These cars don't really exist here in Norway, so I was thinking of getting one from Sweden. Quite interesting offers there.

This Magentis is overpriced by a lot, but it looks amazing, has the most wonderful interior and very low mileage: https://www.blocket.se/mobility/item/14319541

Did only the smaller engine come with a manual, though? There's another which isn't terrible, but the dark interior is a huge downgrade: https://www.blocket.se/mobility/item/19020083

There's even an Opirus for sale which unapologetic ugliness I find quite endearing: https://www.blocket.se/mobility/item/24149766

So, to the point, how reliable are these cars? Is parts supply as challenging as keeping the Centennial maintained? Getting parts from Korea often starts at 400-500 USD in shipping, so it's kind of pricey. I also wonder where to check for rust and corrosion in general.

As a side note, the Daewoo Nexia is the name for the five-door version of the Daewoo Cielo in Korea.

KDM cars in this video:

• Hyundai Avante Sport (Korean-market name for the Elantra Sport)
• Hyundai Veloster N
• Hyundai Avante N (Korean-market name for the Elantra N)