My 2nd Kizashi

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motosonic
Posts: 68
Joined: Wed Apr 12, 2017 7:16 pm

Woodie wrote:Nice looking car, congratulations. Your trade-in is identical to mine, I wonder how much they want for it?
motosonic wrote: I understand Suzuki plans to return to the US by 2021.. so maybe I'll get the opportunity to own another! :D
That's not happening, don't get your hopes up. Most manufacturers are talking about dropping cars and only doing SUVs and trucks, Suzuki specializes in tiny cars, most of which could never be sold here.

Oh yeah, even if they did come back, they don't make the Kizashi anymore.
Well, what I CAN tell you is that they didn't give me a lot for it, around $3k, but I had fished around trying to sell it and that's pretty much where it maxed out. It had just about 100k miles on it.

Regarding Suzuki returning to the US, that may be correct, but there are some Kizashi-like cars in their lineup now. Even if they did focus on SUV.. That wouldn't be so bad because the Jimny is a pretty cool ride.
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KuroNekko
Posts: 5170
Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2012 5:08 pm
Location: California, USA

Congrats on the newer Kizashi. Looks great.

I also have to agree with Woodie about Suzuki not returning to the US. The US market wants vehicles other than what Suzuki specializes in, even more than ever now as American consumers want bigger vehicles, especially SUVs, CUVs, and trucks. Suzuki is a small car specialist and is more known for their subcompacts than anything. While they do have SUVs in their line-up (always have), these weren't designed for the US so even importing what they currently have would be costly in meeting US regulations. Also consider that most of Suzuki's former chassis and engines found in their larger SUVs like the Grand Vitara and XL-7 were sourced by GM. The V6 found in the later models were of GM origin and the XL-7 was on a GM chassis. However, GM and Suzuki no longer have ties, making a return to the US and offering larger SUVs even more difficult for Suzuki.

While I don't think Suzuki will return to the US anytime (much like Daihatsu, a brand with a strong presence in Japan and other parts of Asia), I think Suzuki-designed and built products could be sold under a different brand like Nissan, Toyota, or Mazda especially if any of these companies want to sell a small but capable 4x4 SUV. Mazda and Suzuki are linked in Japan as Suzuki builds all Mazda-branded kei-cars.
2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS 6MT (Black)
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Ronzuki
Posts: 2382
Joined: Wed Nov 17, 2010 5:33 pm
Location: Lancaster County, PA

motosonic wrote:The 2010 Kizzy
Image
8 years old, and the body's style lines are STILL a head turner.
Ron

2010 Kizashi GTS, CVT, iAWD (3/10 build date)
2011 SX4 Premium Hatch, CVT, iAWD (12/10 build date)
2018 Mazda CX-5 iAWD Touring
2014 Wrangler JKUW (GONE, traded :D :D )
1991 Samurai, 5-Speed, EFI, Soft-Top ( :| sold)
motosonic
Posts: 68
Joined: Wed Apr 12, 2017 7:16 pm

Ronzuki wrote:
motosonic wrote:The 2010 Kizzy
Image
8 years old, and the body's style lines are STILL a head turner.
Absolutely! To this day I still get people complimenting it and asking what it is. lol
I don't see many here in Connecticut.. but when I'm in your neck of the woods (PA) I see them all the time.

Whoops! I just realized I sent this rely in a PM!! haha #Forumnewb
paininthenuts
Posts: 411
Joined: Thu May 01, 2014 4:38 pm

Woodie wrote:Nice looking car, congratulations. Your trade-in is identical to mine, I wonder how much they want for it?
motosonic wrote: I understand Suzuki plans to return to the US by 2021.. so maybe I'll get the opportunity to own another! :D
That's not happening, don't get your hopes up. Most manufacturers are talking about dropping cars and only doing SUVs and trucks, Suzuki specializes in tiny cars, most of which could never be sold here.

Oh yeah, even if they did come back, they don't make the Kizashi anymore.
The Vitara ia a mid size cross over/4 wheel drive, and comes top in it's class over far more expensive cars. I don't know if you will get it, but I would be surprised if you didn't. It has either a 1.6 diesel or petrol unit, and both give fantastic mpg. I wouldn't be surprised if they put a larger engine in it for the US market though.
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KuroNekko
Posts: 5170
Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2012 5:08 pm
Location: California, USA

paininthenuts wrote:
The Vitara ia a mid size cross over/4 wheel drive, and comes top in it's class over far more expensive cars. I don't know if you will get it, but I would be surprised if you didn't. It has either a 1.6 diesel or petrol unit, and both give fantastic mpg. I wouldn't be surprised if they put a larger engine in it for the US market though.
Suzuki left the US market in 2012, following the sales failure of the Kizashi. Model Year 2013 was the last year of the Kizashi and all other Suzuki vehicles in the US and Canada too, I believe. The redesigned Vitara never made it to the US. The one we got was the Grand Vitara with the V6 engine but in the later model years, it was only available with the J24B engine also found in the Kizashi. The difference between the Vitara and the Grand Vitara in the US used to be the V6 engine in the GV but Suzuki lost that when they parted with GM. My recollection is that they eliminated the Vitara and kept the GV, but only with the J24B in its last years.

Had Suzuki stuck around, they may have enjoyed a resurgence with their SUVs and CUVs given their wild popularity now. CUVs like the RAV4 and Rogue are outselling sedans like the Camry and Altima these days. Even struggling Mitsubishi is selling more month after month with their CUVs and have two new CUVs out now. That being said, I think the car that could have saved Suzuki at the critical time wasn't the Kizashi but the Swift given the economy and car buying trends back then.
2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS 6MT (Black)
golftango
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Nice find and local!

I had sucessfully removed those vents by just pulling them off. Then I took a heat gun on low heat setting and a plastic scraper (or plastic razor blade) and taking the 3M tape off.

Try not damaging the vents, I bet you could easily resell them on eBay or here. They are almost impossible to find.

Fun fact, almost every car I came across in Japan has those window vents. Very popular there.
2019 Kia Optima EX Premium
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SamirD
Posts: 3074
Joined: Thu Dec 05, 2013 4:07 pm
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Congrats on the upgrade! Looks super!

I've never had the vent shades on a car either, and didn't know what to think of them on ours. But since they are rare discontinued Suzuki genuine part, I've left them on.

I haven't really notice any drawbacks including any wind-noise at 100+, and have found them useful when needing some fresh air while waiting for the wife if it's raining or snowing. I'd leave them on as if they're genuine Suzuki parts. I think your car looks great with them on. 8-)
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