Handling

LarryM · Fri Jan 14, 2011 5:19 am

I have an SE, has anyone really pushed the limits on handling on one. I have not had the chance to autocross or rally the car yet and would like to know how it acts at the limit. Specifically on cornering, will the car let you know when it has reached the limit or will it just snap loose. Normally would already know but no autocrosses here since I got it and no parking lots big enough or empty enough. I am not talking about slow speed turns which would be mostly understeer(that's what the parking brake is for) but high speed.

Thanks

WESHOOT2 · Fri Feb 11, 2011 9:18 pm

My 2011 S AWD feels very predictable at high speed.
I admit I haven't (yet) really attacked any corners, but I've still managed to carry some speed in and out.
I await removing the snows.....

sj85 · Sat Feb 12, 2011 3:50 am

I ocassionally take back roads to have a bit of fun. Just today I was pushing the car at above normal speeds around the corners and real sharp ones. It sticks to the road pretty nice. U do get a pretty decent feedback. However i do feel understeer at times, but that is when i push it to the extreme.
But would definitely say that it feels solid, calm and composed and extremely satisfying to drive around corners. It is an apt car for back roads. Just make sure no radar holding bandits are around before u start enjoying the back road a tad too much and get a ticket as u tend to get carried away with the performance that u get.

CCS77 · Fri Feb 25, 2011 4:52 am

This car will understeer before it would ever oversteer...but it does really well. I've only got the traction control to kick on a few times on dry pavement. We just had some snow here today and I was pretty impressed with the on power traction control but not so much the stock tires in slick conditions.

Still can't wait to get a SRI and ECH piggy...I'll be totally happy with this little 4 banger then.

WESHOOT2 · Fri Feb 25, 2011 8:51 pm

I believe the car (mine, an AWD S 2011) needs springs firmer in compression near the end of their stroke.
Rebound and compression damping both need increases.

My car is entirely too eager to visit its bump-stops..........

(The roads in Vermont vary; over half are unpaved. Many are fairly smooth. Many are so bad from weather they can be thought of as 'moguls'. The car is composed on the smoother examples, and never really loses its composure on the 'bad' ones except washboard, but it can bottom heavily. It's even touched some undercarriage; ouch.)

xwiredtva · Fri Feb 25, 2011 11:44 pm

I've noticed the VSP pull the car down when it steps out. And allowing the driver to overdrive the car, THANK YOU SUZUKI! It's a perfect balance on a perfect chassis. There's one road I can get the rear to step out and slide a touch but the VSP and AWD quickly bring you back into line without slowing you down.

I've engaged or pushed the chassis a few times and each time it saved my rear. It's a wonderful system. I'm more than happy with Suzuki and it's engineers.

alleghenyman · Sat Apr 02, 2011 2:45 pm

I pushed it too hard once and had an emergency maneuver another time and its handling was very "safe." Responsive and quick to turn and stop, no bad understeer, body didn't wallow, not tail-happy, good brakes.

CCS77 · Sat Apr 02, 2011 5:07 pm

I went through a traffic circle at nearly full tilt trying to get it out of shape. I succeeded...I nearly pushed it all the way tot he curb but it finally gathered itself up and took hold. I felt like I was in a barge at the time, but I remembered it had just snowed and there was probably sand and some salt on the road too. You have to be pretty reckless to get this car to lose it's composure.

BC30 · Sun Apr 03, 2011 1:52 pm

I did a 70mph merge onto a freeway, the ramp was a bit bumpy from the winter wear and tear. The Kizashi went thru what was comparable to a washboard road for about 100' and toward the end I had to get off the gas because the car started to lose a bit of contact with the road. I liked the quick recovery but another second on the gas would have been a problem.

Mon Apr 04, 2011 6:56 pm

While it's unrivaled in normal dayto day driving, all that nifty traction control and ESP wizardry can get you too comfortable and when it can no longer keep the car ustable and controlled....look-out! The average driver will be caught asleep at the wheel and find themselves in situations far beyond their driving ability.

Have fun, but drive safely folks. My wife and kids are out there on the roads