The Kizashi has intrigued me for some time now, but I'm uncertain if I should buy one now that Suzuki (automotive) has left North America. I first noticed the Kizashi when a neighbor bought one a little over a year ago...I didn't know what it was, but I stopped to talk to him about it when I saw him washing it in the driveway. It was a 2011 SLS in bright red with the CVT and he said he loved it so far...
Fast forward several months and I was now in the market for a car so I head to my local Suzuki dealer and test drive a white SLS with the CVT and a black GTS with the 6MT....I liked both but the manual seemed like it would be more my style. To make a long story short, I started looking at other cars as well (Honda, Hyundai, Mazda etc..) and decided to delay my purchase for a while...then the news that Suzuki was pulling out of America, and then Canada as well later on. Now the dealer that I visited no longer sells/services Suzuki cars and has gotten rid of all their inventory except for a few SX4's which don't really interest me.
As owners, do you guys really feel that your Kizashi will last you a few more years without any major reliability issues? There is still one Suzuki dealer in town that promises to honor any factory warranty, (all the way across town) but I can't be certain they won't decide it's not worth the trouble anymore and decide to bail out as well. The good part is that they also sell Suzuki bikes (along with Nissan, Mitsubishi cars) so I don't see them going away completely..
Just looking for honest opinions..I really love the kizashi, just trying to avoid making an expensive mistake..
Should I become a first time Kizashi buyer?
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matt_gold99
- Posts: 37
- Joined: Mon Apr 08, 2013 2:44 am
Well, this is what I was told.
First, Suzuki car parts are all made in Japan, and always were. So, replacement parts would have to come from Japan, but then again, they always did, so no change there.
Dealerships and service centers are apparently legally obligated to provide service for 15 years. I am not sure what that means, but it sounds like they cannot legally just withdraw warranty-honoring service. I think Suzuki leaving Can/US just means that there will not be any more NEW cars being shipped and sold here.
I love my Kizashi. It's a generally unique car, and has everything I love in a vehicle.
Exceptional comfort
Exceptional handling, especially at high speeds
Mediocre performance from 0, but great performance at highway speeds
Great build quality for it's class. Everything in it just feels quality
Sorry, but it's the best looking car out there, in my humble opinion. Suzuki really nailed it aesthetically. Mine's a silver 2011, and I swear, it looks not metalic but like actual metal. The curves, the lines....oh lord i gotta go for a drive!
First, Suzuki car parts are all made in Japan, and always were. So, replacement parts would have to come from Japan, but then again, they always did, so no change there.
Dealerships and service centers are apparently legally obligated to provide service for 15 years. I am not sure what that means, but it sounds like they cannot legally just withdraw warranty-honoring service. I think Suzuki leaving Can/US just means that there will not be any more NEW cars being shipped and sold here.
I love my Kizashi. It's a generally unique car, and has everything I love in a vehicle.
Exceptional comfort
Exceptional handling, especially at high speeds
Mediocre performance from 0, but great performance at highway speeds
Great build quality for it's class. Everything in it just feels quality
Sorry, but it's the best looking car out there, in my humble opinion. Suzuki really nailed it aesthetically. Mine's a silver 2011, and I swear, it looks not metalic but like actual metal. The curves, the lines....oh lord i gotta go for a drive!
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twoqttsdad
- Posts: 212
- Joined: Wed Nov 28, 2012 12:41 am
- Location: Hawaii
Suzuki has rebuilt their reputation ever since the Samurai rollover fiasco. One of the top sellers in Japan so that speaks for itself. I would be a little leery also if there were no places to take my car to fix if I needed to. I was a faithful Toyota buyer until my last Toyota purchase in '07. I felt the build and material quality wasn't what it used to be years back. And I got tired of getting multiple recall notices from my Toyota dealer for this and that and I work for one! I don't want a car that I keep bringing back to the dealer.
I only have less than 10,000 miles on my '12 Kiz but it's the only car I've had that makes me smile when I drive it especially knowing I'm part of an exclusive club.
I would suggest finding all the reviews and long term evaluations of the Kiz and basing your decision on them and not what positive things you encounter here. I would think you would nothing but positive overall comment on the Kiz especially here on this forum and I understand your concern about warranty repairs. Myself, I never factor in a warranty when buying. If I feel whatever I'm buying is a good buy factoring in quality, performance, or history, a warranty is secondary.
Check out the other topics here if you already haven't for experiences of others. Maybe you should ask for Kiz owners with over 50,000 miles to chime in? Good luck!
I only have less than 10,000 miles on my '12 Kiz but it's the only car I've had that makes me smile when I drive it especially knowing I'm part of an exclusive club.
I would suggest finding all the reviews and long term evaluations of the Kiz and basing your decision on them and not what positive things you encounter here. I would think you would nothing but positive overall comment on the Kiz especially here on this forum and I understand your concern about warranty repairs. Myself, I never factor in a warranty when buying. If I feel whatever I'm buying is a good buy factoring in quality, performance, or history, a warranty is secondary.
Check out the other topics here if you already haven't for experiences of others. Maybe you should ask for Kiz owners with over 50,000 miles to chime in? Good luck!
2012 SLS
Azure Grey
FWD CVT
Azure Grey
FWD CVT
matt- I'm not sure what you mean by dealers and service centers being legally bound for 15 years...if that were true then why is there only one dealership left (in one of the largest metro areas in the U.S.) that currently honors warranty service? Another worry is that this lone dealership won't stockpile parts like they would if new cars were still being sold...meaning longer down times if repairs do have to be made. Even if this dealership does plan to honor warranty work for a reasonable amount of time, (say 7 years after the last new model was sold) I would be worried that Suzuki wouldn't be as responsive to issues since repeat customers aren't a concern any longer. I may be worrying about things that aren't really an issue...but still.
twoqttsdad- I have thoroughly immersed myself in reading reviews and watching youtube vids of the Kizashi, and it's one of the reasons I'm still thinking of buying one in spite of my head telling me to go for something made by a car company not leaving the U.S. any time soon. The fact that I haven't read a single bad review (mediocre is the worst) and owners seem to love them tells me that my impression during the test drives weren't just my imagination.
There are very few Kizashi's for sale within a 200 mile radius of where I live, and none with a manual trans that I would prefer. (other than a few base models) There are a small handful of new 2012-2013 models for sale, but they are all SE's and I really want the Rockford Fosgate stereo system and some of the extras on the GTS/SLS. There are literally 3-4 GTS/SLS models within a decent distance, but all have the CVT, but with fairly low mileage. The CVT is the only component that really worries me as it can be prohibitively expensive to repair or replace out of warranty..
twoqttsdad- I have thoroughly immersed myself in reading reviews and watching youtube vids of the Kizashi, and it's one of the reasons I'm still thinking of buying one in spite of my head telling me to go for something made by a car company not leaving the U.S. any time soon. The fact that I haven't read a single bad review (mediocre is the worst) and owners seem to love them tells me that my impression during the test drives weren't just my imagination.
There are very few Kizashi's for sale within a 200 mile radius of where I live, and none with a manual trans that I would prefer. (other than a few base models) There are a small handful of new 2012-2013 models for sale, but they are all SE's and I really want the Rockford Fosgate stereo system and some of the extras on the GTS/SLS. There are literally 3-4 GTS/SLS models within a decent distance, but all have the CVT, but with fairly low mileage. The CVT is the only component that really worries me as it can be prohibitively expensive to repair or replace out of warranty..
Pyramid, you have very valid concerns imho. As a 27 year die-hard Suzuki fan and owner, I have to say that I would not buy one now unless it were at a throw-away price, new or used. The car is simply awesome for all of the reasons mentioned here (Matt nailed it pretty well), but, if you're the kind that keeps cars until the wheels fall off, or if you won't put 150,000 miles on the car before they no longer are obligated to provide service and parts here, then you probably should listen to your head because the service issue could be a problem if there are no centers near you. I have an excellent one near me, so I'm not worried too much about our 2 daily-drivers that are still under warranty. As for my Samurai, well, there's tons of third party vendors stocking and selling the OE parts everyone goes through along w/ beefier aftermarket upgrades.
That said, none of my Suzukis ever required a lot of dealer service, some never needed any at all, mainly the Samurais I've owned/own. None of my Suzukis ever left me stranded and all were able to be driven to the dealer, or back home, for what repair was needed. I am speaking of all Japanese built Suzukis by the way. I stopped buying new during the re-badged Korean junk years.
That said, none of my Suzukis ever required a lot of dealer service, some never needed any at all, mainly the Samurais I've owned/own. None of my Suzukis ever left me stranded and all were able to be driven to the dealer, or back home, for what repair was needed. I am speaking of all Japanese built Suzukis by the way. I stopped buying new during the re-badged Korean junk years.
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
)
1991 Samurai, 5-Speed, EFI, Soft-Top (
sold)
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
) 1991 Samurai, 5-Speed, EFI, Soft-Top (
sold)2011 - Kizashi SX, 70,000 KM
So far I am extremely impressed by the build quality of this car. I have had a few minor issues but nothing mechanical.
If you can grab a Kizashi at a fire-sale price, you will NOT find anything better for the money. I would pick up a second one if Canada had the same sale prices as the US. Well worth the risk of service issues (which I believe will be minor as dealers will service cars for 15 years, dealers that convert to another brand will still warranty the car).
A few things to help with the purchase:
- demand an alignment check (common issue, don't kill a pair of tires to find out)
- If your music volume increases/decreases while driving with AVC off - replace your amp under warranty. Don't let the dealer run your around in circles trying to find the issue.
- Wrap your front end in 3M and opticoat your car. Will help preserve your paint and the Kizashi is famous for a thin clear coat.
Take one for a test drive, once you feel the handling you will love it.
So far I am extremely impressed by the build quality of this car. I have had a few minor issues but nothing mechanical.
If you can grab a Kizashi at a fire-sale price, you will NOT find anything better for the money. I would pick up a second one if Canada had the same sale prices as the US. Well worth the risk of service issues (which I believe will be minor as dealers will service cars for 15 years, dealers that convert to another brand will still warranty the car).
A few things to help with the purchase:
- demand an alignment check (common issue, don't kill a pair of tires to find out)
- If your music volume increases/decreases while driving with AVC off - replace your amp under warranty. Don't let the dealer run your around in circles trying to find the issue.
- Wrap your front end in 3M and opticoat your car. Will help preserve your paint and the Kizashi is famous for a thin clear coat.
Take one for a test drive, once you feel the handling you will love it.
2011 Kizashi SX
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matt_gold99
- Posts: 37
- Joined: Mon Apr 08, 2013 2:44 am
Pyramid1 - ya I understand your trepidation and I don't blame you.
Read this when you get a second..
http://www.edmunds.com/car-buying/suzuk ... uptcy.html
Also, I will try to get the details of what I was told regarding the 15 year thing. This was explained to me after I made a joke at my local Suzuki dealership "so are you guys busy packing up your desks?"
Might be meaningless to you as I live in Canada and not the US, but the US might have similar laws. Stand by.
Read this when you get a second..
http://www.edmunds.com/car-buying/suzuk ... uptcy.html
Also, I will try to get the details of what I was told regarding the 15 year thing. This was explained to me after I made a joke at my local Suzuki dealership "so are you guys busy packing up your desks?"
Might be meaningless to you as I live in Canada and not the US, but the US might have similar laws. Stand by.
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matt_gold99
- Posts: 37
- Joined: Mon Apr 08, 2013 2:44 am
Hey KIZFAN2
I'm in Toronto like yourself.
Wife and I just bought a house in Scarborough. really really close to Scarborough Suzuki, actually.
I'm in Toronto like yourself.
Wife and I just bought a house in Scarborough. really really close to Scarborough Suzuki, actually.
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twoqttsdad
- Posts: 212
- Joined: Wed Nov 28, 2012 12:41 am
- Location: Hawaii
I guess it depends what you value more.
I used buy Toyotas only because of their reputation for reliability and resale value. Boring cars to me though. Got tired of driving another car of the masses. Dressed up basic transportation at best.
I would say buy the Kiz if you want to enjoy driving because there's nothing in that price range that even comes close. If you are unsure about the dependability of a Kiz, stick with a Honda, Toyota, or Domestic brand.
I felt comfortable getting one after doing my homework.
I used buy Toyotas only because of their reputation for reliability and resale value. Boring cars to me though. Got tired of driving another car of the masses. Dressed up basic transportation at best.
I would say buy the Kiz if you want to enjoy driving because there's nothing in that price range that even comes close. If you are unsure about the dependability of a Kiz, stick with a Honda, Toyota, or Domestic brand.
I felt comfortable getting one after doing my homework.
2012 SLS
Azure Grey
FWD CVT
Azure Grey
FWD CVT