OK, so I drove three hours yesterday to look at a 2012 SE with 12K miles on it. My first CVT. Boy was it weird. Not nearly as peppy as the MT GTS I drove a few weeks ago.
A couple questions.
There was engine vibration, almost a shaking that I didn't think was normal. I have only driven one Kiz before, but I don't recall the engine vibrating like that. My SX4 with a J20A does not vibrate like that. Is that normal for this engine?
Also, the brakes seemed to have a slight vibration (not pulsating) and low pitch sound coming from them. They worked great, but again, I don't recall any noise coming from the brakes of the GTS I drove.
All in all, it was very comfortable and quite. Not quite as quiet as the MT though. And I could not feel speed in it. I was doing 60 in a 45 and didn't realize it until I looked at the speedometer.
2010 SE Impressions and questions
Engine vibration is NOT normal. The J24B is actually renown to be a smooth revving engine. It also has a harmonic balancer at the end of the crankshaft to dampen vibrations. My engine is smooth.
The brakes should not pulsate. I wonder if it's because the car was sitting at the dealership. I know that when cars sit around on lots, the rotors get corrosion on them and the battery gets weak. On the other hand, once you press on the brakes a few times, the pads should have removed the corrosion off of the rotor and it should be back to normal. If it maintained a vibration and was squealing, then it may indicate an issue with the pads and/or rotors.
In my opinion, these issues warrant for you to go check out the SLS in the other direction.
Also, I am not at all surprised to hear the differences between the CVT and manual. Most reviewers who drove them both have said the manual is a lot quicker off the line and the CVT makes the engine rev harder which translates to more noise.
Personally, I think the AWD is the only saving grace in getting a Kizashi with the CVT.
The brakes should not pulsate. I wonder if it's because the car was sitting at the dealership. I know that when cars sit around on lots, the rotors get corrosion on them and the battery gets weak. On the other hand, once you press on the brakes a few times, the pads should have removed the corrosion off of the rotor and it should be back to normal. If it maintained a vibration and was squealing, then it may indicate an issue with the pads and/or rotors.
In my opinion, these issues warrant for you to go check out the SLS in the other direction.
Also, I am not at all surprised to hear the differences between the CVT and manual. Most reviewers who drove them both have said the manual is a lot quicker off the line and the CVT makes the engine rev harder which translates to more noise.
Personally, I think the AWD is the only saving grace in getting a Kizashi with the CVT.
2025 Mazda CX-50 Preferred Hybrid
2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS 6MT (Sold)
2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS 6MT (Sold)
lol..if you're talking about the one in North Carolina, then I'm no competition.LPSISRL wrote:I didn't think it was normal. So, it's off 3 hours in the other direction Saturday. good thing Pyramid1 and I don't live in the same area or we'd be sabotaging each other's trips to the GTS's for sale.
That's about 400-500 miles out of the range I'm willing to go to look at a car that may or may not be there when I arrive. I'm trying to keep perspective here, it's not like we're talking about a super rare 60's era special edition Porsche or anything. 
(but sometimes it seems that way)