New Kizashi Owner! Bought a Kizashi SLS!

[LPSISRL]

First, thanks for all the help and tolerance on my questions BEFORE I even bought a Kizashi.
On Saturday, my 21 year old son and I drove from Chesapeake, VA to Tyson's Corner near DC to check out an 2011 SLS. (over 200 miles) The previous Wednesday I drove by myself 3 hours to Raleigh, NC to check out a 2012 SE that I didn't buy. Pyramid1 you certainly have my sympathy! I had already negotiated the OTD price and the trade in value for my 2009 SX4 Crossover Tech package. The trade in was a $500 range since they had not seen or driven it. Well, when I pulled in the lot I saw it, was love at first sight. It looked brand new. There are a few superficial scratches on it and there is one flaw on the driver's side A-piller. Other than that I couldn't find a thing to complain about. Since this was a GMS/Dodge/Buick dealer, they really knew nothing about as it was a trade in. The filled the tank with gas and said, "see you in a few hours.) I had researched some twisty, hilly roads west of DC and we headed out to them. What a dream to drive! Oh how well it handled on those twisties even though I could not even come near to putting this car to the limit.

Back at the dealer we sat down to work out the purchase. Since we already negotiated the price and there was nothing to do but negotiate the trade in. As I expected, they offered the bottom end of the trade. We ended up meeting half-way so I took $250 less than the max I could have gotten.

The drive home was quite long but pretty fun. We detoured the I-95 DC to Richmond route. I got 34.5 MPG on the way home. SWEET! My SX4 which is much smaller and has a smaller engine never even made 30 MPG.

So, I'm looking forward to being a part of this forum, getting help and hopefully being some help to others.

Tim (LPSISRL)

[murcod]

Nice. You found one quickly.

[Knightstruth]

First, thanks for all the help and tolerance on my questions BEFORE I even bought a Kizashi.
On Saturday, my 21 year old son and I drove from Chesapeake, VA to Tyson's Corner near DC to check out an 2011 SLS. (over 200 miles) The previous Wednesday I drove by myself 3 hours to Raleigh, NC to check out a 2012 SE that I didn't buy. Pyramid1 you certainly have my sympathy! I had already negotiated the OTD price and the trade in value for my 2009 SX4 Crossover Tech package. The trade in was a $500 range since they had not seen or driven it. Well, when I pulled in the lot I saw it, was love at first sight. It looked brand new. There are a few superficial scratches on it and there is one flaw on the driver's side A-piller. Other than that I couldn't find a thing to complain about. Since this was a GMS/Dodge/Buick dealer, they really knew nothing about as it was a trade in. The filled the tank with gas and said, "see you in a few hours.) I had researched some twisty, hilly roads west of DC and we headed out to them. What a dream to drive! Oh how well it handled on those twisties even though I could not even come near to putting this car to the limit.

Back at the dealer we sat down to work out the purchase. Since we already negotiated the price and there was nothing to do but negotiate the trade in. As I expected, they offered the bottom end of the trade. We ended up meeting half-way so I took $250 less than the max I could have gotten.

The drive home was quite long but pretty fun. We detoured the I-95 DC to Richmond route. I got 34.5 MPG on the way home. SWEET! My SX4 which is much smaller and has a smaller engine never even made 30 MPG.

So, I'm looking forward to being a part of this forum, getting help and hopefully being some help to others.

Tim (LPSISRL)

Congrats! What color was it? I may be a bit slow but are you saying they offered $250 for your trade-in?

[LPSISRL]

The color is silver. Really pretty. Black leather interior. It appears the windows have been tinted. Can you get tinted windows as an option? These are pretty dark. I hope they are legal. Sight unseen when I was negotiating via email they offered me $8000-$8500 for my '09 SX4. On the purchase quote, they offered me $8000 which I expected them to do. I probably should have tried to stick at the $8500 as it was certainly worth that. They came up to $8250 meeting me in the middle. After all, $250 is $250.

[Knightstruth]

The color is silver. Really pretty. Black leather interior. It appears the windows have been tinted. Can you get tinted windows as an option? These are pretty dark. I hope they are legal. Sight unseen when I was negotiating via email they offered me $8000-$8500 for my '09 SX4. On the purchase quote, they offered me $8000 which I expected them to do. I probably should have tried to stick at the $8500 as it was certainly worth that. They came up to $8250 meeting me in the middle. After all, $250 is $250.

Cool color. I have a black SLS sport awd, does yours have the AWD? Also can you post some pics of your car. I want to see what it looks like with the tint. Some people when they buy cars will negotiate tint into the deal that could have been done or get it tinted after. Mine the back is only tinted as that is the law here and I don't want to be bothered with getting pulled over again for my tint. I had a silver Legacy that was tinted and it stood out due to the contrast of dark tint and silver.

[KuroNekko]

Congrats on the car!
I am glad you took our advice and checked out the SLS even though it was further away. I work in DC so Tyson's Corner is not far from me. Interesting to hear they had a Kizashi there. I went all the way to Jersey City, NJ for mine.

Anyhow, it sounds like you live in southern VA. VA tint laws are as follows:
50% front sides, 35% rear sides, 35% rear.
If your tints are very dark, you will definitely fail state inspection. Cars don't come from the factory with tints darker than 20% for the rears. If a car has front side windows tinted, then they were done by a shop, not factory.

I just got my car re-tinted this weekend. I, like you, bought my Kizashi used and it came with VERY dark tints (15% front sides and the rest were 5% like a limo). MD inspection failed me just for the tints. I had to reluctantly pull them off.

People typically tint their cars AFTER inspection. This is why many people get their cars tinted beyond the legal limit, but it becomes a pain for the next owner who has to have it re-inspected.
I just got mine re-tinted to state legal limits, but it's actually the percentage I prefer anyways. I got ceramic 40% tints which look around 35%. Very happy with it.

Regardless, welcome and I hope your SLS serves you well. Post some pics.

Also, is it AWD or FWD?

[LPSISRL]

Thanks for the tint info. Do you know how I can tell how much? I think the inspection stations and state police have some kind of device that checks it, correct?

I bought it at Koons GMC. The experience was quite laid back. Maybe because everything was done beforehand so there wasn't much left to do. It's a FWD which I am happy with. My SX4 was AWD but here in SE Virginia, it's rarely needed. I mean rarely. When it snows here, I prefer to stay off the roads so someone doesn't hit me. I grew up in MN so I know all about snow and driving in it, but they sure don't know how down here! I'm a bit nervous as I have less than a thousand miles on the bumper to bumper. But so far, nothing I can point out that might be amiss except a little whine from the rear at highway speeds. I can't tell if it's just the tires or what a bearing might sound like in this car. It changes based on the road which tells me it's just noise from the tires.

[Knightstruth]

Thanks for the tint info. Do you know how I can tell how much? I think the inspection stations and state police have some kind of device that checks it, correct?

I bought it at Koons GMC. The experience was quite laid back. Maybe because everything was done beforehand so there wasn't much left to do. It's a FWD which I am happy with. My SX4 was AWD but here in SE Virginia, it's rarely needed. I mean rarely. When it snows here, I prefer to stay off the roads so someone doesn't hit me. I grew up in MN so I know all about snow and driving in it, but they sure don't know how down here! I'm a bit nervous as I have less than a thousand miles on the bumper to bumper. But so far, nothing I can point out that might be amiss except a little whine from the rear at highway speeds. I can't tell if it's just the tires or what a bearing might sound like in this car. It changes based on the road which tells me it's just noise from the tires.

When I bought mine used they offered a seperate warranty which I took. It means some peace of mind that if something goes wrong I don't have a big out of pocket expense. You also still have the powertain warranty on it.

Enjoy your car! I think it is a good deal better than the 2012 Legacy that I had.

[KuroNekko]

Yes, the inspection station and police use a device called the tint-o-meter. They place it against a window and it measures the percentage of light going through in terms of visibility.

If you post pictures of your car when it's outside in the sunlight, many of us could tell you what % you mostly likely have. Like I said, I just got my car tinted this Saturday and spent a long time staring a various tint samples.

I also agree about not needing AWD in the South. Unless you live up in the mountains, AWD is not necessarily useful, especially because the Kizashi's AWD is full-time AWD, not permanent AWD. It basically comes on when it detects slippage or need, unlike permanent AWD which always has some power going to all wheels. Yes, AWD can be helpful in wet conditions, but tire tread condition matters much more.

I love AWD as I used to have it in my Subaru in the California mountains, but the need for it in a place like the South is little. I don't need it anymore and I live up in Maryland now (the most northern "southern" state).

[Knightstruth]

Yes, the inspection station and police use a device called the tint-o-meter. They place it against a window and it measures the percentage of light going through in terms of visibility.

If you post pictures of your car when it's outside in the sunlight, many of us could tell you what % you mostly likely have. Like I said, I just got my car tinted this Saturday and spent a long time staring a various tint samples.

I also agree about not needing AWD in the South. Unless you live up in the mountains, AWD is not necessarily useful, especially because the Kizashi's AWD is full-time AWD, not permanent AWD. It basically comes on when it detects slippage or need, unlike permanent AWD which always has some power going to all wheels. Yes, AWD can be helpful in wet conditions, but tire tread condition matters much more.

I love AWD as I used to have it in my Subaru in the California mountains, but the need for it in a place like the South is little. I don't need it anymore and I live up in Maryland now (the most northern "southern" state).

I live in Iowa and a hilly part of town so AWD is very important to me. I do understand if you don't need there is not much in the point of getting it. Since it hurts fuel economy, acceleration and cost more to have as an option. Still the i-awd in the kiz does aid in handling which does allow it to take corners harder without being unglued.