What Did You Do With Your Kizashi Today?

[murcod]

Toyota has been criticized for doing this, but they have good reasons.
First, they've been battling recalls and lawsuits that have cost them millions. It wouldn't be unwise to redesign models while retaining tried-and-true major components. This saves money on their end while also ensuring the other reason: reliability.

Tried and true major components = halogen head lights! There will be a huge uproar if the LED headlights do fail and people have to pay for a whole new headlight.

I'd probably voice the general American consensus with rear-view cameras on compact cars: If you need a camera to park a Corolla properly, you shouldn't be driving in the first place.

Reversing cameras are a safety device - nothing to do with your ability to reverse or park. Modern vehicles often have huge blind spots behind them where children/ babies can be hidden. There have been a number of incidents where babies or children have been severely injured and killed from being reversed over. As an example- the Kizashi - I've had a 240l "wheelie bin" behind me and couldn't see it from any mirror! So a young child wouldn't have a hope of being spotted. http://news.drive.com.au/drive/motor-ne ... 2os4v.html

[KuroNekko]

Left the Kizzy at home and decided to rent a car for my field work. Got a 2014 Kia Rondo and was pleasantly impressed by it. The electric power steering allows you to adjust the amount of weight in the steering. Wish our Kizashis had that!

That's interesting they still have those in Canada. They killed them off in the US probably due to very low sales. It's definitely got the newer KIA interior styling.
It's amazing how much Korean cars improved even in the last ten years. They were utter shit not too long ago. Now, they are rather nice. I liked the Hyundais I sat in at the auto show better than the VWs. Unthinkable ten years ago.
I totally think the Hyundai Azera is an underrated car.

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[KuroNekko]

Toyota has been criticized for doing this, but they have good reasons.
First, they've been battling recalls and lawsuits that have cost them millions. It wouldn't be unwise to redesign models while retaining tried-and-true major components. This saves money on their end while also ensuring the other reason: reliability.

Tried and true major components = halogen head lights! There will be a huge uproar if the LED headlights do fail and people have to pay for a whole new headlight.

I'd probably voice the general American consensus with rear-view cameras on compact cars: If you need a camera to park a Corolla properly, you shouldn't be driving in the first place.

Reversing cameras are a safety device - nothing to do with your ability to reverse or park. Modern vehicles often have huge blind spots behind them where children/ babies can be hidden. There have been a number of incidents where babies or children have been severely injured and killed from being reversed over. As an example- the Kizashi - I've had a 240l "wheelie bin" behind me and couldn't see it from any mirror! So a young child wouldn't have a hope of being spotted. http://news.drive.com.au/drive/motor-ne ... 2os4v.html

Halogens blow. Literally. And when they do, they can be a pain to replace as exemplified with our cars. Any advancement to move away from filament-based lighting is good. It's 2014 now. I'd take LEDs any day over halogen low beams.

As for reverse-cameras being a safety device. Yes, I agree however the driver's attention and caution is the #1 safety implementation in driving much like gun safety. Until cars drive themselves, there is no better substitute. I'm well aware of cases where people run over kids they couldn't see. It happens more in the US simply from our greater population. However, it's usually with people who were A) not paying full attention and B) driving a bigger car than they can handle who cause these accidents. Heck, they usually run over their own kids with their behemoth SUVs.

It's also insane how the majority of drivers (especially out here on the East Coast I've noticed) don't turn their head around to see backwards when they reverse. They look at the mirrors. It's dumb and unsafe. My father does this and once backed into a small tree literally right in the middle behind our VW camper. He damaged the bumper doing so. He did not see it because his head was not turned backwards and he was relying on mirrors like a fool.

The camper actually has great rearward visibility due to its large windows. However, to take advantage of them, one would need to turn their head and look out of them with a direct line of sight.

I always look in the direction my car is moving. That means if my car is in reverse, my head is turned backwards. I seriously back up like how I had to for my driving test when I was 16. It's simply the best way and contributed to my exemplary driving record and no damage to my vehicles from parking. It's not rocket science.

[bootymac]

Tried and true major components = halogen head lights! There will be a huge uproar if the LED headlights do fail and people have to pay for a whole new headlight.

Don't forget marketing. Toyota is hitting all the right buzzwords that increases their perceived value

[SamirD]

It's amazing how much Korean cars improved even in the last ten years. They were utter shit not too long ago. Now, they are rather nice.

The funny thing is, Korean cars were always nice, just not here in the US until recently. On a work trip to Seoul, I saw first hand how Korean quality was right up there with the Japanese, but only for their domestic market--they kept the good stuff for themselves.

[SamirD]

Wife's driving has got me more comfortable. She's gotten the hang of her commute to work and the familiarity of the route is allowing her to fine tune her attentions to more minor issues like potholes. She's still not signaling as much as I would like, but she's getting there.

I called about the warranty work we need done on the car and found out the work has to be completed by the time you're out of warranty. They're going to call me back to see if they have the shock for the rear as well as the revised stop and what they'll be able to do on the wheels. I guess if they can't do it today, I'll have to do it myself later. If I do, I'll file an arbitration claim to get reimbursed.

[~tc~]

It's amazing the cars you see in Korea - absolutely blatant copies of mostly Japanese models with Korean badges.

[murcod]

Tried and true major components = halogen head lights! There will be a huge uproar if the LED headlights do fail and people have to pay for a whole new headlight.

Don't forget marketing. Toyota is hitting all the right buzzwords that increases their perceived value

Yes, exactly my point. Catering for the Ipod generation- who buy vehicles for their blingy features - who haven't got a clue what an engine or transmission looks like, let alone how they work! A four speed auto in a 2014 vehicle....

Kuro, halogen bulbs are cheap! In over 20 years of driving I've only had to replace 2 sets because they've actually blown. I'm sure people who do more driving at night have other experiences, but it isn't going to send anyone bankrupt compared to the cost of a new LED headlight.

[SamirD]

It's amazing the cars you see in Korea - absolutely blatant copies of mostly Japanese models with Korean badges.

I went when the Sonata was still a joke in the US. Guess what I thought of this?


Oh no, a Sonata--I guess I should just keep speeding since it won't catch me anyways.

[SamirD]

Went to Ray Suzuki (Chevrolet) and met Steve the service writer and gave him the wheels for warranty repair. He quickly had them check the rear shocks and he confirmed that they're both corroding in the same place he's seen damaged ones. Parts are on order.

So he and I got to talking about Kizahis since they used to stock 100 when they were a dealer and in his estimate sold almost 2000.

Common issues he's seen--headlight bulbs, alignment-induced tire wear, rear bump stop related shock damage, paint flaking from the wheels.

Not so common--only two transmissions replaced ever, and one was just making a whining noise. Three water pumps, which seems even a bit odd to him.

He showed me a genuine Suzuki oil filter and showed me how the design of it is different than other Suzuki filters that fit. And that design is key if you planning on keeping the car forever as it keeps the car from dry starting for about 1/10th of a second. If you're using an aftermarket filter that doesn't have this design feature, you may be causing some premature wear. I listened carefully this evening when my wife started the car. I think I've got a little bit of that going on. I've noticed some extra noise from cylinder 2, but don't have my scope to listen acutely and pinpoint it.

I asked him all sorts of questions like what we've discussed here in many of the threads. He has a BOOKLOAD of knowledge on the car, and was freely sharing it. Maybe to get some repeat business, but I think he also is a fan of the car and the owners.

I asked him how busy they stay and because they're one of the higher rated Suzuki service centers in the nation as well as one of the only ones in a 250mi radius, they stay pretty steady at all times, which is great for them and us. What was really interesting was that they even had a small Suzuki sign still on the building.

I even asked him about the HID swap, and he mentioned that in theory it sounds like it would work, but to not think that I won't have to buy bulbs as he's even seen HID bulbs go out. I think he was referring to a lot of the cheap HID kits we know to avoid.

He had an interesting perspective on the car and aftermarket goods. Most any intake messes with the idle. Almost any electrical add-on like HIDs or even the wrong type of tint will make your AM signals go out. He's got a vast database of these oddities about the Kizashi in his head.

I have to return to pick up the wheels when they're done as well as get the rear shocks and bump stops replaced. If anyone has any questions that they'd like me to ask, post them up! I forgot to ask him about tpms issues, so that's on my list already.