Considering buying a Kizashi, Specific concerns
Well, I pulled the trigger on it. Took it for a test drive and it drove beautiful, the woman had all records of it since she bought it and insists she hasn't had problems with the transmission. I smelled the fluid and all seemed fine. In with the paperwork was the lemon paperwork from Suzuki.. said "transmission not shifting properly." Along with that was a paper stating it had been repaired.. So not sure exactly whats up. Hopefully we're good though. Should be interesting.. Looks like I'll be leaning on the forum a little more now.
I'd trust the paperwork more than any person. I'd call Suzuki and see what their history shows about the repair and buyback. They should know for sure.
Hopefully the case was that the original CVT was faulty and it was replaced entirely with a good one. This would explain the "lemon" paperwork for the car, but the current normal performance.
My suggestion is that while you may still be in a possible buy-back or dealer warranty period, take a long drive up a mountain. See how the CVT acts. Most faulty CVTs start showing their issues when the driving gets more demanding and operating temperatures go up.
My suggestion is that while you may still be in a possible buy-back or dealer warranty period, take a long drive up a mountain. See how the CVT acts. Most faulty CVTs start showing their issues when the driving gets more demanding and operating temperatures go up.
2025 Mazda CX-50 Preferred Hybrid
2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS 6MT (Sold)
2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS 6MT (Sold)
Agree with Kuro on the mountain drive. Heat is bad for all transmissions, so if it starts slipping, especially when in manual mode, something could still be wrong.
Still an awesome car for 4k. I think I need to look for another Kizashi just to have 2 if they're getting that cheap.
Still an awesome car for 4k. I think I need to look for another Kizashi just to have 2 if they're getting that cheap.
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FrankoLaMoya
- Posts: 329
- Joined: Mon Dec 03, 2012 10:27 pm
- Location: Moncton
Why not? I would have pulled the trigger too...especially AWD and low mileage. It could be scary, but the Kizashi are very reliable in general and parts can be bought at reasonable pricing. Congratulations! Enjoy now.
2012 Suzuki Kizashi Sport iAWD CVT ''Kaijū'' (Black pearl metallic)
Priors:
2004 Audi A4 Quattro 1.8T 6MT ''Audini'' (Black)
1999 Audi A4 Quattro 2.8 AT (Dark green)
1984 Chevrolet Malibu 3MT with a 327 engine lol (Blue)
1996 Acura Integra 5MT (Black)
Priors:
2004 Audi A4 Quattro 1.8T 6MT ''Audini'' (Black)
1999 Audi A4 Quattro 2.8 AT (Dark green)
1984 Chevrolet Malibu 3MT with a 327 engine lol (Blue)
1996 Acura Integra 5MT (Black)
I've been doing a little searching and an AWD seems to run about 9-10k with the average 70k miles for the S. There's an AWD S with 46kmi in charlotte listed for $13k, and another elsewhere on craigslist with a rebuilt title for $8100. So, yea, definately a steal anyway you look at it, even without the warranty. I do alot of my own wrench turning so I'm not too worried about the lack of a warranty.
The car is actually for my GF, she's been looking for a while for something with AWD. Im big into Saabs myself (which are a great deal, im into the older 9-5's, particularly aero's, very nice car in the $3-5k range). When we test drove a 2012 Elantra with 40kmi for $13k a few weeks back, she fell in love with it but I knew (and hoped and prayed) we could do better...
I can't say for sure the CVT's been replaced. The sheet just said something along the lines of "issues causing dealer buyback: transmission not shifting correctly" and "issues that have been repaired: transmission not shifting correctly." I'll be watching it like a hawk for a while, but cautiously optimistic that we're OK. There's a former Suzuki Dealer in my area that should be able to help out if anything is amiss (according to their old ads, the largest in the country at one point, apparently), and another 10 miles down the road from them.
The car is actually for my GF, she's been looking for a while for something with AWD. Im big into Saabs myself (which are a great deal, im into the older 9-5's, particularly aero's, very nice car in the $3-5k range). When we test drove a 2012 Elantra with 40kmi for $13k a few weeks back, she fell in love with it but I knew (and hoped and prayed) we could do better...
I can't say for sure the CVT's been replaced. The sheet just said something along the lines of "issues causing dealer buyback: transmission not shifting correctly" and "issues that have been repaired: transmission not shifting correctly." I'll be watching it like a hawk for a while, but cautiously optimistic that we're OK. There's a former Suzuki Dealer in my area that should be able to help out if anything is amiss (according to their old ads, the largest in the country at one point, apparently), and another 10 miles down the road from them.
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FrankoLaMoya
- Posts: 329
- Joined: Mon Dec 03, 2012 10:27 pm
- Location: Moncton
Hey ochy38, do you have any snow in your area? If so, the Kizashi VS. Elantra is like the day VS night. My girlfriend had a 2012 Elantra with new Michelin X-Ice 2 tires and it kept slipping...spinning...kind of dangerous if you go on the highway with it. She was always taking my Kizashi when going on the highway during snow/storm time. She had enough of it (and me too since I like to enjoy my AWD in the snow!!) and she bought a brand new SUV 2 months ago. For my part... I will keep my Kizashi as long as I can...
2012 Suzuki Kizashi Sport iAWD CVT ''Kaijū'' (Black pearl metallic)
Priors:
2004 Audi A4 Quattro 1.8T 6MT ''Audini'' (Black)
1999 Audi A4 Quattro 2.8 AT (Dark green)
1984 Chevrolet Malibu 3MT with a 327 engine lol (Blue)
1996 Acura Integra 5MT (Black)
Priors:
2004 Audi A4 Quattro 1.8T 6MT ''Audini'' (Black)
1999 Audi A4 Quattro 2.8 AT (Dark green)
1984 Chevrolet Malibu 3MT with a 327 engine lol (Blue)
1996 Acura Integra 5MT (Black)
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pakizzie2015
- Posts: 73
- Joined: Tue Nov 24, 2015 8:52 pm
Just wanted to ask since we both have same model.. how is the kizashi in the winter.. I am used to my explorer 2 door sport that had 4-wheel drive. and had sure footed driving in it and was never really nervous .. so here I am with this awd car that I STILL haven't been able to drive in snow and of course this year is nothing like last year. and no snow.. can you put my mind at ease.. thank youFrankoLaMoya wrote:Hey ochy38, do you have any snow in your area? If so, the Kizashi VS. Elantra is like the day VS night. My girlfriend had a 2012 Elantra with new Michelin X-Ice 2 tires and it kept slipping...spinning...kind of dangerous if you go on the highway with it. She was always taking my Kizashi when going on the highway during snow/storm time. She had enough of it (and me too since I like to enjoy my AWD in the snow!!) and she bought a brand new SUV 2 months ago. For my part... I will keep my Kizashi as long as I can...
I also had a 2 door Explorer Sport before my Kizashi. I've only driven my Kizashi once in the snow, but I would say it was even more stable than the Explorer was. My Explorer would have a tendency to kick out, even while it was in 4wd, while the Kizashi didn't do that at all.
Black 2011 Sport SLS AWD