What Did You Do With Your Kizashi Today?

[KIZAWDinKC]

Drove it to the park to go running. I've owned my Kiz since 2010. I just replaced the water pump as preventive maintenance a few weeks ago. I have a new truck that I drive for pleasure. My Kizashi is my daily driver since 2010! Still going strong!! Shows no sign of slowing down. Only downside is it has dings and one gash on the body, wheels are scuffed up. The exterior unintentionally has collected some damage over the years. Suzuki has built a good one. Too bad they don't make cars anymore. I made the decision to keep driving it forever and see how long it goes.

[Ronzuki]

Suzuki has built a good one. Too bad they don't make cars anymore. I made the decision to keep driving it forever and see how long it goes.

Oh they make plenty of cars and SUVs...for the rest of the world. They simply chose not to sell them here any longer.

[DiggerDerrik]

My Kizashi and I celebrated 8 trouble free years together on the 19th. 133,000 miles.

[KuroNekko]

Suzuki has built a good one. Too bad they don't make cars anymore. I made the decision to keep driving it forever and see how long it goes.

Oh they make plenty of cars and SUVs...for the rest of the world. They simply chose not to sell them here any longer.

Yes, and it's rather ironic. Suzuki sells in more countries than most other automakers. In fact, the Jimny is sold in 192 countries and regions around the world... but not the US. The US is in fact, one of the very few countries it's not sold in.
I was recently having a discussion with someone about the lack of American cars being sold in Japan. I explained it was not protectionism or tariffs but the fact that Japanese consumers largely want types of cars US makers don't offer much of. The prime example consist of kei-cars which amount to around 30% of all auto sales in Japan. Suzuki and Daihatsu are the two main kei-car specialists in Japan. Interestingly, these two companies left the US due to the lack of sales of their primarily small and budget-minded vehicles.
It appears that American cars are too big and too costly to operate for most Japanese while Suzukis and Daihatsus were too small and too budget-minded for most Americans to consider seriously.

[SamirD]

It appears that American cars are too big and too costly to operate for most Japanese while Suzukis and Daihatsus were too small and too budget-minded for most Americans to consider seriously.

I think this is really because cars aren't 'one size fit all', and Americans are on average much larger than people in Japan.

[KuroNekko]

It appears that American cars are too big and too costly to operate for most Japanese while Suzukis and Daihatsus were too small and too budget-minded for most Americans to consider seriously.

I think this is really because cars aren't 'one size fit all', and Americans are on average much larger than people in Japan.

While Americans are larger in general, we're all human so the variation isn't that much. It's more about desirability rather than dimensions. In Japan, owning a car is costly in everything from fuel, taxation, to parking. People generally want small cars that cost little to own and is cheap to fuel. Given many get around on public transportation, you don't need a car all the time like many Americans.

In the US, many have a mindset that bigger is better. Sometimes it is, but not always. The third-row SUV phenomenon always puzzles me. People overvalue those terrible third rows in SUVs and if they were so important to one's family, get a minivan. They are so much better in terms of access and comfort. However, people have this mindset that certain things are good or gotta-haves... like 3rd row seats in SUVs so they think bigger is better.

Another thing I want to add is the difference between Japan and America's outlook on small cars. Here, in the US, the image is that small cars are for people who don't have much money. They are basically econo-boxes designed to cost little and run on less. In Japan, it's a bit different as most cars are smaller anyway. You can get refinement even in a small package. I've seen some upscale trims of small cars in Japan that you'd never find in the US. You can also get purpose-built vehicles in small packages like the Honda S660 and the Suzuki Jimny.

Another thing is the model variation. It seems that the US likes to offer fewer models and have each model be more generalized. Over in Japan, the line-up is far more expansive with greater variations, styles, and body types.
For example, compare Toyota's offerings between the US and Japan.
The first link is Toyota's US line-up which includes redundancy in the list by just model year.
https://www.toyota.com/all-vehicles/

Here is Japan's Toyota line-up in comparison. There is redundancy but the differences even within a certain model is enough to give it a different name:
https://toyota.jp/carlineup/?padid=tjpt ... _carlineup

[Ronzuki]

Today on the way home I had opportunity to drive the Kizashi like a nut on my favorite set of twisties...wet, greazy twisties. AWD ON, heavy paddle shifter activity and copious amounts of throttle...oh what fun. Grins a plenty.

[n8dogg]

In the US, many have a mindset that bigger is better. Sometimes it is, but not always. The third-row SUV phenomenon always puzzles me. People overvalue those terrible third rows in SUVs and if they were so important to one's family, get a minivan. They are so much better in terms of access and comfort. However, people have this mindset that certain things are good or gotta-haves... like 3rd row seats in SUVs so they think bigger is better.

Hey, I resemble that remark!

We proudly owned a mini-van (2004 Toyota Sienna XLE with tow package) for years and we really did enjoy it. But I was towing and bringing more and more toys with it every time we vacationed somewhere with it. I'm sure I was past weight limits with it on more than one occasion. Although I did my best to mitigate it with things like a weight distribution hitch, helper air bags in the rear coil suspension, trailer brake controller and upgraded dual piston front brakes with larger rotors and so on. But alas, I could only do so much with that van. AND we regularly used that third row seat. I only have two children, but they have grandparents and friends and dogs and we love bringing company on our adventures!
The third row really is a joke on most SUV's, they seem to be installed as an after thought. We sat in many, nothing in the mid size would come close to the space of a mini-van. Even in the full size market (Tahoe/Yukon/Expedition), the third row is was cramped unless you went extended length (Suburban/Yukon XL/Expedition EL) and even then we still found them uncomfortable for long hauls. For us it came down to the Toyota Sequoia and Nissan Armada. On paper, both very comparable. On price, at least for 2013 models, the Armada was $10k less! There is definitely less room behind the third row for cargo, seeing how these models can't be had in extended lengths, but the third row is roomy and comfortable. So we got the Armada Platinum Reserve! It has auto leveling rear air suspension, It tows our little trailer and gear without braking a sweat, it hauls my son and I with our mountain bikes up an on old logging road with ruts that the Sienna never could have, and on and on and on.....

Now I just need a bigger trailer, because bigger IS better!

[n8dogg]

Back on topic...I passed 90k on the odometer in the Kizashi today. Still love it! The Continentals seem to be holding up better than my previous two sets.

[WESHOOT2]

Today on the way home I had opportunity to drive the Kizashi like a nut on my favorite set of twisties...wet, greazy twisties. AWD ON, heavy paddle shifter activity and copious amounts of throttle...oh what fun. Grins a plenty.

This.