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Suzuki XL-7

1355 messages,  Last post on Nov 29, 2010 at 9:15 PM

You are in the Suzuki XL-7 Forum.

What is this discussion about? Suzuki XL-7, Suzuki Grand Vitara, SUV

Messages Page 71 of 136

#700 of 1355 re: Suzuki XL-7 VS Kia Sorrento by flyingn

Nov 19, 2002 (6:19 am)

It really depends on what you are looking for. The XL7 offers 7 passinger seating the Kia don't. The XL7 is a proven design. Suzuki has been making em for years. The Kia is a brand new design. Japanese vs. Korean.. no comment. no brainer here:)
The Kia is nice, no doubt. But the XL7 is nicer:) Espicially the 2003's. redesign of the dash and it looks really nice.
Drive both and you will see..
 
Frank

#701 of 1355 The Sorrento by paisan

Nov 19, 2002 (6:40 am)

Has both low-range and dry-pavement 4wd which is a Plus in my book. Also it's been out for a year at least overseas.
 
-mike

#702 of 1355 dangerous gas tank location? by suvan

Nov 20, 2002 (3:46 am)

I have liked the XL-7 since its introduction until recently read about Suzuki review on http://www.thecarplace.com concerning its gas tank being located too close to the rear bumper and right under the 3rd row seat (optional 2003), potentially high risk in a rearend collision...

Can anyone tell me if this is a valid concern?
I have confirmed the gas tank location from Suzuki website, but have not heard any complaint on this. I'm looking forward to seeing the 2003 XL-7 with redesigned interior next month but the gas tank issue has been putting me off.

Thanks for sharing any info.

#703 of 1355 no, otherwise it would not pass federal safety tests by mopar67

Nov 20, 2002 (9:37 am)

COuld be sensationalism on the part of someone.
Like the chevy pickups from 1973-87 that dateline expose' but no one mentioned how chevy built millions of these trucks and didn't seem to have much of an issue until Dateline popped up.
 
I'd rest easy if I were you....no vehicle company is going to risk millions on lawsuits and PR damage by building an unsafe vehicle.

#704 of 1355 Lawsuit against Ford's police car gas tank safety by suvan

Nov 20, 2002 (8:29 pm)

Thanks mopar67 for sharing the Dateline story,
I agree that Suzuki makes good and safe vehicles.
They claimed the gas tank under the rearbumper is protected by metal shield, although the safest place to put the gas tank is in the middle between front and rear axles away from crush zones. Currently gas tank location is not a requirement in the federal safety tests.

On quick research, I'm surprised to find an ongoing lawsuit against Ford's unprotected gas tank safety, have you heard this from
http://www.CrownVictoriaSafetyAlert.com

That's the problem of being a big company where image and lawsuit is costly...

#705 of 1355 gas tanks by flyingn

Nov 21, 2002 (5:44 am)

do the research and see how many cars have the gas tanks placed in this place over the years. Too many to mention. I would not be too concerned over this point..
 
Frank

#706 of 1355 Any vehicle runs a risk of fuel leak in a collision by mopar67

Nov 21, 2002 (7:12 am)

No matter where the gas tank is.
Federal standards specify different crash scenarios and how much, if any, fuel can leak during a collision.
As before, I cannot imagine Suzuki, who is trying to capture market share, would construct a potentially unsafe vehicle.
More the point, Suzuki, being a Japanese company not dominated by shareholder interests, will more than likely not cave into a beancounter's cost cutting fetish.
 
Ford, in the 1970's saved approximately $4.00 on the fuel filler neck design for the Pinto. The problem was, in a collison, the fuel filler pipe would be ripped out and the gas would spill out thus making a fire pretty likely. Ford's beancounters weighed the cost of modifying the fuel filler neck to the potential lawsuits from deaths involved in collisions and decided it would be lest costly to fight a lawsuit than to modify the fuel filler tube.
To modify the tube, as I said, would be about $4.00 per vehicle. Multiply that over say 250,000 per year and you get a million dollars. Multiply that over the Pintos 10 year production run, now you are at 10,000,000 dollars!! That is money that Ford would have paid out. Now, take the opposite tack and DON't spend the money. Assume you will face a lawsuit. What would the chances be that Ford would have had to pay out millions in a lawsuit? Well the beancounters gambled......and lost.......Ford ended up paying millions in lawsuits and lost a lot of credibility in the eyes of the consumer.
 
This is why beancounters should not be involved in product design. They simply look at numbers, no more, no less. End of story. They are not trained to consider the remifications of their decisions and on occassion, the "people" factor is not considered either. That is how Bob Mcnamara tried to fight the Vietnam war; like you would run a company's balance sheet. Throw in micromangement to the highest order and well, you have a mess. But I digress.
 
Beancounters have a role for sure. Their role is the back room counting the money and presenting the CEO with the P&L sheet each quarter. But to place one of these people in the product planning or development areas of vehicle design is inviting disaster or at the least, a cheap, poorly made vehicle.

#707 of 1355 Tanks by paisan

Nov 21, 2002 (7:57 am)

Don't forget there are frame rails that protect the tank as well. On uni-body vehicles there are no frame rails to protect the tank which is a reason they put it in-board.
 
-mike

#708 of 1355 X-L Rollover Ratings? by fresca1

Nov 21, 2002 (7:20 pm)

Hi,
 
Have been comparing the usual small to mid-size SUVs (Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorrento, Saturn Vue, etc.) then saw the Suzuki X-L and LOVED it's looks and space (as well as that almost usable 3rd row seat option). But, I can't find much safety data, although my research shows the basic model has been out for a couple of years already. Only the one test in which it did well... Are there any roll-over ratings or history that anyone knows of (positive or negative)?
 
Thank you!

#709 of 1355 roll over ratings by flyingn

Nov 22, 2002 (5:53 am)

All the info that I can find is on the Vitara. No roll over testing was done on the XL7. Tho you can ASSume that the rating for the Vitara and the XL7 are similar. The vitara gor 3 out of 5 stars. Not too much of a threat of a roll over.
BTW- according to the crash tests the XL7 did EXCELLANT.
Frank

Messages Page 71 of 136

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