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Which Hatchback?

768 messages,  Last post on Jul 16, 2012 at 2:54 PM

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What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Aveo, Hyundai Elantra, Ford Focus, Mazda Protege5, Suzuki Aerio, Honda Civic, Hybrid Cars, Hatchback, Sedan

Messages Page 62 of 78

#606 of 768 Re: suzuki reno [canuck785] by doohickie

Aug 02, 2006 (3:49 pm)

Replying to: canuck785 (Aug 01, 2006 1:15 pm)
I took a long, hard look at the Reno last fall. In case you didn't know, it is the hatchback version of the Suzuki Forenza, so if you want information on the platform, you can go to the Forenza forum and ask there.
 
In the end I got a Hyundai Elantra. Roughly the same cost, but I think it's a much nicer car for the money. It also is a lot more popular and has more owner forums and stuff. The only hitch is that if you're looking for a hatchback, you may have trouble finding one. The 2007 Elantra is an all new model, and Hyundai is pretty much just selling the 2006 stock they have, and most of that is in sedan form.
 
If I were looking today, I'd look at the new Suzuki SX4, the Honda Fit, Nissan Versa, Toyota Yaris, Ford Focus, Kia Rio5 & Spectra5 and Hyundai Accent & Elantra. I've checked out the Dodge Caliber and the fit and finish on the car, especially on the inside, is horrible, which is a pity since it has some innovative features.

#607 of 768 Re: suzuki reno [doohickie] by backy

Aug 02, 2006 (3:58 pm)

Replying to: doohickie (Aug 02, 2006 3:49 pm)
And don't forget the Scions. They are nice little cars, well-equipped for the money (better value than the Yaris IMO), and the xB is very roomy for its size. I can't stand the looks of the xB however.
 
I got to drive another hatchback, the PT Cruiser, for the first time this week (rental). In general I'm not too impressed. The ride is pretty smooth, but rubbery; much of the plastic in the interior looks cheap; the driver's seat bottom has bulges in the wrong places; and the fuel economy of this 4-banger is about the same as my 2-ton '99 Grand Caravan V6--25 mpg on the highway. On the plus side, the A/C is powerful, the car is relatively quiet at cruise, and it has Sirius radio.

#608 of 768 Re: suzuki reno [doohickie] by canuck785

Aug 03, 2006 (2:34 pm)

Replying to: doohickie (Aug 02, 2006 3:49 pm)
I have been looking and comparing cars for the past couple of months..i know basically all there is to know about the scions, yaris, fit, aveo and versa and rio, i even have all the brochures at home.. i had choose the scion as my next purchase even if i wasn,t to excited about the 103 hp. now that backy told me about the new suzuki sx4, and after looking it up all over the net yesterday,unless the price is way more than 15k, this IS the car i will purchase, it has everything i wanted + AWD and 30 MPG. and i LOVE the look!!! i think my search for a car is finally over!!!
i am waiting on 2 dealers to reply my email asking for the arrival date. my husband is pretty excited about it too and we will go test drive as soon as they are available.

#609 of 768 Re: suzuki reno [canuck785] by knoxvilledavid

Aug 10, 2006 (10:52 pm)

Replying to: canuck785 (Aug 01, 2006 1:15 pm)
This car is a product of Daewoo, the Korean loser that manufactured such timeless classics as the Pontiac Lemans of ten to fifteen years ago (my parents owned a real Pontiac Lemans in the early 70's, so don't confuse the two). Wish I'd known this was a rebadged Daewoo when I bought it. Well, Daewoo went belly up in the Asian monetary crisis of several years ago only to be resurrected like Frankenstein's monster and forced onto poor little Suzuki Motor Corporation by GM.
  
I owned a real Suzuki (Alto) on the island of Saipan from '88 to '92. That was a great little car with a motorcycle sized engine that got 50 mpg city and ran from a stop like a hyperactive jackrabbit. So if you are looking at the Reno, get one of the real Suzuki models instead.
  
I've had the cold start problems experienced by other poor souls posting to web sites, only to be told likewise by the mechanics at Oak Ridge Suzuki in Tennessee that I didn't know what I was talking about, when I informed them of the problem last November. They sort of half acknowledged the problem later on and actually made a computer adjustment, which I was later told was the cause of my catalytic converter going out at less than 10,000 miles!
  
I called American Suzuki Motor Corporation and was told in May that they were aware of the problem in the Forenza model but not in the Reno and offered to make my payment until the problem was fixed. They "fixed" the car and now it starts without a problem. But I wonder what other problems the "fix" might be causing? I've posted this on CarTalk in hopes of getting an honest answer from a reliable source.
  
My automatic transmission shifts like someone driving a manual for the first time. Ever since it was fixed the car sometimes lurches right after cold starting the engine so I keep my foot close to the brakes.
  
My city mileage is 23 mpg; freeway mileage to Nashville was 34 mpg.
  
I hope this car lasts a few more years without losing too much of its resale value because I'll be trading it in for a real Suzuki next time!

#610 of 768 xA by backy

Aug 12, 2006 (7:21 pm)

I drove a Scion xA automatic today. I wanted to drive a stick, but all they had was one automatic for test driving. They had no units in stock to sell. The sales rep said they get only one xA per month (!). Anyway, the drive was enough for me to take the xA off my "consider" list.
 
Plusses:
 
* Good legroom in back for such a small car--will fit two average-sized adults pretty well.
* Fun handling--like a go-kart.
* Good-looking cloth interior for such an inexpensive car.
* Strong A/C.
* Standard ABS and power package--they are optional on many competitors, with ABS hard to find on some.
* Decent-sounding stereo with wheel-mounted controls.
* Good visibility (although I couldn't see the hood).
* Rear seat folds flat.
 
Minuses:
 
* Harsh ride over bumps that other small cars tackle without complaint. It's as if the suspension bottoms too easily. For example, the Versa, Rabbit, and Accent offer much smoother ride quality. The Fit is also more compliant than the xA.
* Driving position is not very comfortable. The seat height doesn't adjust (I wanted more thigh support, although it was not terrible); the wheel doesn't telescope; there is no right armrest; and the left armrest is hard plastic. At least the wheel tilts and there is a comfortable dead pedal.
* Very noisy in the cabin, compared to cars like the Accent, Rabbit, and Versa--a combination of engine drone (3000 rpm at 70 mph), lots of wind noise, and tire noise. Good thing the stereo sounds good!
* No cruise control or remote locking/alarm.
* Small cargo compartment with the rear seats up.
* Center-mounted gauge cluster (yes, I might get used to it eventually, but I prefer gauges at 12 o'clock).
* Quality gaffes--two plasticy rattles in the tester, one in the dash and one near the driver's B pillar.
* Side bags/curtains not standard, as they are on many competitors (they were not on the tester).
* Limited storage--no center console, no bins in the rear doors, no cupholders in the rear.
* Non-folding side mirrors and no side moldings to protect doors (seems to be the case on many new models).
* Limited availability--meaning it would be hard to find a car with the features/color I want.
 
The car wasn't very quick, but I didn't expect it to be, especially with the automatic.
 
For what I am looking for in a small hatchback, the xA doesn't cut it compared to choices like the Fit, Versa, Rabbit, and Accent. Which is a good thing I guess, since it is hard to find a xA in my town. But then, it's hard to find a Fit, too. One dealer I talked with today has a five-month wait list for the Fit.

#611 of 768 Re: suzuki reno [knoxvilledavid] by doohickie

Aug 13, 2006 (11:44 am)

Replying to: knoxvilledavid (Aug 10, 2006 10:52 pm)
This car is a product of Daewoo, the Korean loser...
 
I believe the Suzuki SX4 is a product of Suzuki, *not* Daewoo.

#612 of 768 Re: suzuki reno [doohickie] by knoxvilledavid

Aug 14, 2006 (6:24 pm)

Replying to: doohickie (Aug 13, 2006 11:44 am)
The SX4 appears to be a Suzuki, but I was referring to the Reno that I purchased thinking it was a Suzuki. I've heard that the SX4 is manufactured in Hungary, so I plan to wait a year to get a better feel for the quality of the vehicle before trading in my Reno(vation Project) for it.
Incidentally, I read in my News Sentinel today that Suzuki ranks next to last in JD Power reliability surveys. Wonder if that's due to the Daewoo Reno/Forenza/Verona cast offs?

#613 of 768 Re: suzuki reno [knoxvilledavid] by doohickie

Aug 14, 2006 (6:59 pm)

Replying to: knoxvilledavid (Aug 14, 2006 6:24 pm)
I think the Hungary-produced SX4s are for Euro market only; North American market SX4s will be from Japan. If you Google on SX4, though, it seems as though it will be produced in Hungary first (or at least the Euro press has given the Hungary plant a lot of attention).

#614 of 768 Re: suzuki reno [knoxvilledavid] by doohickie

Aug 14, 2006 (7:04 pm)

Replying to: knoxvilledavid (Aug 14, 2006 6:24 pm)
The SX4 appears to be a Suzuki, but I was referring to the Reno that I purchased thinking it was a Suzuki.
 
I understand, but you were responding to canuck785's post which was about the SX4 (despite the title mentioning Reno).
 
Incidentally, I read in my News Sentinel today that Suzuki ranks next to last in JD Power reliability surveys. Wonder if that's due to the Daewoo Reno/Forenza/Verona cast offs?
 
Suzuki seems to think so: Suzuki blaming poor initial quality scores on GM Daewoo-produced vehicles

#615 of 768 Re: xA [backy] by canuck785

Aug 31, 2006 (2:35 pm)

Replying to: backy (Aug 12, 2006 7:21 pm)
backy,
have you drove a Yaris yet? if so, how does it compare to an xA or an aveo?
just out of curiosity, if you could buy any of those hatch tomorrow, which one would you get? aveo, yaris, fit, versa,accent,rio, rabbit ??? or wait for the new sx4

Messages Page 62 of 78

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