Ask the Car People.SM


Suzuki Grand Vitara 2006 through 2008

1048 messages,  Last post on Jan 14, 2012 at 11:29 AM

You are in the Suzuki Grand Vitara/Vitara Forum.

What is this discussion about? Suzuki Grand Vitara, SUV

Messages Page 59 of 106

#572 of 1048 Re: First impressions of Suzuki Grand Vitara 2006 [norwoodsmn] by xostnot

Jun 27, 2006 (7:39 pm)

Replying to: norwoodsmn (Jun 27, 2006 12:00 pm)
I've been critical of aspects of the new GV, and last time I looked, there's an '06 JLX-L in my garage. I would think a forum like this is exactly the sort of place where owners, prospective owners, and other interested parties would gather, not just to sing praises of the GV, but to discuss shortcomings and problems also. If we restricted ourselves to being satisfied with what we have, we'd still be living in caves.
 
I think anyone researching whether to buy a GV is intelligent to take the criticism in the context of all the other information.
 
I have to note the continuing virtual absence of significant problems with the new GV. At this rate, it should rack up some impressive reliability scores.
 
Norwoodsman has tilled some fertile ground. (acutally, norwoodsman, I thought you'd gone off to buy an FJ) My understanding is that the biggest obstacle to selling diesels in North America is our dirty sulphur-laden diesel fuel. I imagine the diesel engines sold elsewhere in the world cannot be cost-effectively adapted to this garbage. I also understand that legislation is on the books to force the refiners to make cleaner diesel within a few years. Yawn. (and expect the cleaner stuff to cost more.) Meanwhile I wage my own personal war on the vast stupidity of the oil companies by minimizing how much I drive. It's not hard to do, and improves your quality of life.
 
I have seen a rumour on cartalkcanada that the Liberty diesel was just discontinued. After making the mistake of buying a Chrysler product, I won't do that again, which is why we never considered the Liberty, diesel or not.
 
The FJ is not a direct competitor to the GV. I doubt the real mileage will be as close to the GV's as Toyota claims. The back seat is not suitable for adults. "4 REAL doors good, 2 doors BAD" And comparably equipped it is very much more expensive than the GV. For some, it will be a better choice. Not me.
 
The Rav4 sold in North America is made in Japan.
 
Let's wait and see what Suzuki does with the GV for the '07 models. But I'm not expecting a diesel for North America until there's cleaner fuel. Hopefully they'll have a model just for norwoodsman!

#573 of 1048 Re: BUMPY RIDE ! [manoj] by xostnot

Jun 27, 2006 (7:45 pm)

Replying to: manoj (Jun 27, 2006 7:36 pm)
I think it depends on what you're used to. I was used to a '91 Pathfinder, so the GV is fine. The suspension is relatively stiff. The upside is that you'll never bottom out, the car sits in balance at speed on undulating pavement and on corners, and it's nice for off-roading. Not everyone's cup of tea. It would have benefitted from shock absorbers with two stiffness settings, as the Pathfinder came equipped with. But, anything like that shows up in the price.
 
Ours came with 29lb tire pressure, and it's supposed to be 32. An alignment won't help suspension stiffness, and ours has not needed an alignment. The 17" rims with correspondingly low profile tires are a major culprit in transmitting impacts from pavement breaks into the car. I really dislike Suzuki bundling the 17" rims with the low range.

#574 of 1048 Re: BUMPY RIDE ! [manoj] by budman3

Jun 28, 2006 (6:15 am)

Replying to: manoj (Jun 27, 2006 7:36 pm)
I will offer my opinion on this one and hopefully it will help you out.
I agree with xostnot, the alignment shouldn't make a difference. When we drove our GV home, we also felt every bump. The tires had 45psi from the factory. We adjusted them to specs and all is good.
The front "toe" was adjusted to correct the knife edging of the front tires.

#575 of 1048 Re: First impressions of Suzuki Grand Vitara 2006 [xostnot] by budman3

Jun 28, 2006 (6:42 am)

Replying to: xostnot (Jun 27, 2006 7:39 pm)
"I think anyone researching to buy a GV is intelligent to take the criticism in the context of all the other information."
 
I agree, but your key word is "buy".
To constantly give the GV a bad rap doesn't prove any intelligence or useful research if it's only negative.
Is the GV perfect? No. I hope they make some changes, but for now, it works just fine and maybe in a couple years I'll buy another one with all the improvements.

#576 of 1048 Re: BUMPY RIDE ! [budman3] by campdrafty

Jun 28, 2006 (9:40 am)

Replying to: budman3 (Jun 28, 2006 6:15 am)
Just bought an '06 Luxury GV - this is my third Suzuki, having owned a '95 Sidekick and an '00 GV. The Sidekick was a rough rider, and the '00 GV was much better. Noticed right away that the ride our new GV was extremely bumpy. Thanks to an earlier posting to check tire pressure, we did and found out that the two front tires were measuring approx 50 lbs pressure, and the two back were about 44 lb each. My husband called the mechanic at the dealer, who said he's comfortable at about 41 all round, so we set each at 40 lb - ride is now so much better (could probably go down more yet). My husband called the dealer and let him know about the pressure - it should be standard practice when they prep a new vehicle to check tire pressure before the customer drives it off the lot. Other than the issue with tire pressure, we're extremely happy with this vehicle - we got a great deal and dealer was excellent to work with.

#577 of 1048 Re: BUMPY RIDE ! [campdrafty] by norwoodsmn

Jun 28, 2006 (11:13 am)

Replying to: campdrafty (Jun 28, 2006 9:40 am)
God luv ya campdrafty!, at last a [fellow] poster with a long time Suzuki ownership perspective! Are we really the only ones out there? Re: Bumpy ride, try 32-36lbs in those tires. Zuke shocks are, as you may recall from past "rigs"?, lacking in sophistication/durability, especially if you're out there in the Outback "givin 'er" with all but the kitchen sink onboard, (take note xostnot, and hi again). For instance, we replaced our Sidekick shocks fairly early on with aftermarket ones, and they reamain out there on "Rusty" even today as he nears his 200,000 MILE birthday.
 
 Ditto the Suzuki Esteem wagon. The blog site for same recommends KYB shocks which are available to we Canucks via US mail order sources. I need them NOW. So, replace your new ones on your new GV's with upscale aftermarket ones?, of course not. But just another attempt here to advise all who might be interested in knowing, there's ample room for the maturation of Suzuki's offerings, in a number of areas. But is it a "SIN" to say so, here on this site?
 
Totally negative on the new GV?, nothing could be farther from the truth. It reamains a quantum leap forward for the brand. Yet, as I've stated before, by raising the bar so high [themselves] with this new model, owners' expectations, (expecially we long time owners' expectations), re: features and quality issues, likewise has every reason to move FAR up the scale as well... Got it Bud?
 
As an esoteric, likely fruitless excercise, to try to understand Bud3's perspective, I'd have to take myself all the way back to my Whistler days with the Samurai, (1988). Incidentally, dinner on the restaurant patio atop the Gondola, was great/spectacular this past Monday evening! Good to revisit our 2010 Winter Olympics venue locale, and test neighborhood for the new GV! Sorry to digress. I guess I'd have to go back to when Consumer Reports (was it?) mounted those 40 or 80? pound weights on the end of long outriggers attached to the sides of the Samurai, to help "prove" it was susceptible to rollovers, to recall as being so upset at anyone criticizing my beloved Zuke of the day, as Bud seems to be now when I say something he finds [personally] "disparaging" about HIS new GV. LORD dude, rub mesquite bush on you're skin there twice a day, maybe it might thicken it up a bit?! But so few people had a Zuke back then, that I thought why even bother explaining that, well, "it", (Sammy), also could get you up right onto the side of the volcanic cone of Mount Garibaldi there at Whistler, (in 4wd, low range 1st, with it's 5 speed manual box), and really, that that was what the little bugger was designed for. So ya, I WAS PO'ED, (deeply), that anyone would criticize my [personal] choice to have bought that particular model. But it didn't go quite so far as "Bud's" level of misunderstanding as to what lies at the root of some items on my personal "wish list" for the new GV. So a quid pro quo, proprietary interest in Suzuki's [here],
(do I have that feeling?), and what I want [from them] NOW in return for retention my long time brand loyalty, are those items loomin' large on my personal radar screen?.... Ya got it mates, and I make no apologies for same, (even to you, Budman3), just kidding of course, as so many times you've reconfirmed we'll never ever see eye to eye on certain points. Again ones seemingly attacking your personal credibility, since you've bought one, while I of course who haven't [yet] therefore have little business even presuming to bang the keys here on this site, right? Sorry, [almost], you just don't get it Bud, and never will.
 
But I've belabored alot of dark horse points here, (like the preceeding), it seems. Soul searchin' really, trying to understand where Suzuki wants to take us on down the road [together] with it's one remaining OR capable 4wd product, (sold here in North America), the new GV.... To me, it reamains true, the world can potentially be Zuke's proverbial Oyster, should it show a willingness to begin to embrace, for instance, CONCEPTS GREEN in future products development process. Instead, (to me), where did on hell of alot of their, (our), money go concurrent with the intro of the new GV? What about all those concept idea vehicles? Just what did that cost, and what pray tell my buds, did any of that have to do with the [once] true mission of these vehicles, namely performance in all conditions out there in our respective "Outbacks"? I resent that, and I further resent, (and am worried by), this aparent demphasis of the OR 4wd performance abilities of the new GV, vs. this incongruous "tuner crowd" marketing glitz. You too? I hope so. Quirks with Zukes?, you bet, but we still love them. It's just that "in this day and age" we need to demand more, not the least of which being MORE from our fave auto maker of choice.
 
So I remain, hopefully not TOO un-intelligently awaiting further developments along with EVERYONE else on this site, it seems, to see what's up Suzuki's sleeves next for it's 4wd SUV, the new GV. But on the other hand, if a majority of folks choose to just sit on 'em, raise the flag on high and therreby fail to demand MORE, well get used to what you've got, long term, as with those new model sales figures, from one perspective, why should Suzuki do ANYTHING at all to expedite the evoloution of this [mostly] fine new model?
 
A squeaky wheel here, you got it Bud....
 
Norwoodsmn.

#578 of 1048 Re: BUMPY RIDE ! [norwoodsmn] by budman3

Jun 28, 2006 (11:41 am)

Replying to: norwoodsmn (Jun 28, 2006 11:13 am)
Norwoodsmn,You win. Friends? Bud

#579 of 1048 Re: BUMPY RIDE ! [budman3] by norwoodsmn

Jun 28, 2006 (2:43 pm)

Replying to: budman3 (Jun 28, 2006 11:41 am)
Of course!, now we've reaffirmed we're here for the same reason, (we dig 'em)! Fair dinkum down there in Aus too, eh?
 
At the risk of [over] "lightening up", let me add I'm still waiting to see someone do a Lo-rider version. All together now: "All my friends own a lo-rider...." Why not for a bit of levity, some one must have done one, Suzuki? Back to you there on Palm Boulevard, (if you're still putting up with "us"?), I always liked those shots of your "rig" too. Still yet again, whereforeartthou oh Zuke, re: one for we backwoods types? Seems only yesterday we used to count for something, (in numbers there on your balance sheet), don't we AT ALL anymore?????
 
Sure, those Zuke concept rigs look fun, but oh Lord what I and many of us wouldn't have given to have seen all those copious AD gimick bucks plowed instead into other areas like further initial product development/refinement for the new GV. If you agree, and seriously want to do it in the dirt like many of us?, hey, let's all keep fighting the good fight here, [together] and stand up to be counted. We all should benefit on down the road.
 
Again Suzuki, get real Please pay some due respect to your roots on this side of the pond, (historic customer base), and give we hard core types back a stock basic bush beater model option, (skid plates availability, etc.), and make it literally and figuratively "Green" while you're at it, eh? Even this woodlands troll couldn't bitch then.
 
             Cheers, nwdsmn.

#580 of 1048 Bumpy Ride by rszabo

Jun 29, 2006 (5:32 am)

G'day all from Australia. Trust you are all well. Our new Suzuki Grand Vitara 4WD V6 rides like a dream. It floats over bumps, corrugations, indentations on the highway and side streets. I havent checked my tyre pressure but at a rough look/guesstimate it wouldnt be anywhere near 50 psi. Our tyres are 16" bridgestone duellers. I don't know what brand your tyres are over there. The brand of tyre, inflation level can make one heap of difference. In all my years of owning numerous cars (and heaps of motorbikes - during a misspent youth)and pickups I would venture to say that the ride in our new Suzuki is the best out of any car I have owned. My suzuki 2006 came with a bog standard clarion CD (not MP3 included) and today I had it replaced by a car audio specialist. It was somewhat frustrating to find that the local Suzuki dealer did not stock parts such as a under head unit radio pocket. It appears that Suzuki parts availability may be an issue - ditto with no companies here making steering wheel audio control adapters for non suzuki factory audio head units. Other than this extremely happy, as is the wife, whom sneaks off with the Suzuki 4WD, at every opportunity, despite her having a 1 year old toyota corolla. I certainly hope that Suzuki do not go the way of soft SUV's. If Suzuki pulled their finger out then they would corner the market in its current class. This vehicle has a lot of potential - I just hope that Suzuki, Japan listens and learns and does not attempt to economize by cutting corners/features. It would be interesting to compare the Australian Suzuki Grand Vitaras 2006 (which are fully manufactured and assembled in Japan) with the ones sold in the US and Canada to compare the quality/finish.
 
Cheers all
Take care
 
Will toast your health with a few aussie beers.
 
Ron

#581 of 1048 Another Happy Owner by tim66

Jun 29, 2006 (8:19 am)

We are pushing 5000 miles on our GV and very satified. We swapped in a 2003 4cyl Vitara and there is a world of difference in ride and handling. Our tires were also overinflated when received(48psi).Maybe the factory should check calibration on their gages. My only complaint is the MPG readout on the dash. What good is it? Talked to my sales rep yesterday and he told me Suzuki has a small pickup in the works. This sounds interesting.
Happy motoring...

Messages Page 59 of 106

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement