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SUVs Suzuki Grand Vitara/Vitara Suzuki Grand Vitara 2006 through 2008
1006 messages, Last post on Oct 11, 2009 at 9:29 PM
You are in the Suzuki Grand Vitara/Vitara Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & tidester
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Replying to: xostnot (Sep 30, 2008 9:06 pm) In retrospect, I think the manual box '08 2.7 JA we just drove MIGHT have performed better post an initial break in period. However, not so with the 2.4 four, even with its auto box as the best compliment I can pay it here, (you're welcome Suzuki), would be: think Honda. Ya, our two prior new Accords way back when, benefited from a "loosening up", (slightly), in their first year, but both also felt absolutely great right off the showroom floor. That's my same initial impression of this new Suzuki four. On the rear discs, again try 'em. One tester noted they got into a panic situation out on the road, and he lauded the rear disc's goodness. I'd concur. Pads and rotor wear though, yes it's a valid concern, but... Again I'm a little disappointed they didn't choose to offer a base one with the rear drums and basic O/R gear for '09, (a Vitara Classic), to empty the rear drums parts bins. I agree not much of this new content has much to do with the economic sense of jumping ship into an '09, if you have a prior gen "New GV" sorted out. You are all also now learning about trade in values of 'em too, I know. Sure interesting to note your own melted insulation report though. As she drove manual trannie VW's in winter while dodging Moose west of Jasper Alberta when we lived there, (we spent last week on vacation back up there, and the Columbia Icefield continues to melt..), despite her recognizing ALL the goodness of the new four cylinder, sound insulation and all, it's the wife who says she Could go for an '08 2.7, while I don't think I could. For me it comes back to that Accord analogy re: this sweet new free revving econo engine, and yes, as someone who once had a 911-S in the garage, all the rest of the icing now on the cake which becomes evident out on the open road.... On the diesel, scuttlebutt seems to indicate though they have tweaked it yet a bit more for '09, there may still be concern re: market acceptance of its NVH characteristics in North America. It ain't cheap either, but equipped as you've called it, it would give a Rubicon Trail Jeep a run for it's money. Good on ya re: Blunden Island and Vargas hike. Ought to do Ahous Bay in spring when whales are stopping by on migration to feed. We soloed out west of Blunden to circumnavigate the Cleland Island Sea Bird Sanctuary last time there. Felt like Captain Vancouver, but we were in a cork. White knuckles on the paddles there too! Friends have done the Brooks Peninsula which seems the "Holy Grail" [to me] on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Not for canoes though, or [our] sea kayak. Too risky.... Nwdsmn.
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Replying to: jdaley (Oct 01, 2008 9:58 am) This is exactly what Suzuki needs to see if they will survive. I also had alignment problems and had 3 alignments done. At 16k miles, I started the worn tire complaint and Suzuki said it was normal. I sent them the bill and they finally denied the claim. There have been numerous tire wear complaints. The interior plastic is cheap. You can find better quality replacement carpet at walmart. Battery failed just out of it's warranty time. They wanted it towed to the shop to diagnose it and see if they would cover it. It was cheaper and much easier to replace it myself and not get stuck with a tow bill and the running around. I already had a taste of Suzuki's customer service. |
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Replying to: allie9 (Jun 22, 2007 7:43 pm) |
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Replying to: norwoodsmn (Oct 01, 2008 11:01 am) I'm always here! I knew you would be able to type more than me. You had me beat on the 911, we had the 944. Great car for the money but it devalued quicker than the Zuke. I noticed you always leaning towards the Honda. We have 2 Hondas and now the Acura. Can't go wrong there. I was trying to look(not very hard) for 2009 GV pricing. I was trying to compare the price of a 2009 GV luxury awd to a leftover 2008 Acura MDX base model. There is only about $6,000 differance and if you are patient, that number will become lower. Yes, that may be alot of money but the long term will be much more rewarding. Whale sharks? Canoes and kayaks? I don't think so!
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Replying to: jdaley (Oct 01, 2008 9:58 am) Re: tires, no one seems to like your OEM's. Nokian tires wear like iron, (that's my snow tire brand), and I'm sure their other models would too. Ditto Toyo brand tires which are used by some friends on their Vitara. Periodic alignments, even paid for by ones self, are a whole lot cheaper than some other alternatives. My independent alignment shop here offers a one year follow up check, with no additional cost if no adjustments are required. Only $100.00 plus a bit here for the four wheel alignment. Don't despair before you've found that mechanic... |
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Replying to: budman3 (Oct 01, 2008 11:20 am) There's no question bud, yr. MDX is in a class by its self. More power to ya, enjoy that great road warrior! I completely agree with your choice vs. a luxo GV, even with its new six. But there, you've gone and done it again, giving me yet another excuse to cue my old 45 on the turntable, to bitch yet again about having no base O/R GV available at the other end of the spectrum for we unrepentant hard core Suzuki fans. See what you've done... Ya, we're wild and woolly here. Have had detached feet washing up in runners on ocean beaches out there earlier this year. Seriously, xostnot can confirm this. Puts ya right off your feed! One solo ocean kayaker went missing off Vancouver Island's "Brooks Peninsula" a year or more ago. Have wondered if he contributed to this unfortunate phenomenon. Crikey! Nwdsmn. |
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Have to withdraw my comment that might suggest I think its reasonable to compare buying a '09 six cylinder GV vs. an Acura MDX. Got to say bud, your wholly excellent choice there really just suggests [more] why a Suzuki never was what you NEEDED. A six grand difference can buy a lot of gas though!, but that means nothing if... Should "we" move up to one too? Well, nice as they'd be, I know where xostnot is taking his, (ROUGHLY), and you'd likely void your MDX's warranty if you wanted to follow [us]. But you don't NEED to go that far "out there", while we will continue [to]. That's always been the difference between us here... I know you know that. Now that Suzuki has helped me reconfirm I'm a four cylinder"Vitara" guy through and though, I wouldn't use up a dealers petrol to td an '09 six. So I'll leave more references about 'em to others, (preferably you new owners?). But as good as the six is reported to be so far, its interesting to note one opinion by a tester who didn't seem to think it was overwhelmingly better than the new four. Again that says a whole lot about the four. TWO balance shafts, actually. But also on the new six, have to say I have no idea why a fully loaded top of the line '09, (leather, etc.), requires inclusion of the low range gears set, vs. just the all wheel drive system. Can't get over my vision of 'em towed proudly, all shined up behind a Winnie, en route down bud's way, or to Florida for the winter. If that's an accurate assessment, is that the potential GV demographic DEMANDING or much less dreaming about wanting a low range gear set? NOPE. So there's your/our answer Suzuki, "wrench" 'em out of luxury liner, and install them into a manual 5 speed four cylinder Vitara. You're welcome again....
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Replying to: norwoodsmn (Oct 01, 2008 5:53 pm) I think we both need to get a life. Actually I'm sitting home injured so it won't be long before I'm away from the pc. The GV was what we needed and worked for us at the time. Couldn't see the daughter driving back and forth from school and using the MDX as the community kid hauler. Yes, $6,000 buys a couple tanks of gas these days but look at all the upgrades you get with the MDX. Suzuki couldn't even put a power drivers seat in the LUXURY!  A V6 with 300hp and the same mpg as the measly GV. Resale value. I know, I could go on but you know what I'm talking about. Funny, One review on the MDX wondered why an AWD system didn't come with LOW range. OMG, I thought nrwdsmn was writing the review.  .....but it was a short one 
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Replying to: budman3 (Oct 01, 2008 6:38 pm) |
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I recall people finding problems right from the start with the new GV. Probably not as many as one would expect from an all-new design, but they were there. The tire wear issue showed up right away. I have trouble comprehending how Suzuki handled the tire wear problem. Most GV's don't have it. Some people are going through tires like lettuce, while others are getting 60,000km from the oem tires. So surely any company that designs and creates cars could figure out the difference between the ones that do and the ones that don't. Surely. (Thankfully, ours does not have this problem.) I hasten to add that I also cannot comprehend how only REAR tires wear out when the GV's maintenance schedule includes tire rotation. Tire rotation spreads wear over the whole set. I have never succeeded in getting anyone with the tire wear problem to tell me if they rotated their tires. And even if they did, it doesn't make sense that only the rear tires wore out. Unless it was a tire problem, but then I assume people didn't replace their worn sets with oem tires. I'm starting to suspect that since Suzuki seems unable to fix this problem most of the time it's reported, that they've chosen to stonewall to conceal a bigger problem. I suspect some of the GV's are built "crooked". Unless I'm mistaken, it should not be impossible to properly align any car. Especially ones that have never been crashed. So are some GV's built more crooked than cars that have been crashed? Too many to afford doing a recall? I have heard there were some buybacks (used GV buyers beware), but no universal correction. What exactly did they do to the back axle setup for '09? North America is a small market for the GV's. Has anyone heard of this problem outside the US and Canada? As for the resale value, you know you get squat for a trade-in of any model. With the manufacturers hurting and dumping new cars on the market, I think used vehicle prices have also dropped a lot in the last year or so. If advertised prices for used cars are any guide, GV's are not particularly bad. Foresters and Escapes seem to be worse relative to original price. CRV's and Rav4's seem to do better, factoring in that they cost more to begin with. But their premium for a quality reputation is only $1000-2000. Yes, the rat fur carpet is a disgrace. But I hear it's like that in many vehicles now. Saves weight. I'm about to do another round with the dealer: peeling clearcoat on one rim, transmission interlock recall, and I'll add the squeaking brakes matter. I'll hold off on another round for the remote keyfob reprogramming, and also not bother banging my head against their brick wall regarding the baggy leather in the front seats. Sorry, I have only one canoe and it's not for sale. Bought in nearly-new condition for 50% of new price, used extensively for 7 years, and retains 80% of what we paid for it. This year we discovered that on top of the GV, as long as the canoe is level to the ground, and we're sitting in the GV, it scrapes under the BC Ferries 7' overheight surcharge of $30. Bonus. |
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