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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
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Replying to: WookieOnRit (Nov 28, 2008 7:45 am) While as an owner of an '06 GV, I hasten to support your views, I must say a few things. Other than the rwd GV sold in the US, the 4wd GV is always in 4wd. You can't drive it in 2wd even if you wanted to (to save gas, for instance). The North American spec GV had a sliding armrest right from the '06 introduction. Annoyingly, it did not have an alarm, remote gas flap release, and the rear center armrest provided in other markets. The Jeep Patriot is available with one low gear, skid plates and raised suspension. Other than it's heritage, I'd say the low prices make it a competitive vehicle, although a little downmarket. Even with the new engines, I believe the GV is still at the lower end of the class for mileage. There's not much you can do about the extra weight, relatively low gearing biased for off-roading, plus the cost of being in 4wd all the time. The latest Forester is an equal to the GV in everything except drivetrain, as you said. Oh, and price. The outgoing Forester, which everyone loved so much, was just not in the same class as the GV. As for the warranty, my personal experience is that Suzuki dealers are sometimes reluctant to honour it. I don't know if this is true for all GV owners, and if it is better or worse than other manufacturers. We had an oil leak caused by a loose transmission oil cooler hose. Since it was fixed the garage floor under the GV remains spotless. Our original tires are less than half worn out at 32,000km. The GV has never had or needed an alignment. Tire wear is slow and completely normal. A few people got '06 GV's that can only be descibed as lemons. I don't understand how that happens, but our friend bm000092 definitely got one. My wife had never been in a GV or even seen one when we went to pick up ours. She really likes it. Thanks for taking the time to describe your reaction to the GV. We're always hungry for new perspectives. Hopefully your house will sell soon. |
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| I should add that being in 4wd alll the time translates into a safety and cost savings in that you are less likely to lose control. Accidents, though uncommon, are very costly. So on average, the superior control would translate into more savings than the extra gas cost for the average owner. This also applies when comparing the GV to Rav4's, CRV's etc. with their slip&grip systems. | |
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Replying to: xostnot (Nov 29, 2008 8:39 pm) I guess it's good that I live in the US huh? As the 4-Mode 4WD is described from a multitude of sources, the 4-high mode only sends power to the front tires as needed making it primarily 2WD. It says this on both Suzuki's website and other reviews of the system. Even with the new engines, I believe the GV is still at the lower end of the class for mileage. There's not much you can do about the extra weight, relatively low gearing biased for off-roading, plus the cost of being in 4wd all the time. The lower end? I wouldn't say that. They're all extremely close. Here's some the mileage numbers for its competitors. GV: 19/25 (18/24 V6) Forester: 20/26 Vue: 19/26 CR-V: 20/27 Outlander: 20/25 Patriot: 21/25 Rav4: 21/28 Rogue: 22/27 Tiguan: 17/24 From my perspective, you're fussing about 17-34 miles per tank. Added up, that might be savings of $500-$600 a year? More if gas goes up again. I don't have a lot of frivolous expenses so the extra savings would not mean that much to me. I tend to save money for the basic elements of living in our world. I don't buy the latest techno-gadget and I don't waste money shopping for expensive things. To me, if I get more enjoyment out of the vehicle than the others, isn't that the point? Frankly, that's more than worth the extra cost which really isn't that much considering I've been averaging around 12-14 mpg for the last 3 years. If I can survive with that right now, I'll be actually losing less money by upgrading. A few people got '06 GV's that can only be descibed as lemons. I don't understand how that happens, but our friend bm000092 definitely got one. Being that we will be entering the 4th model year of the vehicle, the dependability of the vehicle should actually increase. It takes what, 2 years to get out the kinks for most new vehicles? It happens even to the best of manufacturers. I honestly believe that if you take care of a vehicle, it will take care of you. My 93 Jeep GC has over 300k miles on it. Two owners. My dad and then when I bought it from him. We have taken care of it. If you take care of the vehicle, it runs. It might not sound pretty after 300k, but it still runs. Thank you for the honest review as an owner yourself. I think when you compare the vehicle to the rest of the class, you can see why I am enthused.
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Replying to: budman3 (Nov 29, 2008 7:53 pm) After looking at your plethora of cheap american cars that you've purchased in the past, I wouldn't take your opinion for any future purchase. Cheap? I agree, they were basics and if you think about buying cost and maintenance, the fact that I never got any problem with them, they have been cleaver choices (exception of the Phoenix, but I didn’t choose this one, it was given to me), they made me save a lot of money, even made some with the Dart. I would learn how to spell and be grammatically correct. Try to write me in French and see what you can do…but I don't want to be nasty, be it if you want.
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Replying to: xostnot (Nov 29, 2008 8:39 pm) 
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Replying to: bm000092 (Dec 01, 2008 5:07 am) Got me on that one, bm. My family lives in Canada and I took french in hs but I'm definately not fluent, et? |
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No worries, have a nice day
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Replying to: WookieOnRit (Nov 30, 2008 7:02 pm) |
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Replying to: WookieOnRit (Nov 30, 2008 7:02 pm) Re: past "inefficient engines", actually there was very little if any difference between the mileage figures posted for "your" prior USA 2wd only model, (pre '09), and the awd models. No, I never understood that one, but the bottom line seemed to be you paid no significant mileage penalty for having Suzuki's awd system on board. In praise of the 2.7 engine, (did I say that?). After railin' on it here in the past, I offer some recent personal insight... ACTIVELY in the market to replace "Russ", we have now even td'ed an '02 auto XL-7, (on top of TWO recent spins in an '08 JA awd, and that new '09 JLX four cylinder, AND the '09 Forester). Point being re: Suzukis: that six year old 2.7 in the XL-7, "did it's thing" much better than way back when I td'ed two of same when they were new, (an auto and a 5 speed manual), AND it even seemed to have better upper mid range performance than that brand new 2.7 '08 NGV! Clearly this indicates the engine performance bias against the 2.7, (certainly my own, and possibly that of media testers???), may have been due to the engine's "pre break in status", and how it tends to perform [new] up there up beyond the middle of the rev. range. So what, "Chewie"? So maybe even look at one of the MANY 'inefficient" '08' 2.7's out on the lots now. You'll save big time, and the mileage is what, 17 city and 23 highway, 19 combined, (US), not drastically different from the new ones. As my needs are chiefly utilitarian, have to say with this economy I'm leaning towards an older pristine XL-7 at 1/3rd of it's original selling price as a stop gap measure. OR, depending upon the December incentives, secondly at maybe an '08 JX or JA. There are ISSUES you have to look out for with those older XL-7's too though, AND (please note), same is true for later gen Suzuki NGV models, as we have yet to see improvements reflected in the JD Power NGV reliability data, to date. To speculate, the '08's would seem to offer the best hope of their having gotten it all right, especially as former USA boss Rick Suzuki acknowledged his awareness of those JD Power stats in an '07 interview, and said they were addressing [it]..... The '09's have NO CHOICE but to show they've done better in this area when that data is eventually tallied up, (IMO). If bucks were no consideration today however, I'd be reporting [here] now re: my experiences with a new '09 four cylinder, low range equipped, base manual 5 speed NGV, but Suzuki doesn't sell one in North America, [yet]. Repeated here: that 4 is a great engine! To xostnot: What a difference a better set of tires makes, eh? |
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Replying to: bm000092 (Dec 01, 2008 5:16 am) |
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