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Suzuki's US Future -- Good or Dismal

204 messages,  Last post on Mar 27, 2013 at 4:54 PM

You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum.

What is this discussion about? Suzuki, Automotive News

Messages Page 20 of 21

#187 of 204 Re: wind down news [hpmctorque] by des5

Nov 06, 2012 (7:46 am)

Replying to: hpmctorque (Nov 06, 2012 6:21 am)
I too was considering a Kizashi at one time, but the lack of dealers and no manual models to be had put me off. With Saab, at least there is a decent junkyard stock to draw from if you have to. Imagine trying to get parts for your CVT 5+ years from now.

#188 of 204 Re: wind down news [des5] by steve_ HOST

Nov 06, 2012 (8:25 am)

Replying to: des5 (Nov 06, 2012 7:46 am)
Maybe, but Daewoo owners still seem to be able to find most parts they need.

#189 of 204 Another potential problem with buying an "orphan" brand vehicle by igozoomzoom

Nov 06, 2012 (9:16 am)

Something that no one thinks about when buying an car from an orphaned brand is INSURANCE! If I wasn't an insurance agent, I wouldn't give it a second thought!
 
I'm an independent agent and I represent seven companies that offer Personal Auto coverage. Two of them have increased premiums substantially for Comp & Collision on all Saab vehicles...as in 200% or more in some cases! All of our companies have increased their rates somewhat on Saabs, but only 25-30% on average, so far...the same is true for most Saturn and Pontiac models.
 
Some companies also stopped offering GAP coverage six months before the official 'end'. GAP basically covers the difference when a car depreciates faster than the loan balance decreases. When it was fairly obvious that the end was near for Saab, it became impossible to predict their rate of depreciation.
 
I'm sure the same will happen to Suzukis, to some extent. On the bright side, at least it only affects the Comp, Collision and Uninsured Motorist rates; Liability and Medical coverage remains the same.
 
I have insured a few 2010-2011 Saabs in the last six months or so. The one that stands out in my mind as being BRUTAL was on a 2011 Saab 9-5 (new design). It had a $48k sticker price but the guy had only paid $23k for it. But when replaced his prior vehicle with the Saab 9-5 on his existing policy, it was going to cost $4920 per year to cover it! Just for comparison, I replaced the 2011 Saab 9-5 with a 2011 Volvo S80- only $2100 per year ($2800+ less than the Saab)! We finally got it down to about $3400 per year, but had to increase his deductibles to $2,500 to do that! That is the only time I've ever issued a policy with a deductible over $1,000....that really sucked for him and I felt really horrible for him. He had already withdrawn $20k from an investment account to buy it because he couldn't find a bank that would even loan on a Saab!
 
Moral of the story- before you buy a Suzuki, call your insurance agent for a quick quote!

#190 of 204 Re: Another potential problem with buying an "orphan" brand vehicle [igozoomzoom] by hpmctorque

Nov 06, 2012 (10:10 am)

Replying to: igozoomzoom (Nov 06, 2012 9:16 am)
Well, you're right, in my case I probably wouldn't have thought about the insurance impact on a discontinued brand. However, I routinely inquire about the insurance rate before I buy a car, so that regardless of whether it's a discontinued brand or model, or not, I factor the insurance cost into my buying decision. Thanks for bringing this matter to our attention, though.

#191 of 204 What the... by iluvmysephia1

Nov 06, 2012 (3:34 pm)

why is this guy's insurance costing him $3400 per year? That's nuts!
 
I pay only $860 in northern Idaho a year to GEICO for my 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS to be insured. Don't ask me my limits, I get pretty much full coverage, high limits (have ta check my policy to get the exact limits and deductibles), everything agreeable and reasonable to me. $72.47 a month!
 
Why is this guy's insurance so expensive? Cost of the new Saab's? But we're talkin' Saab's here, let's keep grounded and in reality here. Is my GEICO gecko, Warren Buffett and Goverment Insurance Co. treating me that fair?
 
And the fact that I drive carefully like a Grandpa doesn't hurt, no tickets since 1982 and all, yes? Wow, that is really an eye-opener for what some people are up against for car insurance, yikees and spikees.

#192 of 204 Re: What the... [iluvmysephia1] by igozoomzoom

Nov 06, 2012 (9:22 pm)

Replying to: iluvmysephia1 (Nov 06, 2012 3:34 pm)
"why is this guy's insurance costing him $3400 per year? That's nuts!"
 
That was the worst extreme I've seen, but that particular insurer almost tripled their rates on late model Saabs out of concern for parts availability and cost. There were so few 2010 and 2011 Saab 9-5 cars made that body parts very likely may be scarce and could cost hundreds or thousands more than they typically would have.
 
Like I mentioned, I plugged in 2011 Volvo S80 in place of the 2011 Saab 9-5 and it dropped the rate from $4,920 to $2,100 per year. Both $50k Swedish full-size luxury sedans, but the one that's out of production costs more than double that of the one still in production (the S80).
 
The only way reduced it from $4,920 to $3,400 ($1,520 less) was by making his Comprehensive and Collision Deductibles $2,500 each! Needless to say, he deeply regretted purchasing that car prior to getting a quote on adding it to his auto policy.
 
I normally would have moved a customer in his situation to one of the other insurers that I represent who didn't increase their rates on Saab vehicles so much. But this company is the only one who will allow him to exclude his 20-year step-son from the policy even though he lives in the same home. If the step-son had to be added to this policy, this particular carrier would cancel the policy altogether. But they let him be excluded as long as the parents sign a waiver saying he doesn't drive their vehicles and that their insurer would not cover an accident if the step-son was driving one of their vehicles.
 
Otherwise, I would have to put the entire auto policy with a non-standard (high-risk) company and two 4wd GMC pickups, a Lexus GX470 SUV and the Saab 9-5 would cost over $12k per year to insure....thanks to step-dude's suspended license and DUIs!
 
So this guy was screwed.
 
I live in semi-rural North Georgia, drive a 2006 Mazda3 s 5-door, 37, male and divorced and I have higher limits of liability than 99% of drivers (500k/500k/100k) and Uninsured Motorist for 500/500/25. My Comprehensive deductible is $100, Collision is $500 deductible, I have $30/day rental car coverage, $100/occurence Roadside Assistance/Towing and even $1000 in complementary Pet Injury Insurance (crazy, but true). I pay $594.87/year for my policy! But I also get a discount of almost 45% because I represent this insurer along with several others.

#193 of 204 Suzuki insurance by rktbrkr

Nov 13, 2012 (5:46 pm)

with new suzukis selling for low to mid teens new it won't take much for an insurer to just total the vehicle - the hard part will be establishing a fair value

#194 of 204 Suzuki Franchise Usurped by lemko

Nov 14, 2012 (10:53 am)

The Suzuki dealer on Roosevelt Blvd. and Red Lion in NE Philly is rapidly becoming a Kia dealer. There are few Suzuki vehicles on the lot and even the Suzuki sign is looking forlorn as weeds sprout up along its base.

#195 of 204 here's a twist by steve_ HOST

Dec 27, 2012 (8:10 pm)

"American Suzuki Motor Corp., the U.S. distributor of Suzuki cars and motorcycles, will import about 2,500 more autos to meet demand that jumped after the company filed for bankruptcy with plans to end U.S. sales."
 
Demand for American Suzuki autos rises after bankruptcy (Detroit News)

#196 of 204 Re: here's a twist [steve_] by carthell

Dec 27, 2012 (8:40 pm)

Replying to: steve_ (Dec 27, 2012 8:10 pm)
I wonder who's driving the sales? Fans? Bargain-hunters? The bankruptcy announcement itself might be Suzuki USA's largest marketing push since this year's Superbowl. (That's a crying shame!)
 
My Aerio is on its last legs, and it is unfortunate that Suzuki doesn't have a suitable replacement (Kizashi wagon!!). I'm moving on.

Messages Page 20 of 21

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