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SUVs Suzuki Grand Vitara/Vitara 2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara
68 messages, Last post on Nov 17, 2009 at 12:10 PM
You are in the Suzuki Grand Vitara/Vitara Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & tidester
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Replying to: xostnot (Feb 03, 2009 11:05 pm) 1.) Way back to our loaded but for leather, '09 JLX 4cyl Grand Vitara td. We loved it to death last fall, but fell for it way too early in the product cycle to be able to get [then] the kind of deal we'd need on one, (even now probably as of this date?), while finally WE HAD TO HAVE SOMETHING NOW! 2.) Again, had td'ed the last of the new '08 JA 5 speed manuals here, (twice), but also the deals on it had yet to reach "full goodness" at the time. Since then, (and oh ya, they actually "shipped" those out to sell them elsewhere?), since then maybe you could get one [now] for an unadvertised price of say around 18? DO IT, I know where there is at least one still left in the Province, and doubtless there are more. BESIDES we still wanted to td a new base '09 4cyl first anyway, but couldn't find one. 3.) Finally did td the '09 base JA here recently, and found the Full Time 4wd drive line losses, (or?), seemed to dilute the 4 cyl's "oomph" making it actually less rewarding to DRIVE vs. the 4cyl auto JLX!, (a real surprise). But to segue here for a moment, I noticed some pro testers mentioned how the new Jetta clean diesel auto box version was so much better at working in partnership with that engine's torque curve, vs. the six speed manual, again a real surprise maybe?, but certainly less of a one to me now post my research, and now my first hand experience with those two '09 GV's. 4.) Ok, (I then thought), maybe lets default back to thinking about that auto '08 semi loaded JX on the lot, but then found it sold just a day or two before. Ooops, now it sits in the lot where the wife works, but... In Retrospect: 1.) advice here for any would be JA fans?: dash out and buy one of the remaining '08 six cylinders. The highway mileage is only about 3mpg lesser than the new 4cyl, though ratings methods seem to have changed. Further reason(s): the additional torque of the 2.7L six gives it marginally better acceleration. Just live with the less sophisticated rear suspension, lesser braking performance, and a bit more cabin noise, while with those rear drums sealed up against then mud better, it will be just fine in the rough stuff. BIG ONE: the prices on the '08's makes them a really attractive propostion. 2.) Other new '09's?, any one with the auto box which incidentally gets ya the 4 mode 4wd system, but wait for the deals to show up, maybe in spring. Coulda shoulda woulda.... After driving the '09 4 cyl 5 speed JA, couldn't help wondering how it woulda been if the "woulda" included Suzukis' just continuing along with their [own] development and refinement of their part time 4wd system, and how that sweet engine might have performed [THEN] in 2wd mode.... Sigh, ah, the good old days, eh?... But again, hey, [it] works just great with the existing drive line system with the latest auto box trannie, (even with Suzuki's non class leading 4 speed one used in the new 4cyl '09's. For the record: No we really didn't take to the N E W CR-V when testing one over the holidays. Drove more like a small Honda van, (we thought), ie: boring. However the td of the very Accord like, nimble prior gen one over the weekend, ya it's loaded, gots the Acura TSX/Accord I-vtec mill, etc, etc., sealed the deal for us, even though being 4 years old, it still rang in at virtually the same price we would have had to pay for a brand new '09 base GV. No comparo there re: driving dynamics, much as our southern bud maybe put it a bit harshly on the other forum a while back. Yes xostnot, no baggy leather seats either, although the hides on ours date back four years, or...... But certainly I come here not to bury Ceaser, (the GV), but to praise him for what ye: the converted, (and I), know he can do out there in the dirt, just as we too have on many past adventures out here in the wilds of Canada, in our Zukes of yore. But when you come to a point when you realize you're likely to be doing somewhat less of the real rough stuff, and start to look around, well in our case [to our own surprise honestly] we ended up coming back home to a Honda, ok, soft roader. Further, guess I'd have to add to anyone out there, (maybe like moderator Steve), you there bro?, get the wife out in a prior gen awd CR-V, (ya, you can get one with a sweet five speed manual too, though we ended up with the GREAT 5 speed auto box), AND you won't be able to get 'em out of it thereafter. As for the base 4cyl '09 GV, have to say now as my education has progressed, I'm not really sure what it's value is in the marketplace really is, sans having the 4 mode 4wd system on board. It's been a trip here, (Quest for Wheels), and good to share it with ya. Ya, I'll still be here as I have a keen interest ultimately in hoping Suzuki is successful in improving it's position in the marketplace with the new '09's. Sure, sales figures now are pretty irrelevant for any mfgr given this economic meltdown, but it will be the reliability data which will ultimately filter down re: these new ones, that'll be the proof of the pudding re: all these new improvements. Just the same as it was in '06 post when the latest gen ones were first intro'ed. Buddies still? Of course, I'm sure. Nwdsmn.
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Thought it might be of interest to note that new CR-V owners have blogged about dissatisfaction with their OEM tires too, so.... Bridgestone Duellers on ours with 37 thou and not too much life left in them, one and a half summers (maybe). Noisy too. Point being, aside from that GV alignment issue on earlier ones, CR-V owners had the same general experiences with their OEM tires too... He who rotates faithfully, has his tires last the longest! Re: the "short cross bar span" either with the GV factory rack or the skookum aftermarket CR-V Thule one I'll be getting, (as they are mounted up on either our vehicles' roof top "fix points"), ain't much of a spread there, especially for us when we'll be carrying our freighter canoe. Thule to the rescue. Check out their "Goal post" 2 inch trailer receiver hitch mountable, height adjustable "T" which rises to support one end of a water craft, (or whatever), off the back of the vehicle. Wouldn't matter whatsoever what kind of a rack you had forward of this "lifesaver". The uprights of the goal post(s) are two vertical load edge securing pieces that slide on the square Thule bar forming the top of the "T", making them adjustable for positioning against the side of yr. canoe hull, or whatever. I wondered if it extended far enough out of the receiver hitch to clear [our] rear mounted spare tires? But the Rack Shack guy confirmed today that a RAV-4 owner got one, and it cleared his. Check it out on the Thule website, item 997. Originally designed for use on the back of an open bed pickup, equipped with a 2" receiver trailer hitch, but it can also meet our needs for better load support with less risk of damage to the roof while carrying long max loads. Very cool. Have to live with being unable to open the rear door when it's in place of course. Abt. $229.00 Cdn. Nwdsmn. |
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norwoodsman, I always thought the previous generation CRV was the nicest looking cuv other than the new GV. I don't know much about them otherwise (except didn't they have stability control early and by then?), but I respect you to have made a very informed choice. Canoe carrying is when one appreciates a rear hatch lift glass that can open. Fortunately we tend to be using our sedan when we're carrying the canoe. I put 4 stainless steel band clamps around our roofrack crossbars, spaced to fit the canoe exactly between them. I covered them with innertube rubber slid over the ends of the crossbars. This arrangement completely stops the canoe from moving around in wind gusts. Solid as a rock, which is very reassuring.
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Replying to: xostnot (Feb 13, 2009 8:09 pm) Love those new Nokian Hakka R's. Can't seem to do much to cause the 4wd system to want to engage on snow covered roads here today, as they just don't want to let go. LARGE advantage to the "Real Time" system is, the Accord/Acura sourced 2.4L motor gets a reported 27 US mpg on the highway when operating in front wheel drive. 22 US city. Tried an '04 manual 5 speed too, but as you can appreciate with your own top of the line GV, the fully loaded '05 CR-V, (besides all its "new" safety features), was a MUCH more comfortable, if not just plain OPULENT place to be! Just like a new '09 loaded one today, (I found out), out the door with taxes, freight and PDI, etc., incredibly it originally rang in at just under $40! Blew me right away! Good to see the initial big whack of depreciation taken off that, and a slow down of same from here on. Only 37 thou k's on it. Others on AutoTrader (nation wide) were listed for the same or more $'s, but most had around twice the mileage. IE: happy Norwoods camper.... The "Opalescent Beige" with beige and taupe brown interior [ours] is a stunningly beautiful study in ergonomics too. Always my favorite version of 'em, but never thought I'd "defect" and end up owing one. Never even looked at one up close before, either. There's first time for everything, I guess. Nwdsmn. |
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Replying to: xostnot (Dec 09, 2008 7:13 pm)  Wow that is alot of things you think need to be improved i think it needs alot of work too... i don't own one but i can tell it does because how any of them do you see on the road? I have only seen about 2.I think they might go out of business soon because no one buys them! i think they either need to make their cars better looking or they'll go bankrupt.... also all the things you said you think they need too  Patrick
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It's easy to lose the perspective that the list of things I like about them is much longer than the dislikes. Or I wouldn't have one. And the dislikes tend to be much more trivial than the likes. Such as, what other quality cuv has a low range? Two things about sales of the GV. Jan '09 saw twice as many sold as Jan '08. And North America is only a tiny market for the Grand Vitara, which has a much larger market share in other parts of the world. It's sold practically everywhere.
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Replying to: xostnot (Feb 24, 2009 9:17 pm) Re: our "new" '05 CR-V, (ok, no more about it, but ah do luv it), for GV owners, (xostno, I know you've got your new "snows", but), I should add [here] I just drove the Coquihalla (our high mountain pass highway in BC), last Wednesday, in some of the worst winter weather I've ever encountered on same, and found the NOKIAN HAKKAPALITA "R" XL'S, (SUV grade), tires, to be little less than INCOMPARABLE with regard to their performance on every sort of snow/ice combo which ma nature could throw at "us" last week. Low rolling resistance too boot, makes them a real pleasure in the dry too, and much superior in ride comfort and noise vs. the OEM Bridgestone summers. Superb VALUE despite the HIGH price. nwdsmn. ps: In late Jan. early Feb?, remaining '08's DID end up flying off the lots like hotcakes. But it should also be noted they ended up selling at WELL BELOW dealer cost.... Current economic conditions should help determine "adjusted" [selling price] valuation(s) of ALL vehicles, SOONER THAN LATER? Therefore, maybe by spring all mfgr's will be offering more attractive incentives on new vehicles, Suzuki included if they can afford to do so in, yes, our relatively tiny market [for their vehicles]. Wonder if they'd rather have rebadged a Nissan Rogue instead of that pickup. But hindsight is 20/20, eh...? |
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Replying to: norwoodsmn (Feb 12, 2009 4:22 pm) Ya miss me, don't ya, nrwdsmn?  Glad to hear you came to your senses and bought a Honda. I was a bit harsh, huh? Much happier now. Although all the people who have been asking about the GV never said what their final decision was. So I blew alot of hot air for nothing.  Did you see the article on the top 5 worst cars? The XL7 was there.  Hope you're happy with your new ride. We have a 2005 Accord coupe with the V6. Awesome car.
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Replying to: budman3 (Mar 10, 2009 3:43 pm) Further summing up re: "my defection", it would have been a tougher call say if this had been 2011, (with depreciation having worked it's magic on an '09 GV), and again with the caveat that the all the reliability data had panned out on 'em [first]. But RIGHT NOW with the Spring deals just starting to sweeten, if one needs, (and I repeat NEEDS!), that 4wd capability, the '09 GV's are metaphorically sweet Florida oranges, (hopefully not other citrus varieties like some '06's/'07's were), vs. a whole crop of pretty unremarkable [other] 4wd "APPLES", alternative choices out there. Why anyone would want to continue to contest those facts is a real puzzlement to me. Translation: the '09 GV seems real sweet to me, but, alas was not quite yet ripe for picking at the point when we had to pluck fruit from the tree. But as consolation, ya, we did pick the shiniest awd APPLE, (it seems), and yes, are enjoying it immensely... As an aside, our fave was the 2000 or so Honda coupe. Further, was sorely tempted by a black '08 on clear out on the Honda lot when we scored the CR-V. May we all get what we want, (and NEED), at the time of purchase, eh? Nwdsmn. |
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"Motoring 2009", (our esteemed Cdn. weekly tv auto show), awarded the '09 GV this honor on a recent show. Chief reason(s) for them seemed to be Suzuki's "all things old are new again", (my words), *idea* of bringing back an economical four cylinder [for it]. They also mentioned it's price/bargain status in the marketplace, given its equipment/content features. No arguments here.....
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