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Legacy vs. Suzuki Kizashi

41 messages,  Last post on May 04, 2010 at 6:34 PM

You are in the Subaru Legacy & Outback Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Legacy, Suzuki Kizashi, Car Buying, Car Comparisons, Sedan, Wagon

Messages Page 2 of 5

#7 of 41 Re: Legacy vs. Suzuki Kizashi [tigerotor77w] by googonabike

Mar 24, 2010 (6:44 pm)

Replying to: tigerotor77w (Mar 22, 2010 1:57 pm)
I am in the same boat. Currently there are two Subaru cars in our household. 2006 Outback and 2009 Legacy SE. 24 month lease on Legacy is up at the at the end of August. I cannot even bring myself to think about purchasing/leasing 2010.
Even taking into consideration saving $300 disposition fee and having in hand $1500 in Subaru bucks.
Exterior design is simply atrocious and interior surfaces - hard, with poor mar and scratch resistance, plastic all over and materials - cloth seats particularly are cheap and equally atrocious. Larger passenger volume does nothing for us empty nesters.
Kizashi on the hand, is very well proportioned, not to flashy, nor over the top (vide 2011 Sonata), but quite elegant and classy. The same goes for the interior.
It's been at the top of my list ( followed by Nissan Altima and soon to be available 2011 Kia Optima), since it was made available to reviewers and later consumers.
There is however a but and it is a big one. And it is not almost non-existing dealer network
(there two of them here within 15 miles radius), but the future of the Suzuki in US market. How seriously they are committed to stay here. Each just mentioned dealer has one (1) FWD SE for the past three months. No movement at all. Noticed Fitzmall has pretty decent selection. I am hopeful, when the time comes, there will be a larger selection at my local dealers. Am waiting for 5 speed FWD Platinum GTS.

#8 of 41 Re: Legacy vs. Suzuki Kizashi [googonabike] by saedave

Mar 25, 2010 (6:43 am)

Replying to: googonabike (Mar 24, 2010 6:44 pm)
in our household. 2006 Outback and 2009 Legacy SE.
 
Both of these cars have about the same passenger room as the Impreza. Have you looked at the new Impreza which does not have the bloated look with no folding mirrors? I bought a new Foreaster XT recently to replace my 2005 3.0R Outback ....avoiding the bloated styling of the 2010 Outback.

#9 of 41 Re: Legacy vs. Suzuki Kizashi [saedave] by tigerotor77w

Mar 25, 2010 (8:00 am)

Replying to: saedave (Mar 25, 2010 6:43 am)
Thanks, everyone, for the replies and thoughts -- googonabike, yup, same situation. Luckily, there is a Suzuki dealer in Springfield, IL -- 1.5 hours away -- that had an AWD SLS, so I was able to mess around with the paddle shifters and see how the AWD sedan handled [relative to my Camry], but
 
1) Springfield is a long ways away, even if the closest dealer is 45 minutes away (they had only a FWD SE, and the guy didn't seem particularly responsive).
 
2) I don't want an SLS; I want an SE with paddle shifters (which forces me into the GTS, but I don't want a sunroof).
 
As far as fit and finish, I think the Subaru actually looks nicer inside than the Kizashi, but of course this is personal preference. I like on the Subaru:
 
1) four-bar trunk hinge (i.e. unexposed trunk hinge);
2) Placement of MPG gauge (digital readout);
3) Look/layout of cabin
4) AWD system
5) Bigger trunk (useful for me, as my job will require moving every six months for the first two years)
 
I like on the Kizashi:
 
1) Nice to drive
2) Looks
3) folding mirrors
 
The Kizashi oil-change process is pretty convoluted -- it requires removal of a skid plate/aerodynamic plastic sheet underbody.
 
Given that neither car is perfect, it seems like all I'd be trading up for is more handing -- which honestly might not be worth spending another $15k on. I can put a rear sway bar in my Camry and get near the same improved handling...

#10 of 41 Re: Legacy vs. Suzuki Kizashi [saedave] by googonabike

Mar 25, 2010 (12:52 pm)

Replying to: saedave (Mar 25, 2010 6:43 am)
Thanks for your suggestion. Sounds like a good idea. Actually, I had 4-door Impreza in a back of my mind. Size wise is comparable to 2009 Legacy. Next time when passing Subaru dealer I stop by and take it for a spin. I still like Kizashi. It is so well screwed together. And the interior materials, fit and finish are all tops.

#11 of 41 Re: Legacy vs. Suzuki Kizashi [tigerotor77w] by googonabike

Mar 25, 2010 (1:02 pm)

Replying to: tigerotor77w (Mar 25, 2010 8:00 am)
Well, like yourself, I don't care at all about sun/moonroof. Owned three cars with one over the period of nine years and never opened it once. But, would love to have upgraded sound system and 18" wheels, and these come only with GTS.

#12 of 41 Re: Legacy vs. Suzuki Kizashi [saedave] by googonabike

Mar 25, 2010 (1:04 pm)

Replying to: saedave (Mar 25, 2010 6:43 am)
Thanks for your suggestion. Sounds like a good idea. Actually, I had 4-door Impreza in a back of my mind. Size wise is comparable to 2009 Legacy. Next time when passing Subaru dealer I stop by and take it for a spin. I still like Kizashi. It is so well screwed together. And the interior materials, fit and finish are all tops.

#13 of 41 googonabike,,, by iluvmysephia1

Mar 26, 2010 (11:43 pm)

Am waiting for 5 speed FWD Platinum GTS
 
Just a note here. Suzuki offers those wanting a manual tranny on their new Kizashi a 6-speed transmission, not a 5-speed.

#14 of 41 Re: googonabike,,, [iluvmysephia1] by ateixeira

Mar 27, 2010 (8:26 am)

Replying to: iluvmysephia1 (Mar 26, 2010 11:43 pm)
Yup, same for the Legacy.

#15 of 41 ateixeira... by iluvmysephia1

Mar 27, 2010 (9:18 am)

one of the cars Suzuki looked at while designing the Kizashi was the Audi A4. You don't suppose the other one was the Subaru Legacy, eh?

#16 of 41 Re: Legacy vs. Suzuki Kizashi [tigerotor77w] by marvinlee1

Mar 27, 2010 (12:59 pm)

Replying to: tigerotor77w (Mar 22, 2010 1:57 pm)
Having enjoyed my 2004 Suzuki Verona purchased new, I drove both a Kizashi with automatic transmission and the Legacy Limited 3.6R sedan. The Kizashi had plenty of power, but mostly in the higher, and noisier, RPM range. The Legacy was, and is, a more serene car that better suits my usage patterns. I ordered it from the factory. If you are interested only in four cylinder models, the Suzuki should be very competitive. The company is about to launch an advertising campaign to help boost sales.

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