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Comments
I'm most likely going to replace with Kumho Ecsta Supras. They're very reasonable and have done a great job so far on my wifes SHO. I live in Cenrtral Texas, so it's not likely to snow any time soon.
To be fair, I had no trouble switching lanes and accelerating rapidly from 60mph to 80mph in 4th the other day. I think these engines just need some time to break-in.
Frenchcar- haven't had any major snow's yet in Flagstaff, but looking forward to some to see how the car does. However after all the negative postings regarding their tires I may look to upgrade them before the next snow! Also, I'm curious how much the turbo upgrade kit cost and who supplies them?
Thanks for the information. Btw, Tire Rack is also one of Edmunds' sponsors. For future reference, look for a direct link to their website on the lower/left side of this page. Good luck, and happy motoring!
Revka
Hatchbacks & Wagons Host
Jonty
I just did my first oil change. Used 5-30w oil and a Purolator L14477 oil filter. The oil drain nut was a bit tight. But the hardest thing to remove was the oil filter. I think the factory over tightened it. I had to buy some car ramps to be able to get the leverage to remove the drain plug. Now I don't think I will have to raise the car at all on my next oil change. The oil wasn't that dirty. In fact Suzuki reccomended oil change schedule is every 7500 miles. I think on my next oild change I will wait until 3750 miles.
Since it was a long weekend I decided to paint my front brake calipers. I painted them red. I used an engine enamel primer and then an engine red and the final color. They are both rated up to 500 degrees. I will paint my drums during the Christmas holidays. Not sure I want to paint them red though. Maybe silver. I wish we had rear disk brakes. The hardest thing was masking the caliper. It took about 2 hours to mask. I used a lot of masking tape!
Anyway, so far the car is running flawlessy. No problems to report so far (knock on wood). No rattles/creakes. I have noticed the occasional thunk/clunk evry so often when I apply the brakes for the first time after the car has been setting for a while. But I haven't heard it since I painted by calipers come to think of it.
All in all a great little car.
Happy motoring.
It appears my complaints of engine power is due to the engine not being full broken in yet, or at least I hope so. I came to this conclusion because my highway mileage is only slightly better than the city mileage. With a 5-speed and no AC, I could only manage 28mpg at 75 mph. I was disappointed, but I think it will improve around 10k. On a different tank of gas, I did hit 100mph for the first time! It was pretty stable at that speed. Funny thing was, I got about the same mileage on that tank as I did running at a normal pace. It does seem the engine is beginning to run a little smoother and have a little more spunk.
I heard the brake pad clunk a couple of times over thanksgiving so the new clips aren't doing the trick. At least the noise was a lot softer than it was before. I'm hoping it doesn't get worse.
The wagon aspect came in handy as I was able to carry my dog cage fully assembled with room to spare. There is no way it could have fit in any sedan. My family was impressed with the room and seat comfort as well as the reasonable price.
Overall, I still like my Aerio, but it has had more minor annoyances than my 02 Mitsubishi Lancer.
I have used them in the past for improved power and miles per gallon and they last a lifetime and you can clean and oil them every few years. Good investment from my experience.
I was going to wait until we had some snow around here to test drive an AWD Aerio, but I think I will go in the next couple of days and see how much of a difference the drive is between the FWD and AWD.
I have had my car - Aerio SX 5 spd - 4 months now with about 7,000miles on it. Overall, I enjoy my car, excellent buy. I love the fact I didn't have to add anything like I would have at Toyota. Everything was standard. I bought an armrest which is too tall for me, I have to drive with it up.
Also, I noticed my temperature gage seems to be at least 5 degrees off on the warmer side. one more thing...lots of static inside my car so everything sticks to the fabric. I've been on two long distance road trips (1200 miles round-trip) and my bum can't seem to handle the seat after 2 hours.
I have one really large complaint about the inside of the car. There is no airflow to the feet! It drives me nuts because in the summer I like cold air in the winter hot air to warm my feet. I get nothing. Do you guys feel anything when you switch the air flow to feet? or any of it's combos?
over all though, I am 85% happy. m.
As for the static electricity, I noticed the same thing! This car has been zapping the hell out of me and animal hairs stick to it like glue. I find my outside temp gauge to be very accurate as long as the sun isn't beating directly down on it and you don't sit and idle for a long time.
I did two other very cheap things to the interior that are helping out. I attached one of those gel mousepad wrist supports to the drivers door armrest with double sided sticky tape, and attached a little neoprene odds-and-ends sack to the center console in the front passenger footwell to address the lack of "cubby" space. Good for phone, sunglasses, etc. and there's still loades of passenger foot space.
Black 02 SX fastback AT with 31,000 KM. I LOVE this car. The engine is bulletproof. Viewing it from the front is very sporty looking , far better looking then the new Honda Civic Si and the rear end is a million times better looking then the butt ugly PT Cruiser.
I think Car and Driver & Motor Trend editors taste buds are burnt from sucking on too many BMW tail pipes. I really like the raspy exhaust note, reminds me of my motorcycle days. Those complaining about HWY performance ???? I don't think so. This is a very tight engine, and requires a ton of hard mileage to loosen up. Put some fuel injector cleaner in the gas, I think the injectors come from the factory clogged with some manufacturing residue. Drop a gear and let that engine sing , she will put a smile on your face then. More later....
Cobra79
Overall this car is great, gas mileage is increasing... 28 hwy (AT, AWD), but I only have 1,800 miles so far.
Has anyone upgraded the stereo? I like the 6 disc changer a lot, but I really want an mp3 player in there. What kind of stereo & or speakers did you buy for your car? Thanks!
ENGINE 2.0 Litre,4 cylinder,16 valve | HORSEPOWER 145 @6,000 rpm | TORQUE 136 lb ft @3,000 rpm
http://www.suzuki.ca/en/index.htm
6000 vs 5700 which one would be better?
US website is ugly. CA looks better. IMO.
I put a Sony HU, Sony eq in the stock HU location, Sony 10-disk changer under the drivers seat, 4-channel and mono Cadence amps under the cargo floor, (SX model), Orion 6.5" component set in front stock locations, JBL 6.5" component set in the back stock locations, tweet just mounted to the grills, and my pride and joy, built a box for a 10" sub to sit flush with the cargo floor in a box that sits down into the spare. Didn't have to drill any holes, and I have complete access to the spare. I had to give up the storage bins under the cargo floor. If you have a '03, there might be less room under that floor, the bins are certainly shallower.
I had very little problem with space, but I am still trying to eliminate the last vestiges of alternator whine. It only appears when the electrical system is under extra load, such as headlights, a/c, rear window defrost. Wierd.
I can fill you in on all kind of details about access, etc, if you need.
Joybell - the car is small, but is really quite big inside - (Dr Who's Tardis, anyone?). With the seats down: Aerio 64ft3, Saturn Vue 65ft3, Nissan Xterra 66ft3. I picked up a crated washing machine in mine, no problems. There are bigger vehicles out there, though, no doubt.
lngtonge18 - the whine I'm getting is definitely alternator induced noise in the stereo system. Pretty easy to figure out if it's alternator noise or transmission - if it goes away when you turn the stereo off, it's alternator noise, (assuming it's a high-pitched whine in step with engine revs).
lngtonge18 - the bumper was rated poorly for repair costs - that's not to say the car is not crashworthy. It is a pain to have to shell out big bucks for 5mph dings, though, and I agree it will affect insurance costs.
I realize the bumper performance means nothing to the structural performance of the car. I think it will do good in that regard. I am just disappointed Suzuki didn't do a better job with the bumpers.
I'll let you now what it costs. If they replace the bumper or just repaint it. I am very surprised nothing was dented, one scratch and paint from the other car. I think the fat bumper did it's job. m.
I seem to remember reading it in one of the Aerio reviews.....in the Mississauga News, I think.
The reviewer mentioned that Suzuki was developing a true wagon version of the Aerio to compete with the Focus and Subaru wagons (and to replace the Esteem wagon.....that's the only place I've seen anything about it, so don't know how accurate the reviewer's info was. I'd be interested too, as even with our roof carrier, we were loaded to the brim for our camping trip down east this past summer. Here's hoping......