Comments on: VW and Suzuki?

By: HerrKaLeun

HerrKaLeun — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 02:24:56 +0000

If Suzuki still builts cars like the 95 Swift sold in Germany…. no corrosion protection, terribly faulty and not trade in value at all… then they should merge with Chrysler/Fiat to have a merger of equals (this time for real).

no matter how bad VW is, at least they don’t corrode, and at least in Europe have a good reputation. Suzuki gave the entire Asian industry a bad reputation. not convinced they improved….

By: charly

charly — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 01:49:36 +0000

Since when is VW at the bottom* when traded in?

* excluding North America

By: chuckR

chuckR — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 23:23:06 +0000

“We are still in the sniff phase”

What inelegant phrasing.

Woof, woof.

Maybe it sounds better in German.

By: dancote

dancote — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 22:24:10 +0000

In what alternate universe is Suzuki at the bottom of reliability charts?

“FloorIt :
June 25th, 2009 at 1:22 pm

So the 2 car co’s that are at the bottom of the reliability and trade in value charts may join together”

By: John Horner

John Horner — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:41:16 +0000

Hmmm, Suzuki and Fiat are already in bed together on a number of products and projects. Maybe VW is trying to lure Suzuki away with a better offer.

VW has to be at least a little concerned about Fiat’s agressive plays.

By: no_slushbox

no_slushbox — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:00:33 +0000

re: bevo:

They still make the 4 door Sidekick, but now it’s called the Grand Vitara. It is Suzuki’s own product, not to be mistaken for the completely different FWD XL7, which is basically a rebadged Chevy Equinox.

The Grand Vitara still comes standard with RWD, an I4 and a 5 speed manual, like the Sidekick, but now it has ABS, side airbags, power windows and power locks standard. And a much nicer interior.

http://www.suzukiauto.com/grand_vitara/

By: Joe Chiaramonte

Joe Chiaramonte — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:50:26 +0000

I saw dozens of these Swifts last December in Barbados, and I think I’m in love. Seriously.

I was picking up a part for my Miata today, and I was tempted to stop at the Suzuki store down the street from the Mazda dealer and beg.

By: PartsUnknown

PartsUnknown — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:30:33 +0000

A woman parks her SX4 5 door in my commuter lot every day. Cool looking car, in an ugly sort of way. But when she drives away, there’s a trail of blue smoke. Not good.

By: Robstar

Robstar — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:17:55 +0000

I’m in for a diesel hayabusa. Who is with me?

By: bevo

bevo — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:15:44 +0000

I loved my Sidekick, which I owned for 9 years. No major repairs beyond regular maintenance. I wish they would bring back the 4 door Sidekick.

By: no_slushbox

no_slushbox — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:30:07 +0000

Maybe this will convince me to get a RWD, IRS, manual transmission Grand Vitara for ~$18K new, the threat of leaving the US was making me hesitant.

By: superbadd75

superbadd75 — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:13:27 +0000

Maybe VW can do make something of a relationship with Suzuki, unlike GM. They’ve got their own products that are, as I understand it, pretty good. Their rep here in N.A. was destroyed by the garbage GMDAT cars that were being passed off as Suzukis.

By: Rod Panhard

Rod Panhard — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:21:53 +0000

I saw a shedload of interesting Suzukis when I was in Bermuda, frequently parked next to VW Polos. Very interesting cars, and suddenly, very appropriate in the U.S.

By: Stingray

Stingray — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:11:23 +0000

Ummm, they’d get a plant(s) and dealership organization in India.

And China being near… and both with huge grow potential…

There’s some SERIOUS MONEY to be made there.

Suzuki cars (sold under Chevrolet brand) have a reputation for being durable here.

Very interesting…

Bertel, how’s the soup opera between Piëch and Wiedeking going… we need updates, or the popcorn will get cold.

By: Edward Niedermeyer

Edward Niedermeyer — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:58:08 +0000

Fishtank: +1 on the Swift. And Suzuki said (in 2007) that it is headed stateside by 2010. Based on everything I’ve read (and from seeing them all over the place in China) I hope this is true. Seems to be a great car.

A Suzuki tie-up could be a great strategic move for VW. Becoming a major player in India and China seems like a smart goal.

By: FishTank

FishTank — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:47:18 +0000

Now THAT’s the Swift I’ve been pining for the last few years. Over here in Canada/US we got the crappy GM/Suzuki derivative. If they had only sold that car here they might have made more gains. Did GM infuence Suzuki’s decision? Anyone know? I like the SX4, but LOVE that version of the Swift.

More beauty shots here…
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/suzuki-swift/

By: Jason

Jason — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:36:52 +0000

VW is at or near the bottom in residual value?

By: FloorIt

FloorIt — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:22:36 +0000

So the 2 car co’s that are at the bottom of the reliability and trade in value charts may join together. At least they have nowhere to go but up.