New Vehicle

[Axe Man]

Picked this up last week...

2007 Suzuki Grand Vitara. 185 HP 2.7 Liter V-6, 5 speed auto, 4WD. Traded in Wife's Taurus.

Last winter was a bear in our climate with her Taurus and my Civic. Both stink in snow and we have large hills to contend with. I had another 4WD vehicle (Kia Sportage) that I sold last Sepetember and regretted it all winter.

The Zuk has full time AWD with 60/40 power split plus selectable 4H "Locked" where the center differential is locked and power is 50/50 front/rear. Also genuine 4L in the transfer case for when things REALLY get horrible.

 

[Papa Bear]

Cool wheels !! ....

If the goin' gets THAT tough, I stay home.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Nice ride! Not sure what kind of tires it has on from the factory (some all-seasons I'm guessing), but for any kind of serious snow action, a more winter-oriented tire would be nice.

 

[Axe Man]

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Nice ride! Not sure what kind of tires it has on from the factory (some all-seasons I'm guessing), but for any kind of serious snow action, a more winter-oriented tire would be nice.

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You are correct. Yokohama Geolandar H/T, size 225/70-16. We'll see how they do in the snow.

 

[JTK]

That is a nice looking vehicle. Suzuki has definately been increasing their presence. Does that hood flip up backwards or is it a 'normal' front lift?

Joel

 

[Camu Mahubah]

You picked that Suzuki up last week?...It looks heavy...show us a pic of your biceps!...Suzook's are sweet!...What's it get for gas mileage?

 

[Axe Man]

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That is a nice looking vehicle. Suzuki has definately been increasing their presence. Does that hood flip up backwards or is it a 'normal' front lift?

Joel

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Normal front lift.

 

[Axe Man]

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You picked that Suzuki up last week?...It looks heavy...show us a pic of your biceps!...Suzook's are sweet!...What's it get for gas mileage?

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EPA sez 19 city, 24 highway. Haven't clocked actual mileage yet.

 

[Axe Man]

What's the gas mileage you ask? Well, the initial results are in...

Had to make a drive today from Upstate NY to Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn and back. Anyone familiar with the NYC Metro area can relate to this nightmare:

NYS Thruway South. Had to make quick detour to Palisades Parkway South because Tappan Zee Bridge was under construction and traffic backed up for miles. Speed on Thruway was generally 65 - 75 MPH. Palisades to George Washington Bridge. Took over 40 minutes stop and go to get thru the toll booth. Cross into Manhattan. Harlem River Drive to FDR drive. Speed varied from 0 MPH to 60 MPH. Kept going down East side of Manhattan because Brooklyn Bridge was jammed up. Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel to always jammed Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. Then city streets to Fort Hamilton. Returned early afternoon and traffic was lighter.

1 driver plus 3 passengers. A/C during return trip. Zuk currently has 549 miles on the clock. Total trip was 178 miles. 8.8 gallons consumed. 20.2 MPG. Not too shabby considering all the stop and go. Her old Taurus would have yielded about same. Certainly no where as good as my Civic but I'm not complaining.

 

[browning300wsm]

nice ride i had one for 3 years and realy enjoed it..the rear door opens the wrong way ,ok in JAPAN they drive on the wrong side ...

 

[stogiedude]

Nice vehicle! Thinking of getting one for the wife-HOW MUCH? -out the door-tax, tag, etc. Our local Suzuki dealers are advertising like crazy!

 

[Jim 5]

Very nice vehicle, and nicely built. I wish this wasn't only 2/3 size. I'd consider one if it were bigger.

My wife's friend had one of these, and asked me to do an oil change. I did it, but told her to take it to the dealer from then on.

You need to have arms that bend in 5 places to get at the oil filter from underneath (the only access). The filter's mounted horizontally on the side of the engine, so you also get to spill a quart of used oil all over the side of the engine, the suspension and 4x4 components.

Otherwise, a really nice vehicle. I was impressed!