Originally Posted by WookieOnRitalin
I actually love smaller brands like Suzuki, Subaru, and Mazda. Mitsus always rubbed me the wrong way and knew people who complained about reliability.
I will not touch Nissan, Honda, or Toyota. I think enough has been said about them already.
Suzuki is one of those brands that I have really grown to appreciate. Anytime THEY actually build and design a vehicle, the results are phenomenal. They all handle well, strong brakes, but the engines have always been a little behind the competition. The Grand Vitara is an excellent vehicle. The Swift is a world beater and top performer. The SX4 is a rally machine, the new Sportback has been loved and the AWD crossover with 3-Mode AWD for under 18k is just fantastic. The Kizashi is being praised across the board by everyone. The updated Vitara and the upcoming Swift should do wonders for their standing here in the states. Oh, and they only make the best bikes in the world too.
I have always loved older Subarus. Funky vehicles that were not particular fast, but were competent, reliable, fun, and remarkably comfortable. I've had the pleasure of driving a few and they are some of the most welcoming vehicles I have ever driven. Great commuter transport and standard AWD. Foresters, Legacies, and Outbacks are fine vehicles. All model years had something to offer.
I will always have a special place in my heart for Mazda because of my 1989 Mazda 929. It was the first vehicle I fell in love with and it was my 2nd car. It was quick, comfortable, fun, and RWD. It was terrible in Chicago during the winters, but when the ground was dry, it was a blast. I loved most of those boxy Japanese designs from the late 80s like the Acura Legend. They have great visibility. So Mazda will always have a fan in me. I would not mind owning another one. I just wish I could fall head over heals for some of their products. The 3 and 6 are great, but no AWD. They do not have a RWD vehicle besides an RX8, but that is not a practical vehicle. The CX7 just does not appeal much to me and commands a premium price.
I prefer AWD, 4WD, or RWD vehicles. The problem is that most Japanese manufacturers do not offer many that appeal to me much besides Suzuki and Subaru. My Jeep and my Mazda will not allow me to change over mentally. I have had so much fun in both of those vehicles that I cannot see myself ever owning something on a similar level. Last winter, a blizzard wrecked my town with snow and ice. Most people did not drive, but I did. I was hauling my friends and I everywhere in my Jeep. We were having so much fun in the snow that I had them convinced to become Jeep owners. I would come and pick them up and they would tell me to speed up or slow down to get over patches of ice and snow so I didn't get stuck. I would listen silently, continue my usual driving, and tackle all forms of ice and snow without blinking an eye. I asked them, "What snow?"
Not only that, my 93 Jeep GC is a comfortable, well handling daily driver. The V8 eats gas and the torque is nice, but I could probably drop down two cylinders. Her time is at an end unfortunately. 300,000 miles later, she just is not going to make it much longer. It's tough to keep investing hundreds of dollars in repairs for a 300k vehicle. I just got rid of the Death Wobble that prevented me from taking it on the highway. It cannot use the air conditioning in the summer because it will induce vapor lock. The radio is done. All the windows need new motors. Most electrical non essentials do not work (power mirrors, lighting, and power locks all work). But because she has saved my ass more times than I can count, I cannot get another vehicle that is not at least AWD or 4WD.
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10-29-2009, 12:01 AM
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