Suzuki, Small-Car Maker, Gives Up on U.S. Market - NYTimes.com

Big deal for me, as my dealership is next door to Suzuki of Wichita. The dealer employs about 80 people and was the largest Suzuki seller for 3 years running. I hope they can get another new car franchise. Wichita does not have Audi or Land Rover, but that's a complete demographic change.

One of the major partners of the dealership also owns the Subaru dealer, which doesn't have near the marketing or manpower budget Suzuki has. Maybe he'll move the franchise to this location?

It is very nice to get their runoff business...

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

I had a Sammy. It was great off pavement, not so great on pavement. They still have a cult following.

I see from the article the motorcycles will still be available.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

Lets hope he doesn't decide to be a Mitsubishi dealer. I'm sad to see Suzuki cars go, they had decent products (SX4 and Kizashi) but they never brought the new swift over.

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

pretty sad. I had an Aerio, put over 120k on it in two years and no issues. Ridden & driven in Zukes all over th eworld, great vehicles.

Oh yeah, and I want a Sammi tintop with a VW diesel in it......

Like my Sidekick.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Well crap! I have about 92K on my 08 SX4 AWD and it has been problem free except few wheelbearings done under warranty.

I had an '89 sammy that I loved. It was great off road...a real blast to play with.

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

Um, they still make cars?

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1991 560 SEL / 185k miles
1992 750il / 17k miles - project car

If you watch those car tv shows like Trucks they praise the Samuri in regards to it's off road capability.

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Jim

Their cars weren't designed for American oinkers and their lardy arses.

The SX4 has as much room if not more than the Subaru Impreza. My brother bought the Impreza a few months after we bought the SX4. The Subaru was more plush on the inside but didn't have the ground clearence . You kind of sat down into the Subaru as where the SX4 was more of the Crossover.
The Subaru was also about 2500 more and no 0% financing which is what I got.

The short wheelbase gives it better agility off-road.

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

SX4 tested on a Jeep/dirt bike trail


2011 Suzuki SX4 Off-road Review & Drive - YouTube

some serious mud:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mBUgFA2mz0&feature=related

I thought they were pretty neat little cars. Pretty much what Subaru's used to be before their current bloated incarnation. Might be able to get one on the cheap now.

I don't know about anyone else's area, but I can't recall ever seeing a Suzuki car ad. There was a dealer mid-state that had some radio commercials. One of the taglines was "(Suzuki)...the best cars you never heard of." I don't know if that was a subtle jab at Suzuki corporate for more advertising support, unfortunately it seems to have been true.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

GEO Metro was a Suzuki Swift.