I'm a College nursing student and so I need a car with a AWD on the cheap that is reliable and fun to drive is just a great bonus the Kizashis offers. There's two kizashis in my area that are both 2010s, one is a SLS with 80k miles and want 10 grand and the other is SE with 77k miles and want 8,500.
I'm interested in both, however I've never driven a CVT except a Nissan van once. So I have no idea how these cars are supposed to feel or sound. Others tell me CVTs can fail pretty quickly without proper maintenance. Without a service record I assume it's impossible to tell if the car was properly service? How easy/expensive is changing CVT fluid? Thank you in advance for any help!
Buying these used worth it?
Hello,
In general, based on the history of some longtime members here, the CVTs either crap out before the mileage you are reporting on the 2 cars you're looking at, or, they go at least double those miles.
The biggest and most important thing to understand w/ the CVT in the Kiz is you can't be in a hurry when you're driving. Neck breaking jack-rabbit starts are not the Kiz's claim to fame. Slow and steady take-offs from a dead stop should be smooth and vibration free if your easing the accelerator. It's a learning curve to retrain yourself to drive the CVT. Once rolling, it'll go pretty quickly as you apply more throttle. Took me quite a long time until I got the hang of it. Shift shocking a CVT is also a big-time no-no. Meaning the car MUST be fully stopped and planted with brakes applied before shifting from one gear/direction to the other.
There is no maintenance required for the CVT per the service manual. However, many of us here believe that to not necessarily be wise. Many have embarked on a fluid change PM program. The one thing that many owners have failed to do on these AWD cars, from new, was to change the rear differential's fluid at 8,500 miles. This service IS required per maintenance guide. So plan on doing that.
You should be able to easily negotiate the SLS for the base model's asking price, or darn close. I'd go for it...Rockford Fosgate tunes box and the paddle shifters really help to wake up the CVT and increase the car's driving pleasure.
Good luck with your vehicle search (and your schooling)
In general, based on the history of some longtime members here, the CVTs either crap out before the mileage you are reporting on the 2 cars you're looking at, or, they go at least double those miles.
The biggest and most important thing to understand w/ the CVT in the Kiz is you can't be in a hurry when you're driving. Neck breaking jack-rabbit starts are not the Kiz's claim to fame. Slow and steady take-offs from a dead stop should be smooth and vibration free if your easing the accelerator. It's a learning curve to retrain yourself to drive the CVT. Once rolling, it'll go pretty quickly as you apply more throttle. Took me quite a long time until I got the hang of it. Shift shocking a CVT is also a big-time no-no. Meaning the car MUST be fully stopped and planted with brakes applied before shifting from one gear/direction to the other.
There is no maintenance required for the CVT per the service manual. However, many of us here believe that to not necessarily be wise. Many have embarked on a fluid change PM program. The one thing that many owners have failed to do on these AWD cars, from new, was to change the rear differential's fluid at 8,500 miles. This service IS required per maintenance guide. So plan on doing that.
You should be able to easily negotiate the SLS for the base model's asking price, or darn close. I'd go for it...Rockford Fosgate tunes box and the paddle shifters really help to wake up the CVT and increase the car's driving pleasure.
Good luck with your vehicle search (and your schooling)
Ron
2010 Kizashi GTS, CVT, iAWD (3/10 build date)
2011 SX4 Premium Hatch, CVT, iAWD (12/10 build date)
2018 Mazda CX-5 iAWD Touring
2014 Wrangler JKUW (GONE, traded
)
1991 Samurai, 5-Speed, EFI, Soft-Top (
sold)
2010 Kizashi GTS, CVT, iAWD (3/10 build date)
2011 SX4 Premium Hatch, CVT, iAWD (12/10 build date)
2018 Mazda CX-5 iAWD Touring
2014 Wrangler JKUW (GONE, traded
) 1991 Samurai, 5-Speed, EFI, Soft-Top (
sold)
Hi this is my first post here. I didnt know any of this stuff about the cvt. my car has 127555 miles and it had 122k miles when i got it. two weeks ago. I have been beating on it pretty hard, mostly in manual mode. But i havent been like neutral bombing it or anything dumb like that. Just using the manual shifter mode a lot on nice curvy back roads. is this thing going to asplode on me? I kinda beat on stuff on the twisty roads. My car is fwd only. I also suspect it was beat on pretty hard by previous owners, cos its been repainted (poorly), and not maintained real great. My last car was a hyundai santa fe and it was fairly indestructable (yes really), and i drove it as such.
tldr; I got a cvt and i beat on it and it was beat on before, is it gonna die?
tldr; I got a cvt and i beat on it and it was beat on before, is it gonna die?
As Kuroneko has stated in many threads regarding CVTs, the units are pretty robust and very few have had trouble (catastrophic failure). Aside from the whining noise which many of us experience they seem to be fairly reliable. It's just a matter of getting used to how a CVT behaves. Honestly, I prefer the smoothness now of the CVT over the shifting of my new(er) Jeep's conventional automatic.
I too drive my car hard in the twisties utilizing manual mode (paddle shifters mostly) when I feel like having fun. In my opinion, manual mode is the only way to 'wake up' the CVT and enable one to give the car a good flogging. That's why I'd stick to looking at only the GTS or SLS as I don't believe the base model(s) are equipped w/ the paddles.
I too drive my car hard in the twisties utilizing manual mode (paddle shifters mostly) when I feel like having fun. In my opinion, manual mode is the only way to 'wake up' the CVT and enable one to give the car a good flogging. That's why I'd stick to looking at only the GTS or SLS as I don't believe the base model(s) are equipped w/ the paddles.
Ron
2010 Kizashi GTS, CVT, iAWD (3/10 build date)
2011 SX4 Premium Hatch, CVT, iAWD (12/10 build date)
2018 Mazda CX-5 iAWD Touring
2014 Wrangler JKUW (GONE, traded )
1991 Samurai, 5-Speed, EFI, Soft-Top ( sold)
2010 Kizashi GTS, CVT, iAWD (3/10 build date)
2011 SX4 Premium Hatch, CVT, iAWD (12/10 build date)
2018 Mazda CX-5 iAWD Touring
2014 Wrangler JKUW (GONE, traded
) 1991 Samurai, 5-Speed, EFI, Soft-Top (
sold)-
FrankoLaMoya
- Posts: 329
- Joined: Mon Dec 03, 2012 10:27 pm
- Location: Moncton
I am not quite sure if the Kizashi is indestructible like the past gen Santa Fe (my father-in-law has a 2009 with 300 000 km on it and he only changed a few things), but I know they are reliable! Most of the CTV failures were at low mileage (factory issue) or at high mileage of about 250 000-275 000 km. I am at 65 000 km and I did not change anything besides original tires and CTV fluid. If I were you..I would try to gather more information on the SLS history and buy it if there was no big issue. The look of the SLS is prettier and the added features are worth it (Rockford fosgate audi system, fog light, sun roof, etc.)
General rule is that if you beat your vehicle it will cost more in repair...common sense
PS Hey guys, have you noticed the whining noise is more present when you use the manual shift mode....and less present if you use the paddle shifters? I did notice that in mine anyway.
General rule is that if you beat your vehicle it will cost more in repair...common sense
PS Hey guys, have you noticed the whining noise is more present when you use the manual shift mode....and less present if you use the paddle shifters? I did notice that in mine anyway.
2012 Suzuki Kizashi Sport iAWD CVT ''Kaijū'' (Black pearl metallic)
Priors:
2004 Audi A4 Quattro 1.8T 6MT ''Audini'' (Black)
1999 Audi A4 Quattro 2.8 AT (Dark green)
1984 Chevrolet Malibu 3MT with a 327 engine lol (Blue)
1996 Acura Integra 5MT (Black)
Priors:
2004 Audi A4 Quattro 1.8T 6MT ''Audini'' (Black)
1999 Audi A4 Quattro 2.8 AT (Dark green)
1984 Chevrolet Malibu 3MT with a 327 engine lol (Blue)
1996 Acura Integra 5MT (Black)
My first one was indestructible.......this second is proving to be even more robust, as I drive this one all too often criminally dangerously.
You know, right at the point where you get scared? Now, when I hit that point, I floor it. Literally.
Like I said, criminally dangerous........
You know, right at the point where you get scared? Now, when I hit that point, I floor it. Literally.
Like I said, criminally dangerous........
I like the way you drive. Its like the way I drive.WESHOOT2 wrote:My first one was indestructible.......this second is proving to be even more robust, as I drive this one all too often criminally dangerously.
You know, right at the point where you get scared? Now, when I hit that point, I floor it. Literally.
Like I said, criminally dangerous........
So its update time. After 2 hours at the dealership, i'm now the owner of the SLS. While there was no service history on the carfax, judging by the bluetooth phone name "big daddy" and some giggling girl in the background, it was someone that put some work into this car and brought it back to stock when he sold it. The CVT fluid looked clean, maybe new? i'm not sure, never seen CVT fluid changed, but it was a honey color. However, engine oil needs changing but that's okay, was going to change that right away so I know there's synthetic in there. There was some evidence of some vinyl wrap around the trim pieces as well and I didn't notice any funny noises other than CVT noises I expected. I can see why you guys would drive this criminally dangerous.
