Should I become a first time Kizashi buyer?

[KuroNekko]

The question on whether you should get the Kizashi or any Suzuki pretty much boils down to what kind of car owner you are.
If you are one who prefers to make payments and drive a car for a few to several year and then move on to something new, then I would say the Kizashi is not great for you. The resale/trade-in value will be too low and you will not reap the benefit of having a good car for little money.

If you are one who wants a good car for a good value and drive it for a long time without worrying about resale/trade-in value, then Suzuki is one of the best fits for you.

My Kizashi is the first car I have owned that even had a warranty as I usually buy used with over 50,000 miles. Because of that, I tend to select reputable Japanese, Japan-made cars as reliability and build quality are important factors for long term ownership.
The Kizashi is pretty much that kind of car. The Kizashi is rather new, but has proven to be one of the most reliable and enjoyable cars of its class. It's simply not popular, but the car is not only reliable but the safest car in its class too with only the 2013 Honda Accord to rival it in the most stringent crash tests. Compared to a Toyota Camry, the Kizashi has enjoyed less recalls, better crash test results, and probably even better reliability.
The Kizashi is also offered in AWD and has driving characteristics that a Camry could only dream of.

Parts and service are a concern to many, but keep in mind that Suzuki only left North America. They are still producing the Kizashi for other markets and Suzuki is actually very successful in other parts of the world, especially Asia. They have the resources to produce and supply parts globally.

In addition, I can say from my experience in owning many out-of-warranty cars that parts are not hard to find because of the glorious thing called the internet. Even once out of warranty, the internet will be a great source for parts.
In fact, it would be wise for a company to focus on Suzuki parts given that they will have a niche customer base since competition among other suppliers will drop.

Take this example: In my family, we have a 1976 VW Westfalia camper. It's one of those air-cooled VW buses that hippies love. One would imagine that we'd have a hard time finding parts, but we don't. It's because of the internet and niche suppliers.

Also, consider service. There is really nothing about this car that is so special that it will require Suzuki-only service once out of warranty.
The Kizashi's CVT is from Jatco, probably one of the world's largest CVT manufacturers. In fact, JATCO was a part of Nissan until they became a separate entity. Nissan engineers founded JATCO and therefore, JATCO is the supplier of all Nissan CVTs. They are not some kind of small maker that will disappear now that Suzuki is no longer sold in North America. In fact, you can only get the new Nissan Altima with a Jatco CVT. They are not going anywhere.

Keep in mind that just because a car model or company left our market, it does not mean there will be no parts, support, or that it is a bad car. The Suzuki Samurai that Ronzuki mentioned is a prime example. Suzuki stopped selling them in the US after a roll-over scandal and law suit that ensued. Consumer Reports basically tarnished that car's reputation to the point that Suzuki stopped importing it. The car was actually not unusually unsafe, but was merely prone to roll over when turned sharply at high speeds (which actually applied to nearly all SUVs, especially back then.) Despite the US failure, Suzuki sold the Samurai in other markets and continues to do so with the new Jimny and Jimny Sierra name (merely the evolved Samurai). I picked up a Suzuki Jimny brochure in Japan last time I was there. On it, it stated that Suzuki sold 20,000,000 of them since introduction. Yes, 20 MILLION worldwide of a car that "was an unsafe failure" in the US. It is a robust car with great reliability, durability, and value that the rest of the world appreciated.

This is what Suzuki is all about. This is one of the main reasons I did not hesitate buying my Kizashi when I found it. While I don't think the Kizashi will ever enjoy the international sales success of the Jimny, the Kizashi is the best car Suzuki ever made. That says a lot for a car built by this sort of company.

[Firefly]

I agree with KuroNekko. The only downside being trade-in. And I feel the design has longevity as well. This will continue to turn heads for years.

[Pyramid1]

Thanks for all the responses guys, but I have a question for the mods/admins..

I just typed out a lengthy (but not overly so) post to this thread and it comes up

"post marked as spam and denied" (or something like that) I am confused...I didn't have any url links or anything.

[murcod]

Moto is the person who can answer that question. It's probably something he's got set up that has inadvertently flagged your post. It might be to do with your low number of posts even?
PS: I believe he's away at the moment and doesn't have regular site access?

[Pyramid1]

Ok, I'm gonna try it again....still don't know which part is setting off spam filters.

Thanks for all the responses guys, this seems to be a great forum made up of a small group of people who are passionate about their car of choice, but in no way arrogant or resistant to new people joining. Gotta love the fact that (at least in the area of town where I commute) I would be more likely to see a Ferrari, Lambo, Aston, Audi A8 etc..than another Kizashi during my daily drive.

I have decided to continue my search for the Kizashi that fits me, but be patient about it. I recently sold my 2005 Mazda 6 (so yes, I do keep cars for a while) but I have a car that I can borrow for as long as I need (beater 03 Civic that doesn't look great but runs well) to find a car with everything I want (6MT,leather, Rockford Fosgate system, bluetooth) for the right price....some dealers are pretending the Suzuki pullout never happened and have new 2012-2013's for around the same starting price as before the announcement.

I realize that I may have to compromise with such a limited inventory of used/new for sale within decent distance of where I live, (trading 6MT for CVT is a big one) but I've already made a promise to myself that I won't pay too much simply because of rarity...I know I'm gonna take quite a huge depreciation hit as soon as I sign the papers, but the dealer/individual I buy from is going to have to eat some of that as well if they want to sell to me..

Here is my dream Kizashi...
2011-2012 Black, dark gray or dark blue GTS with the 6MT with black leather interior and R-F stereo system. I live in Texas so AWD isn't a big deal, and a sunroof isn't something I desperately have to have. I would even settle for an SE as long as it had the 6MT and leather seats...and I could add an aftermarket sound system later. The problem I'm finding (even doing a nationwide search) is that the vast majority of Kizashi's sold seem to have the CVT no matter what trim level. I'm not totally opposed to the CVT since I test drove one a while back and it seemed fine, but I would just really rather have the stick. You guys with the 6MT seem to be hanging on to your cars dammit!

[Pyramid1]

Oh also, just got done reading the entire "114 days" thread by WESHOOT2, and it was not only amusing...but if even half of what he claims to put his Kizashi through is true, then I shouldn't be too worried about reliability.

[murcod]

Was it a GG1032 Mazda 6 you had - or the original model?

We had a 2005 GG1032 and sold it a few years back. I've got the bottom spec manual Kizashi (with 17" rims) and the Kizashi is miles ahead in refinement and finish- as it should be. Size wise, they're very similar. I've fitted an upgraded rear sway bar and the Kizashi would now out handle the 6 (with both running 17" rims). Stock, the Kizashi's rear end would pitch a lot when loaded around sweeping corners, the 6 never had that problem. The sports suspension of the GTS might not either?

Over any bumpy road the Kizashi is light years ahead for interior noise, holding it's line on corners and ride quality. It's obvious Suzuki spent a lot of time developing the shock absorbers, whereas the 6 didn't like taking any bumpy corner at speed.

In short, if you liked the 6 then you'll love the Kizashi.

[Pyramid1]

Not sure about the GG1032, but it was an iSport with the 2.3L 5 speed. The 6 was a fun car for sure, but sound insulation and refinement aren't really Mazda strong suits. Yeah, one of the reasons I like the Kizashi is the perfect size...it's like Jetta without the questionable quality control issues.

Like I've said, the only thing about the Kizashi that worries me is the longevity of the CVT. I think I could get used to the weird driving characteristics (didn't really bother me on the test drive) but I don't know if I'd risk keeping the car after the 7 year 100k powertrain warranty expired.

Really hope I can find a 6MT GTS in the next month or so..

[Ronzuki]

Jim Shorkey in Pittsburgh has been hoarding them. Buying up every Suzuki in sight, new and used from what I hear. Thgere's picture floating around of their storage lots full of cars (and some trucks and GVs. Maybe call them and see what they have....take a plane ride up and drive it home. Just a thought.

[KuroNekko]

...to find a car with everything I want (6MT,leather, Rockford Fosgate system, bluetooth) for the right price....some dealers are pretending the Suzuki pullout never happened and have new 2012-2013's for around the same starting price as before the announcement.

Here is my dream Kizashi...
2011-2012 Black, dark gray or dark blue GTS with the 6MT with black leather interior and R-F stereo system. I live in Texas so AWD isn't a big deal, and a sunroof isn't something I desperately have to have. I would even settle for an SE as long as it had the 6MT and leather seats...and I could add an aftermarket sound system later. The problem I'm finding (even doing a nationwide search) is that the vast majority of Kizashi's sold seem to have the CVT no matter what trim level. I'm not totally opposed to the CVT since I test drove one a while back and it seemed fine, but I would just really rather have the stick. You guys with the 6MT seem to be hanging on to your cars dammit!

First thing that may help is knowing what is available in what trim. Keep in mind that Suzuki changed these a bit from year to year, but here's my general understanding on the Kizashi in the various trims:

They range in order from lowest to highest as S, SE, GTS, SLS. Sport GTS and Sport SLS were added in Model Year 2011.

If you want "(6MT,leather, Rockford Fosgate system, bluetooth)" all together, then you need to get a SLS which is the top of the line.

Keep in mind that in Model Year 2013, Suzuki eliminated the manual trans for all but the base model S. To get a manual trans with the goodies, you need to get a 2011 or 2012. That is assuming you want the Kizashi Sport with the Sport styling. I am assuming you do given you want a 2011 or 2012. A 2010 GTS or SLS looks different from the Sport models of 2011, 2012, and 2013.

The S is the base trim and comes in either CVT or manual. They only come in one color: white.

The SE only comes in CVT so no manuals in that trim. Suzuki offered a Leather Package for the SE so some SE's may have optional leather interiors. Otherwise, you need to get a SLS if you want leather.
Suzuki expected the SE to be the top selling trim so they imported these the most. The SEs are probably the most common Kizashis.

The GTS is basically like a SLS in looks, but has less bells and whistles. Main difference as far as you are concerned is that it does not have a leather interior. It does however have the RF stereo with Bluetooth as an option. In 2012, Suzuki deleted the moonroof and power driver's seat for the GTS. 2011 GTS models (like mine) have them.

The SLS has everything. Over the GTS, it has leather seats, rear parking sensors, nav, heated seats, heated mirrors, power front passenger seats, etc.

Finding a manual GTS or SLS will be hard. Most manuals are the base S model.
Look hard and you may find one, but you may have to travel far for it like I did. My car was in Jersey City, NJ. I drove from an area in Maryland just outside of Washington, DC to buy it.

I have also noticed that the East Coast and Midwest have more Kizashi's than the South or West Coast. If you are really picky about your transmission and trim level, you will have to expand your search area to these areas where there are more Kizashis.

Good luck.