dealer closed

lookin · Fri Dec 16, 2011 3:27 am

how important is having a dealer close by im kinda upset that my dealer has closed....now my nearest dealer is 19 miles away i really dont want to drive 19 miles for service how could suzuki think this is good to close dealers when they dont have much in the first place now i feel like selling my car which i love.....

~tc~ · Fri Dec 16, 2011 4:48 am

19 miles is nothing!

My nearby dealer was 19 miles before they closed. Now my closest dealer is like 45 miles, almost an hour drive across town... And this is the 3rd largest city in the US!

AlexRuiz · Fri Dec 16, 2011 5:04 am

I had 3 dealers "close by me", with the closest being 45 minutes away. 2 of them closed, now the closest one is over an hour away. You are lucky to be honest.

chazyouwin · Fri Dec 16, 2011 6:01 am

I might estimate about two to six trips to the dealer in the first few years, so having one right nearby does not seem particularly important. My two 2002 XL-7s only went to the dealer for recall and warranty work (altogether about five times in the seven years of warranty). Only once did I need to bring another driver to drop a car.

My 2010 Kiz has been in on an amplifier issue, for a free oil change and to have the TPMS set for winter tires. I think I'll need to get there for the TPMS setting twice per year (a bit annoying), but I may be able to combine anything which may come up.

lookin · Fri Dec 16, 2011 7:32 am

ok guys im feeling a little better now still dont like the distance ....but suzuki shouldnt b closing dealers they should be advertising and get more delers

chazyouwin · Fri Dec 16, 2011 2:01 pm

I think given the strong sustained yen versus the dollar and supply problems caused by the tsunami, it would be unlikely that Suzuki wants to expand here over other markets in the near future or to sustain non-performing dealers. I would rather expect them simply to tread water for a while in wait-and-see mode.

Fri Dec 16, 2011 2:20 pm

lookin wrote:ok guys im feeling a little better now still dont like the distance ....but suzuki shouldnt b closing dealers they should be advertising and get more delers

This is a constant topic of 'discussion' on the SX4 forum and one I've grown quite tired of seeing, hearing, reading about.

Advertising costs big money and is passed on to you in the price of the vehicle as a hidden charge generally in the 3-400 dollar range. I've stated many times that actual need for a stealership after the sale is limited and I believe was mentioned in this thread. Suzuki has never had an extensive dealer network in N.A. all the way back to when they first starting selling autos here in 1986. I purchased my first brand new Samurai in PA in 1986 at a non-Suzuki dealership that trucked a load up here from the test market in Florida. NEVER needed the dealer. At that time, the closest one would have been in Florida next closest...California (the two test markets). There's a reason GM, Ford, Chrysler etc. have tons of dealers 2 minutes in every direction as you desire...the cars are always in the shop for stupid annoyances...ya know, recalls for little things like wheels falling off Fusions and the like.

Those who desire a dealer 2 minutes down the road in any direction and enjoy paying absurd amounts of money for non-value added things such as corporate advertising fees, unfortunately, purchased the wrong brand.

jute2003 · Fri Dec 16, 2011 3:22 pm

I do agree with a lot of what you say Ron, as can be seen on the sx4 forum. The doom and gloom over there is almost unbearable. I can't say I completely agree about the advertising thing though. I would have paid an extra few hundred for our kizashi if I knew it would help Suzuki become more stable in NA. I enjoy being unique which is why there is a kizashi and a Mitsubishi Endeavor in the driveway but the dealer network is somewhat disheartening. That wouldn't deter me from buying another suzuki though. Great cars

Fri Dec 16, 2011 7:58 pm

Certainly none of it will help Suzuki decide to STAY in N.A. if they're even on the fence.

Putting a line item on an invoice for advertising, which is a cost of doing business, is flat out wrong in my opinion. You want to advertise, take it out of the corporate profits. Can't afford to advertise, then don't. Suzuki has chosen not to. My company doesn't advertise, our product does the advertising for us as well as word of mouth. However, I do see your point Jute, but I seriously doubt it would change how Suzuki operates. I'm just a tight azz. I get no value for my dollar in that regard. I'd rather Suzuki, or any car company, put their money into the end product I buy. I never bought a single car because I saw overpriced advertising for it. Suzuki got away from that when they started rebadging Korean made junk....and I stopped buying them. Started buying other disappointing junk. Suzuki's back to making a good solid reliable product that's worth buying at good prices, and so I'm buying them again. If they pull out, oh well, I'll keep all of them until the wheels fall off, they're plenty reliable for my needs. The cycle will continue hopefully and they'll show up in N.A. in the future again.

MadBlack · Sat Dec 17, 2011 3:28 am

You may not be paying extra for advertising but you are paying more for the car due to it's limited run. The big boys establish cost cuts through volume - simple economics will tell you that. The fact that they do not advertise is likely not by choice - they are cutting costs and IMO, they are cutting them in the wrong area. How many reviews have you read stating its a shame Suzuki is not advertising the shi$t out of this car - it is excellent value and bang for the buck. It will be very unfortunate if they fold up their tent in North America due to poor marketing. I don't blame anyone for being concerned about dealerships closing down - its inconvenient and concerning for those of us that want to see strength in the brand