Another Kizashi Bites the Dust

[paininthenuts]

Well, dammit! I was stopped in town behind a truck who was stopped waiting for someone to leave a parking spot then BAM! - rear-ended. No warning - no squealing tires of someone braking trying to avoid me. The driver of an old Jeep Grand Cherokee was obviously distracted (cell phone, I suspect), hit me at 25 - 30 mph. No one was hurt but the Kiz (2010 SLS) was a "total loss". Their insurance company gave me just under $10K plus rental.



There are only a couple of Kizahis in my area like mine but with trashed interiors (you have to commit to keeping the beige interior clean). Its replacement is a black/beige 2015 Kia Optima EX with the Premium and Technology package. It has all the bells and whistles the Kiz had (except rain-sensing wipers) plus some others, most notably, blind-spot sensors. I like it but I don't think another car will compare to my Kiz.

For what it's worth, the Kia dealer I worked with said he's familiar with Suzuki and the Kizashis (most of the other dealers responded, "a Ki - what?") and it is his understanding that the Kizashi will be back in the US in 2017. It is selling well elsewhere and that Suzuki is regrouping to make another run at the US. I hope that is true.

Good luck with yours, everyone!

Sad about your car, but the Optima is a nice motor. The only Optima available in the UK has a 1.7 diesel unit, but I am sure it is different across the pond. With regards to the Kizi being made again for 2017, NOT A CHANCE IN HELL. It was an expensive unsuccessful experiment made by Suzuki, and I can't see them repeating it !!

[WESHOOT2]

But it's an awesome attempt!

[paininthenuts]

But it's an awesome attempt!

=======================

Absolutely. The trouble is that Suzuki didn't think it through properly. In the UK it needed 2 spec levels, a manual version, a diesel, and a small turbo charged petrol engine, rather than a thirsty 2.4. Unfortunately they forgot to tell anybody about it as well. Suzuki got the looks bang on, and the ride is brilliant. It appears to me that it was made for the U.S market as a last ditched attempt to be successful without having to pull out.

[redmed]

I like smoother & quieter, one of my gripes is how ruff the ride is in the Kizashi. But I also like the price I got my Kizzy for.

[SamirD]

Sad to see another one totalled. There's even parts cars right on this forum that could have been used to repair it.