Kizashi Club

Hello. First post here. I've searched this site for the answer to my question but no results. So here goes.

I am considering buying a manual transmission Kizashi XLS. Unfortunately I cannot find one locally to test drive, so would have to buy sight unseen (and untested) from interstate. I've driven the CVT Sport model and love the car, but not the transmission. Hence I want a manual 'box.

I'm hoping someone here can help me with my question: How is the throttle on the manual Kizashi for smoothness in low speed applications such as car parks and first gear traffic crawling? We have a Honda Euro (Acura TSX) and the low speed throttle is very jerky and snatchy in such conditions. I don't want that again.

Can anyone speak of their experiences in this regard in the Kizashi?

Many thanks.
Steven

I have no issues with low speeds / traffic. The clutch is fantastic so it's easy to feather the throttle and keep it smooth.

I have no issues with low speed smoothness with my manual Kizashi and I often drive in heavy traffic. The Kizashi's gearing is quite good and the clutch is on the soft side hence it's forgiving and much better to drive at slow speeds. However, the shifter is the weakest part of the manual transmission in this car. It's a medium throw shifter that isn't as precise as it should be. Fast shifts can result in mis-shifts in my opinion; an issue that I didn't have with my Mazda3's much more precise shifter. From what I've read about the TSX, that car has a better shifter than the Kizashi as Honda and Mazda are quite renown for their excellent manuals.
The shift knob will also eventually wear in both the leather and the silver painted trim. I now have a solid round knob that is much better.
However, I don't think you'll regret getting the manual Kizashi. It's fun to drive yet is forgiving for low speeds and city driving and the softer clutch is better for low speed city driving, IMO.

Lastly, be warned that the RHD manual Kizashis are known to have an issue with their clutch pedal box breaking. There are a number of complaints here about it, especially from Australia which is where I imagine you are in given you referenced trims and model names not found in North America. Make sure the car you get doesn't have this issue.

I have no problem doing the 1st gear crawl when stuck in slow traffic

Many thanks for the responses. Yes, I am in Australia, where the Kizashi in manual is as rare as hens teeth. Thanks also for the info regarding the pedal box in RHD models - will research that. Hopefully not an expensive fix if it happens.

As mentioned, I've test driven the DCT Kizashi and thought it a terrific drive. Although I much prefer manual transmissions. The mixture of solid, stable handling and excellent ride is rarely found together. Steering was another highlight for me - very accurate and natural feeling, which is also increasingly uncommon in these days of artificial feeling electric steering set-ups. But the main driver for me is the value proposition. Because the Kizashi didn't take off in the market down here they're now cheap as chips as a second-hand buy. Combined with the thorough Suzuki engineering, chain drive and port fuel injection they promise long and trouble free ownership. Throw driving enjoyment and good looks (subjective, I know) into the mix and the Kizashi makes a strong case. But I guess I'm probably preaching to the converted here

Cheers
Steven

splashalot wrote:Many thanks for the responses. Yes, I am in Australia, where the Kizashi in manual is as rare as hens teeth. Thanks also for the info regarding the pedal box in RHD models - will research that. Hopefully not an expensive fix if it happens.

As mentioned, I've test driven the DCT Kizashi and thought it a terrific drive. Although I much prefer manual transmissions. The mixture of solid, stable handling and excellent ride is rarely found together. Steering was another highlight for me - very accurate and natural feeling, which is also increasingly uncommon in these days of artificial feeling electric steering set-ups. But the main driver for me is the value proposition. Because the Kizashi didn't take off in the market down here they're now cheap as chips as a second-hand buy. Combined with the thorough Suzuki engineering, chain drive and port fuel injection they promise long and trouble free ownership. Throw driving enjoyment and good looks (subjective, I know) into the mix and the Kizashi makes a strong case. But I guess I'm probably preaching to the converted here

Cheers
Steven

You pretty much nailed the Kizashi ownership experience for many. It's a very good car for the money you can get one on the used market. I like my Kizashi a lot and plan to keep it for a while. It's proved to be very reliable with a low cost of ownership. While I don't think the clutch pedal box issue should deter you, you'll definitely want to look into that given the number of RHD manual owners who have encountered this issue.

splashalot wrote:Many thanks for the responses. Yes, I am in Australia, where the Kizashi in manual is as rare as hens teeth. Thanks also for the info regarding the pedal box in RHD models - will research that. Hopefully not an expensive fix if it happens.

As mentioned, I've test driven the DCT Kizashi and thought it a terrific drive. Although I much prefer manual transmissions. The mixture of solid, stable handling and excellent ride is rarely found together. Steering was another highlight for me - very accurate and natural feeling, which is also increasingly uncommon in these days of artificial feeling electric steering set-ups. But the main driver for me is the value proposition. Because the Kizashi didn't take off in the market down here they're now cheap as chips as a second-hand buy. Combined with the thorough Suzuki engineering, chain drive and port fuel injection they promise long and trouble free ownership. Throw driving enjoyment and good looks (subjective, I know) into the mix and the Kizashi makes a strong case. But I guess I'm probably preaching to the converted here

Cheers
Steven

Yes, value wise the Kizashi is perfect. For comparison I bought my 2013 Manual S with 16K miles (25,750 km) for US $9500 ($13,155 AUD.)

Good luck and hopefully welcome to the Kizashi club!

I have a 2010 with 60K miles and still enjoy driving it. The first thing I noticed was how easy/light the clutch is. No problem with low speed surging. Slight problem putting in reverse after car not driven for 20+ minutes. Some say that the clutch was not bled correctly in the factory. I believe that to be true but still have not bled the clutch myself. Too easy to compensate for, just push in the clutch petal a few times before shifting into reverse.

Thanks redmed. I'm now at ease with the city driving throttle smoothness, thanks to the responses here.

Am just wondering - how does the Kizashi hold up in terms of feel as the miles pile on? That is, some cars start to feel loose in the suspension and creaky in the body at surprisingly low mileages. The DCT I test drove had only 23,000kms and felt tight as a drum. Does that feel continue as they age?

Am negotiating on two Kizashis -a steel grey and a red one. Not sure which colour I prefer. Any comments on paint? For example, is the red prone to fading as on some cars? I've seen some Milano Red Accord Euros around here that really should be renamed Milano Pink. Man they've faded.

Thanks for all the help - this seems a really supportive forum.

splashalot wrote:Thanks redmed. I'm now at ease with the city driving throttle smoothness, thanks to the responses here.

Am just wondering - how does the Kizashi hold up in terms of feel as the miles pile on? That is, some cars start to feel loose in the suspension and creaky in the body at surprisingly low mileages. The DCT I test drove had only 23,000kms and felt tight as a drum. Does that feel continue as they age?

Am negotiating on two Kizashis -a steel grey and a red one. Not sure which colour I prefer. Any comments on paint? For example, is the red prone to fading as on some cars? I've seen some Milano Red Accord Euros around here that really should be renamed Milano Pink. Man they've faded.

Thanks for all the help - this seems a really supportive forum.

I've put almost 50,000 miles (~80,500 km) on my Kizashi since I bought it in 2012. Many of those are in some "severe" city driving conditions with stop-and-go traffic with pot-hole laden streets. The Kizashi has soldiered them well and the car feels no different than the day I test drove it with 7,500 miles on the odometer. While some others complain of creaks and rattles, mine is quiet unless the RF system's bass is turned up. As for the suspension, keep in mind that there is a known issue with the rear shocks failing prematurely due to a faulty bump stopper design. I experienced this and had my rear shocks replaced under warranty and had the revised bump stoppers installed. It's been great since.
There is a lot more information on this issue here:
http://www.kizashiclub.com/forum/viewto ... =12&t=3186

Also, keep in mind that the automatic Kizashi doesn't have a DCT. It's a CVT and these models are available with AWD. The manual models are exclusively FWD.

As for color, I'd say go with the grey. Some colors are prone to chipping very easily and I believe red is one of them. It applies to the black and blue colors too, but I don't think many silver and grey owners have complained about it. The thin paint on this car is also another common complaint, but the chipping depends on the color of the car, it seems. Silver is the best while black ones like mine are prone to chipping. If you get the red one, get a hood deflector. You're lucky because they are impossible to find in North America yet are common in Australia because they are manufactured there.

Overall, the car is an excellent value and is quite rewarding to own, IMO. It looks good, drives well, is reliable, and is very rare.