civilized ku # 451 ~ vehicle
Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at 05:26PM 
Suzuki SX4, AKA - FIAT Sedici • click to embiggenLast Friday I mentioned that was on my to pick up a new car which caused Dennis Allshouse (no link provided) to ask, "Can't be that Fiat 850, can it?"
No doubt Dennis was remembering my tuscany # 32-36 ~ vroom, vrooom entry wherein I made public my lust for a FIAT 500C, a car which will not be available in the US until late 2010/early 2011. However, our "new" car, if we had purchased it in Italy, would, in fact, be a FIAT Sedici. Here in the good 'ole US of America, it's a Suzuki SX4 - the car is a joint venture between Suzuki (the mechanicals) and FIAT (the design via Giorgetto Giugiaro's Italdesign Studio).
The "new" car is almost the exact same car that we purchased new 1 year ago. We purchased it then as a more fuel efficient AWD (the most fuel efficient AWD in the US of America) replacement for our Subaru Impreza. The Suzuki was everything we hoped it would be and more - 28 mpg average in all around driving, solid as a rock, and trouble free / ultra dependable.
Our only regret, actually my only regret since I drive the Suzuki much more than the wife does, was that we did not get the option package with bluetooth, cruise control, and fog lights - fog lights really do come in handy up here in the mountains. That, and a 6-speed manual transmission would be better than the 5-speed manual that was available at the time. Well, the 2010 SX4 comes with a 6-speed and a retuned engined with 10 more HP, both of which combined yield a quicker and even more fuel efficient car - up 3 mpg more efficient.
So, just for the hell of it, I went to the dealer to find out how much $$$ it might take to trade in the "old" car (18,000 miles on the clock) for a new one (+ fog lights, heated outside mirrors, and bluetooth). As it turned out - with our payment rising by $1/month for the same length loan - it took exactly $0.00US to make the swap. We even got a 1.9% APR.
The deal was simple - just bring in the "old" car, give them the keys, sign the papers, get the new keys, and drive away. So, that's what I did.
Reader Comments (2)
Sounds and looks like a nice little ride.
Neato!!