Topic: RIP Suzuki SX4

[Flinter]

Ms. Flinter called me from the road on the weekend saying that her SX4 started to make a loud engine clatter and then broke down. Luckily she was able to roll into a gas station when it quit.

We had it towed to the shop and finally heard back from them today. No compression on cylinder #2. 

It has been a loyal soldier for the past 11 years and 185K km but we've decided it's time to put it out to pasture.

Guess it's time to go car shopping. Unfortunately not a lot of options in sub-compact AWD hatchbacks with a manual transmission. Too bad the nearest Subie dealer is 600+ km away.

[Fobroader]

Poor little Suzuki  Well for the low, low price of $50k you can have a weaksauce Audi A3 

[tortoise]

Not exactly a sub-compact but you can get a Golf Wagon with 4-Motion and manual for the 2018 model year, so early fall delivery. 

Sucks that it died.  I always liked those unicorn cars.

Aside from the recent event, was it pretty reliable?

[Flinter]

Poor little Suzuki  Well for the low, low price of $50k you can have a weaksauce Audi A3 

It's crazy to say this but, we're both feeling a little sad about letting the old SX4 go.

It was one of those Swiss army knife type vehicles that was small enough to make city driving/parking easy while still being substantial enough to feel planted on the road at highway speeds. Fold down the seats and you could pack an enormous amount of stuff in it. Reasonably fuel efficient, AWD and a manual transmission.

[Fobroader]

Poor little Suzuki  Well for the low, low price of $50k you can have a weaksauce Audi A3 

It's crazy to say this but, we're both feeling a little sad about letting the old SX4 go.

It was one of those Swiss army knife type vehicles that was small enough to make city driving/parking easy while still being substantial enough to feel planted on the road at highway speeds. Fold down the seats and you could pack an enormous amount of stuff in it. Reasonably fuel efficient, AWD and a manual transmission.

My mom had an 09, if it wasn't automatic, I would have totally bought it off her when she traded it in on her new Volvo. Great little car.

[tortoise]

Any idea what it would cost to repair it?

[Fobroader]

Any idea what it would cost to repair it?

Find a wrecked one, engine swap, probably a few grand if you are not doing the work.

[Flinter]

Not exactly a sub-compact but you can get a Golf Wagon with 4-Motion and manual for the 2018 model year, so early fall delivery. 

Sucks that it died.  I always liked those unicorn cars.

Aside from the recent event, was it pretty reliable?

I had forgotten about the Golf Wagon with 4-Motion and manual... unfortunately another case of the nearest dealer being in St. John's  which is 600+km away.

I'd consider the SX4 to be fairly average on the reliability front. For the first 4-5 years it was good but it has gotten progressively worst as it aged. In the last 2-3 years we've been beginning to loose trust in it.

On a road trip about a year ago Ms. Flinter had the heater core fail leading to hot coolant/steam spewing inside the car. I suspect she overheated the engine multiple times in the process which probably contributed to the engine failure.

[84im]

We looked at SX4s for my wife a while back, but ended up buying a 2003 Chevy Tracker, with a hitch in the front so it could be towed by our soon to be purchased motor home.....which we never bought. 
Even though we never used the Tracker as a Tow'd my wife still loves driving her old Tracker.  Mind you, she still gives every SX4 she sees while driving a second look.

Sounds like it's time to get rid of the SX4.  Could you get any money for the car with a failed engine?  You may be $$$ ahead to get a used engine installed and then sell it.

[Flinter]

Any idea what it would cost to repair it?

Find a wrecked one, engine swap, probably a few grand if you are not doing the work.

I suspect we would be looking at $2-$3K to get a used engine swap. One of those things where you spend 2-3K and you are left with a car worth maybe $3K.

The biggest issue is that my better half has been stranded by it a couple of times in the past few years. She just doesn't trust it anymore.

[Mike]

Not exactly a sub-compact but you can get a Golf Wagon with 4-Motion and manual for the 2018 model year, so early fall delivery. 

Sucks that it died.  I always liked those unicorn cars.

Aside from the recent event, was it pretty reliable?

I had forgotten about the Golf Wagon with 4-Motion and manual... unfortunately another case of the nearest dealer being in St. John's  which is 600+km away.

I'd consider the SX4 to be fairly average on the reliability front. For the first 4-5 years it was good but it has gotten progressively worst as it aged. In the last 2-3 years we've been beginning to loose trust in it.

On a road trip about a year ago Ms. Flinter had the heater core fail leading to hot coolant/steam spewing inside the car. I suspect she overheated the engine multiple times in the process which probably contributed to the engine failure.

Our SX4 was pretty good to. It ate a lot of front brakes, but only the A/C had to be replaced in 120,000 km.

[Flinter]

Sorry to hear about the Suzuki

How about a manual Impreza hatch as a replacement?

2.0i Convenience5-door
Manual Transmission

MSRP:$20,895.00
Added Accessories:$0.00
PDI & Freight$1,595.00
Other Fees $325.50
Selling Price:
$22,815.50*

I think the Impreza or XV would be the best candidates for replacement but with the nearest dealer 600+km away in St.John's, she will not consider them as options.

Locally we have Toyota, Nissan, Mazda, Honda, Ford and GM. We will be starting with taking a look at the HR-V, CX3 and she has unexpectedly shown interest in the Buick Encore.

If neither of these options work, I think we will start looking at basic FWD sub-compacts.

[Mike]

Sorry to hear about the Suzuki

How about a manual Impreza hatch as a replacement?

2.0i Convenience5-door
Manual Transmission

MSRP:$20,895.00
Added Accessories:$0.00
PDI & Freight$1,595.00
Other Fees $325.50
Selling Price:
$22,815.50*

I think the Impreza or XV would be the best candidates for replacement but with the nearest dealer 600+km away in St.John's, she will not consider them as options.

Locally we have Toyota, Nissan, Mazda, Honda, Ford and GM. We will be starting with taking a look at the HR-V, CX3 and she has unexpectedly shown interest in the Buick Encore.

If neither of these options work, I think we will start looking at basic FWD sub-compacts.

I'll drive a Subie out to you

[johngenx]

Wow, engine let go at 185K?  Obviously these are not well made, and I agree putting money into it would be a huge error.  Time for something different, and hopefully more reliable and of better quality.

[EV-Light]

Sorry to hear about the Suzuki

How about a manual Impreza hatch as a replacement?

2.0i Convenience5-door
Manual Transmission

MSRP:$20,895.00
Added Accessories:$0.00
PDI & Freight$1,595.00
Other Fees $325.50
Selling Price:
$22,815.50*

I think the Impreza or XV would be the best candidates for replacement but with the nearest dealer 600+km away in St.John's, she will not consider them as options.

Locally we have Toyota, Nissan, Mazda, Honda, Ford and GM. We will be starting with taking a look at the HR-V, CX3 and she has unexpectedly shown interest in the Buick Encore.

If neither of these options work, I think we will start looking at basic FWD sub-compacts.

try a base Escape S or SE with AWD...good discounts now, so should put you at the same range of the HR-V LX with AWD...

[blur911]

Wow, engine let go at 185K?  Obviously these are not well made, and I agree putting money into it would be a huge error.  Time for something different, and hopefully more reliable and of better quality.

It might be just a head gasket, like every Subaru ever...

[Brig]

The biggest issue is that my better half has been stranded by it a couple of times in the past few years. She just doesn't trust it anymore.

I can sure get behind that statement.  It sucks losing confidence in a vehicle you once truly enjoyed. 

I am really digging my CX-3 (AT).  If you do a test drive, I'd be curious to hear your thoughts.

[Scaerio]

Guess it's time to go car shopping. Unfortunately not a lot of options in sub-compact AWD hatchbacks with a manual transmission. Too bad the nearest Subie dealer is 600+ km away.

Are you in Corner Brook?  Which dealers are there?

I had a 2005 Aerio 5-door, and like you, found it to be an amazingly versatile not-so-little little car.  Sorry to hear of the loss of your SX4.

[ltruong]

the cx3 seams like the fun choice. 

[Flinter]

Wow, engine let go at 185K?  Obviously these are not well made, and I agree putting money into it would be a huge error.  Time for something different, and hopefully more reliable and of better quality.

It might be just a head gasket, like every Subaru ever...

I'd certainly agree that an engine failure at 185K seems premature. In fairness, I suspect that the failure of the heater core last year was a contributing factor. She indicated that when that happened, the temperature gauge was pegged to max temperature a few times as she tried to hobble into the next town. Shortly after that incident I began to hear a noise in the engine at certain RPMs that sounded kinda like piston slap. Based on her  description, the mechanical clatter got much louder in the last few minutes before it died.