A year ago in March we were looking for a larger size vehicle. Here everyone was economizing and we were going to trade in our little Chevy on a truck. I call it a truck because it sits on a truck chassis. You call it an S U V . My mother-in-law continues to use the word 'car'. It's a truck. With gas mileage like that....it's a truck.
Living in the Orlando area gives us some special advantages from time to time. A rental company had purchased a fleet of Suzuki XL7 SUV"s. Said vehicles would transport large groups (up to seven) of people from the airport to the hotel, thence to dinner, thence to a theme park, and then either back to the hotel or the airport. That's all they did! Suzuki had over-priced them, and the economy was starting to melt.
This company (which shall remain nameless), had many different outlets in the state of Florida. When they dumped the XL7's on the market we counted four in this area alone on the used lots. We chose a titanium colored unit one step up from the basic configuration. It had only ten thousand miles on it with the balance of the warranty. In March of 2009 it was exactly one year old. We knew this because of the sticker on the roof of the trunk. We negotiated the price down including our little OLD 2003 Chevy. We signed on for less than half the retail price of the unit.
Now let me tell you what we found out about the Suzuki XL7. Chevy has recently introduced the Traverse; same thing! The Suzuki had a SLIGHTLY smaller (by a few horse power) engine. The Suzuki could only fit seven people, although all the reviews suggested that the last two passengers be midgets or children. In an earlier version of the model, up to 2006 Suzuki used a smaller wheelbase vehicle and their own engine. This one was premiered in 2007. It stopped production in 2009. Actually, the year's production was never completed. I cannot say how many rolled off the line in Canada; but suffice it to say that not all the XL7's projected for 2009 were ever built. What was the problem????
A few months into ownership we noticed a problem with the gas cap. After re-setting the cap two times, the check engine light would go on. My first visit to the dealership for warranty work was as bad as reading idiot lights. They patted my head and spoke quietly to me to keep me calm. I was told that neither I nor my wife had the ability to screw the gas cap back on the vehicle after fueling. I did what I had to do. I knew that the Maya stuck large maguey fronds through their tongues to appease the Gods....I didn't do that....I cried all the way home....I didn't do that either. We felt that we were sitting on a keg of dynamite. What could go wrong next?
On the third visit to the dealership for the same thing, I felt very bad that I was not the first owner; at least, then I could have availed myself of Lemon Law protection and asked for either my money back or a new vehicle. I was the second owner. I had to tell the dealership to cut the ..... and get another story. They contacted Suzuki. The representative had to come around and look at it. He suggested replacing the gas cap. Why didn't I think of that?
About three weeks later, it started all over again. By this time, we had visited umpteen websites housing complaints and problems with this SUV (SUcky Vehicle). It seemed that because Suzuki re-built an already produced GM V6 engine to its specifications in Japan there was a problem matching the evaporator canister and the purge valve to the system. Suzuki knew nothing about this. Ignorance is truly bliss.
When finally they were forced to replace the canister and then the purge valve in three different trips, the problem went away......NOT.
One week ago tomorrow, I was tooling around east Orlando without a care in the world. I reached down to re-set my trip meter when the ghastly 'loose gas cap' came right on. Usually we would stop and make sure it was tight. Then it would happen a second time followed by the check engine light. This time, I could not cross the street after the light had turned green before seeing my little friend icon on the dashboard. That little engine told me all I needed to know. This baby was going.
One week ago this coming Saturday, we visited a KIA dealership in Longwood. The boys at KIA were in a selling frenzy. They made us a deal on a 2011 Sorento which could not be beat with a stick. GONE!
During our investigation of the problems Suzuki had with the GM engine they had tinkered with we found out that there was at least one major problem aside from the engine blowing out the purge valve every five thousand miles. When they re-designed the engine in Japan, the tekkie boys did something to the tensioners on the timing belt. Many problems started arising from the tensioners not holding the belt in place. Many engines had to be re-built or at least be bought back. Luckily, we dumped it (and we surely did not have the gelt to really do it at that time....but thanks to Wells Fargo which had held the mortgage on this house we got a very very good loan).
Plans are already in the works for a new (old) XL7 to be released toward the end of this year. If they put a six in it, it will be the six they are using on the smaller version SUV in their line.
What it all comes down to is that you never know. We do so much preparation for the purchase of a car that it seems like exams in college all over again. Months before the day or reckoning we memorize facts and figures about the car so that we can make a monkey out of the salespeople. On the other hand, buying a used vehicle is like picking the right watermelon. No matter what you do, some helpful person will always tell you about its shortcomings. There ain't no justice.
And that's all I have for this edition of the blog. I see that it has been quite a while since I brought us all up to date. It is time to take care of that. Visit with me on Blip.fm. I am DJ TeaGee. It's been a blast putting together runs of songs new and old. I try to keep the mix eclectic; and I try to keep awake as I program.....many times I lose. If you like what you hear, sign on as a listener or even become a DJ yourself. The price is right. If it's free, it's for me.
See you around the campfire.
Tony
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