Originally posted by hogenbor
Sorry, but I had to give a reply on that. A WRX 2003 with only 8.000 miles on the clock!!! That's downright criminal! It can hardly have been run in properly, how can you enjoy such a machine when you can't even trash it yet?
Sorry, my frustration, I lust after that car 
Problem is that I can (just) afford one, but if you know what petrol costs here and what the insurance quote was, you'll understand why I haven't got one. Maybe just as well, with the German autobahn just 30km away I would kill myself within a week. Geronimo!
Three years ago I sold my Shelby GLHS (220 hp 2.5 liter turbo motor from Dodge Spirit R/T replaced 175 hp 2.2 liter a few years prior). I wanted to replace it with something as fast and hopefully far more civil. We also sold our rental condo, so we had some extra cash. I was somewhat disappointed that the WRX, while plenty fast, was less capable than the Shelby. The GLHS was nothing less than a street-legal road racer, able to beat up most of the high-end sports machines I would encounter. In comparison, the WRX simply doesn't have that "edge" to its personality. It's not nearly as precise and tends to wallow much more at the limits, which are noticably lower than the Shelby's. However, it is more comfortable, much quieter and considerably more reliable than the GLHS. Oh, and it has a warranty to boot.
I am not gentle with my cars. I drive them hard. My Aerio SX gets a good workout every day. With a 145 hp 2.0 liter engine dragging around just 2,600 pounds, performance is respectable (0-60 in 7.9 seconds). From 2004 on the power is up to 155 hp, and 0-60 is two tenths faster at 7.7 seconds. According to Suzuki, a Supercharger kit will be available within the next year, pushing power up to 195 and 205 hp respectively. But, at a cost of $2,300. That would mean 0-60 times in the mid to lower 6 second range. A suspension kit would really help, but Suzuki hasn't announced that as of yet. Since there is little aftermarket hardware available, the factory will likely be the only source for this. Suzuki races a factory Aerio in hillclimbs. About the only thing this 850 hp, all-wheel drive monster shares with the street car is the name. Considering Suzuki's success in motorcycle racing, I am hoping that their car division begins showing more interest in high performance autos. Suzuki really hasn't figured out how to market cars in the USA yet either. In terms of quality and performance, the Aerio SX is the equal of the Mazda 3, but it is simply ignored in their advertising, with them pushing the uninspiring Reno and Forenza. Likewise, the gorgeous Verona (styled by Ital-design, as are all Suzukis) is stuck being powered by a 155 hp, 2.5 liter inline 6. Suzuki has developed a 255 hp version, punched out to 3.0 liters, but that is not planned to be imported to North America.
So, why do we own 4 Suzukis? Price. The Aerio SX offers just three options. Automatic Tranny, all-wheel drive and ABS. Everything else is standard. Buy almost any other car and you will have to pay extra for power windows, mirrors, A/C, remote entry, 6 CD changer (with 6 speakers and sub-woofer), cruise control, driving lamps, rear wiper and defogger, Alloy wheels, high performance Yokohama tires, map lights, under rear deck storage, 8 way adjustable driver's seat and much more. A comparibly equipped Mazda 3 will cost $20k. But the Suzuki sells for just $16k, and includes a fully transferable 7 year, 100,000 mile warranty. Reliability is as good as any Japanese manufacturer (my only issue has been a squeeky sunvisor). Suzukis don't use timing belts that require replacement every 60,000 miles. They use a quad row chain that never requires adjustment or replacement.
In addition to the above, Suzuki offered a neat, but brief loyalty discount program, meaning that the more Suzukis you own, the bigger the discount for the next one. Currently, the discount is reduced to $500, regardless of how many you own. You can get another $500 off if you are active duty military or a college student.
Once Suzuki figures out the American market, they will become a major player.
By the way, that Kadett looks great! They were common here in the US 30+ years ago. I always liked the styling. A friend had a 1970 Kadett coupe. We drove it in a bunch of TSD type road rallys.
My regards,
Widewing
