It's story time again. Back in the happy-go-lucky days of 1999, just as Hyundai was usurping Kia and gas was still cheaper than ever, a third Korean company charged into the ultra-competitive American market. It's name is Daewoo, and if you still haven't heard of them today, you're not alone. After four years of miserable "cars" that sold like ice cream in Alaska, Daewoo packed up, limped home, and got promptly bought by GM. For the Korean auto industry, third time is apparently not a charm.
And if you think GM would learn its lesson and leave well enough alone, you overestimate their business sense. After all, this is the company that reduced Saab and Isuzu into retail outlets for re-branded Chevrolets. History has repeated itself: GM chose to rebadge the Daewoos and sell them at Chevrolet and Suzuki dealerships. The mission of one, the Suzuki Forenza (formerly known as the Daewoo Nubira), is to take the Elantra and Spectra head-on.
Daewoo seems to have designed the Forenza as by-the-book as possible. Like its Korean competitors, it comes fairly loaded. Trim lines are S, LX, and EX (there we go again with Honda labels). Even the S has 4-wheel disc brakes, power windows and locks, AC, and an 8-speaker CD/cassette player. Nice. LX adds a power sunroof, keyless entry, cruise control, fog lights, and 15-inch alloy wheels. The $800-costlier EX, in an unusual and perhaps pretentious move, adds leather, period. An automatic is mandatory on the EX; stickshifts can be had on the other two. Antilock brakes are the only option on any model, though they are reportedly hard to find in real life. With ABS, an LX automatic runs $16,199, right on target in the same inviting range as the Elantra and Spectra. The Forenza has the unique advantage of being the only car in its class to start at under $13,000 (by a dollar).
Like its Korean competitors, the Forenza has a DOHC, 16-valve, 2.0-liter 4-cylinder as its sole engine. Although it's a close race, Daewoo will have to settle for the bronze medal, as its motor only squeezes only 126 horsepower from the same-size block. It also doesn't win the awards earned by Hyundai/Kia for keeping the planet clean.
Suzuki's claim of having "the best warranty in America" is unfounded and untrue. Having the powertrain covered for 7 years or 100,000 miles isn't too shabby, but it's outclassed by Hyundai, Kia, and Mitsubishi, who all offer 10 years or 100,000 miles. Why does Suzuki claim to have the best? Because theirs "provides owners more than 14,000 miles of coverage per year. Most warranties cover only 10,000 - 12,000 miles per year." (Gee, Suzuki, why not lower it to 100,000 miles or ONE year, so it averages out to 100,000 miles a year?) Apparently, we're either dealing with a company that isn't of the highest moral order, or doesn't think much of the intellect of its customers. Also notice that Suzuki doesn't even mention its bumper-to-bumper warranty anywhere on its website, which at 3 years/36,000 miles is one of the industry's worst.
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