23rd Jan 2005, 10:16

Suzuki did not design this car. Daewoo did. GM owns 10% of Suzuki and all of the automotive part of Daewoo. Suzuki needed larger cars for the US market and getting them from GM was a cheap way of doing it. Daewoo uses Holden engines. These are out of date GM designs and do not have a long life span like most Japanese engines. Make sure you have your timing belt changed ON time it is a weak area on the 2.0.

22nd May 2005, 08:33

When you even hint at this car being unreliable, you ARE comparing it to a Corolla. Quality is ALWAYS relative. The Koreans are doing a very good job these days, and they have come further in a shorter time than ALL Japanese manufacturers did. Every Japanese manufacturer started out as an also-ran until a few people who didn't have a lot to spend decided to stand the laughing-at in return for mobility. I'm thinking strongly about a Chevrolet Optra (Forenza, outside the US) and having test-driven one, I must say it is indeed impressive and if nothing else has a lot of class built in. That's something Japenese manufacturers only seem to be able to do if they charge body parts for it.

Additionally, I currently own BOTH a Daewoo (Cielo) and a Suzuki (Swift GTi). The Daewoo gets my vote every time except in the category of performance. Cielo is better built and is chock full of style and class. Swift is cheap and very low rent. Of course, that's my opinion as is usually the case when it comes to cars.

10th Nov 2006, 06:57

I recently purchased an '06 Forenza and I couldn't be happier with the vehicle. Granted, I only purchased the "base" model, but for a base model I have to say that it has a lot of features that I didn't find in my old "base" Pontiac (I know.. apples and oranges).. for instance.. power windows, power locks, tilt wheel and an adjustable seat that fits almost any driving style. Don't even get me started on the interior materials used for the price I paid for the car.. incredibly good. So far the car runs great (I know.. I haven't had it more than a year so far.. time will tell) and it really is a fun car to drive in a standard transmission. Will it last? Who knows... but every car is different for every driver... The 96 Pontiac Sunfire was supposed to be a lemon of a car with defects galore... I drove the thing to the ground after 11 years and 230,000 miles on it... original motor... original transmission, only changed the timing chain once.

Point is.. any car can be reliable.. it all depends on how you drive it and maintain it.

10th Jun 2009, 11:45

I bought my Suzuki Forenza new in 2004. It has been a great car, never given me any problems, and looks great both inside and out. I have been very happy with it.

5th Jul 2010, 18:43

I can't believe what I'm reading!!! LOL!!!

I have only had one new car ever, and that was my 2004 Suzuki Forenza. I bought it new in 2005. By far, hands down, the worst car I have ever owned, and I'm comparing that to ALL the used Hondas I have ever owned!!!

I keep having the same problems; valve cover gasket has gone out twice in one year, and each time, it soaks my wires and plugs in oil, ruining them, but the warranty only covers the valve cover gasket, so that's $500 x 2 so far...

Catalytic converter went out, cam sensor, brake light switch like 4xs, which killed my battery, which also is not covered under warranty!!!

This car is a money pit, totally stressful, and to make matters worse, Suzuki has terrible customer service. OH, LOL, I read about a loaner car!? What state do you live in, and your car must have been fairly new, because after 3000 or 3600 miles, no loaner car is available!! And the dealer I go to only has one loaner car for the whole dealer!! Also, they like to charge a diagnostic fee of 85.00 when the valve cover gasket is under warranty, but the cam sensor wasn't and I had to call Suzuki corp to get them to waive the fee!

So, I totally disagree with the previous comments on the 2004 Suzuki Forenza, I really wish I had the same experience with my Suzuki that y'all had with yours!!!

Well, I'm ready to get rid of mine!! Now it has 7,100 miles on it and barely runs! I will take a 15 year old Honda in place of that car any day!!!

11th Nov 2010, 06:43

I own a 2006 Suzuki Forenza.

This will be the last time I:

1. Get in a hurry to buy a car.

2. Turn my back on Honda OR Toyota.

3. Research the car I am buying after I bought it.

It seems as though I am lucky to get 22 MPG anywhere I go on average. Maybe 25 MPG on a long freeway trip. My research said it is the WORST in its class for fuel.

28th Nov 2010, 15:24

I have a 2005 Suzuki Forenza. I bought it with 35,000 and 2 years on it. It was very good for the first two years or so. Over the past year or two though, I have had constant problems. I've been putting all kinds of money into it, and it still only has 90,000 miles and is 5 years old. I don't think I'll be buying a Suzuki again anytime soon.