I just saw this ad too.. I was like... WTF?

They just choose a quirky exspensive car... and bash them....

Look at Hyundai, comparing themselves to BMW, the whole cupholder ads...

 

there is a few things they say in the add that is miss leading too. They compare the horse power to a base moddle but compart the price to an S or cabero.. my car was really only a little more than this one.. and you cant even compare the handeling of the two i went and test drove one. I left the lot laughing.

 

The fact is that most consumers are sheep. They will see two small cars. One is generally known as a hip small car, and the other is trying to associate itself with it, as previously mentioned here, to give itself some credibility. Many consumers will look at this commercial and say, 'Duh, Martha, look at that Suzyooki with the cape on. It must be mightier than the MINI.'

 

I can amswer this one, sort of, over a month and a half late.

If the tires have low wear you can really just replace the tire. If the tires are worn down you should replace all 4. The reason is the more worn a tire gets the smaller it gets. The newer tire, even though it has the same numbers on it is actually larger. So what happens is that tire turns slower than the rest. I think it is possible for the computers on the car that measure wheel speed will get confused and think the car is sliding the tires. Also it may cause stress on the clutches that allow you to turn on the dry. I am not sure if anyone ever owned a 4wd vehicle and had it locked in on a turn. The vehicle will jump around like crazy. The clutches in an AWD car allow turns, sort of like a locked rear and a slip differential rear.

 

swflaboy- Why would you like AWD if you rarely have a need to use it? Frankly I don't see a huge need for AWD/4 wheel drive unless your situation calls for it- in other words you get tons of snow that don't get plowed often or hauling often. Even living in Wisconsin, I don't personally see a need for AWD/4WD. The SX4 is a crossover, and a poor one at that. It is definitely a transportation-only vehicle. Bear in mind that they're attempting to power 4 wheels with 4 cylinders without a turbo. That's a no-no in my book.

Regarding the Genesis, why not get a higher platform vehicle(SUV, etc) for your mom? Wouldn't that allow for easier entry/exit?

 

WTH, in that commericial did I just see the driver switch to 4WD just to go over a puddle ?

 

Probably smart marketing, but there are some notable problems in no particular order:

Perception: One is a Suzuki... therefore, the competitor wins... in this case, the MINI.
Refinement: One is a BMW, the other... a $16,000 Suzuki. MINI wins again.
Handling: MINI

The list goes on...

But one MAJOR point: RESALE

When you buy a $20k MINI, in a year, you can sell it for $18k.
When you buy a $16k Suzuki, in a year, you can sell it for scrap metal.

Obviously that's an exaggeration, but unless you plan to run each of them into the ground, you have to consider the amount you will get back when you sell. If you get several thousand more for the MINI, then there goes a lot of the money you THOUGHT you were saving.

No offense intended really to the Suzuki... it's probably an OK car... but at least in the US, the perception of the brand is pretty poor (at least for 4-wheeled vehicles), so the resale value just can't compare to something like the MINI.

That being said, many of the people on NAM purchased the cars for their character, handling, and gas mileage... three things that the MINI has much more of than the Suzuki by almost anyone's measure.

 

You can say what you want about Suzukis, buzzy, cheap, but in the end they are VERY reliable, How do I know? I have owned 2 and one is still in my possesion after 12 years. I still have my 1996 Suzuki Sidekick, which by the way has never in it's 12 years seen a Suzuki dealership for any problems. While I love my MINI, I can't say the same thing for it. After owning it for 2 years, it's been to the dealer quite a few times. The same for my base model Cooper I owned a few years ago. Maybe the resale value will go down on the Suzuki, but at least you won't have to worry about spending gobs of money on things like power steering pumps, steering racks, bypass valves, etc. that are prone to go out all too much IMO. When I return from my deployment, I will be changing the original clutch and shocks out, but other than that, the engine still buzzes along just the way it did when I purchased it new back in '96.

Personally, if I were Suzuki, I wouldn't be comparing an SX4 to a MINI. They should bring the Swift back here and compare it. Now that would be some competition. In the end, you will always have a car company compare their cars to a higher end one. It makes people who have purchased one feel good. Scion did the same thing. I can't tell you how many people have told me that their XA is better than my car. At least suzuki came right out and said it. They didn't use any brainwashing approaches to make rice boys think they had a car that could compete with a MINI such as the way Toyota did with the Scion brand.

 

I've made a different post but I'll reply more here.

We have both now.

I can say that the commericial is a bit misleading.

But the SX4 IS "kinda" like a MINI that sits a foot up.
That's the best way to explain it.

I personally think they did a good job on it.
30+ mpg real world, timing chain, not a timing belt,
the zippyness factor is high, it has a useable trunck
and 5 seatbelts.

And although I hope not, very much hope not, I do
have a concern that the SX4 will be running many many
years after my mini is parked in the back yard.

I can kinda see what the monster truck craze was about now.
(the sitting up high part)

 

Well, I wouldn't consider a couple cars to be a statistically significant sample size to determine that Suzukis as a whole are "very reliable," BUT my post was not to say that the Suzuki is a bad car... The point is that it is not PERCEIVED to be a quality or desireable car (at least in the US), so resale will suffer compared to the MINI.

Perception is not always reality... in fact, it often isn't.

Consumer Reports says that overall Ford's quality matches that of Toyota and Honda AND Ford and it's subsidiaries produce more of the highest rated cars for safety than any other company. However, I think it's safe to say that the PERCEPTION of your average American does not align with those facts.

The same goes for Suzuki. They very well may be reliable little cars that offer great value, but Suzuki is where Hyundai was several years ago... relatively low volume and a poor general perception. Hyundai has vastly improved their perception in America, and Suzuki may be able to do the same... time will tell.

 

Last year I drove a prototype turbo-powered SX4 at Laguna Seca. I have to say that little box was more fun than Vegas on Halloween. Obviously not the same level of fit and finish as the production MINI, but for the coin I really hope they produce the forced-induced version, there's just something cool about a stripped out funbox.

 

I want the rally car. Until I can get it, I'll keep my MCS.

 

Maybe 2 cars isn't enough to consider a statistically significant sample size to determine that Suzukis are very reliable. But it's MY perception. This is why I still have the trucklett to this day. Because it still runs as well as it did when I purchased it 12 years ago. Not too mention the fact that I beat the hell out of her on the ranges at Ft. Bragg when I was stationed there. Let me ask you this. What Suzuki have you owned? Please don't tell me that your Uncle's brother's friend's sister who knows Bob in accounting said that Suzukis aren't reliable. The fact is, the average MINI owner isn't going to want to mess around with a car 12 years down the road that has expensive parts on it that will probably have to be replaced pretty often. Where as the cheaper Suzuki, while not being as refined as say a MINI, will probably outlast the MINI by a long shot. Yes, the MINI is a great car, but it's not all that. No offense Blainestang, but it's people like you that give MINI owner's that "Large Ego" stereotype. I hate that stereo type !!!!!!!!!!!!

 

That's partly why I hesitate to praise the Honda Fit on NAM, because there is a certain mindset on this Forum, (but understandably so because we are, after all, Mini enthusiasts, owners, etc.). How can anything cheaper be any better? Fact of the matter is...it's possible, it's absolutely possible. OK, maybe not head and shoulders better, but surely competitive.

I have zero problems with the SX4-- as a matter of fact now that it's been mentioned you can squeeze 30MPG out of one I'm starting to ponder the possibility of a cheap, reliable 4WD car to bookend the MINI. Meh, maybe if I hit Powerball next week.

 

You clearly misunderstood what I was saying.

I don't even OWN a MINI, yet, either.

In fact, I drive cars that a lot of people would PERCIEVE to be unreliable, unsophisticated junk. I daily drive a 1993 4-cylinder Ford Mustang Notchback with peeling clearcoat, dented fenders, wheels that don't match front-to-back, etc, that has 216,000 miles on it... on the original engine and transmission... along with a lot of other things. I'm SURE there are a lot of people out there that would be downright EMBARRASSED to be seen in it, but I absolutely ADORE that car. With coilovers/updated suspension, 13" Brembo Rotors on the front (hence the non-matching wheels), nearly 30mpg around town, and a purchase price of $500 (stock, of course), this car has been ultra-cheap, rediculously reliable (haven't spent more than $50 total on anything above routine maintenance over the last 30k miles), and loads of fun.

All that being said, in addition to the other Fords myself and my family own now and in the past, I think a lot of them are great cars. Unfortunately, despite our personal great experiences with Fords, the general public's perception of them, their reliability, etc, is not exactly exemplary. Because of this, resale value suffers.

So, if you think I'm some sort of MINI-driving Euro-snob... you're mistaken. Very few people appreciate a cheap, underappreciated beater as much as I do. Unfortunately, just because MY perception is that a 16-year-old Mustang can be a great, reliable little car doesn't mean that the general public's PERCEPTION is the same. In fact, even if reputable institutions like Consumer Reports and the Institue for Highway Safety say that Ford's quality is on par with Honda and Toyota and that they make more of the safest cars on the road than anyone else doesn't mean that the general public will believe it.

Other people's personal experiences and even the TRUTH doesn't matter to the general public... and that's my entire point.

Whether it's backed by facts or not, the general public's overall *perception* (which includes reliability, desireability, etc) of Suzuki is relatively poor compared to MINI. Therefore, MINI will have higher resale value.

My entire point has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with my personal feelings toward MINI or Suzuki. My only point is that the public's perception of MINI is very, very high (right or wrong), and so it has incredibly resale value compared to the Suzuki... or virtually any other car, for that matter.

 

When anyone compares their vehicle to another by name for an ad, they've already lost the contest.

 

Are you old enough to remember the Ford Granada commercials. They compared it to a Mercedes Benz. They were quite laughable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dht4E6yBwsE

 

... remember the parodies of the Lincoln commercials where a Rabbi conducted a circumcision in the back of a Continental to demonstrate the smooth ride? That's gotta be on YouTube somewhere...

 

Why does the Hyundai Genesis try to compare itself to BMW 750 or Lexus LS460? They are playing a different game... yet... they try.

 

Oh no, I didn't misunderstand you one bit, and your point was well taken. Yeah, Suzuki's perception is not generally good right now. If they bring some of their cooler cars over here, that could change. Not to mention, stick with one car model, instead of a different one every 3 years. Anyway, after my ramblings, the main point I was trying to make is that we as MINI owners sometimes make our cars out to be ferraris. I like MINIs, love them to death. I also however, hate the attitude and flack I get sometimes from non MINI owners due to their perception of us. I like the fact that the group I hang out with respects my car. All the guys their have Vettes and F-bodies. They just trash the VW group as being obnoxious, arrogant jerks. No different for the imports. I like to keep it that way.

Another point I was trying to make is that while I love my MINI, sometimes I get disgusted that my 12 year old econobox has less problems than a highend car. But overall, I wouldn't trade it for anything........unless they come out with a MINI pickup.

 

Yeah, unless our MINI goes the first 30k miles virtually problem-free... then my "beater" Mustang will have done better from 185,000 miles to 215,000 (current). So, there's a fairly good chance the MINI will be "less reliable"... so I may be feeling that same disgust

But anyway, my post was in response to your suggestion that I was personally perpetuating the MINI-snob stereotype... and my point was that I wasn't making a personal judgement on MINI's or Suzuki's... in fact, I was saying how the general public's opinion of a car (which is directly proportional to resale value, on the whole) is often NOT based on facts.

 

As I recall that was a bit on the old SNL.

 

finally saw this commercial and i was like wth? other than the price, i dont know why anyone would pick a SX4 over a mini?!?

i think theres a new commercial out as well, i tried to link it but the youtube said "video no longer available"

 

What a stupid commercial.

 

Hey I like scions I had an xA it ran with no drama, it was not better than a mini, but I built it to be like a mini but have 4 doors and cost 50% of the price, it was pretty close but not quite the same

I'm sure the SX4 isn't bad, but IMHO it can't and never will be better than a Mini, sure it's reliable, and that's about it