Used 2006 Suzuki Forenza Consumer Reviews
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Overall Disappointment
When I first got my Forenza I absolutely loved it, the styling and ride were seemingly above class. I purchased it used with 6,000 miles on it. Then, when it hit 20k miles, there was a problem with the brakes and it wouldn't go into gear. Needless to say, the brakes are only covered to 12k miles. Now, the door handle fell off, my speedometer is off by 5+ mph depending on your intended speed, a valve gasket is blown, and the power steering pump needs to be replaced. It only has 33k miles on it! This shouldn't happen, and while the warranty covers it, I'm still disappointed that I spent 10k on this when I could have bought a different make and had less problems.
Lousy
Fuel economy turned out to be lousy. Companies say 21 MPG in the city. That might be the one they tested. But the one I had only 17 MPG in the city. Going city to city was 19 MPG. Facts are facts. That's why I got rid of it.
- Base SedanMSRP: $3,600449 mi away
- Base WagonMSRP: $3,500536 mi away
2006 Suzuki Forenza
My car drove well for a year, I loved it! Then everything fell apart. There was the recurring engine warning light due to faulty gas cap, the center console hinge broke, very annoying, the inside trim along the windshield began to come off, the driver's seat belt would unlock by itself (very scary!), the air bag warning light would turn off and on, in mornings or after it sat a few days sometimes it would not start. THEN the entire motor blew up! The block crumbled and pistons fell out. So, I got it replaced, 6 miles after being "fixed" the car croaked again. Now they say there is a software mishap & it'll be some time 'till they can fix it. Oh & there are a few "minor" recalls.
This is a Great Car!
This is a great looking car and it drives wonderfully. I drive about 40 minutes to work everyday and it's great on gas! The only thing that I can say I don't like about this car is the size of the tires. No one carries this size tire that makes it inconvenient to find replacements. I had two flat tires in one week. But otherwise this is a great car!
Forenza #1
Well I just recently bought a Suzuki Forenza, and I love it! It is fast, roomy, has tons of features, and the best part is it is affordable. I just want to let people know that I am greatly satisfied with it. People always come up to me and ask what Im driving. When I tell them, they cant believe its a Suzuki. Your competitors are charging thousands more than Suzuki, and for what? Words can not explain how satisfied my family and I are!
Lots off Car for the Buck
I purchased this car with iffy credit and the need for a good car at a good price. It is quite lovely inside and out. It drives acceptably, although not remarkably. I have enjoyed it thus far.
2006 Suzuki Forenza
My car gets me where I need to go. Forenzas and other Suzuki cars can be had at a more than reasonable price with no haggling.
Suzuki, More Bang for your Buck!
My Forenza has is not only worth every dollar I paid for it, but it tops any Toyota or Honda in its class. We are a family of five and fit comfortabilly and there is space for my daughters wheelchair and luggage. The gas mileage is great, compared to the Toyota I used to have, and is as reliable as the Nissan and Honda we had. If you want more bang for your buck any Suzuki model is worth every cent. I was also an owner of a 2002 XL-7 when I lived in Puerto Rico and with bad roads and weather conditions, I felt super safe and it was fun to drive.
Car Has a Hard Time Starting!
I bought my car brand new in June of this year and it has been in and out of the shop for 53 days. They have put new spark plugs and a new computer and it still dion't want to work. I have been just getting the run around fron Suzuki and my dealership.
I love my Suzuki
In my opinion the Forenza is one of the best looking traditional station wagons around. For the price, I don't think you can find anything better.
Hate this car!
This car is junk! I haven't had the car a yr and the door handles broke off, the key is constantly stuck in the ignition which runs the battery down, the gears wont shift at all, wont start in cold weather, terrible on tires! There are hundreds of people online with the exact problems and no recalls for any of it! BEWARE!
Please Read before buying!
If I can help anyone about making a decision on buying this car I will feel at least a little bit better about owning it. I have had so many problems with this car in the last year. In the last 4 months I have replaced the serpentine belt, the ENTIRE throttle body ($600), and now the head gasket which thank god is covered by warranty! I took it back for two recalls (the headlights went out and the seat belts were replaced). It's sad how much time I spend in the Suzuki dealership with this car! Now I am stuck with this car and I don't know what to do because I am completely upside down! Do NOT buy!
Suzuki Forenza
I bought this car for work. I drive 134 miles per day to and from work. This car is not roomy enough and does not get very good gas millage on open highway. At 70 miles per hour I average just under 27 miles per gallon. My driving is all highway, with only 4 lights each way. I am not very happy with this performance, but the dealership says it is within the specs.
Learning to Like
I went from a luxury Toyota to an economy Suzuki. Except for power seats and a premium stereo I have the same features. The ride is adequate. My insurance is cheaper. The warranty is great. It's an inexpensive car with a lot of the little options that we have come to want. It has tons of storage, and I had an SUV before.
Not Too Bad
I purchased this car new in Sept. '06. I have already put 5,000 miles on it and have not had any major problems. The air bag warning light came on and it turned out to be a wire connection in the driver's seat was loose. Next was the check engine light, that one turned out to be the gas cap not sealing properly. As far as the gas mileage goes, I have found that if I use a higher octane 91 or greater the fuel mileage improves. 87 octane is just no good in this car. I drove mine from San Diego to Texas and back and found I was getting about 360+ miles per tank with 91+ octane as opposed to about 300 to 325 mi on 87 octane fuel.
Great Car
The 2006 Suzuki Forenza is a great buy. It provides superior value and has a strong warranty.
forenza rocks =)
I have owned the car for 2 weeks and it has 30,000 miles on it. It has no problems, no not starting issues, or any other issues. It rides and drives great, it is very comfortable, you do not feel like you are squished in a compact car. Looks great, i have the summit white paint color. Love the interior design and feel, looks above and beyond what you would expect. Everyone throws down on this car, I don't know why, its a great car, if you treat your car the way it should be treated, it will work just fine! With 30,000 miles on it, i am pretty sure i would have experienced a problem if there is any by now.
My 4th Suzuki...another winner
As a long time Suzuki owner, I would have been disappointed at anything less than a great value. I was not. The 2006 Suzuki Forenza reminded me why I bought my 2nd and 3rd Suzukis (and now my 4th). It has an excellent price, excellent reliability, all in a beautiful package. I am sure that this is not my last Suzuki.
So unreliable it is scary
I bought the car a little over a month ago. About two to three weeks after I bought the car, I went into the store for groceries and came back out to have the car not start at all. When I turned the key, the car didn't even make a sound like it was trying to turn over. Had to get car jumped. Bought new battery thinking that was the problem. Hours later I went out for something and it did it again. Had car into dealership the next day and they couldn't figure out what was wrong with it. I traded in a Ford Escort for this. I miss my old car. I drive with a jump box now and have to use it to start the car sometimes. I'm scared I'll get stranded somewhere.
My First Suzuki and Maybe Not the Last
the Suzuki Forenza is a lot like a Toyota Corolla or a Honda Civic without the high price tag. It has a great warranty, although I haven't had to use it! :-) It is roomy, gas-efficient, and has a nicely appointed interior. The trunk is deceptively large and the 40/60 split on the rear seats is very convenient. This car is very practical, but not very "sexy." I would buy another one.
#1 Car in its Class in the in US, Hands Down
I bought this car having had great experiences with Suzuki in the past. I was the owner of a 1986 Forsa in Puerto Rico until 2005. The three cylinder wagon was all I payed for it. This new Forenza is just as good. It is as fast as any Honda, Toyota, Mazda, Nissan and it is economically super. I have so much fun driving it, too bad it's so under rated. It's worth every buck I payed for it.
Love this car
We just got our Forenza wagon. We love it. It has room for our family. The stereo system is great. We travel on the weekends to ball tournaments and it hold all my sons ball stuff. Drive like a dream. It has lots of extras for not a lot of money. I would buy one all over again.
Completely Dissatisfied
My Forenza has been nothing short of a nightmare. I have had to take it into the dealership 4 different times for the same transmission problem not to mention a brake light switch burning out. My computer panel falling out of its brackets leaving it dangling by my feet, my rear view mirror coming out of its mount, and having both the passenger and driver side door handles complete snap off. I only have approximately 45,500 miles on my car, and I have had to put up with all of these problems. The warranty is great, but when you have to take the car into the dealership at least once every four months, it's not worth it. I am definitely trading it in for something that is not a piece of crap.
Buyer beware
I traded in my beloved Oldsmobile that has 175,000 miles on it for our current Suzuki Forenza that had 30,000. It seemed like a smart idea since we drive between states quite a bit. Were we ever wrong! From the get go this car has been nothing but trouble. I had it into the dealership 5 times for the same problem, corporate offices had to step in and fix it finally. Now it is parked because it won't start and with paying a car payment I just don't have the money to have it into the shop every other week. This was the first car that I have owned that is considered foreign. I'll never do it again.
buyer beware!!!
When we got our first Suzuki we just loved, not long after that we noticed that the driving was getting really nasty and noisy, the door handles started to brake and fall off, and then the front suspension started to give us problems, all this is aggravated by the fact that we have to deal with such uncaring team on the service department. If you must deal with them please tell them in writing what the problem is otherwise they won't know what to do.
Great Car for the Money
I love this car. I got it dressed out for $13,300. It is a well thought out car that looks great and I haven't had anything go bad.
Good car, low price for options provided
This has been a reasonable economy car for the money. I did experience an occassional unnerving vibration until the tires broke in. Both headlights went out at the exact same time at 20,000 miles. Replaced those with no more problems. The car is an econobox so don't expect Honda/Toyota handling and performance. The features are good but don't expect to easily fit and aftermarket stereo or speakers in the car. It was a pain, trust me. Overall you get what you pay for.
My Forenza rocks!
I love love love this car. It was obviously well taken care of by the previous owner, had 41k miles on it when purchased. Zero problems so far. I am 5'10" & it is roomy enough for me. Averages 27 mph, city driving. So fun to drive that I honestly drive more than I should.
Do Not Buy!
Living on a tight budget and needing a new car, I selected the 2006 Suzuki Forenza. I bought this car new with only 63 miles on it. After owning it for three days I have had rough idling / no start problems, the engine intermittingly trying to die while driving, and warning lights that appear then disappear. Please think twice before buying this car. I have had to get spark plugs and my new car's computer replaced only now to find out there is a glitch in the software program that downloads data into the car's computer. The company says that there is no fix for my car yet I have had to be the one to DEMAND a refund. I have had to get a rental and pay for their costly insurance . This car is no value for the money. Please be wary of this car!
Strong purchase
The car is perfect for its price range, although I do have a few problems with it. The 3rd day I bought it, the check engine light went on, and when we took it in we learned the O2 sensor blew. However, it was covered by the spectacular warranty. Also the transmission is slow to respond. When you go from R to D or D to R the transmission jumps. The gas mileage is OK, I average 24 mpg. For my small body (5'5") I fit just great, however, my husbands 6' 5" body has a tight squeeze. I have the base model and I don't feel like I am missing out on anything.
Can't go wrong
This is the best car on the market for the price, if you want a no-frills, compact sedan. I don't mind shifting, so the 5-speed gearbox is fine for me. The downside to opting for a small, light vehicle is that you don't have the comfort or heft of a larger sedan. Consequently, it can get a little uncomfortable on a road trip. But for local trips this makes a good second car. My only criticism is that the flow of air from the heater to the floor is insufficient. I had this checked out by the dealer, and was told that everything is operating normally. Although gas mileage could be better, I am very satisfied with the quality of workmanship, performance and reliability of this vehicle.
I love this car!!
When we first got the car we took it to Rocky Mountain National Park, and the next day it started having troubles starting. At the time they didn't have a fix but a few months down the road a software update came out and that fixed the problem. I have had the car for a year and that is the only problem I have ever had with it. Right now I have put 20,000 miles on it.
Review
I bought my Suzuki w/19,000 miles/Jan of 2007,I have about 95,700 miles now with same transmission problem at this minute.I have driven this car with no problems to Texas twice.I got good gas mileage and smooth comfort I did change to better tires,I also did a lot of LA street driving with no problems up until last Oct when I first felt the jerk of the car when I put the gear in reverse.I have been driving it on and off.If it jerks I turn it off and wait a few minutes and start it up again listening for the idle to come down thats when I put in D. Looking for the part so I can get someone reliable to install in the Los Angeles area any hints. I love it except for transmission problem.
Reliable!!!
I went from owning a Grand Prix to purchasing this vehicle. The gas mileage is good but could be better! Compared to a honda civic, This vehicle is more comfortable and roomy. I have not had any starting problems with the vehicle other than the time that it didn't have gas. its starts every time in the -30 degree weather we get in chicago! Up til now I'm recently having an issue with the transmission, hope its nothing serious!
Suzuki Costumer
This car has a lot of complaints and I don't think that they are necessary. It's a $13000 car, what do you expect, a tuned engine from BMW and Mercedes and Audi? This car is not built well but should last you a good 3 years. I don't like the gas mileage but it is a great upgrade from a 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee. 14mpg city 17mpg highway so I think it is a good car, even though it won't last you 10 years like a Camry. I would consider it if you are looking for a good used car.
Things that go wrong
I have my Forenza for 3 years with no problems. Until now in the last 6 weeks I have replaced my battery ($100.00), emc chip ($1200.00). A transmission chip ($1200.00) brakes router redone ($277.00) all 4 struts ($1154.00). And transmission assembly ($280.00)-- I have never had a car with so much problems in such a short time Spam -- I am getting rid of the car and never going back to it. I thought it was a nice car -- I have 50,128 miles on it -- its only 4 years old! I can understand the brakes and maybe the battery but not the others this early in the life of the car. Most people don't have this kind of money to spend on their car. It took all my savings I am getting a new car asap!
Hmmm...
I have only had this car for a couple months. 2 days after purchase it didn't want to start. They fixed the problem. There was a recall with the programming. Also when coming to a stop the brakes act funny. They almost give out like there is air in the line. They didn't check it, they just replaced the brake master cylinder. Also it sounds like my left rear brake sensor is chirping. Gotta take it in again. And my lumbar support on the driver seat broke. They had to replace that as well. I love the car but this is ridiculous! There is just over 16K miles on it and it is acting up already!
Great car
I am so impressed with this car. The price is great, the performance is impressive, and the look works. Not so generic looking as the hondas and toyotas. Mine is the premium with the alloys and moonroof, white, with a black pinstripe. Feels like a much bigger car, holds the road well. Mine's an auto, has great acceleration. Not as stiff riding as the other cars, but I prefer that. plus, the best warranty in the country. What's not to like?
buy a better car
Too many problems. First thing, door handles fell off, second, the power steering pump went out, third had four flat tires within a year, steering sensor stays on all the time, air bag sensor on all the time, now I need four new struts on a less than four year old car, it has no power it definitely is a lemon warranty doesn't cover anything and no help from the dealership run away fast
Will not buy another one
My daughter's car and my niece's car and one other lady I work with they all have had electrical problems. If you want a cheap car, great on gas this is it. But it does not ride very well and the size tires that it takes do not last, everyone said that the P195/55R15 are a low rated tire that will only last 20k miles max and they weren't kidding!
WARNING: WORST CAR EVER OWNED!
I have had this car less the three years and have had over 8 major problems! Everything brakes all the time and not the regular ware and tare. The gas tank had problems, the windshield montior already went, door handle broke, the rims crack if you hit a pothole and the check engine light is always on due to default censors. Plus the dealers, service dept. and customer serivce are uncaring and unhelpful.
The Best Car
I have yet to find a problem with this car . I am used to driving Toyotas and Hondas the the only differnece with the cars are the price and name I would recommend the Suzuki Forenza to anyone.
You get what you pay for
At two weeks after purchase, the dash light switch went out. One month later the door locks stopped working. At 4 mo. the transmission went out. Was replaced by a new one, but now I'm concerned about the overall quality of the car. Looking to trade it in for a more reliable model. Darn. I liked the feel of the Forenza and the interior as well as fuel economy. Suzuki should stick with building motorcycles!
Best Value
I've owned this car for just over 6 months and haven't had a single mechanical issue. A seatbelt latch broke and the dealership fixed it under warranty in just a few minutes. The gas mileage is excellent, the performance is adequate. The interior is quite roomy, and visibility is great. The controls are conveniently located. I love the heated mirrors. I don't usually buy new cars, but the long warranty convinced me. This is a great car for the money.
So Far So Good!
I have 2,000 miles on my 2006 Forenza wagon with an auto transmission. Im 5' 11", 265 lbs., and am VERY comfortable in this vehicle. Mag rims are a must; the standard rim / hubcap setup cheapens the look of an otherwise handsome vehicle. I am impressed by how quiet a ride the car has, and doing 80 mph happens without effort. The ride is comfortable, the stereo is supreme, and the warranty, safety features, and other standard features that come with the vehicle are an incredible value in comparison to other imports of its class. I have no complaints whatsoever. I am very happy so far with my purchase.
First New Car and a Joy to Drive
My Suzuki Forenza purchase so far has been a joy. I got a good deal on it and am impressed at both how nice the car was on the inside and how cool it looked on the outside. I haven't had a single problem with the car, save for the constant stops at the pump. With recent hurricanes making gas lines long here in south Florida, having a 300 mile limit on a tank stinks. Another selling factor had to do with the insurance rate that I recieved from AIG. Full coverage on a financed vehicle for a 21 year old male was actually cheaper than minimum coverage on my previous 2002 Mazda, which is very cool.
Who wudda thunk?
Edmunds Reviews gave us our first hint about the Suzuki Forenza Wagon and then when we saw the incredible design and size and all the standard options we were "goners." A fantastic warranty adds a big "plus" This car is truly, a "diamond in the rough"
The Daddy Mobile
I am a large fellow and this car is a perfect fit for me. I have plenty of leg room and am very comfortable in it. Its style is just sporty enough to make me feel young (I'm 27) but also responsible (I am a father of 1). Its safety features are very important to my wife and me and were one of the deciding factors in buying the car. I've only had my Forenza for a week and I couldn't be happier with it. Although the wheel covers could be improved to help the look of the car, the car itself far outweighs such petty gripes!
Great Car
I've had my Suzuki for 3 years so far. I haven't had one problem with it. I get it serviced when it needs to, no problems. I get 34-37 mpg
Loaded with fun
After comparison shopping, the 2006 Suzuki Forenza Premium w/ABS was my pick. It has a lot of headroom for my 6' body, loads of standard features, and a nice ride for an ecomonomy car. The expensive looking exterior and interior add a touch of class that make you wonder if you are driving an economy car. I love to drive it and recieve many compliments.