Archive for the ‘Suzuki Portland’ Category

The Grand Vitara is Suzuki’s contribution to the SUV market. Combining car-like independent suspension and a truck-like body that the editors at MotorTrend call “a handsome hauler,” the 2012 Grand Vitara is sporty and comfortable.

The Ultimate Adventure package comes complete with easy-to-clean synthetic seats (the Limited edition comes with leather seats and a moonroof), a Garmin navigation system with Bluetooth capability, and satellite radio. While some Blackberry smartphones may have difficulty pairing with the Bluetooth and audio systems, the audio system also comes with an auxiliary jack, providing a workaround for those potential issues.

The engine is powerful enough for everyday driving, with 166 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. The criticisms provided by the MotorTrend editors are, like many of their criticisms, are not directly applicable to everyday drivers. Downshifting, they say, takes too long and speeds over 70mph require “the driver’s full attention.” Every driver should have full attention on the driving experience, no matter what the speed.

Overall, the Grand Vitara is an affordable and efficient SUV (EPA estimates set expected mpg in the mid-20s). Classic features of the now-discontinued Samurai have been married to updated desires of the modern SUV market.

Looking for your own Suzuki Grand Vitara or other quality new or pre-owned vehicle? Browse our new inventory, pre-owned inventory, and internet specials 24/7 at gladstonesuzuki.com.

Long gone are the days of children sleeping in the back window of the Oldsmobile on road trips, or hopping between front seat and back while zooming down the highway. Even in the years since safety seats for children were first made mandatory, the requirements have changed dramatically, and each state has its own regulations. To keep your smallest passengers as safe as possible, here are some basic car seat safety guidelines from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

Be Sure the Seat is Installed Properly They may not seem complicated, but proper installation is crucial to the optimal performance in the unfortunate event of an accident. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions, which sometimes means choosing between belt or LATCH installation (it may seem safer to use both, but some seats aren’t made to be installed that way). Car seat installation inspection clinics are available in every state.

Hand-Me-Downs Aren’t Always Great Replace any seat that’s been in an accident, including minor crashes if there is structural damage to the vehicle. Don’t use a seat that is more than six years old or only has a three-point harness. See photo above for an example of a five-point harness, which is required for children who aren’t yet big enough for belt-positioning boosters.

Keep Children Rear-Facing as Long as Possible Most convertible or 3-in-1 style seats have a higher height and weight limit for keeping a child rear-facing than infant “bucket” seats. At a bare minimum, children should remain rear-facing until they are one year old and weigh 20 pounds. If your child hasn’t reached the seat’s maximum for height and weight, but his or her legs are long, teach your child to sit cross-legged. Kids are flexible and sitting that way is a lot more comfortable than it would be for an adult.

Use a Five-Point Harness as long as Possible Once your child is old enough and big enough to face forward, a five-point harness is the safest option (and mandatory in many states). Many manufacturers make five-point seats that can accommodate children up to 80 pounds, and a few are rated up to 100 pounds. Always check the manufacturer’s recommendations and limits, and buy the highest-rated seat your budget will allow, especially if your child is taller or heavier than average.

Booster Seats for the Under-Sized Crowd Until children can wear a shoulder harness safely and properly—when it’s across their shoulders and thighs, not their neck and belly—they belong in a belt-positioning booster seat. Many states have age, height, or weight requirements that children must reach before they can ditch the booster.

Backseat for Safety The American Academy of Pediatrics and NHTSA both recommend that children younger than 13 should ride in the backseat if possible, in addition to always wearing a properly fitting seatbelt. This may spark protest in the pre-teen crowd, but safety should always come before riding shotgun.

Looking for your own safe, reliable family vehicle? Browse our new inventory, pre-owned vehicles, and internet specials 24/7 at gladstonesuzuki.com.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced a recall of 73 2011 and 2012 Suzuki Equator pickup trucks.

“Some of the bolts that connect the engine oil cooler and the engine oil filter to the engine in these vehicles may have been manufactured to below specification strength,” said NHTSA in its recalls summary of the problem. “As a result, the bolt may break at the oil filter attachment point and can cause an engine oil leak. If there is an engine oil leak, the engine oil pressure would drop and the engine could seize, increasing the risk of a crash.”

An identical problem with the Nissan Frontier—because the Frontier and Equator are identical vehicles under the hood—was identified by the NHTSA earlier this month.

Suzuki dealers will replace the connector bolts. The recall is expected to begin on January 19. Owners can contact Suzuki at (714) 996-7040.

Need to bring your truck in for bolt replacement? Looking for your own Suzuki vehicle? Browse our new inventory, pre-owned vehicles, and internet specials 24/7 at gladstonesuzuki.com.

Work commutes. School drop-offs and pick-ups. Errands. Weekend getaways. Friday date nights. Every time you go somewhere in your car, your tires wear down, bit-by-bit. And, while many tires have 30-40,000 mile life expectancies, they don’t last forever and do require some routine maintenance. What, exactly, should you be looking for? What are the signs that tires need to be replaced? What should be done before they’re replaced to keep them in the best shape possible?

Pay Attention to the Tread Wear Bars Tires sold in the United States have small metal bars running perpendicular to the tread pattern. When the tread wears down, these bars become more visible. When they’re flush with the top of the tread, replace the tires.

Do the Penny Test Stick an Abraham Lincoln penny, head first, into the tire tread. If the top of Abe’s head, or any space above his head, is visible, replace the tires.

Rotate on a Regular Schedule Rotating the tires, which is recommended every 5-10,000 miles by most manufacturers, keeps the tread wearing evenly and will extend the life of the tires.

Looking for your own safe Suzuki vehicle? Browse our new inventory, pre-owned vehicles, and internet specials 24/7 at gladstonesuzuki.com.

Pull into any fuel station and you’re faced with a choice: 87, 89, or 91 octane, regular, premium, or super. But is there any quantifiable difference in how a car performs when filled with one over the others? Does premium gas do anything other than cost more? Experts say, unless your car was built before 1990, probably not in any way that you’re going to notice.

Before cars were computerized under the hood, using a grade of gas lower than that recommended by the manufacturer led to knocking and clunking in the engine. The technology currently installed in most of the cars we’re driving these days makes engine knocking a non-issue.

The other concern with using lower-than-recommended octane fuel is accelerating power. It may take an extra half-second to go from 0-60 if there’s regular in the tank instead of premium. While that may be important on a race track or in a lab setting when cars are being tested and evaluated for performance, humans can’t tell split-second differences like that and everyday driving conditions rarely (if ever) call for 0-60 in very few seconds.

As with any service-related issue, however, check your driver’s manual. Just as it would be disastrous to put diesel in a standard engine (or vice-versa), your car may require higher-grade fuel. If this is the case, then use it. On the other hand, if the manual simply recommends a higher-octane gas, save your money and go with regular instead.

To find great Suzuki vehicles, browse our new inventory, pre-owned vehicles, and internet specials 24/7 at gladstonesuzuki.com.