Suzuki SX4 - The best sedan for the rains!

[snaronikar]

OK, here's another story of SX4. As for SX4 diesel, before this we will be seeing a corolla diesel and it will rule the roads.

[sids911]

Yes. Excellent car in rains and ABS is confidence inspiring.

But those headlamps . Nightmare to drive in the night...I had to guess one too many times when I was driving 50 kms back home in incessant rains!

I guess I will need to get those Nightbreakers!

[Tron]

Originally Posted by arajand

Come on now, what he said may not be accurate, but it is true. The SX4 truly is a different beast from the Suzuki stable. If and when the diesel engine comes (1.9 MJD) the SX4 will become the Sedici.

We don't even have the 2 L engine which is new-generation. What we get is a modified Baleno engine. The SX4 is sold world over as a 'fun car for teenagers', 'an all-round car which has a few goodies' etc whereas in India the catchline Suzuki uses it "Men are back"(!!)

On what strength of the car does Suzuki want to sell it to 'men'? Surely not for the 100 bhp engine. It is for the aggressive styling that the SX4 derives - in the hands of Guigiaro's studio.

Originally Posted by gopinathann

Currently the popular cars blowing out are the Fiesta & Verna diesel in C segments, when SX4 Diesel comes it will definitely dent the holes in Verna & Fiesta. Swift dzire is competition for Indigo,Logan and it also does good job. Swift diesel has the longer waiting period till now.



Though Indian SX4 does not have VVT we still get the new M series engine, now Swift is going to be replaced with M series engine.
I think you got the wrong definition for SX4, it is SEASON X 4, meaning you can use this vehicle for all the 4 seasons. This is appropriate for the crossover version as it got AWD, however the sedan also gets the same name. In US SX4 has been released as SX4 SPORT

Suzuki US says that SX4 stands for Sport X-over (crossover) for 4 seasons. They call the hatchback here as SX4 crossover and the sedan as SX4 sport. I have a bicycle rack attacked to my hatchback, and it is indeed quite sporty - I took it on unpaved roads and got it dirty. I'll post some pics once I have more posts and I'm allowed to post gallery pics

Originally Posted by sids911

Yes. Excellent car in rains and ABS is confidence inspiring.

But those headlamps . Nightmare to drive in the night...I had to guess one too many times when I was driving 50 kms back home in incessant rains!

I guess I will need to get those Nightbreakers!

Get the Philips Night Guide bulbs if they are available near you. 9007NG is the one that fits this car I guess - double check to be sure -- I'm not certain about the IDM (Indian Domestic Market) car. I've read that these bulbs are great. I'm gonna order them for mine.

[karanraheja]

Originally Posted by diabloo

There are many diesels in the market but none have managed to 'blow out' the competition.

Heck, even Dzire comes in diesel and it hasn't actually blown out the competition, then how can SX4?

Your right that Diesel s alone wont help. Eg. NHC which is still doing well without diesel. I would surely disagree that Dzire hasnt blown out the competition. Dzire has more features and has the VFM tag . The wait period has made some dent in its sales but its still selling like hot cakes. With increase in crude oil price Diesel cars will also be taken into consideration in near future.

[kavesh55]

The thread starter I felt had read my mind to start this thread. I was thinking the same thing considering the rains that happen in Mumbai. A night full of rain can get the roads flooded, to counter this the 16 inch tyres & ride height is perfect.
The place where I work gets flooded during monsoons the other day i could see premier cabs & other cars pussyfooting but the SX4, just drove though.
Dont know about the fuel efficiency one can expect with 16 inch wheels & the size, but a good car for monsoons.

[arajand]

Originally Posted by gopinathann

Though Indian SX4 does not have VVT we still get the new M series engine, now Swift is going to be replaced with M series engine.
I think you got the wrong definition for SX4, it is SEASON X 4, meaning you can use this vehicle for all the 4 seasons. This is appropriate for the crossover version as it got AWD, however the sedan also gets the same name. In US SX4 has been released as SX4 SPORT

The SX4 is Sports Crossover 4, the word 'sports' for the demographic (and the capability), the X for the crossover design (high stance, flared wheel arches etc) and the 4 - for all four seasons, i.e the AWD system. The SX4 hatch does have a sports cladding, roof rails and good handling characteristics

Therefore the term 'SX4 Sport', for the sedan version becomes somewhat a self referential acronym

[rks]

Originally Posted by kavesh55

A night full of rain can get the roads flooded, to counter this the 16 inch tyres & ride height is perfect.

Chances of aquaplaning increase with wider tyres. If tyres are worn, the car with wider tyres will aquaplane more easily. So you need to take care of your tyres.

The optimal choice of tyres really depends on the car. For my old Santro, I have come to the conclusion that stock-size (155/70-13) Bridgestone S322 tubeless tyres are the best. Surprised? But it is true. Now I am riding with S322's that have done just 2000 kms. I have taken my Santro to 140 kmph even in heavy rains and there is no aquaplaning or loss of grip. Not surprising, since S322 is an all-season tyre and has good wet grip. Why not grippier tyres like Michelins or Bridgestone Turanzas? These tyres will give better braking, but my old Santro's top speed, pickup and fuel economy come down at a given tyre pressure (I use 35 psi) as compared to S322. These fancy tyres are better-suited for more powerful cars.

[mnhegde]

@ rks: I am getting worried now brother. Have changed my stock 145/70 r13 (mrf) to 165/65 r13 (michelin) on my wagonr. Is this width going to give me problems (aquaplaning) ???

[diabloo]

For aquaplaning, you need to have water collected on roads? Where in Bangalore you will find this? Even if you find water, you have to drive very fast over it. Again where can drive fast in Bangalore?

You can always choose drive at normal speed and get over aquaplaning.

Originally Posted by mnhegde

@ rks: I am getting worried now brother. Have changed my stock 145/70 r13 (mrf) to 165/65 r13 (michelin) on my wagonr. Is this width going to give me problems (aquaplaning) ???

[rks]

Originally Posted by mnhegde

@ rks: I am getting worried now brother. Have changed my stock 145/70 r13 (mrf) to 165/65 r13 (michelin) on my wagonr. Is this width going to give me problems (aquaplaning) ???

First of all I think the correct upsize should be 165/60-13. With 165/65 you will get more ride comfort, but handling at high speeds may not be as good.

As long as your tyres have enough tread depth, and you do not drive at very high speeds in wet weather, you need not worry too much. But be wary when the tyres are at the end of their life and take extra precautions in wet weather. You can start to push the car after you fully understand its handling under such conditions. A car like Wagon R should be much easier to control than heavy sedans even if aquaplaning does occur. I have merrily aquaplaned almost all the way through the Mumbai-Pune Expressway in my Santro when it had worn-out tube-type S322 tyres about 2 years ago. Now that I am more knowledgable about these matters, I do not want to repeat that experience.

[mnhegde]

@ diabloo : Phew!. Just got saved (changing tyres). thanks buddy, you made me realize this thing (bangalore traffic ).

[RedMM340]

Originally Posted by randomgyan

Despite the full fury of the monsoon, I experienced no let up in speed.

I have to say, while driving this in the crazy monsoon rain, the only thing that changed when the rain came was the wiper speed. No seriously, I could see ALL other cars slowing down but this baby just went on like it was nothing!

I don't know of any car that can be safely driven in the full fury of the Indian monsoon with no let up in speed.

I just takes one puddle deep enough for a car to hydroplane, and in a split second there can be a serious accident.

Don't let a modern car's good control and excellent handling fool you into over estimating it's traction limits. If you do this the results could be catastrophic.

Please do slow down appropriately when the weather gets bad.