Suzuki Esteem

Those are rare in the States.

1buy my neon and I will

I think i've tried to sell him my neon in the past and it didn't work.

But watch, i'll get it streetable with the new mods and then i won't want to sell it again. * rolls eyes at self *

Come to think of it, if dodge had made a 1g neon wagon.. holy crap. Lol.

Since I have a thing for reviving ancient threads, I thought I'd do this one. I'm going to check on the price of one of these in the wholesale lot at work today. I looked at it last night in the dark, and it looks pretty good. 2000, GL 1.8, 5 speed, only 62k miles. I'll keep you guys posted...seems like it might be a fun momentum autocrosser, plus a good DD.

mndsm wrote: Still more reliable than a BiTurbo.

My dead Grandpa is more reliable than a BiTurbo.

Oh and Because Wagon.

sethmeister4 wrote: Since I have a thing for reviving ancient threads, I thought I'd do this one. I'm going to check on the price of one of these in the wholesale lot at work today. I looked at it last night in the dark, and it looks pretty good. 2000, GL 1.8, 5 speed, only 62k miles. I'll keep you guys posted...seems like it might be a fun momentum autocrosser, plus a good DD.

Check the front engine mounting points to the uni-body and check for lower rocker rust. If they're clean, then you're good to go. The drivetrain is bulletproof.

Should be able to get it for just under $1500. Only 61,3xxx miles, 5 speed, 1.8. Looks like a little surface rust underneath, I'll get it in the shop for a closer look. Rockers are solid.

If the rockers and rear wheel openings are solid, the engine mounting is likely as well. That would be a good buy.

sethmeister4 wrote: Should be able to get it for just under $1500. Only 61,3xxx miles, 5 speed, 1.8. Looks like a little surface rust underneath, I'll get it in the shop for a closer look. Rockers are solid.

Watch for the front subframe, my collapsed and fully rusted out, and could not find a replacement.

I want a SX4 to go with the Samurai.

I have never ever seen a Kizashi in the metal. And I've even seen an imEv or iMev or or imEV whatever the hell ToRgO thing it's called.

I think all the other countries/continents got the good Suzukis. We ended up with the plane jane vanilla versions.

My housemate from a few years back had a white 5-speed -- let's call it a 4+1 since it wouldn't stay in 5th unless you held it in -- Esteem wagon. It was a piece of crap, though it didn't ever actually stop running so I guess it has that going for it. He couldn't sell it for anything; I don't even think he was ultimately able to give it away to a real person, so off to the junkyard it went.

The styling looks like a loose copy of an '00 Legacy wagon, though both cars came out at about the same time.

Bobzilla, what's your experience experiences with these? Owned one, worked on them? Any performance parts available?

series8217 wrote: The styling looks like a loose copy of an '00 Legacy wagon, though both cars came out at about the same time.

Loose copy? It might be the most obvious automotive styling ripoff I have ever seen.

Almost like a tv program or commercial where they remove the badges or change the grill so it just looks like some anonymous car.

Performance parts? BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA. Oh wait, you weren't kidding. Well, it's going to be harder than finding early Swift GT parts. They're easy enough to work on, just think of a honda with a timing chain and torque. Don't see them around here anymore because of cancer.

There are more Suzuki's in Texas than anywhere else I've ever been. Never really had any interest in the Esteem but the SXAero thing always intrigued me. Test drove a SX4 when those came out and liked that pretty good.

I figured as much for the performance parts. That will keep me in line with not having a project. Sticky tires (there are some good options in the 195/55-15 stock size) and maintenance will be all.

Oh, and an AWD SX4 hatch with a manual is a fun car!

Anybody know off hand what stock auto-x class thus is in?

EDIT: Looks like H Street for SCCA?

nicksta43 wrote: Never really had any interest in the Esteem...

Me either, but it seems like it might be a fun DD/momentum racer, and a 60k car for $1500 seems too good to pass up. We'll see what it looks like when I get it in the shop!

I have never ever seen a Kizashi in the metal. And I've even seen an imEv or iMev or or imEV whatever the hell ToRgO thing it's called

There is a loaded one in my extended family and it is a sweet car. Having spent time around both, i consider a loaded one an alternative to a TSX and i would probably pick it between the two if i was presented the choice for some strange reason.

sethmeister4 wrote:

nicksta43 wrote: Never really had any interest in the Esteem...

Me either, but it seems like it might be a fun DD/momentum racer, and a 60k car for $1500 seems too good to pass up. We'll see what it looks like when I get it in the shop!

I'm in for pics

sethmeister4 wrote: Any performance parts available?

Performance parts in the Suzuki world is very much a DIY proposition. I can do up a nice set of cams for the 1.8. You should be able to figure out something for a swap/custom throttle body. The intake is simple, and you can probably swap a header/manifold from another J series motor for something the flows more freely. That stuff would give it a serious boost in power and fun, but as I recall, the final drive is 3.79-1. A little high, IMO, and should be in the 4.10 range. For springs and sway bars, you're on your own.