My second Cappuccino. Guess I learned the “buy the nicest example possible” lesson the slightly roundabout way! This is second-gen EA21R with alloy engine block and 17% more torque than the early cars. I bought it already in the States with just under 29,000 miles on it from new. It has zero rust! It is stock except some Suzuki Sport braces and dress-up parts. Apparently it spent a large part of it’s early life as an indoor display car at a dealer (Suzuki took over ten years to sell through the new Cappuccinos built in 1995-1998) which might help explain the condition. It still had some of the plastic film on the interior trim of the inner rocker panel! I feel like it is certainly in the running for the best-condition Cappuccino in the country! This car is ridiculous fun to drive! On twisty two-lane backroads it gets 50mpg, and it handles an indicated 130kph on the interstate with aplomb. No leaks/drips through the three-piece hardtop in NW downpours! It has a magical ability to tackle corners with speed, even when the road is imperfect. When looking at the skinny tires, and testing the slightly-squishy suspension in a quick side-to-side swerving test, it feels like it might not grip super-well, but it clings to the road in a magical way. I attribute this to the ultra light weight plus great F/R balance and fully-independent compliant suspension. In a way it reminds me a 60’s Lotus Elite or Elan, but with 90’s styling and a tiny Japanese EFI turbo powerplant. The body rolls a fair bit, but it just corners like nobody’s business, especially for being on aged 165-series tires! Feedback is great once you come to accept the softness of the suspension. The engine is flexible and willing. The boost builds progressively, and it will wind out to 9500rpm happily enough, but I’m not sure that it is any faster than just keeping it in the 5000-8000 sweet spot. When driving more sedately, it seems happy cruising at 3000rpm, which gives you options for rolling into it in-gear for moderate acceleration, or downshifting for brisker acceleration. Highway use in top has one cruising easily at 4000-5000, which it feels like it would do all day long. Very happy to have a really nice running one that seems to need nothing. I intend to use it for nice weekend backroads drives, occasional autocross, cars n’ coffee type meets/shoes.
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