--

[Lukas]

 

 

Is the *famous Hirst Cabs story next on the blog thread?

 

Yeah, I´m interested to hear what happened to the Laurel, to the Charmant, to the Galant, to the Stanza and all the other oldjapanesecars.com from the old times too. 

[Lukas]

 

 

 it'd just be pages of me buying boring parts off Japanese auction websites.

 

Sounds great! 

[purplebargeken]

I nearly thought that you'd nicked the Oldsmobile going by the picture of the blue American car earlier in the thread. I realised that was stoopid as that one looked like it wasn't piddling ATF.

 

I want an Alfa. Can I have yours please?

[Bren]

My mate bought a brand new 156 in 2002.

 

He ended up swapping it for a 5 year old golf that was shit.

 

I like the alfa very much - the red leather was fit, however the twin spark engine is not very economical, so it had to go.

[MrDuke]

Since when have Suzuki gone in for big saloons? Or is it a slightly restyled Toyota or Nissan? I presume that's actually a 'proper' UK model as well, going by the plate recess - seems a strange name choice if so.

Very bizarre, but also very nice (for a modern). I also would dearly love to try that engine/box combination.

[Lacquer Peel]

It's 100% Suzuki, I think they sold about 3 of them in the UK because all cars in that class have to be diesels or no one buys them. Supposed to be a really decent drive and nice styling for a modern car.

[Felly Magic]

Sounds very much like a car designed for America does that Suzuki

[kinkersaab]

I have had 3 kizashis now, I love them. only the 2.4 cvt 4x4'available, all seemt o be grey. Lovely put together not very fast, but just nice, and feel quite special Inside in a japansesy way. Same engine is found in the vitara. They even have swichable 4x4. I love the fake exhausts, just regular pea shooters under the car.

[gordonbennet]

Those Kizachi's are full time 4WD too...confession time about 3 years ago we considered buying a nearly new one, dirt cheap near enough half new price at 6 months old.

For some reason i really like the styling and i'm a sucker for full time all wheel drive.

 

S'ok, i've taken lots of tablets since and sensible shite motoring head has returned.

 

Ah we have a Kizachi user, are they a similar drive to a Legacy saloon please KInkersaab?   i would expect so but would like to know exactly what we missed.

[kinkersaab]

Im a dealer, all bought to sell on again, when they are cheap enough to be ised for ferrying dogs and kids up my track i will have one. they do drive a bit like a posher newer shape impreza and they have that feel of long lastingness that is missing in most modern stuff.

[kinkersaab]

Oh, and 4x4 is switchable

[Mr_Bo11ox]

A kizashi is 'Hyundai Grandeur'-level megashite, 115% WANT!!!!!

[hairnet]

http://www.whatcar.com/car-reviews/suzuki/kizashi-saloon/summary/26025-2

 

they didnt like it

 

expect it to be 3 grand in 3 years

 

bit like their other cars odd but mostly worthy

 

unlike the bikes which have been class leading for years

[cms206]

There are bloody loads of Kizashis round these parts, though I suspect thats helped by both my depots having no less than four Suzuki dealers between them (only about 35 miles apart as the crow flies) - they seem to be a giffer favourite on the Ayrshire coast too.

I'd have one.


Anyway, welcome back Hirst; I bloody love reading about all this obscured (and occasionally not obscure) tat.


That Laurel cab sounds the bollocks too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nFanNXjTCc

[r.welfare]

What's the song playing on the radio first of all (before Billy Joel)? It sounds like The Art Of Noise but I can't be certain.

[Luxxo Waftybarger]

A Kizashi lives at the end of my road in the ultimate gifferdom of East Devon. Of course it's grey. Looks great inside and really smart from about 30ft away. When you get close it's all a bit misshapen on the outside but I love it. Really wanted one but have absolutely no use for it. Then again I also wanted a P2 Volvo V70 so I've not got the best aesthetic taste.

[trigger]

I really love the look of those Kizashis, I was looking at one a while back but the fact it's a petrol 2.4 with a CVT and I believe a high VED out me off it. If it was a diesel with a 6 speed then there be one parked in my drive by now.

[Spottedlaurel]

Enjoyable lunchtime reading.

 

Billing UJNW 2007 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

[gordonbennet]

http://www.whatcar.com/car-reviews/suzuki/kizashi-saloon/summary/26025-2

 

they didnt like it

 

expect it to be 3 grand in 3 years

 

bit like their other cars odd but mostly worthy

 

unlike the bikes which have been class leading for years

 

Oh good, just as a Clakson put down is music to our ears, if they don't like it the car must be right up a shiters street.

 

They complain about it being 9000 miles service intervals, Toyota were the same when the fashion became 20k and stuck to 9k, more likely to last long enough for us to buy one then.

[Tayne]

I can't remember the track name, but it's the warehouse music from Beverly Hills Cop, but it differs slightly from the one in the film (the one in the film is better).

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TO8dyI8bIpc

 

???

[Jon]

Hey Hirst, I'm looking forward to updates involving a passenger-side dashboard mounted mechanical flipping clock. Also, please tell me you've sourced some steels for your Laurel.

[fatharris]

This excites me greatly!

 

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

[RoadworkUK]

I must admit to having spent an inordinate amount of time poring over my Quintet brochure over the years. Dirty perve that I am.

 

I used to daydream that the Quintet had been Triumphised as a 2000 successor. With the Rover Quintet that was actually achingly close to a reality.

 

Them Kizashi's are triffic, by the way. I reviewed one up Right Here.

[HH-R]

http://www.whatcar.com/car-reviews/suzuki/kizashi-saloon/summary/26025-2

 

they didnt like it

 

expect it to be 3 grand in 3 years

 

bit like their other cars odd but mostly worthy

 

unlike the bikes which have been class leading for years

 

What Volkswagen? review generator:

 

From VAG group = 5 stars

Not from VAG group = 1-4 stars. Say in each section that it's not as good as a Skoda/Volkswagen/Audi. Review summary: Not as good as a Volkswagen.

[Spottedlaurel]

Splendid news about the Quintet!

 

Do you remember one coming up for sale on RR some years ago? I saved a photo, FNP350W - no trace on DVLA although it comes up on Cartell, so presumably scrapped with a Certificate of Destruction issued. I vaguely recall there was one either photographed on an old spots thread on here, or possibly just mentioned as having been seen (perhaps by Wuvvum?).

 

I seem to recall old road tests being a little frosty towards them, can't think why as both Civic and Accord were good cars.

[MrDuke]

ISTR the one on RR had some terminally rotten panels. To be fair, the owner did try finding replacements, but the fact that everything on it is unique to it, and that there's only 2 left in Japan, probably sums up the parts situation. I suppose you could spend a few years training as a panel-former just in case you had a prang in it?

[dugong]

I don't actually recall that one - however I can say that once mine lands it will not be the only Quintet in the local area. That's an exciting teaser, isn't it?

 

DEWSBURY J CAR MAFIA. 

 

Also, you were technically in the East Midlands. 

 

No, I can't cope with that either - and I bloody live there. 

[Spottedlaurel]

As Cartell is an Irish site (I think) I don't think it will show if a car has been scrapped or not. For Irish registered cars it will show all cars on the system after 1993 or thereabouts when the records were transferred to computer. The only way to find out when it was scrapped is to pay for a history check. I'm not sure what way they record UK registrations. Have you checked the dvla?

Yes. The fact it shows on Cartell proves it was on our system (it's also a useful way of getting the make, which isn't always clear with some models - I'm looking at you, 1970s BL vehicles). DVLA then shows nothing, meaning a CoD has been issued which they've been doing over the last few years, and it's not just me entering something wrong.

 

ISTR the one on RR had some terminally rotten panels. To be fair, the owner did try finding replacements, but the fact that everything on it is unique to it, and that there's only 2 left in Japan, probably sums up the parts situation. I suppose you could spend a few years training as a panel-former just in case you had a prang in it?

It works for them in Cuba....

[flat4alfa]

I don't actually recall that one - however I can say that once mine lands it will not be the only Quintet in the local area. That's an exciting teaser, isn't it?

 

It is, it is 

 

I'm so glad that Quintet has been brought into the fold

 

I wanted it, dragged my arse, and it's better off where it is now.  WLTM when it's back roadworthy.

 

 

I've known of only three others in recent years, and never actually clapped eyes on any of them in the flesh.  I don't know why I'm interested, let alone stalk them; must be something wrong with me

 

 

Last MOT expiries:

FNP 350W  28 March 2007

MOT 776Y  7 November 2015  Hooray!

A206 CMV  5 October 2016   Hooray!

[Spottedlaurel]

Look forward to seeing/reading more about it.

 

What’s next on your list, a Lonsdale?