Possible Purchase: 1987 Suzuki Forsa, 23,000 km (lotsa pics)

[Rob.]

I'm going to see this car on Thursday. Anyone familiar with these ?
They are willing to sell for $4400. The car is rare, especially with this mileage.

- 23,000 km
- 1.0L 3 Cyl carb, auto transmission,
- original paint
- no winters
- A/C
- 1 Owner
- new exhaust
- all manuals
- Suzuki floor mats
- still has original 12" factory tires on

MPG using 2008 computation:

City MPG: 36
Highway MPG: 44
Combined MPG: 39

MPG using pre 2008 computation:

EPA City MPG: 44 - before adjustments: 49
EPA Highway MPG: 49 - before adjustments: 62
EPA Combined MPG: 46 - before adjustments: 54

[GiacGtiAgain]

There is just nothing cool about this to me. Overpay for a car with a toy engine and an automatic tranny to be a fuel hipster? no thanks. for $4400 you can get something that still gets decent mileage and is a real car. Not sure how these compare to 3 cylinder metros, but having driven a couple of those, all I can say is NEVER.

[flat6guy]

That $4400... is that in Zimbabwe dollars?

[mavric_ac]

There willing to let it go for $4400

There are probably 50 cars I'd take over that thing for 4.4k

[MrKevkevL]

That is remarkably clean, but for $4g's I'm sure you can do better than an old late 80's econobox...

[Rob.]

There is just nothing cool about this to me. Overpay for a car with a toy engine and an automatic tranny to be a fuel hipster? no thanks. for $4400 you can get something that still gets decent mileage and is a real car.

What do you consider to be a REAL CAR ?

That is remarkably clean, but for $4g's I'm sure you can do better than an old late 80's econobox...

Better ? What is better to you ?

[GiacGtiAgain]

What do you consider to be a REAL CAR ?




Better ? What is better to you ?

You wanted feedback, and you got it. Now you're going to get defensive. So if you want it, buy it, but I'm not sure why you're surprised we are all crapping on it.

A real car wont turn into dust when getting into an accident with another real car. A real car doesn't rattle around like a tin can on tiny radio-flyer wheels. A real car can isolate at least a modicum of wind and road noise. A real car has an even number of cylinders (5 exception). I can keep going.

[velocidub]

Can you imagine 4 people in that car with the a/c on pulling a hill?

[Fahrvernugen]

How much do these cost new back in 87? 5G's? 6? 7?

[Rob.]

You wanted feedback, and you got it. Now you're going to get defensive. So if you want it, buy it, but I'm not sure why you're surprised we are all crapping on it.

A real car wont turn into dust when getting into an accident with another real car. A real car doesn't rattle around like a tin can on tiny radio-flyer wheels. A real car can isolate at least a modicum of wind and road noise. A real car has an even number of cylinders (5 exception). I can keep going.

Well by your statement, I guess this is a REAL Car to you...

[GiacGtiAgain]

How much do these cost new back in 87? 5G's? 6? 7?

for $4400 adjusted for 1987 dollars the price now is probably more than the out-the-door price in 1987

[GiacGtiAgain]

Well by your statement, I guess this is a REAL Car to you...

it sure is.

[VarianceVQ]

Look man, we all know you have "unique" tastes in cars but $4400 for that thing? Epecially for something you plan to use as a winter beater anyway?

[Rob.]

Look man, we all know you have "unique" tastes in cars but $4400 for that thing? Epecially for something you plan to use as a winter beater anyway?

What is your logic here ? Some people use $20,000-$50,000 cars as winter beaters... so ?
Price is irrelavant.. Does every 'beater' have to be sub $500 car ?

[rawk]

Look man, we all know you have "unique" tastes in cars but $4400 for that thing? Epecially for something you plan to use as a winter beater anyway?

Yah I don't quite get the appeal of 80's econo-sh!tboxes, for $500 sure.. for $4400? You'd be crazy to spend that much! Using a mint example as a winter beater, doesn't make any sense to me either...

[Fahrvernugen]

for $4400 adjusted for 1987 dollars the price now is probably more than the out-the-door price in 1987

LOL...makes sense.

To me, thats a car for a Suzuki Fan/Collector which would like to brag about having a mint 87' Forza.

I pretty sure here in PR there will be lots of people who will do it...specially those who also buy Mint Suzuki's SA310 or Samurai's for even more than that. Its a culture of its own...

[66Satellite]

I wouldn't drive that if someone gave it to me. $4,400 for that is

[VarianceVQ]

What is your logic here ? Some people use $20,000-$50,000 cars as winter beaters... so ?
Price is irrelavant.. Does every 'beater' have to be sub $500 car ?

I just don't see the logic of paying a "mint" price for a mint condition rare car that you plan on subjecting to winter roads, slush and salt immediately making it not so "mint".

[adrew]

In my opinion, these cars are only cool with (in this generation) the 3-cylinder turbo or (in the next generation) the 1.3-liter twin-cam (8000 redline) in the Swift GTi.

[MrKevkevL]

Better ? What is better to you ?

I'll even throw this in there:



Not to mention countless other potential cars ranging from Benz diesels to 1990's Accords.

Just saying... eh :shrug: whatever floats your boat.

[nickthaskater]

Just because it's got low mileage and is clean does not mean its worth $4000+... You can find a minty fresh EJ6 hatch for that money.

But hey, if you want to overpay for some obscure sh*tbox just because it's "rare", that's your prerogative.

[mac dre]

How hard are parts to find for these?

Also, do you feel like having to deal with a Carb'd motor?

There's a lot to consider for having a beater, and I don't see the point in dropping a good amount of money on a car that will be hard to find parts, and is honestly a tin can.


I understand your love for offbeat cars, but that $4500 could get you a nice Mercedes diesel. Which would be a much better option

[GolfVIDriver]

I happen to know where there is a mint 70k mile 1991 Taurus SHO Plus for sale for that price that I'd much rather have.

[TJSwoboda]

Rob, others may poo-poo these "bring a trailer from hell" threads, but please don't stop posting them.

[TetsuoShima]

while i like your threads for their unique car content, i really don't know the point of all of this is.

You've made like 10 threads but apparently none of them are worth buying for some reason that you haven't disclosed.

Not to mention what others have said about you willing to pay absurd prices for a "winter beater" when there are cars that are a lot newer and better performing for winter duties than the cars that you post.

[PoorHouse]

I like this a lot better than the Spectrum.

Price seems semi realistic in a world with internets and ebay.

IDK if you bought a new car it would depreciate more than the cost of this car in the first year.

Considering that you are willing to travel and your budget I would hold out for a higher end model. There has to be a low mile Accord LXi or Camry XLE out there.

[RWD_only]

$4400 is crazy expensive. If you are looking for a winter beater and have that kind of money to throw around, get a mid 90s corolla. Hell you should find those for 3k all over the place and they won't be **** boxes.

If you want a suzuki, get the next generation swift.

Just because it's rare doesn't mean it's worth >$4k.

[Jrod511]

I'm convinced you are not purchasing anything. There's nothing wrong with finding and sharing this interesting stuff, but to me you're not serious about buying a winter beater. You've spent more in fuel and time than many of these cars are worth. It's the last week of November and you're in Canada; clocks ticking on winter beater.

[Chris16vRocco]

That car is frighteningly clean. I would absolutely drive it. But one of those cars would not be worth $4400 these days unless it had at least $3500 in cash in the trunk.

[Rob.]

It's the last week of November and you're in Canada; clocks ticking on winter beater.

I know man, Ive been lucky no snow or salt have hit the roads yet where I live..
I think this Forsa is gonna be it, unless something else comes up for sale, pre 1987.
Im gonna make an offer on the Forsa and see what happens.

[Jrod511]

I know man, Ive been lucky no snow or salt have hit the roads yet where I live..
I think this Forsa is gonna be it, unless something else comes up for sale, pre 1987.
Im gonna make an offer on the Forsa and see what happens.

I had forgotten the pre-1987 stipulation and I know you like fuel misers, but that Suzuki is 2x what I paid for my 1999 BMW 528i...that I wouldn't be afraid of being crushed to death in.

[zukiphile]

If you want a suzuki, get the next generation swift.

Just because it's rare doesn't mean it's worth >$4k.

Some things are rare because no one wanted them. The next generation with the 1.3 that made 70hp was a pretty useful car.

Unless you live on a small island, a 55hp carburated swift with a three speed automatic will be difficult to live with.

[Rob.]

I had forgotten the pre-1987 stipulation and I know you like fuel misers,

Just wait till gas prices start going up again, then I'll double my money ! hhaa
Gas prices are seemingly stable now because the U.S. controls Libya, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq now, not to mention alot of people are driving less due to the economy.

[Jrod511]

Just wait till gas prices start going up again, then I'll double my money ! hhaa
Gas prices are seemingly stable now because the U.S. controls Libya, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq now, not to mention alot of people are driving less due to the economy.

I did almost 3000 miles in the last month alone; avg of around 25 MPG. The old schlepper will turn 214K tomorrow or Tuesday.

The beauty of a winter beater is that it's a car you don't worry much about as long as the heat and the radio work and the seats are comfy. Bonus for quietness and comfort. I love the low mileage, original, unique cars but I wouldn't want to own one and have to try to keep it nice like that while subjecting it to snow and salt.

To each their own and I think it's cool that you share this stuff. That Suzuki could appreciate in another 25 years I guess?

[Eightysixturbo]

This car is what I like to call a ****box. Why didn't you get any of the last few cars that everyone liked?