This week we are going to look at the Suzuki SX4 Crossover. Looking at it’s history the Suzuki SX4 has only been around since 2006. This is enough time to get an idea as to what to expect from this crossover SUV.

With a base price of $20,094 (I have have found it to sell for much cheaper) the Suzuki SX4 Crossover comes with a 2.0 liter I4 engine. Delivering power to the a All Wheel Drive with a continuously variable transmission.  This engine is rated at only 48 horsepower.

Options for the Suzuki SX4 include 16-inch alloy wheels, front fog lamps, for another $550.  Bluetooth with screen graphics, for another $250. Premium floor mats, for another $125. You can get a value package discount which will save you $550.

The reviewer over at Edmunds.com says called the 2011 Suzuki SX4, “a good value, a number of newer and more enticing compact sedan and hatchback competitors make it harder to recommend.” They liked the price for the hatchback model’s low-cost AWD system, generous cargo capacity, long power train warranty, navigation system standard on higher trim levels. They did not like what they called awkward driving position, so so cabin materials, limited fuel range, dizzying array of trim levels.

Years ago we would laugh and point a Honda and Suzuki motorcycles as they would go by. We called them Rice Rockets, because they came from Japan. Today, Honda and Suzuki are laughing at us. They make much more than motorcycles, and we as consumers are buying their products. Name a vehicle with two or four wheels, it very likely Suzuki makes one.

Periodically, I have been driving by this Suzuki car dealership. Out front is the big letter S and the name Suzuki under it. When I look in their direction, I don’t see any motorcycles. All I see is cars. I look hard to a motorcycles in their showroom, but there isn’t any. I keep wanting to stop by and take a look at the Suzuki car, but I keep driving on pass it.

I must admit I do get hung up looking at Ford’s, Chevy’s, and even a Toyota or two.  In all fairness I have not paid any attention to Suzuki as a car manufacture.

According to Wikipedia the company of Suzuki was started back in 1909. It was not until 1952 where Suzuki switched from producing manufacturing equipment to motorcycles. In 1955 Suzuki stated the first production of light weight front wheel drive cars. Today, Suzuki stands as the fourth largest car company in Japan, and the 9th largest in the world.

 The history of the Volkswagen Passat is a long complex one. It started back in the early 1970s. Volkswagen was on the track of being a car company that could not keep up with the changing times. floundering. After more than three decades in production, the Beetle or But as many American knew it was fading into the shadows.

Fortunately, Volkswagen had Audi around. Volkswagen took designs and concepts to put them together in what was known as the Passat. In the North American continentant the car was named Dasher. By 1981 this little car was considered dead.

In 1982 the Passat was reborn. Redesigned with space age words like Quantum, and aggressive engineering the Passat has been popelled the Passat into the 21st century. Where it it live and well.

The 2012 Volkswagen Passat is designed and engineered in Germany. However it is made in America for Americans as a midsize family sedan.

My friend Mrs C last week went by Ford dealership to review how they treated her and accuracy of the sales persons information. This last Saturday Mrs C went by the local Honda dealership.

It was Saturday, September 24th. A nice warm Saturday afternoon. Not to warm, but just right for my daughter and I to go to the Honda dealership by freeway. We drove on the lot and parked not to far from the front door. I did want to wander around and waste my time, like last week, waiting for salesman to approach me. This time I went inside, and announced to the receptionist that I was looking to buy a car.

In less than five minutes this middle aged short sales man was walking up to me. He introduced himself as Frank as he greeted me with smile and a handshake.

At that time I told Frank I was looking for something smaller than my mini van and larger than a regular car.  I don’t remember, I may of have used the words; crossover vehicle.

I was going to like to visit my local Ford dealership, until a dear friend asked if she could do it. She is in the process of looking for a new car, but she felt TheShoppingNazi.com needs a woman’s perspective when dealing with car dealerships. So I asked her to fill me in on what happen right after she got back.

For a little background on my friend, she is African American lady. She is in her early forties.

She wanted to go on a Saturday. So last Saturday my friend visited the local Ford Dealership. Below is her recount to me of those events.

I arrive at the local Ford dealership, about 1 pm on Saturday September 17,2011. I drove on to the lot and parked my car between dealership offices and a row of new cars. It was just left of the front door.

About  30 feet from where I parked my cars was large group of six salesmen standing, talking to each other. They acted as if did not see me. So I went about looking at different cars and crossover vehicles. I peered inside a couple cars, then pretended to talk with someone on the phone. Just about the time I was ready to get back in my car and drive off, a salesman came up to me, introduced himself and asked if he could help me.

Yes, you can save money by going to an used car dealer to buy a car. They may even credit when no one else will to pay their used car.

Be warned used car salesmen have been known to have the shadiest of reputations of anyone in the community. A used car salesman has been known to do almost anything to get you to buy a car.

Years ago in central California, there aired a television commercial where this guy in a large cowboy hat would walk through a row of used cars with his dog Spot. One week Spot was a large tiger. The next week Spot was an elephant. There was one week where spot was a gold fish in a glass bowl.

I have heard of used car salesmen putting saw dust in the transmission mask a problem instead of fixing the root problem.  Then there was this one used car sales person who would sale a nice car at a great price, then at the last minute do a switch to junker. In all honesty, those kind of used car sales people don’t stay in business for very long.

On Labor Day I drove by the local Toyota dealership and noticed there was no special sale signs out front. In fact it looked quite and business as usual for any Monday. So I decided to wait until Tuesday to stop by and talk to their sales people.

So on Tuesday when I drove into my local Toyota dealer, I was some what taken by the space between the cars. The outside row of cars that lined both the main and side street were close together. Further inside the lot were blotches of cars with 30 or 40 feet between them.

I drove up to the visitor parking area and got out of my Dodge mini van. It was not more than three minutes before a tall fit mid 30′s salesman walked up to me with his hand out to shake my hand. He introduced himself as Cliff.

I like going to a car dealer ship on a Monday or Tuesday in the last week of the month. Monday or Tuesday is when sales people know there is not going to be very many people stopping by to buy a vehicle.  The last week of the month is when a sales person is trying to make that last sale so his commission check will be a little bit bigger.

That being said, I stopped by the local Chevy dealer, to see what was happening there. As I expected there was no one on the lot except me. It was shortly after noon, when the sun is high as it bares down on the cars and the asphalt of the lot.

I parked by van as close to the main street as possible without blocking any exiting traffic. This way when the sales person comes out to meet me, I can tell how desperate they are about a sale, by the way the walk.

This day it was a good five minutes before I spotted any car sales person. Then I spotted out of the corner of my eye guy came riding out in a golf cart. I guess he was figured if I sweat a little bit, I would be an easy mark for a sale.

The middle age slightly overweight salesman said hello, then got out of his golf cart. Where he walked up to me and grabbed my hand for a firm handshake. Then looking me directly in the eye he asked my name.

We spend the next 20 minutes or so walking around while I let him try to figure out what kind of car I was looking to buy. This was in spite of the fact I told him from the start I was just killing some time, and wanted to look around.

After quite a few probing question we ended up in from of the Chevy Cruze. The sticker price was $20,595. From that point on he was wanted to get me inside where it was cool, run a credit check on me and hopefully get me to sign some loan papers.

The Ford Focus was first sold in Europe in 1998. Then in July 1998 the Ford Focus was released in the United States. Since then it has becomes Ford’s flagship of small affordable car class.

The 2012 Ford Focus hit the streets in May of 2011. The Focus comes in two basic trims; a 4 door Sedan and a 5 door Hatchback. Both trims seat 5 people. The Hatchback comes with the potential of hauling 44.8 cubit feet of stuff.

Under the hood is a 2.0 liter engine delivering a modest 160 horsepower to a five speed manual or six speed automatic transmission.

Edmunds.com reviewer expressed their expectation for the arrival of the 2012 Ford Focus. “This was because Americans could finally get a world-class small car from a Detroit label.”  The reviewer likes the nimble handling, refined ride, stylish and well made interior, along with the abundant list of upscale and high tech options. They did not like, “Annoying shift programming from automatic transmission; backseat is a little short on legroom; infotainment controls are finicky to learn and use”.

Every time I think about car repair, I get nervous. Why? Have you looked under the hood of your car, lately?

I am from the old school where the family car needed work, dad would pull out the tools and fix it himself. If he could not fix it, he would call a friend from down the road to help him.

At that time all you needed to work on a car or pickup truck was some wrenches, a set of sockets, and maybe two analog meters. Today it much much different. Why? Today’s cars have some a complex computer system it takes a highly trained individual to do much more than change tires.

I must admit that cars do last longer, are safer, help us with our driving imperfections, and provide more creature comfort while riding in them. I remember when the family car needed a major overhaul at 100,000 miles, today I see vehicles passing the 200,000 mile mark before needing any work. It was not until the 1970′s when airbags were being put in cars, as a movement among auto manufactures to make the family car more safe. This include an antilock braking system that is found in all cars today. The integration of our cell phone, and other electronic devices make many a modern car buy lower their jar in amazement.