Suzuki Forenza/Reno, enlighten me

So at this point I look into a new DD every few months and I'm drawn back to the Suzuki Reno and Forenza. Does anyone on here have exsperiance with these cars? I've done the wiki search and found out these are rebadged Daewoos with Holden engines, and the American market version to the "Reasonably Priced Car".

In all, any advice on these cars?

Thanks for your time

I am a 'Zuk fan through and through. I like Korean cars (KIA/Hyundai). But I will never own a Daewuki. Not a great car, limited aftermarket, limited everything. MEdiocre car at best.

If it;s a DD you want, look into the 01-06 Hyundai Elantra. Great car. Very durable, comfortable and can take a beating. The engine is from the old Daewoo Nubira, just "updated" for the new century. When they released the Reno/Forenza, I still worked for a Hyundai, Kia, Daewoo, Suzuki Dealer. The Forenza and the Nubira were hard to tell a difference on the lift or with the hood up.

I'm also trying to find the Elantra 5 door GT. I've wanted one since they came out.

I have 106k HARD miles on my 02. Nothing has broken other than Owner derived issues....meanign the loose nut behind the wrench. I would wholeheartedly purchase another one in an instant.

I test drove the Reno, not bad for the sub $10K price new. I ended up going up a few $ for a slightly-used Kia Rondo. Much better DD: larger, more powerful, more options and better quality IMO. Don't know what else Kia offers in the small car range, but I would definitely shop Kia/Hyundai first.

Sprectra/Spectra5 are the Elantra/REno size cars. Inlaws (finally) took my advoce and bought a Spectra5 auto last year. They have been extremely pleased with it.

We had a Forenza as a rental a couple years ago when my 9-5 ate its turbo in SC on our way from NY to FL. It was a tin can - the body panels, particularly the trunk lid, felt as though they could be dented by looking at them funny. Automatic was fairly awful as well, IIRC. I have little desire to ever drive one again, though at the time it worked rather better than my Saab.

All Korean cars made in the early 2000's havethin sheet metal and dent/ding rather easily. That's just part of it. But when it comes to providing safety, the Elantra has shown time and time again to forum members that it will let you walk away.

At 20/28 mpg, it seems to me that the Reno gets worse gas mileage than just about everything in its class.

You can get that same kind of mileage out of a Pontiac G6 with a 6 cyl and automatic. Not that I am recommending a G6 either.

www.fueleconomy.gov for more comparisons

here is why I ask, left over '08s with 100 miles from test drives for $9k

They really depreciate:

2007 (one year older) with 22k miles, $7k
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=258157566&dealer_id=53593413&car_year=2007&rdm=1243548173728&model=RENO&num_records=25&systime=&make2=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=200&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&showZipError=n&make=SUZUKI&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=44870&advanced=y&end_year=2010&doors=&transmission=Manual&max_price=&cardist=204&standard=false

'07 w/ 46k for $6.5k http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=262517202&dealer_id=69303&car_year=2007&rdm=1243548368257&model=RENO&num_records=25&systime=&make2=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=100&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&showZipError=n&make=SUZUKI&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=44870&advanced=y&end_year=2010&doors=&transmission=&max_price=&cardist=103&standard=false
keep in mind these are asking prices for full retail. These cars will actually sell for less and trade-in for much less.

Also, read the fine print on the $9k price. Make sure that that price does not require that you finance the car through them (at an unfavorable interest rate.) The dealers can make a nice hefty commision on these types of loans where you pay more per month (in interest) than really needed.

If you do go forward with the idea first speak with a local bank (or better yet Credit Union) and do the financing through them.
The car dealer is not required to give you the lowest interest rate that you qualify for just the lowest rate that you are willing to accept.