Suzuki X-90 2WD

I've had my Suzuki X-X90 for 2 years now and have only had the oil/water changed and brake pads done! I've not had any problems and recommend this car thoroughly to anyone that wants a funky little runaround. Loads more space than you'd expect and I've even got a flatpacked wadrobe from ikea home in it! (with the roof off).

I've seen lots of other cars that I've liked but I just can't give up my baby! I've got 86K on the clock and use it daily and everyone knows it's me when they see it. Buy one you won't regret it.

First off, the reason for me getting this "wierd" Suzuki X-90 2WD. I just graduated and started work, so with my budget, I can only either get a "oridinary" car or this. I was really lucky to come across this mint 97 example with only 47k on the clock (in Sept 05) going for only £1995. Yes it is the less able 2WD version, but it is worth every penny.

The good point about this car is that it is a one off. I used to have a red Ford Escort and I am forever losing it in the car park. Once I even thought someone was stealing my car! There are like a million of those things on the road. But with the X-90, it will never happen. There was only 1,313 of them in the UK between 96-98 and I bet only half of those are running now. The chances of have 2 in the same car park is ZERO! I had to get it because it is so special!

The roof is the T type roof and they just come off for the summer, one whole week of it. You will always turn heads no matter where you go. I always have people coming up to me to tell me how nice my car is.

It is a 1.6 even though it looks kind of small. But don't let it looks fool you, it is based on a Suzuki 4x4, using the same chassis. It can handle off road (the 4WD version) if you want it to. However even though it is based on the 4x4, Suzuki had decided to give it shorter springs so that it looks "sportier". This means it have a very bumpy ride on potholed city roads. But it handle dirt tracks perfectly well, even in my 2WD version. And being a 1.6, I can often give the boy racers a fright, if I want to. It seem more then happy to pull all the way to 6500 RPM.

Despite looking small, there is bags of room in the car for 2 people. Need more space? Get a MPV! The only problem is the boot. It looks big, but at least 20% is taken up by the spare. You can always get a space saver spare, but not for me. All you can fit in there is 1 large suitcase and a small bag, and even that will be tight.

Now on to how this car perform as a car. It pulls well up to 80mph. But at higher speed, it does not handle well. And don't ever try motorway speed with the top down! It is somewhat affected by crosswind, although not as bad as some MPVs. Fuel comsumption is at a fair 8 miles/l, nothing to shout about. It can go along happily at legal motorway speed all day long.

One nagging problem that most X-90 had is the power window on the driver side tends to break down. I had not seen one with a working driver's window. This is a pain now it is summer.

I had not had any maintaince problem with it. I do most of the service myself. From what I heard, it will work happily beyond 100k miles and will still be going strong. All it need is oil change. I had been using this car EVERYDAY since I got it and had put over 8k miles into it and it still felt like the day I got it.

It is best not to have an accident in this car, not because it is weak, but because its body parts are very hard to source. This car is in fact very safe in an accident from some of the stories I had heard, but I do not wish to try them out myself.

I would recommend this car to anyone that does not want to be "normal". Of course it is not a car for someone with a wife and 2 kids (they will not fit in the boot). But it is unbeatable in the uniqueness and cuteness. And being a Suzuki, it will not fail you. Get it before they are all gone for good, it is a one off!