I seem to be struggling with Suzuki dealers.
I know it's not possible to stock every model, engine and trim as demos, I have the same headache trying to test drive a Panda 4x4, but their dealers do seem to be smaller "family" affairs with limited staff (or no staff) and limited cars on site.
I went to one nearest me and it wasn't open.
The lights were on but no one was home.
I popped my head in the workshop and they didn't know where everyone was.
I thought it a bit strange, middle of the week, middle of the afternoon and no fecker there!
I tried ringing them three times and I've never had anyone answer!
Not a good sign.
The next nearest is part of a chain and had a S in the showroom, 4 used S's and a SZ-T on the lot, but explained that their other dealer in the chain had a demo SZ5 that was driven by Terry.
So off we went to see Terry at the third dealer.
This is right next door to our Fiat dealer, so we ducked in kind of nervously hoping not to be spotted.
Now I know the second dealer looked up what the third dealer had on the computer and he did know we were looking for a manual 1.6 petrol, so we were a bit disappointed that the SZ5 at the third dealer was an auto with a tractor engine (btw, the oil burner is a Fiat engine).
Never mind, as least we got to poke about Terry's SZ5, which we both kind of liked and Terry himself was a really helpful chap pointing out all the highlights and what he called it's lowlight, the oil burner engine sounding really rough, noisy and viby at idle.
Now, what about a test drive I ask?
Needs to be 1.6 petrol and manual and I know they haven't one in stock, but have the SZ-T back at the second dealer that'll fit the bill.
So now a trip back to the second dealer is on for Friday afternoon for a test drive.
It's all a bit of a palavour and I'm glad I won't really be buying from any of them as the deal is through these
http://www.nhs.motorsourcegroup.com/
A couple of my colleagues have used them in the past and tell me you deal with them, but select a dealer that will supply the car.
I can't see it being number one, it's like a night out with the crew of the Marie Celeste when the bill turns up!
At number two and three we both noticed they seem to fix the number plates on with cheap looking, very large, pan head screws, they don't even looked galvanized.
They couldn't look worse if they nailed them on with rusty 6" nails and a rock.
Penny pinching at it's very worse!
So now need to find a fourth dealer if we do plan to buy one!
Good news is, you don't need to buy and have the dealer fit any accessories.
Suzuki have their own accessories shop and ebay shop that sells all the stuff and it all comes with excellent instructions, there's even vids made by a dealer showing every item available being fitted.