The Hyundai Getz was a fine daily driver, but the suspension systems on modern Hyundais are still a step behind the best of the rest. There are Japanese cars with terrible suspension set-ups, too (*cough* Toyota *cough*) but they still feel much more refined than the Hyundai/Kias (at least in this aspect).
Suzuki Alto Article now up
We had a blast with the Suzuki Alto, too. A great illustration of the way weight affects the speed of a car. With only 47 ponies and a dry weight of about 750 kilos, the Alto loses about 3-4 seconds against the clock (to 100 km/h) per passenger. Theoretically, it would go much faster than the 17-18 seconds we got if a monkey were driving it. We're still looking for a monkey.
The Alto is a truly horrid car. Indian build quality, golf-cart tires, a thrashy engine... but the V10-like wail of the three cylinder engine (Imagine a Lamborghini Gallardo, volume at "2" instead of "11"), the lack of nannying understeer (never has 60 km/h felt so... entertaining...) and the wheels-at-the-corner feeling of the tiny little thing made it a blast to drive. Too bad there's nothing else to recommend it for purchase.
