Likely to be found packing up his Suzuki S-Cross for another tour, Gerhard Hoppe lets us in on why this SUV has everything him and his wife needs. Continue reading to find out more about Gerhard and his Suzuki.
Tell us a little bit about yourself?
I am a retired chemical engineer from Palmerston North. I spent a great last 25 years at Fonterra before retiring. I now have more time with my wife, whether at home, holiday, or shopping, and supporting our family, daughter and son, and our local Lutheran church. I was born in Namibia, Skeleton Coast, and came to New Zealand as a 10 year old. I am now a naturalised kiwi for 55 years and I do support the All Blacks!
Is this your first new car?
No, but the first was the earlier 2013 model of the S Cross and so the two Suzuki’s have been my first new ones although that was never the intention. Second hand was good enough, but retirement has been good and we had a super local dealer among many reasons!
Why did you choose Suzuki over other brands?
Ten years ago, we were downsizing from a 97 Honda Odyssey V6. The four major needs were to have a much smaller car, BUT a similar driving height, a boot still fit for touring, and a significant reduction in the petrol consumption. Nothing major! A 4x4 was not needed and so a SUV or Crossover would fit the bill. The only one that did this was the Suzuki S-Cross. The Honda HRV was not out yet and while it has very similar dimensions, even now it would not be my choice. AND Suzuki had a very good brand reliability.
What do you love about your Suzuki?
It has really fitted my needs and at a very good price. I have yet to find a better make and model for the price and it drives well!
Why was your Suzuki S-Cross the right fit?
The reasons have been mentioned before. The picture highlights a major point about the boot size. The boot’s dimensions are very functional with the raised floor in bottom position and the two-position second row seat’s backrest, in forward mode. Two mid-size suitcases, 63 and 68cm, fit long ways with additional space for sizable chilly bins, two shown, and space for camping chairs over the top of the suitcases. There is also room for toolbox and other items, all under the boot cover and so out of sight when on tour.
How would you describe your Suzuki to a friend?
A vehicle between small and medium that delivers on many fronts. Great in town and on the open road, especially the latter with the turbo model. Cruising the South Island in Feb/Mar 2020 just before the Covid lockdown, especially the hills, was an absolute breeze and averaged a real 5.8 L/100km over the 3000 km.
How has owning your S-Cross made a difference in your life?
Its has been a car that has met our needs very well, so much so that I bought a second one after 5 years to update to the turbo model.
Describe the experience you had buying your car?
Our local dealer, Eurocar Suzuki in Palmerston North, is great on all fronts – sales, service and general helpfulness, with all staff very pleasant to deal and work with and ask questions of. They put up with several years of me looking and evaluating cars and models and were always very courteous throughout.
How do you use the car day to day?
Town, local area, parks and day trips where looking for some metal roads is a must.
What will you be doing/where will you be going when you next pick up your car keys?
Unknown but always a pleasure to look forward to.
What's some advice you would give to someone looking to buy a car?
Analyse your needs and then start to look. Eliminate what you don’t like the look of or what brands are out and then sort the compromises if you need to. This reduces car changes that are costly.