Anyone know what color the dash lights up as? Green/Blue/White/Orange?

Also, In the Chicago paper they reviewed that the process to start the car remotely was kind of awkward. anyone know the steps?

Ok, now, I'm interested in doing some mild off roading--nothing too serious but enought to go back-roading and off the beaten track in colorado for camping, etc. No lift kits, or extremeness needed.  According to cars.msn.com, this thing has hight comparable to other SUV's. With the proper angle, what would/wouldn't you take this thing over?

Thanks...

I'm tempted to take a good look at this vehicale for myself.

Read the reviews of the thing in all the truck magazines.

Basically they said it's got low clearance and NO skidplating so anything they went over hit something.  The exhaust going under the rear diff was mentioned in every article.  A lot of stuff got whacked or hit by rocks and anything they tried to go over.

That said most liked it in the dirt and on fast stuff.

Anyone know what color the dash lights up as? Green/Blue/White/Orange?

Also, In the Chicago paper they reviewed that the process to start the car remotely was kind of awkward. anyone know the steps?

Ok, now, I'm interested in doing some mild off roading--nothing too serious but enought to go back-roading and off the beaten track in colorado for camping, etc. No lift kits, or extremeness needed.  According to cars.msn.com, this thing has hight comparable to other SUV's. With the proper angle, what would/wouldn't you take this thing over?

Thanks...

I'm tempted to take a good look at this vehicale for myself.

Here's our review of the vehicle:

http://www.zukiworld.com/month_090105/feature_2006grandvitara.htm

Here's a few other reviews from the Suzuki site:

http://www.suzukiauto.com/sr_06/grand_vitara/reviews/

Good luck, Eric

Read the reviews of the thing in all the truck magazines.

Basically they said it's got low clearance and NO skidplating so anything they went over hit something.  The exhaust going under the rear diff was mentioned in every article.  A lot of stuff got whacked or hit by rocks and anything they tried to go over.

That said most liked it in the dirt and on fast stuff.

I think saying that it has no skidplating is a little disingenuous - quoting from the zukiworld review it says: "Suspension up front is similar to previous models and is protected well with factory skid plates and bracing." Now, we all know that factory plates aren't always fantastic, but it is better than nothing at all. Unless you get a bit overenthusiastic

That said, I don't think that serious off-roaders are much of a priority for Suzuki anymore, at least not in the developed world. Still, this is a much more road-friendly vehicle than previous versions, yet still has  far more off-road capability than the vast majority of purchasers will ever need. The off-road capabilities of the 4wd with low range versions (which are all that are available in Australia - no sissy 2wd versions here!) are certainly far superior to those offered by the Rav4 and (snigger) CR-V. And it appears to be at the very least the equal of the Nissan X-Trail (may not be available in all territories).

It is regrettable that the needs of serious off-roaders looking for a low cost, bare-bones vehicle are being increasingly sidelined by the market...

dash lights:
dials - VERY bright white and blue
temp control, stereo, etc - reddish orange

starting w/ keyless remote:
push in where you insert key, turn until stop, let it pop back out (almost pos. about that one), then turn all the way