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STANDARD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
VAN NUYS, CA
PERMIT NO. 2623
American Suzuki Motor Corporation
3251 East Imperial Highway
Brea, California 92821-6722
publisher:
American Suzuki Motor Corporation
3251 East Imperial Highway, Brea, CA 92821-6722
executive editor:
Deanna Mullins
editorial director:
Ruth Drizen-Dohs
editor:
Christina Jorgensen
art director:
Dominic Izon
associate editors:
Tracey Meyers, Amy Brown, Tracie Gipson,
and Chris Sapardanis
production designer:
Valerie Yankelevich
produced by:
Drizen-Dohs Corporate Communications, Inc.
All editorial inquiries should be sent to:
Customer Service Department
American Suzuki Automotive Division
P.O. Box 1100, Brea, California 92822-1100
Vehicle specifications and equipment based on information available
at time of printing and subject to change without notice and may
differ in each sales area. Some vehicles shown with optional
equipment. For more details on options, accessories, and
specifications, contact your local Suzuki dealer or suzuki.com. We
have tried hard to present accurate information, but unfortunately
sometimes errors occur. We apologize but we can not be responsible
if we make mistakes when describing a vehicle.
T
hose who think Suzukis are only for people with
limited budgets haven't met Jerry Phifer. The
Zarnell, Georgia, businessman could drive nearly
any high-end car, truck or SUV on the market, but he
doesn't. He chooses to drive a Suzuki Grand Vitara
Limited. And that's just the beginning of this man's
relationship with our brand.
A SUZUKI FOR THE LAKE
When Jerry decided to buy his first Suzuki in 1988, it was a used
Samurai that had seen better days and was being offered at a low
price. Still, he needed a practical vehicle to keep at his lake house, so
he took the Suzuki for a spin. "It seemed like a good car," Jerry
recalls, which proved to be true because, after that, he decided to
buy three more. In fact, ever since Jerry's first Suzuki test-drive, he
has been hooked on our brand. To date, he's owned six Samurais,
one of which he recently traded in to help pay for the 2002 Grand
Vitara Limited he now drives.
A GROWING COLLECTION
As an avid automobile collector over the past 30 years, Jerry has
owned more than 500 cars in his lifetime. Needless to say, he's always
looking for that next gem to add to his collection, which now numbers
17. But this time around, it wasn't a renovated classic or rare street
racer he was looking to acquire, but a Suzuki Grand Vitara Limited.
"The Suzuki dealership [Oak Ridge Suzuki in Oak Ridge, Tennessee]
is near my lake house and I just stopped in to see what they could offer
me," says Jerry, whose collection includes everything from the latest
Hybrid to muscled-out racers to American classics. "At the time, they
were offering great incentives on 2002 models because the 2003s were
rolling in. I really wanted something to scoot around town in, and the
Grand Vitara looked so good."
According to Jerry, his new Suzuki not only looked good, but
ran like a dream as well, so he returned the next day with his
girlfriend, who traded in her troubled Oldsmobile for a new Suzuki
XL-7. "The XL-7 is a lot of car for the money," he enthuses. "It's
equivalent to the Oldsmobile Bravada or Chevy Blazer, but it's got
room for seven passengers at about $10,000 less."
In fact, Jerry is so impressed with Suzuki that when we spoke
to him for this article, he was considering returning to his Suzuki
dealer--this time, to purchase a 2003 Grand Vitara with automatic
climate control. "I've been looking at the Grand Vitaras since
2000," he explains. "I drive up to 50,000 miles a year, so I need
something that has a lot of creature comforts, enough power and a
great warranty. Suzuki has me covered on that. Now I can just
drive and I don't have to worry."
FRIENDS, FAMILY AND SUZUKI
Anyone who knows Jerry knows he's a car guy who prides himself
on staying up to date on not only what cars are currently available, but
also what's coming in the future. As a result, friends and family
members are always turning to him for advice on what vehicle they
should spend their money on. And he's been known to recommend
Suzuki. For example, after helping his girlfriend buy her new XL-7,
Jerry pointed a friend of his to Oak Ridge Suzuki, where he bought
two new Suzuki Grand Vitaras--one for work and one for play. Jerry's
son and daughter-in-law also recently took his advice and purchased a
new Suzuki XL-7. It just goes to show that once you drive a Suzuki, it
isn't long before you want to take one--or two or three--home!
A
Car Enthusiast
Adds More Suzukis to His Collection
He Has Also Introduced His Friends and Family to Our Brand
[ o w n e r p o w e r ]
