5 Speed Suzuki Reno with a Holden engine?

"Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available" (whoistheleader2) 10/13/2020 at 16:00 • Filed to: unnecessary car shopping without E90M3

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Here’s the full ad for this !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

Offering up my trusty !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

2.0L Holden Engine | Stick Shift Manual 5-Speed.

Great Cosmetic Condition Interior

Making it available since the timing belt went. Had zero issues prior, with this being my daily. All oil and other maintenance cared for.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Yes, I have a lot of questions. First up. which Holden engine out of what? Surely they’ve made enough 2L engines over the years that it really would be helpful to know exactly what it came out of.

Also, why a Suzuki Reno? I like an underdog but it’s just such a random thing to modify.

Paint looks pretty toasty and I’m not a huge fan of those rims but it at least seems to be well cared for. I’m bemused by the amount of effort that’s gone into this old Suzuki. And these pictures are taken in front of a pretty fancy looking house too. I bet the neighbors hate this thing. 

MonkeePuzzle > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 10/13/2020 at 16:05

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Suzuki and Holden have done codesigned projects, and badge engineering for quite some time. It’s probably just a holden badged engine, but same as what came stock with the car.

Chinny Raccoon > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 10/13/2020 at 16:09

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That looks like the standard fit GM Ecotec. The only Suzuki thing about the Reno is the badge, it’s really a Daewoo Lacetti.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > MonkeePuzzle 10/13/2020 at 16:25

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I think that’s a Family II. 

Jb boin > Chinny Raccoon 10/13/2020 at 16:27

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Yep, looks similar :

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > MonkeePuzzle 10/13/2020 at 16:39

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So is it even engine swapped? I couldn’t really see any Holden logos in the photos but maybe they just happened to replace the head or something with Holden parts because that was what was available in the world. 

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Chinny Raccoon 10/13/2020 at 16:40

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Yeah it doesn’t exactly look all that exciting. Where does the Holden part come in anyways? 

Jb boin > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 10/13/2020 at 16:45

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It’s actually not a bad engine in it’s most powerful versions !

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Jb boin 10/13/2020 at 16:49

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I’ve got an Opel derived 1.8 liter Ecotec in my car that I don’t believe is all that related. It’s not a bad engine but calling it powerful is kind of a stretch.

Jb boin > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 10/13/2020 at 17:04

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T he most recent iteration of the Astra OPC had 280hp and 400nm of torque and could get ~310hp/500nm with a stage 1 tune :

Probably not the best drivability but impressive torque here !

A s a comparison, my V6 TDi has 450nm or torque and would “only” have ~550nm with a stage 1 :

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Jb boin 10/13/2020 at 17:11

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That is a whole lot more power and torque than the Ecotec in my car makes. That's over double the hp albeit at a higher rev count presumably. 

4kc > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 10/13/2020 at 17:21

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Just looks like they took off some plastic covers and added a hot air intake

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 10/13/2020 at 17:43

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We got these cars as the Chevrolet Optra5...

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 10/13/2020 at 17:51

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It’s the original Family II engine . It just happened to be manufactured by Holden in Port Melbourne before being shipped off to Daewoo in Korea... someone is being disingenuous.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Family_II_engine

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 10/13/2020 at 18:11

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Isn't that an Opel design too? It's kind of a weird flex TBH 

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 10/13/2020 at 18:14

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They were not at all common when new and 20 years have done nothing to increase their presence on the roads. Finding a 5 speed is even less common. But it's all standard GM stuff even when you are bumble bragging about your Opel engine being from Holden so it shouldn't be too hard to keep on the road in the absence of body rot.

onlytwowheels > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 10/13/2020 at 18:25

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daewoo_Lacetti

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > onlytwowheels 10/13/2020 at 18:34

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The Forenza/Reno left a shockingly small impact on the public’s collective automotive memory. They existed as an alternative to the more mainstream South Korean brands except GM-ified South Korean badged as Japanese with German engines. The Ecotecs are great engines for lasting forver with little maintenance but not so great on providing much go higher in the rev range. I’m really only familiar with the Family 1s though.

onlytwowheels > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 10/13/2020 at 18:42

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Many years ago I had a Suzuki Forenza rental car. It seemed adequate, nothing I can recall would make me say anything bad about it.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > onlytwowheels 10/13/2020 at 18:49

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Is there anything good to say about it? Early 2000s GM cars were cockroaches unless they were U Bodies in which case they were slightly infirm cockroaches. You could treat them terribly and they’d keep running. Say what you will about the Opel derived Ecotecs but they’re solid engines. I just wish mine had maybe 10 more horses. Torque is adequate but top end acceleration is lacking. And I have the decadent 136 horsepower 1.8 liter!

I’ll bet the older gen engine in this one feels exactly the same with less weight to haul and less power to do it with. They’re exactly what you expect in a reassuringly familiar way. 

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 10/13/2020 at 19:03

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Yeah, I’ve seen like....none for a LONG time up here.

onlytwowheels > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 10/13/2020 at 19:18

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A friend that I gave a ride to thought that the Forenza was worth considering to replace his current commuter car which was a Sentra 2.5 S.

I have no experience with the Sentra, and this Suzuki was the only Suzuki automobile I have been in.  

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 10/13/2020 at 19:58

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A little while ago I featured a Reno 5 speed in a DOTS but it was pretty rough and had roasted paint. Can’t link as I dont have  time but it wasn't in very good condition. 

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > onlytwowheels 10/13/2020 at 20:03

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They sold pretty well around here but most have been thrashed and trashed by now . I’ll bet most still ran when they got junked too.

zipfuel > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 10/13/2020 at 23:29

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I was curious years back because they were cheap, manual and there was a wagon but didn't seem like there was much support to upgrade

pip bip - choose Corrour > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 10/14/2020 at 02:56

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aka Daewoo Lacetti

the engine will be a family 2 motor. engines were built in Melbourne.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > zipfuel 10/14/2020 at 05:30

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I don't think there ever was. We got them in sedan and hatch form.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > pip bip - choose Corrour 10/14/2020 at 08:39

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That’s kind of a weird flex though. Most people shopping for a cheap slightly busted hatchback over here don't even know what Holden is and, as I, probably took it to mean a performance engine swap.

And the engine is Opel designed just as much as it’s Holden built.

fhrblig > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 10/14/2020 at 13:04

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They’re just blowing smoke. That’s the standard engine. They’re just trying to make it sound desirable.

I liked the Daewoo Nubira 5-door so I still have a little bit of affection for the Reno. The problem is that it’s really not very good. If you can find one super cheap, why not, but good luck finding one that’s not been beaten to death.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > fhrblig 10/14/2020 at 13:10

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Yeah it's a weird flex for a slow Opel engined GM hatchback. I respect the Reno but I doubt I would have bought one. 

Taylor Martin > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 10/14/2020 at 13:50

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I mean, if it only needs a new timing belt, this is a cheap running car that seems to be in decent shape. Not desirable, but drivable.

Correction: holy smokes there’s a lot of stuff you have to do to get that timing belt out and then back in. Must be an expensive job to have a mechanic fix (especially since it’s over 10 years old) , so I don’t blame the guy for selling it.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Taylor Martin 10/14/2020 at 13:52

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It is a non-interference engine so at $650 this could be a good running beater. I don’t think it’s a very good car but for that money it doesn’t have to be. Even if the owner is a little weird about the Holden engine that’s actually an Opel engine that’s in every crappy GM compact from the last 50 years. 

Taylor Martin > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 10/14/2020 at 14:14

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Yep, you’re getting what you’re paying for. Honestly, I’d buy it as a beater to learn stick shift on. I’ve been jonesing to get my hands on a car I can drive and play around with stick with (I have a basic understanding, but haven’t driven one since last year I think).

zipfuel > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 10/14/2020 at 18:47

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Here’s the mintiest most overpriced example in Canada

http://www.autotrader.ca/go/5-48838341

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > zipfuel 10/14/2020 at 19:05

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Oh wow, I completely forgot we got the wagon version XD

I was only remembering the sedan version and the hatch (also badged as an Optra, but a very different car)....forgot there was a wagon version of the se dan!