Test drive: 2005 Suzuki Aerio

I bought my '98 Saab used when my daughter was born -- in 2002. And in the glove box I found the original sticker. $30k! Thirty thousand dollars!! Whoa, I had somehow gotten a deal on an expensive used car. Anyway, it's got a 150hp engine and it's a little tight in the back seat. And since it's a Saab it's got a myriad of silly problems that while they don't stop the car from driving they are annoying none-the-less. So, recently, Phil Powell turns in a review of the $14k 2005 Suzuki Aerio and it's got a more powerful engine and a bigger backseat. Oh it's not as pretty as my Saab, etc. but it's half the price. And, like Phil, I find myself getting pretty excited about these kinds of cars. Why? Not expensive but not cheap. That's a ride I can swing.—Bob Schulties