So your Suzuki either needs new tires or an alignment and you don't need A/C for the next 7-8 months since you will be getting another job here. Drive it...or just tell us you want a new car because you are bored and not because of the job

Also, 3hr+ commuting every day. You better be a CFO or some shit, because fuck that.

I am starting to think that I'd rather just keep driving the Suzuki. I've ordered a set of lca's and will try that. I did go look at a 2013 Rio5 yesterday. It was $13.6k and has 23k on it. Nice car, fully loaded with a heated steering wheel. They originally offered me $2k for my car. That was a straight up no and eventually they came up a few times and landed on $3.7 for mine. Was tempting but I'd still be in for $9.5+tax.

What bothered me the most was their sleezy sales tactics. Quoting me prices in biweekly to make it seem more manageable, and the high pressure sale too. "we have to do this today, my month end is coming blah blah blah..." I've always bought cars used from private people except for the Suzuki. Bought that at grimsby Hyundai and it was nothing like that. I don't like pushy sales people and wanted to do some number crunching before making a decision, this guy didn't understand that and was really pushing. At that point I didn't want to deal with him anymore and just left.

yess you are seeing the light!!

Also for your alignment go to level auto for a proper alignment/diagnosis as to what's wrong. It's one of the best shops in the city and they are very good at what they do.

As for the buying a new turd car being the solution to your problems.... Just don't buy one of these turds new. 3 years will go by very quickly and it will be worth like 7k.

I got my mazda2 used privatly and saved a bundle but it was still close to a new car and it has lost half its value in the last 3 years alone. Used mazda2 automatics are plenty. Find one that hasn't been smacked up for like 7grand if you think you can handle driving a turd 230km a day. stay away from manual in any car like this.

I don't think LCAs are gonna fix something as sever as you make it sound.

A toasted wheel bearing might, but you would hear that. Sticking brake calipers would do it, front or back.
Although you would smell that.

if you suspect tires, rotate them, but the fronts on the back, backs on the front.

The front end of an SX4 is pretty basic, just grab onto things and pull and wiggle see if anything clunks or feels loose.

If you are closer to Milton, you could call mr Tazzy motorsports. they are the only place I go to for stuff I don't want to do.
They do EXCELLENT alignments.

Throwing parts at the car is going to be a really expensive way to solve this problem. If the stationary alignment is good, and the shocks pass the bounce test, calipers are not stuck, tires are known good, no play in any Ball joint, control arm or inner and outer tie rod then it almost has to be something wrong with the power steering rack / traction control system. It's electric steering right? And your traction light goes on and off? I'd try to disable the power steering and traction control altogether and see if you can drive the thing straight. If it were manual you could just turn the whole car off at the ignition, but don't do this on an automatic AWD.

Just try what I said regarding completely disabling the traction control and if possible power to the electric steering, one at a time. You want to isolate as many variables as possible. Bushings compress but if they aren't loose, and the alignment compensates for their sag, they won't cause a pull as hard as you describe. In theory replacing them, you will need to do another alignment... in theory.

The SX4 is actually quite the solid little car. Most solid of all the Japanese makes. Sheet metal on it is twice as thick as what Mazda uses on even their mazda6. I was strongly considering getting one in their getting out of the country sale but they had already sold out of FWDs and wasn't interested in the porky 4x4s.

Personally, if I'm commuting 200+ k's a day, I'd rather not do it in an econobox. I'd prefer something a bit smoother and quieter with some semi decent options. TSX/TL/Accord, Camry, something along those lines.

You can tell if the car is out of alignment by eye as well, it's pretty evident imo. 1-2 degrees of toe will be noticeable.