RE: Driven: Suzuki Swift Sport

RE: Driven: Suzuki Swift Sport

Author
Discussion

RemaL

24,973 posts

235 months

Tuesday 7th February 2012
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My 78yo gran has a 58 plate sport. cracking little car. really fun to drive but she does not look after it frown

k15tox

1,680 posts

182 months

Tuesday 7th February 2012
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really like these things.

think its a little slow for 136hp and 1049kg though?

top speed 121mph, must have the aerodynamics of a brick.

still, bet its a cracker on the right roads.

LuS1fer

41,139 posts

246 months

Tuesday 7th February 2012
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I think you may have confused quality with "class" when describing the MINI interior but for me, a plainer interior is something devoutly to be wished and you can stick your gimmicks and deduct them from the price. The "image" is not something that need cross your mind either (though even after all this time I still associate Suzuki with two stroke screamers and Hayabusas but that's probably just me...).

I like this car but when looking at warm hatches would still be inclined to go used at this level of performance and look at the last model (not comparing the two, just think £13500 is still a lot of money for most people who may want to save a bit longer for the extra power).

manand38

1,680 posts

207 months

Tuesday 7th February 2012
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Baryonyx said:

Let's not be silly. The Swift Sport is peppy, but if any serious performance car were even remotely trying the Swift would be blown into the weeds.

And that's coming from a Swift fan!
Naa, have to agree with original comment. In the right hands, the Swift is swift around the Ring, I've seen it. It catches up with powerful cars in the bends. The previous Sport achieved ~ 9mins B to G, so not bad for a 1.6 smile

tr7v8

7,192 posts

229 months

Tuesday 7th February 2012
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Riggers said:
EDLT said:
I quite like these, I think it is a bit unfair to complain that the interior is "overly plasticky" in a sub £13k car.
Fair enough, it is definitely nicer inside than a Twingo RS. But it's some way off being Mini quality AFAIC.

So I stand by my point smile
And how much is a Mini?

Riggers

1,859 posts

179 months

Tuesday 7th February 2012
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tr7v8 said:
Riggers said:
EDLT said:
I quite like these, I think it is a bit unfair to complain that the interior is "overly plasticky" in a sub £13k car.
Fair enough, it is definitely nicer inside than a Twingo RS. But it's some way off being Mini quality AFAIC.

So I stand by my point smile
And how much is a Mini?
£14,580 for a Cooper... but... the Mini will almost certainly have better RVs...

And LuS1fer, I definitely mean quality (certainly not a fan of the design of the Mini cabin particularly).

anything fast

983 posts

165 months

Tuesday 7th February 2012
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I like this car, i think it would be a funky little car to drive in the city. BUT is it not a tad slow for 136 bhp?

EG. In 1990 a ford fiesta rs turbo had about 130bhp and could hit 60 under 8 sec and 130 mph.

this swift is no doubt a much much better car, but it seems to be nippy rather than quick, and for a light car like this its just too slow in my book.

Wheres the progress? Even a Sh*tron Paxo is quicker.

EDLT

15,421 posts

207 months

Tuesday 7th February 2012
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k15tox said:
really like these things.

think its a little slow for 136hp and 1049kg though?

top speed 121mph, must have the aerodynamics of a brick.

still, bet its a cracker on the right roads.
The 0-62 time sounds about right, it probably needs an extra gear change. The top speed is about right for a car with that much power too.

They could be doing the insurance group fudging Peugeot used to do by quoting the performance figures with two passengers and half a tank of fuel.

k15tox

1,680 posts

182 months

Tuesday 7th February 2012
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EDLT said:
The 0-62 time sounds about right, it probably needs an extra gear change. The top speed is about right for a car with that much power too.

They could be doing the insurance group fudging Peugeot used to do by quoting the performance figures with two passengers and half a tank of fuel.
wouldnt say so.

my old corsa 1.8 had 123hp weighed 1090kg 0-60 was 8.0 and 127mph

EDLT

15,421 posts

207 months

Tuesday 7th February 2012
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k15tox said:
EDLT said:
The 0-62 time sounds about right, it probably needs an extra gear change. The top speed is about right for a car with that much power too.

They could be doing the insurance group fudging Peugeot used to do by quoting the performance figures with two passengers and half a tank of fuel.
wouldnt say so.

my old corsa 1.8 had 123hp weighed 1090kg 0-60 was 8.0 and 127mph
Doesn't that prove my point?

Your old car has less power and more weight and is slightly faster. The Suzuki is being measured to 62mph, so will probably need third gear and running the cars heavy to lower the insurance group on cars that are aimed at young buyers is not a new idea.

k15tox

1,680 posts

182 months

Tuesday 7th February 2012
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EDLT said:
Doesn't that prove my point?

Your old car has less power and more weight and is slightly faster. The Suzuki is being measured to 62mph, so will probably need third gear and running the cars heavy to lower the insurance group on cars that are aimed at young buyers is not a new idea.
yeah i suppose so.

not sure if i believe the performance fudging though, maybe its an urban myth?

136hp should do more than 121mph if geared right, which im sure this car is.

thats even if it is 136hp

StevieB

777 posts

149 months

Tuesday 7th February 2012
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I love this little car. We need more of this sort of thing. Tbh, this is the closest modern equivalent i can think of to our beloved 205 GTI, so if I was trading the old girl in (the car not the wife) for a modern, this is where my cash would go (If I could afford it).

Evoman

100 posts

198 months

Tuesday 7th February 2012
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StevieB said:
I love this little car. We need more of this sort of thing. Tbh, this is the closest modern equivalent i can think of to our beloved 205 GTI, so if I was trading the old girl in (the car not the wife) for a modern, this is where my cash would go (If I could afford it).
Ah the SSS... for those not in the know, this is one seriously underrated car or should I say a car one could easily assume ain't nothing special. StevieB, you are bang on the money there with your comparison with the wee Pug 205.

I test drove a few 205's before even considering a Swift. Then I drove one of these little firecrackers around the Nordschleife and it was a revelation. It was a little difficult to comprehend what was going on initially as powerful performance cars nailing it on the straights made no ground on the Swift. WTF is going on? I said to my brother in the passenger seat. We didn't get it. We were hustling Porsches, and Audi R8, proper performance cars... sure of course it's down to the driver knowing the track and how much they want to commit etc. but when on the straights, you can hear a car 'opening the taps' so to speak and that was where they were making no ground on us. Why? Well it can only be down to the corner entry speed and exit speed the little Swift can carry, which was quite frankly phenomenal.

After that experience, I bought one 'for my wife' and she really likes it, but I think I like it more! I have access to a few pretty cool motors but there is something about the little Swift that gets under your skin, it's engaging at a level many cars struggle to capture, that's why the comparison with an old skool Pug 205 is right on the money. It catches that old skool magic yet has the sophistication of a modern Japanese motor with reliability that is second to none. Just look at Rent 4 Rings experience with these cars, almost improbably low maintenance costs and these cars are being driven hard with big Ring mileages.

I love 'em and the new one looks cool too, though nothing like the hardcore prototype models, now that did look very very cool. if the new car has lost some of the 'chuckability' of the original, they're on a slippery slope. Diluting the raison d'être almost seems inevitable somehow in the quest for further 'improvements'...


Whiters

364 posts

240 months

Tuesday 7th February 2012
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Riggers said:
EDLT said:
I quite like these, I think it is a bit unfair to complain that the interior is "overly plasticky" in a sub £13k car.
Fair enough, it is definitely nicer inside than a Twingo RS. But it's some way off being Mini quality AFAIC.

So I stand by my point smile
Quality wise, fair point, but for those who prefer something a little more business like inside than the (IMO) over-stylised mini, I think this looks great.

arkenphel

484 posts

206 months

Tuesday 7th February 2012
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manand38 said:
Naa, have to agree with original comment. In the right hands, the Swift is swift around the Ring, I've seen it. It catches up with powerful cars in the bends. The previous Sport achieved ~ 9mins B to G, so not bad for a 1.6 smile
Ahahahahaha.

I've been in a 330ci and still got beaten by an old Volvo station wagon. On the Ring, it's useless comparing cars unless you have the same driver in very similar conditions. More often than not, it boils down to driver skill and familiarity over there. Lol

TACottle

184 posts

154 months

Tuesday 7th February 2012
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Always liked the Swift.

This one looks like a cracking little car, I bet its brilliant fun.

Can't argue with the price either.

minky monkey

1,526 posts

167 months

Tuesday 7th February 2012
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I've had my 57 plate SSS for 3.5 years now. Brilliant car. The one addition I'd like is the six speed box, it really would make motorway life alot easier.

But for twisty's it's such a good fun car.

Might have to have a go in the new one when it's in the local dealer.

jamoor

14,506 posts

216 months

Tuesday 7th February 2012
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I have an old one at the moment, the most fun car I have ever owned, has lots of cool about it.

Terrific.

ukaskew

10,642 posts

222 months

Tuesday 7th February 2012
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As a previous Suzuki Ignis Sport owner (which was an absolute blast, if you could live with the looks) these look very tempting. They were only 107bhp but actually more entertaining than the Clio 172s I have/do own, mainly because it was easier to have more fun at legal speeds.

£13,500 seems a pretty good price, particularly if they are as bomb proof and cheap to run as the Ignis Sport.


handbraketurn

1,371 posts

167 months

Tuesday 7th February 2012
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Big fan of these, unpretentious honest little car. I think its pretty good looking too. Previous version makes a great second hand buy in my opinion.