Advise needed/ Suzuki Swift purchase

[DrUb3r]

Hi,

My SO is looking to buy a Suzuki Swift. She has had one before and loves it. We test drove a couple at the garage the other day. One was an ex demonstrator model. Both were 63 plates so pretty new in my world.

the ex demo model power steering seemed to make an electronic noise (kind of like the sound of a servo for a model plane/car) when you turned the steering wheel. Didn't sound bad but the non ex demo model didn't. we asked the dealer (authorised) to look into this as the price was good as he could discount the ex demo model more than the non ex demo. The car is in warranty still but they said that 75% of Suzuki's make this noise and 25% don't so there is nothing that they can do under warranty to fix this.

Should we buy this car? my head is saying we shouldn't as if it turns out to be a problem down the line i would kick myself.

What do you think? should I go with my gut and stay away or is the guy talking sense? would really appreciated help from people like your good selves who know your stuff. (been a long time lurker)

Thanks

[bobby_vimto]

The fact you're posting this questions suggests you've almost made up your own mind otherwise the 'lure' of significant cost savings would have had you putting pen to paper for the car. So you know another model doesn't make that noise - therefore every day driving the 'noisy' one would just always remind you it's there until the point you ask the garage to have a quick look anyway...

...and that's when the fun begins because the so called techie staff will have no bloody clue how to troubleshoot. From experience, garages these days employ a method of troubleshooting that I think is called "head out for burgers with the customers car and then spray WD40 everywhere". This is then billed / presented as an "extensive road test" (burnouts in the carpark) or "passed the diagnotic test" (watching porn on the laptop that was meant to be plugged into the car).

Do they actually do any old fashioned testing (say, 2 in the car, one driving, one having a listen, prod, push, or open the bonnet and check a part is properly attached etc.), no chance! ;-)

Also, the fact that you know 25% don't make the noise is the clincher. Honestly, hold off your purchase until you find a car at the right price without the power steering noise.