Keep it or get something else? Noisy commuter car
Discussion
Due to a recent shift in priorities and an up coming house purchase, I've got rid of two cars in the interest of being sensible for a bit.. Until I have more parking anyway!
I've still got my Swift Sport, I kept it with the intention of my mrs using it and me getting something else but that's a no go for various reasons now. It's a 57 plate so the one with the 5 speed box and screaming engine at motorway speed. It's also very noisy in the cabin. I love the car though, it's excellent fun to chuck around. The thing is though after a 10 hour night shift its not exactly relaxing on the way home.
Is there any point in me trying to sound proof it a bit in any way that I can? It strikes me as a bit of a ball-ache and probably won't be much improvement but I could be wrong?
Or I could try and get something else instead. I don't want to lose the hooligan fun that it has too much but perhaps something a bit more civilised for commuting would be good. Any suggestions here? Don't want to spend too much more than the swift cost me, I'd say 3k would be ideal.
How would the Mini Cooper S suit? I'm thinking with a supercharger/turbo it might be a bit less high revving...
I've still got my Swift Sport, I kept it with the intention of my mrs using it and me getting something else but that's a no go for various reasons now. It's a 57 plate so the one with the 5 speed box and screaming engine at motorway speed. It's also very noisy in the cabin. I love the car though, it's excellent fun to chuck around. The thing is though after a 10 hour night shift its not exactly relaxing on the way home.
Is there any point in me trying to sound proof it a bit in any way that I can? It strikes me as a bit of a ball-ache and probably won't be much improvement but I could be wrong?
Or I could try and get something else instead. I don't want to lose the hooligan fun that it has too much but perhaps something a bit more civilised for commuting would be good. Any suggestions here? Don't want to spend too much more than the swift cost me, I'd say 3k would be ideal.
How would the Mini Cooper S suit? I'm thinking with a supercharger/turbo it might be a bit less high revving...
TwistingMyMelon said:
Hmmm with a copper you'd swap the noise for a jarring ride!
Buy some ear plugs and fit sound proofing under bonnet!
Or buy a Citroen!
Hmm I can't imagine a jarring ride would make it more bearable then... Buy some ear plugs and fit sound proofing under bonnet!
Or buy a Citroen!
If I can't find a suitable alternative I might just do that, headphones in probably as the stereo can hardly be heard on the motorway unless up very high!
luckystrike said:
I'm finding my EP3 Civic Type R pretty good on the fun/commutability scale - it's been on some 4+ hour trips and it's not particularly jarring or tiring given what it is. It revs fairly high on the motorway but it's not a particularly intrusive noise and the radio is capable of hiding wind/road noise.
Annoyingly I'm in a similar position as you regards house purchase and sharing cars with the OH so it's likely to be going soon, meaning I'll be commuting in the MX5 which is significantly more tiring.
Thanks for the suggestion, I do like these but having been in my mates one from northants down to Devon last year I don't think it's much of an improvement on the noise front. I know that's not the point of these cars, but still... Annoyingly I'm in a similar position as you regards house purchase and sharing cars with the OH so it's likely to be going soon, meaning I'll be commuting in the MX5 which is significantly more tiring.
Hudson said:
Is your commute actually decent? Just thinking if it's 6 miles of motorway traffic jams like mine then surely some auto-barge would suit.
Maybe invest in some dynamat sound proofing before shopping around if you really like the Swift.
It's 30 miles, some A road, some DC, or if I go another way, all m1 with a few twisties. Maybe invest in some dynamat sound proofing before shopping around if you really like the Swift.
I know what you mean, an auto barge would probably be the best bet for the commute but I've enjoyed having something to blast around a bit when the mood takes, that's all.
I might have to concede that Ill have to give that up until I get more driveway space.
I'll have a look at the sound proofing as a strong option because changing cars is a hassle and as I say the swift is brilliant, but not all of the time.
Steve_F said:
After a 10 hour night shift is a noisy car not a great feature? A silent barge with a comfy ride could see you having a kip before you get home!
It would of been useful when I first started nights, I really struggled on the drive home. It's fine now though, been doing it a while and I struggle sleeping in the morning if anything 0llie said:
My R53 turns 4k rpm at about 100mph. It's louder than standard with the Milltek exhaust, but it's not intolerable.
That's encouraging, I don't tend to go that fast, but the swift is at 3800 at 70 (IIRC) so that's a vast improvement. Is the ride quality as bad as they say? I'm guessing the run flats affect this?
I'm not ruling out the auto wafter option, I just thought I'd see if there were any decent alternatives I hadn't thought of. I'm certainly not against getting something cheaper and older either. The octavias are okay, It does seem hard to find them in decent condition though.
My other half can't drive other cars on her insurance and it's too much to put her on the Swift as a named driver, a disgusting amount actually! Otherwise I could put up with the swift a couple of days a week and take the comfy Swedish estate the other half of the time to make it more bearable.
Other thoughts have Included a Megane but they're ugly as sin, maybe an ST170. I'd like to keep some sense of fun if I can but if not I'll stay put with the swift (to the detriment of my bleeding ears) or go for something barge like.
My other half can't drive other cars on her insurance and it's too much to put her on the Swift as a named driver, a disgusting amount actually! Otherwise I could put up with the swift a couple of days a week and take the comfy Swedish estate the other half of the time to make it more bearable.
Other thoughts have Included a Megane but they're ugly as sin, maybe an ST170. I'd like to keep some sense of fun if I can but if not I'll stay put with the swift (to the detriment of my bleeding ears) or go for something barge like.
Edited by Ghost91 on Wednesday 25th November 15:24
lostkiwi said:
Man up! My daily 40 mile each way daily commute is in a Smart Roadster and has been for three years. Your Suzuki will be positively barge like in comparison!
cracking little cars! Maybe I am a bit of a wuss on this one but the noise on longer journeys really does bother me. It's been okay until now as the swift was just a run about but now it's in daily duty it's getting right on my nerves and everything I love about it on a B road blast is making me dislike owning it altogether! Thanks for the comments.
With regards to the 3 series, ive never been able to find a decent one in the past when looking. I'll keep an eye out but I found it quite time consuming before!
I've had 5 Saabs now, and Im a massive Saab fan. I've never had a newer 9-3, although I got to drive a couple recently when I went to look at a couple for a family member. I was pleasantly surprised as everyone goes on about crap build quality. I'm not that keen to mess about with the suspension etc though I have to say.
With regards to the 3 series, ive never been able to find a decent one in the past when looking. I'll keep an eye out but I found it quite time consuming before!
I've had 5 Saabs now, and Im a massive Saab fan. I've never had a newer 9-3, although I got to drive a couple recently when I went to look at a couple for a family member. I was pleasantly surprised as everyone goes on about crap build quality. I'm not that keen to mess about with the suspension etc though I have to say.
DS197 said:
Isn't it cheaper and less hassle to add your partner as a named driver compared to buying a new car?
It would certainly be less hassle but Im just not happy paying an extra thousand quid just to have her on my insurance, it's a bit outrageous if you ask me.And then there's the fact she's just passed her test and will likely bump, scrape, kerb(low profiles, she already did a sidewall when she used it for a few days before) what is actually an immaculate car and worth probably 3-4k. I'm quite happy she's in a safe car that cost buttons to buy so that minimises any extra cost of repairs or whatever...
All replies appreciated, thank you.
A few things to think about. I spoke to a mate of mine who bought my 100HP from me, and he reckons soundproofing made no difference to that when he tried. Spent a morning doing it and it had little effect. This is putting me off bothering tbh!
I'm going to look at getting something else for sure, it may be an option to buy a very cheap barge (and I mean cheap! Shed money...) and keep the swift but I've only just managed to get us down to two cars parking is a nightmare round here, typical new estate, and until we move it won't get any better. That being said if I have a commuter shed I won't mind parking it anywhere as it doesn't matter if it's dinged or whatever. The other option is get rid of the swift and keep looking for a happy medium of fun&hooliganism and comfort. I guess if a particularly good bargain shed comes up I'll just go for it, it would be nice to keep the swift as it has got under my skin in good ways as well as the bad. I'm going to try out my colleagues megane 225 one night to see how that goes on the dual carriageway, perhaps that could be the best of both.
A few things to think about. I spoke to a mate of mine who bought my 100HP from me, and he reckons soundproofing made no difference to that when he tried. Spent a morning doing it and it had little effect. This is putting me off bothering tbh!
I'm going to look at getting something else for sure, it may be an option to buy a very cheap barge (and I mean cheap! Shed money...) and keep the swift but I've only just managed to get us down to two cars
parking is a nightmare round here, typical new estate, and until we move it won't get any better. That being said if I have a commuter shed I won't mind parking it anywhere as it doesn't matter if it's dinged or whatever. The other option is get rid of the swift and keep looking for a happy medium of fun&hooliganism and comfort. I guess if a particularly good bargain shed comes up I'll just go for it, it would be nice to keep the swift as it has got under my skin in good ways as well as the bad. I'm going to try out my colleagues megane 225 one night to see how that goes on the dual carriageway, perhaps that could be the best of both.Edited by Ghost91 on Wednesday 25th November 20:30
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