Suzuki Swift Sport | Shed of the Week
Tons of fun, tiny package. What's not to like?
This £1,795 Swift Sport has been hanging around PH Classifieds for a while now and Shed isn’t sure why. What do you think?
The ad thumbnail tells us that it has passed through eight owners. Judging by the staining on the front seats it looks like quite a bit has also passed through some of those owners and their mates. The general mess might just be the aftermath of a thousand MaccyD drive-thru spillages. Short of carrying out a full forensic examination we’ll never know. Shed is fully aware that seat covers are about as ‘on point’ as flared trousers nowadays, but for him and many others who might be frequenting certain woodland areas behind certain lay-bys of an evening, washable seat covers still do a useful job, and they are still available if you can find the right darknet website. That’s all this car needs.
Or seems to need, anyway. Swift Sports are tough little fellas, built to take the sort of hammering traditionally dished out by younger drivers. This September ’07 example has done 124,000 miles, which represents an annual average of under 8,000. The advisories on the MOT history refer only to consumables like suspension and tyres. The last test in October was passed with no advisories.
Leaving aside some of the more florid language in the ad, we are told that there is service history, but not how much, and that it has been recently serviced, but not how recently. The concept of ‘recent’ means different things to different people. In Shed’s mind, he recently made love to Mrs Shed, whereas in her mind – and indeed her diary – it was actually just over twelve years ago.
Assuming it’s up to snuff you’ll be getting 123hp and 109lb ft from the high-compression, high-lift cam M16A 1.6 engine, enough despite the lack of torque to take this 1,060kg ball of fun through the 0-60mph run in the mid-eight second range, going on from there to 124mph. The power wasn’t enough to make the front end rowdy but it was enough to deliver loads of fun. The official fuel consumption of the Mk1 Sport was near as makes no difference to 40mpg.
It’s a robust motor – the pistons are forged and the valve springs beefy – but it could leak a little oil from the VVT gasket and solenoid or from the oil filter. The cooling system needs a good check over for leaks, and as with any car like this, you’ll also want to feel for graunchy gearchanges caused by worn synchros. Sloppy changes aren’t so problematic as the linkages are replaceable. Juddery clutches, particularly when cold, are quite common. Again, replacement will be the answer.
2012-on Mk2 Sports had a six- rather than a five-speed box. This took a good bit of strain out of motorway cruising, dropping the 70mph top gear engine speed from 4,000rpm to 3,000rpm. Really early Mk1s did have some transmission issues but our 2007 shed is deep enough into the 2005-on production run to escape those. Both Mk 1 and Mk 2 Sport engines were timed by chain rather than belt. Overall, Shed has no major concerns about the mechanical integrity of anything with a Suzuki badge on it, having owned several quick motorcycles bearing that name in his time.
Swifts were pretty well-proofed against rust too, and not just by Japanese standards either. There’s no evidence of it on the MOT history of this car. You’d normally be able to see it straightaway in the normal areas – wheelarches, doors, underneath – but you should always dig into the boot as well as that can get waterlogged. The back seats fold down to give you good cargo space.
Seat bolsters routinely wore away but these ones look pretty good underneath all the ming. The bodyshells were strong enough to do a very good job of disguising minor shunts so don’t just rely on a stand-up lookover. Always remember the words of the postmistress and have a good poke around underneath. Air con and traction control were standard equipment, as were scratchy interior plastics, but the good thing about that kind of plastic is that it lasts a long time, just like Mrs Shed’s memory.
Even with the aftermarket rear lights and eccentrically positioned exhaust pipes, it looks like a fun little car for the money (assuming those aren’t indicative of a heavy rear impact).
I then supplied Freddie and Ralph a few right hand drive 32s’s and got to drive them over from the uk , so back in 2020 when I needed a cheap daily runabout I ended up in a white 2014 32s . Promptly put 21000 miles on it in 18 months and done a lot of trackdays, even took it up the Furka and sustern pass in Switzerland . Great cars reliable as hell.
For info Rent4ring once had an over rev on the 32s , customer money shifted 5th to second and peak rev was 10800. The engine was stripped as a precaution and not a single bit of damage . Testament to a simple over engineered piece of kit.
If you are to get one my advice would be the 2012-2017 32s shape, much better car and wear miles very well. The later 33s with the turbo motor never really kept the same formula , and I think even rent4ring are finished with them next year now ( shame as they lost their USP with the swift gone)
Back in the day Freddie the owner of r4r set an 8m15 in a 32s swift, that’s pretty damn impressive even if the driver had raced llmp2 cars
Somebody do a buy and save this one please
There is more than the value of this shed in upgrade. Not the same car at the end. You ll be disappointed if you buy this one
There is more than the value of this shed in upgrade. Not the same car at the end. You ll be disappointed if you buy this one
When I was looking for a fun runabout these were high on the shortest. Not that many about though compared to ubiquitous Minis
There is more than the value of this shed in upgrade. Not the same car at the end. You ll be disappointed if you buy this one
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