My Swift Sport SZ-R
Discussion
LONG POST alert!!!
After nearly 11 years on this website and I think 3 vehicles sold via it, this will be my first thread!
I'm no spring chicken and spent a good few years in the trade, (finally finding myself a real job over 14 years ago), getting the chance to drive plenty cars back in the day, but I never got away from my enjoyment of cars that I felt I had to drive. I really enjoyed the Citroen AX GT & GTi but the 405 Mi-16, MX-5 NA, Civic VTi and Integra Type-R DC2 all bring back good memories.
After leaving the trade I ended up with boring family cars but got into bikes and spent a lot of money chopping and changing them, especially when I developed back issues and was looking for my ideal bike. Recently, I found out that my issues were there to stay so gave up trying and bought a lovely Moto Guzzi V7 Racer for half hour blats and posing to the local outdoor cafe.
The big question then became what to buy for days out, weekend trips and maybe the occasional track day, in other words what I'd always wanted to use bikes for? I thought hard about an Integra Type-R DC2 but decided they were maybe too old. I thought about a Civic Type-R EP3 but didn't see one that I was tempted to look at, MX-5 NC models but was niggled by only having two seats (just in case I wanted wife and little daughter to come) and GT86/BRZ but felt I couldn't justify nicking that much from our savings. There were probably others; Pistonheads, Autotrader, e-Bay and others became an obsession.....
I then began to recall how much I'd enjoyed smaller cars and got thinking that a Swift Sport 06-11 would be the thing (wifey has a low mileage GLX that I felt had potential). As normal I got sidetracked and wondered if I could justify nicking the funds for a Fiesta ST, those thoughts were overtaken by the idea of an Abarth 500 (not helped when an old mate Bryan (are you reading this ramble mate?) bought one) but again I came back to Swift Sports. My only ticket was in a Swift GS back in 1993, over 91mph on the A69, so we have some previous for speed together 😄.
I went to look at a totally mint 2009 with only 1 owner and 24K but couldn't square myself with the two stamps in the book (one of those by Halfords) and walked away. Four months later a 2011 with one owner and 15K appeared but it was 300 mile away and I had too much on. I then noticed a 2013 SZ-R with only one owner, full history from supplying dealer and 12K miles. I hadn't set out to get a later one but a very trusted mate lives nearby so he was tasked with going for a look; about to go on holiday, I just decided to stop messing about, transfer a deposit to my mate and ask him to buy the car if it was right. It was absolutely right so the balance was sent, insurance and tax arranged and he collected it for me until my return.
So, today was the day and I went on the train, my mate picked me up, we caught up over lunch and I drove my new baby home. Far too early to say too much but my back seems happy in it, I like the way it steers, the way the gears change, the linear but revvy engine and the sensible level of power to fun ratio.
Let's see where we go from here then.....
After nearly 11 years on this website and I think 3 vehicles sold via it, this will be my first thread!
I'm no spring chicken and spent a good few years in the trade, (finally finding myself a real job over 14 years ago), getting the chance to drive plenty cars back in the day, but I never got away from my enjoyment of cars that I felt I had to drive. I really enjoyed the Citroen AX GT & GTi but the 405 Mi-16, MX-5 NA, Civic VTi and Integra Type-R DC2 all bring back good memories.
After leaving the trade I ended up with boring family cars but got into bikes and spent a lot of money chopping and changing them, especially when I developed back issues and was looking for my ideal bike. Recently, I found out that my issues were there to stay so gave up trying and bought a lovely Moto Guzzi V7 Racer for half hour blats and posing to the local outdoor cafe.
The big question then became what to buy for days out, weekend trips and maybe the occasional track day, in other words what I'd always wanted to use bikes for? I thought hard about an Integra Type-R DC2 but decided they were maybe too old. I thought about a Civic Type-R EP3 but didn't see one that I was tempted to look at, MX-5 NC models but was niggled by only having two seats (just in case I wanted wife and little daughter to come) and GT86/BRZ but felt I couldn't justify nicking that much from our savings. There were probably others; Pistonheads, Autotrader, e-Bay and others became an obsession.....
I then began to recall how much I'd enjoyed smaller cars and got thinking that a Swift Sport 06-11 would be the thing (wifey has a low mileage GLX that I felt had potential). As normal I got sidetracked and wondered if I could justify nicking the funds for a Fiesta ST, those thoughts were overtaken by the idea of an Abarth 500 (not helped when an old mate Bryan (are you reading this ramble mate?) bought one) but again I came back to Swift Sports. My only ticket was in a Swift GS back in 1993, over 91mph on the A69, so we have some previous for speed together 😄.
I went to look at a totally mint 2009 with only 1 owner and 24K but couldn't square myself with the two stamps in the book (one of those by Halfords) and walked away. Four months later a 2011 with one owner and 15K appeared but it was 300 mile away and I had too much on. I then noticed a 2013 SZ-R with only one owner, full history from supplying dealer and 12K miles. I hadn't set out to get a later one but a very trusted mate lives nearby so he was tasked with going for a look; about to go on holiday, I just decided to stop messing about, transfer a deposit to my mate and ask him to buy the car if it was right. It was absolutely right so the balance was sent, insurance and tax arranged and he collected it for me until my return.
So, today was the day and I went on the train, my mate picked me up, we caught up over lunch and I drove my new baby home. Far too early to say too much but my back seems happy in it, I like the way it steers, the way the gears change, the linear but revvy engine and the sensible level of power to fun ratio.
Let's see where we go from here then.....
I did keep a bit quiet, didn't I? It's been a strange time with a heck of a lot packed in (good and bad) and I guess the forum has been more of a magazine to me, reading bits that interested me from time to time. Hoping for a more settled decade ahead and this wee car is about taking 25 years off my life and having some fun while I've got time and at sane speeds....
The SZ-R is pretty much the same as the normal Sport but they made 100, all black with red roof, spoiler and mirrors. Apart from that I think it's just a different gear knob, numbered plaque on the door sills and unique mats. I have a few ideas for mods as I intend it to be a long term keeper but I'll wait until the spring to be sure my back is happy on longer trips away before spending yet more money.
The SZ-R is pretty much the same as the normal Sport but they made 100, all black with red roof, spoiler and mirrors. Apart from that I think it's just a different gear knob, numbered plaque on the door sills and unique mats. I have a few ideas for mods as I intend it to be a long term keeper but I'll wait until the spring to be sure my back is happy on longer trips away before spending yet more money.
I've just put up for sale my wife's Swift SZ3, albeit a lowly 1.2. Now it's all cleaned up I realise why we bought it 4 years ago and just how much fun it's been in that and not too mention how reliable.
The wife has taken over my Octavia VRS whilst I wait for a boring Focus diesel company car. She doesn't like "the big blue boys car" and keeps banging on about a DS3 replacement, I think after seeing yours the only sensible replacement is a 5 door Swift sport! Yours looks great with the red roof, be interested to hear how you get on with it. Enjoy!
The wife has taken over my Octavia VRS whilst I wait for a boring Focus diesel company car. She doesn't like "the big blue boys car" and keeps banging on about a DS3 replacement, I think after seeing yours the only sensible replacement is a 5 door Swift sport! Yours looks great with the red roof, be interested to hear how you get on with it. Enjoy!
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