Entropy buys another Suzuki Swift Sport and strikes gold
Discussion
How do you replace a Suzuki Swift Sport? Previous uninteresting thread here: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
I'd like to try a Mini but they're not as practical for my needs since I'm back to being a student again with work placements dotted around the country.
Looked at an early E92 BMW 325. Had a folder of receipts and FSH. Got cold feet. On second thoughts I didn't think the car suited me at all. It's a nice car to be in and drive but I felt like a complete cock driving it during the test drive.
Took a fancy to a Ford Fiesta Metal. I've been in Ford Fiestas. It does everything so well but to me they feel a bit German - by that I mean it tries ever so hard to impress with its dynamics and interior. Like the mk1 Focus you see Fiestas are everywhere it can easy to be put off by its popularity no matter how good they are.
Really my heart was in the newer Swift and the one that stood out was affordable and also had an aftermarket exhaust with a Scooby inspired colour scheme - blue car and gold rims. The chin spoiler and rear spoiler extension I can live with. Popped the hood and was surprised to find CTC (UK Swift tuning specialists) air filter and other addenda. Made me wonder if the car has been remapped as well.
Initial impressions when I first got in: a much better built car, solid and sturdy. The plastics are an improvement. The seats are much better, they're nice and cosy and am able to sit lower than previous. The driving position is an improvement. Oh and the previous owner decided to redecorate the interior with some fake carbon fibre.
Engine and even the aftermarket exhaust feels muted inside. The gears are well spaced but feels much more leggy, taller gearing other than lethargy typical of VVT/VTEC engines. The short gearing of the ZC31 was a part of its eagerness and feels missing.
This Swift feels bigger and heavier despite being just over a tonne. It feels more planted and sturdier resulting in minimal body roll. The EPAS steering is well weighted and doesn't feel over-assissted.
Dare I say it the ZC32 feels homogenous and easy to live with. It disappoints me that its already lacking character whereas in the ZC31 you could detect hints of its friskiness on a test drive.
I'm so desperate to fall in love with her. Its only after purchasing the Swift do I get to undress and unhook the rear strap...
Get it past 4000rpm and the car is in its element. The induction and aftermarket exhaust roars and growls louder and howls towards the redline. For a car that weighs a tonne just like the previous Swift but with a few extra ponies and newtons it feels quicker than the official zero to sixty at 8.7s... A baby Type R as I think to myself.
Flow through a sequence of bends it's so confidant and assure of itself on 205/45/R17 tyres - in this case Dunlop Sport Maxxes all round. I reckon she can swallow another inch on all fours without a problem...
Empty roundabout... Gutted. It's gonna take a bit more effort to unstick the rear end with the ESP on.
I come up towards a silver Up GTI. Drop down to second and use the crawler lane. We're both going uphill foot to the floor. For a moment we're both head to head, noses almost equal no thanks to the stupendous torque of the Up. I have faith in the Swift's vital statistics (more hp) and she doesn't let me down. I glance in the mirror to see the Up has decided to back off because we're coming towards a roundabout. I, however, still remain committed. Sightlines are good, zero traffic. Trailbrake, heel & toe, back to second with the rear end sliding. A dab of oppo whilst progressively back on the throttle straightens things out. It brings a grin on my face and I make the engine and exhaust sing again.
This time I turn on the fun button and the dashboard highlights ESP has been turned off. This Swift can be just as fun and playful as the previous. The rear axle will want to go where you point it and then some! In the ZC31 it feels very firm but push hard and the suspension is softer than you initially thought. The ZC32 is more assured of itself. Push hard and this Swift eggs you on for more.
On the motorway its very good at being effortless and boring. Having sixth gear is a blessing. 70mph is under 3000rpm. Even Jenson Button and Alain Prost would have found cruising on the motorway hard work trying to stick to 70mph in the ZC31. NVH is all good and no squeeks and rattles.
Almost home. The Swift does a great job of dealing with bumps and imperfections and makes light work of sleeping policemen.
I park up and look back. It brings a smile to my face.
I'm missing my ZC31 on 205 tyres which minimized body roll. I miss its rawness. A cheap shopping trolley that's light and eager and carried bags of character. It was like an eager puppy begging to play with you; a car that wants to be thrashed. If it was a cartoon character it would Scrappy Doo "Le' me have 'em, le' me have 'em, le' me have 'em".
It had an involving chassis with easy and exploitable handling whether at urban or rural environment. The short gearing was an open invitation to exploring the upper scale of the rev band. Even the gear change had character! The chunky hard plastic gearknob was like something out of a Fisher Price Tonka toy and would clunk into gears nicely - though mine had a problem dropping into first or reverse at times.
As I ponder day is turning to night and I peer through the window to look at my new Swift again sitting next to its sibling. The newer one has grown up and matured but there's still naughty side to her. I can't wait for the good times we'll be having together. The thought brings a smile to my face.
If you made it this far then thanks for reading. Had a load of thoughts running through my head in the first 24 hours of ownership and had to put them down!
Had it for a couple of weeks now and its really grown on me. Great everyday car and ticks all the right boxes: N/A thrills, playful chassis, low running costs and 40+ mpg - recently noticed they compensated this with a slightly smaller tank 42L from 45L.
I'd like to try a Mini but they're not as practical for my needs since I'm back to being a student again with work placements dotted around the country.
Looked at an early E92 BMW 325. Had a folder of receipts and FSH. Got cold feet. On second thoughts I didn't think the car suited me at all. It's a nice car to be in and drive but I felt like a complete cock driving it during the test drive.
Took a fancy to a Ford Fiesta Metal. I've been in Ford Fiestas. It does everything so well but to me they feel a bit German - by that I mean it tries ever so hard to impress with its dynamics and interior. Like the mk1 Focus you see Fiestas are everywhere it can easy to be put off by its popularity no matter how good they are.
Really my heart was in the newer Swift and the one that stood out was affordable and also had an aftermarket exhaust with a Scooby inspired colour scheme - blue car and gold rims. The chin spoiler and rear spoiler extension I can live with. Popped the hood and was surprised to find CTC (UK Swift tuning specialists) air filter and other addenda. Made me wonder if the car has been remapped as well.
Initial impressions when I first got in: a much better built car, solid and sturdy. The plastics are an improvement. The seats are much better, they're nice and cosy and am able to sit lower than previous. The driving position is an improvement. Oh and the previous owner decided to redecorate the interior with some fake carbon fibre.
Engine and even the aftermarket exhaust feels muted inside. The gears are well spaced but feels much more leggy, taller gearing other than lethargy typical of VVT/VTEC engines. The short gearing of the ZC31 was a part of its eagerness and feels missing.
This Swift feels bigger and heavier despite being just over a tonne. It feels more planted and sturdier resulting in minimal body roll. The EPAS steering is well weighted and doesn't feel over-assissted.
Dare I say it the ZC32 feels homogenous and easy to live with. It disappoints me that its already lacking character whereas in the ZC31 you could detect hints of its friskiness on a test drive.
I'm so desperate to fall in love with her. Its only after purchasing the Swift do I get to undress and unhook the rear strap...
Get it past 4000rpm and the car is in its element. The induction and aftermarket exhaust roars and growls louder and howls towards the redline. For a car that weighs a tonne just like the previous Swift but with a few extra ponies and newtons it feels quicker than the official zero to sixty at 8.7s... A baby Type R as I think to myself.
Flow through a sequence of bends it's so confidant and assure of itself on 205/45/R17 tyres - in this case Dunlop Sport Maxxes all round. I reckon she can swallow another inch on all fours without a problem...
Empty roundabout... Gutted. It's gonna take a bit more effort to unstick the rear end with the ESP on.
I come up towards a silver Up GTI. Drop down to second and use the crawler lane. We're both going uphill foot to the floor. For a moment we're both head to head, noses almost equal no thanks to the stupendous torque of the Up. I have faith in the Swift's vital statistics (more hp) and she doesn't let me down. I glance in the mirror to see the Up has decided to back off because we're coming towards a roundabout. I, however, still remain committed. Sightlines are good, zero traffic. Trailbrake, heel & toe, back to second with the rear end sliding. A dab of oppo whilst progressively back on the throttle straightens things out. It brings a grin on my face and I make the engine and exhaust sing again.
This time I turn on the fun button and the dashboard highlights ESP has been turned off. This Swift can be just as fun and playful as the previous. The rear axle will want to go where you point it and then some! In the ZC31 it feels very firm but push hard and the suspension is softer than you initially thought. The ZC32 is more assured of itself. Push hard and this Swift eggs you on for more.
On the motorway its very good at being effortless and boring. Having sixth gear is a blessing. 70mph is under 3000rpm. Even Jenson Button and Alain Prost would have found cruising on the motorway hard work trying to stick to 70mph in the ZC31. NVH is all good and no squeeks and rattles.
Almost home. The Swift does a great job of dealing with bumps and imperfections and makes light work of sleeping policemen.
I park up and look back. It brings a smile to my face.
I'm missing my ZC31 on 205 tyres which minimized body roll. I miss its rawness. A cheap shopping trolley that's light and eager and carried bags of character. It was like an eager puppy begging to play with you; a car that wants to be thrashed. If it was a cartoon character it would Scrappy Doo "Le' me have 'em, le' me have 'em, le' me have 'em".
It had an involving chassis with easy and exploitable handling whether at urban or rural environment. The short gearing was an open invitation to exploring the upper scale of the rev band. Even the gear change had character! The chunky hard plastic gearknob was like something out of a Fisher Price Tonka toy and would clunk into gears nicely - though mine had a problem dropping into first or reverse at times.
As I ponder day is turning to night and I peer through the window to look at my new Swift again sitting next to its sibling. The newer one has grown up and matured but there's still naughty side to her. I can't wait for the good times we'll be having together. The thought brings a smile to my face.
If you made it this far then thanks for reading. Had a load of thoughts running through my head in the first 24 hours of ownership and had to put them down!
Had it for a couple of weeks now and its really grown on me. Great everyday car and ticks all the right boxes: N/A thrills, playful chassis, low running costs and 40+ mpg - recently noticed they compensated this with a slightly smaller tank 42L from 45L.
The other day the I had a wobbly gearstick and was stuck in second gear. I'm not the most mechanically minded of PHers but did have the presence of mind to stop safely and investigate and found the gear linkage had loosened itself via worn bushes.
|https://thumbsnap.com/eEQt9JVK[/url]
As a temporary solution I used a tie wrap
Ordered a gear bushings kit online from Customz
The whole central tunnel plastic has to come undone
As good as new... well, almost. Notchy going into third at times.
|https://thumbsnap.com/eEQt9JVK[/url]As a temporary solution I used a tie wrap
Ordered a gear bushings kit online from Customz
The whole central tunnel plastic has to come undone
As good as new... well, almost. Notchy going into third at times.
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