RE: Suzuki Swift Sport: PH Fleet
Discussion
Honda, Mazda, etc. all like to rust after a few years in this country as do cars from other marquees. It is only sensible living in such a wet place where they salt the roads for half of the year to consider rust proofing ANY car you buy new. Some cars have it better than others but have you ever looked underneath UK cars? Sure, some don't have rusty arches or whatever but underneath they are a completely different story on most cars over here (no matter the brand).
Makes sense to rust proof considering it only costs £250-750 at the start of ownership depending on the size of the car and quality of the job.
Makes sense to rust proof considering it only costs £250-750 at the start of ownership depending on the size of the car and quality of the job.
I bought a nearly new 5-door Swift Sport in August as a 'downsize' to help fund a house purchase. I picked up a 16 plate with 1100 miles on the clock for with almost £4k knocked off the list price.
Compared to the Spec C Impreza I was running, it lacks sheer thrill of speed and acceleration. But oh boy - it's fun, fun, fun! What I really love is that you can wring its neck through the gears without clocking up licence-losing speeds. The very well judged suspension, snappy gear change and instant NA throttle response all help to make for a very involving drive. Yes, it could maybe do with another 20-30 odd bhp but although not rapid, it's still surprisingly nippy ad very, very agile..
My only real gripe is the seating - too high and (though comfy) not grippy enough. Also, I agree with an earlier comment; while the main underbody floorpan is undersealed, the rear arches and boot floor isn't (I have just done this myself)
Compared to the Spec C Impreza I was running, it lacks sheer thrill of speed and acceleration. But oh boy - it's fun, fun, fun! What I really love is that you can wring its neck through the gears without clocking up licence-losing speeds. The very well judged suspension, snappy gear change and instant NA throttle response all help to make for a very involving drive. Yes, it could maybe do with another 20-30 odd bhp but although not rapid, it's still surprisingly nippy ad very, very agile..
My only real gripe is the seating - too high and (though comfy) not grippy enough. Also, I agree with an earlier comment; while the main underbody floorpan is undersealed, the rear arches and boot floor isn't (I have just done this myself)
We have an original 1993 gti and have owned a 56 plate sport and a 12 plate Sport. All have their own unique character where the 1993 car with its 1.3 twin cam screamer that sounds fantastic and revs all the way out to its 8k red line and the 2012 car having great damping and ride and a sixth ratio for motorway cruising. I live in hope that Suzuki maintain the raw simplicity of this car in future models.
Quality little cars these, my mum's got one that I've had a few short runs in. Nippy enough for most people and as said, handle like they're on rails.
We've had 3 1.5 GLX mk1's through the family, all very good little cars, well equipped and never missed a beat. Dealership service has always been spot on too. Only reason I avoided the mk1's when I was younger was the boot size.
We've had 3 1.5 GLX mk1's through the family, all very good little cars, well equipped and never missed a beat. Dealership service has always been spot on too. Only reason I avoided the mk1's when I was younger was the boot size.
Toyoda said:
cib24 said:
I wonder what rust is like on this type of car though? I would think it would be very wise to have it rust protected shortly after buying it as Japanese cars built in Japan don't usually have any protection on them from the factory and I'm not sure this car would be galvanised given the cheap price.
What sort of b
ks is this?! Early shape Yaris were built in Japan and you'd struggle to see any with rust, even now at 17 years old. Can't say the same about Ford, VW, Mercedes etc.The Swift Sport is great out of the box but the mk2 (current version) is set up slightly softer and safer than the mk1 so it really benefits from the addition of an Ultra Racing or Cusco rear anti roll bar. Removing the upper bulkhead sound insulation lets you hear the induction more clearly like the mk1 too :-)
I bought my 62 plate Swift Sport new in November 2012. Downsized from a Golf GTI with DSG, which was technically brilliant but a bit of a boring heffalump. The SSS puts a smile on my face every time I drive it. It loves to be chucked around, it feels so light and agile, and will lift off oversteer on a damp roundabout with ease. I've used and abused it for 18,000 mile and it hasn't missed a beat.
There are a few minor niggles. As other have said, it's as slow as a week in the jail until lthe engine warms up. The steel is not galvanised - I had a nasty stone chip on the bonnet that started rusting very quickly. The trip computer says 39.6mpg when I'm actually getting 29.7mpg measured brim to brim, but I do mostly stop/start around town so not too bad.
It could definitely do with a bit more power and torque; about 150-160bhp would be ideal I think. The TTS supecharger looks awesome but costs more than my car is worth, and NA tuning is even more expensive. The Bosch ECU in the ZC32 (current model) can be bench tuned but the gains are very small. The SSS is not a tuners dream car. I added a Remus cat-back exhaust to mine to give it a bit more character.
I keep toying with swapping to a Fiesta ST or Cooper S but can't bring myself to part with the Swift. I just know I'd miss it too much.
There are a few minor niggles. As other have said, it's as slow as a week in the jail until lthe engine warms up. The steel is not galvanised - I had a nasty stone chip on the bonnet that started rusting very quickly. The trip computer says 39.6mpg when I'm actually getting 29.7mpg measured brim to brim, but I do mostly stop/start around town so not too bad.
It could definitely do with a bit more power and torque; about 150-160bhp would be ideal I think. The TTS supecharger looks awesome but costs more than my car is worth, and NA tuning is even more expensive. The Bosch ECU in the ZC32 (current model) can be bench tuned but the gains are very small. The SSS is not a tuners dream car. I added a Remus cat-back exhaust to mine to give it a bit more character.
I keep toying with swapping to a Fiesta ST or Cooper S but can't bring myself to part with the Swift. I just know I'd miss it too much.
I sold mine due to gearbox issues, cold starting problems, engine flooding, and to top it all off, fking useless dealers who have no interest in identifying faults. I was a huge Suzuki/ Swift Sport fan, I've owned two and I'm on a lot of the owners forum. It was too much hassle for me, for what was a brand new car.
king useless dealers who have no interest in identifying faults. I was a huge Suzuki/ Swift Sport fan, I've owned two and I'm on a lot of the owners forum. It was too much hassle for me, for what was a brand new car.Edited by Mercury00 on Friday 14th October 20:35
VeeFource said:
The Swift Sport is great out of the box but the mk2 (current version) is set up slightly softer and safer than the mk1 so it really benefits from the addition of an Ultra Racing or Cusco rear anti roll bar. Removing the upper bulkhead sound insulation lets you hear the induction more clearly like the mk1 too :-)
Great information ref the roll bar, thank you.As a sales exec for Suzuki around 7-8 years ago I used to run them as demonstrators (Mk 1s, obviously).
Great fun, really revvy but only 27mpg for me. Mind you I only ever drove them brand new so never really got them properly freed-up. Also that was the 5-speed: 6 should be a bit better.
Re rust: are you serious? As has been said, not really an issue these days and certainly not on these. Built in Hungary, IIRC, so properly set up for European road conditions. Anything with rust will have had accident damage repairs.
Oh, and these have a timing chain so should be properly bomb-proof.
Great fun, really revvy but only 27mpg for me. Mind you I only ever drove them brand new so never really got them properly freed-up. Also that was the 5-speed: 6 should be a bit better.
Re rust: are you serious? As has been said, not really an issue these days and certainly not on these. Built in Hungary, IIRC, so properly set up for European road conditions. Anything with rust will have had accident damage repairs.
Oh, and these have a timing chain so should be properly bomb-proof.
One of these will be my next car, perfect for my 4000 miles a year, school run, back roads, and occasional motorway run. Five doors make it perfect for the nippers. Small boot and traditional jap plastic interior no worries for me as I was brought up on Jap cars, and run a Yaris at the moment.
Look great in white.
Superchips offer an ECU for not a lot, however the gains are minor, but coupled with a new exhaust might a few welcome additional horses.
Next one with a turbo will open up more after warranty and market opportunities.
Wig
Look great in white.
Superchips offer an ECU for not a lot, however the gains are minor, but coupled with a new exhaust might a few welcome additional horses.
Next one with a turbo will open up more after warranty and market opportunities.
Wig
WigWonder79 said:
Superchips offer an ECU for not a lot, however the gains are minor, but coupled with a new exhaust might a few welcome additional horses.
If you head over to ssoc.co.uk you'll see that a well known Suzuki tuner in the south west reckons on around 138-144hp with a chip only, a bit more with intake and/or exhaust. Not great power gains, but apparently low-end torque is much improved, and it eliminates the 'rev hang' which can be so annoying on modern cars.Gf bought one of these brand new in 2013. It's a riot. Not fast but so chuckable and 'zingy'. I'm surprised no one has mentioned the dampening: it's absolutely terrific. The ride is firm and responsive but also so comfortable. I'd honestly say it has the best sporty/usable suspension setup I've ever experienced - it feels expensive but it isnt.
Seats are too narrow for anyone with an above average frame though.
Seats are too narrow for anyone with an above average frame though.
Agree with the above regarding suspension rides better than my BMW F11 5 series SE on 18's.
Picked up a new white 5 door last week really enjoyable drive interior not great but infotainment system pretty good.
Pulls well i think it feels faster than it is and you seem to be through the first 4 gears by 30mph.
Fitted with every option you really need
Picked up a new white 5 door last week really enjoyable drive interior not great but infotainment system pretty good.
Pulls well i think it feels faster than it is and you seem to be through the first 4 gears by 30mph.
Fitted with every option you really need
dieseluser07 said:
Really am tempted to get one of these if i get a new job.
Do they pull well on the motorway in 6th at 70? Or do you have to drops cogs to overtake at anything other than a snails pace?
It will accelerate but it's a light weight, economical, high-revving, n/a sporty hatch. You can't have it all! It's a car that rewards effort so don't be lazy and blip the throttle whilst downshifting a few Do they pull well on the motorway in 6th at 70? Or do you have to drops cogs to overtake at anything other than a snails pace?
VeeFource said:
It will accelerate but it's a light weight, economical, high-revving, n/a sporty hatch. You can't have it all! It's a car that rewards effort so don't be lazy and blip the throttle whilst downshifting a few
I love revving a car but on the commute id not want it to be exhaustingGassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff