1987 Suzuki Swift GLX

[Deluded]

So, I've been looking to downsize my car for a while. My missus now has a larger car and so I decided to get rid of the Primera Estate. Took a Volvo 850 Saloon in exchange but decided it was stupid and not exactly downsizing. Sold it and set out to look for something in the lower tax bracket and cheap to run and insure.

Looked at all sorts but they were all boring 106s or Puntos etc. Saw this on Autotrader and just had to have a look.

Drove down to Mansfield the other night for a look. 69k, fully documented, on the clock. Very very tidy for a 23 year old car. Solid underneath. Runs spot on etc. Ended up bringing it home for the sum of £450 with 13 months MOT and 2 months tax.

Already decided its more of a project rather than a banger to run into the ground. Mainly because I have already spent a third of the purchase price on a new windscreen but also because it's too tidy to just run into the ground.

Needs a few more bits doing but I'm happy to spend out on them and will do the jobs myself. It's a simple car to work on and with the weather starting to warm up soon, it will be fun too.

Anyway, Piccies...

[soad]

Does look clean and tidy, no mistake.

Can't recall seeing one either.

What's it like to drive then?

[Max M4X WW]

Does look really clean, You don't see cars this old everyday now!

[NateWM]

WOW! Electric Windows!

[Doniger]

We had one of those when I was a kid - it was badged a Forsa though. And was an UTTER pile of ste.

Good bit of retro motoring though, and that one looks like it's fallen out of a timewarp!

Now if you could get your hands on the GTi version, that was a fizzy little box of fun

[mrtwisty]

Never seen one of those before, looks like it just rolled out of the factory. Gives me hope that I'll find a '96 2.2 bb2 prelude or vr6 corrado like that one day...
BTW - loving the shot of the 'leccy window buttons - spaceship!

[Doniger]

BB2?! That's the 160bhp 2.3i if I recall correctly. The BB1 and BB4 have the (much nicer) 190bhp 2.2vtak engine

[mrtwisty]

Doniger said:

BB2?! That's the 160bhp 2.3i if I recall correctly. The BB1 and BB4 have the (much nicer) 190bhp 2.2vtak engine

Oops, geekery fail. bb1 indeed, but the late one with the lsd.
Your geek is strong old man...

[Doniger]

I'm a little bit of a ludewe.

[mrtwisty]

Doniger said:

I'm a little bit of a ludewe.

Haha. In that case (and sorry for the hijack op) what would your choice be between the bb1 and bb4? Quite like the idea of the bb4 - lighter, less to go wrong, lsd as standard(?), touch more powerful... But a bit wary of imports - provenance, rust proofing, insurance etc.

[Doniger]

It's a personal thing. BB1 for me because it's got 4 wheel steering which in my humble opinion is THE reason for having a Prelude.
The BB4 is all of those other things: lighter (if specced right), more powerful (yes, by 12 whole bhp on 100RON), has an LSD (maybe) but is import only - but it only steers the front wheels, which is fine but makes it just another Honda. All IMO of course.

And OP, terribly sorry for the hijack - we'll shut up about 'ludes now. (Although I see you're an old luder too so maybe you don't mind too much)

[zetec02]

Looks in amazing condition. What does the sticker on the bank say?

[mrtwisty]

zetec02 said:

Looks in amazing condition. What does the sticker on the bank say?

I believe it's 'honk if you want a blow job' or somesuch. You can't teach class like that, it has to be bred in ;-)

[Deluded]

It's a copy of the sticker on the back of Simons Cinquecento in the Intbetweeners. "Honk if you want a blow job".

Just topped up the oil and transmission fluid too. Oil was just a little low on the stick but the gearbox dumped a litre over my works car park the other day thanks to a badly fit drive shaft. Popped the shaft in properly (its brand new) and all is well again.

Engine/box sound nice and smooth now. Happy chappy.

Also bought some Underseal paint and some Krust. will attack the arches with it next weekend.

How does it drive? Well, apart from the obvious fact it was never intended to be a sports car, its actually a good laugh. Theres something about having a light car with a small engine that makes it fun. Something a big car with a big engine just can't match.

Grip isn't amazing. Probably due to the 12" 145/85 tyres. They are fine though, but looking to replace the wheels with some 13" alloys with 175/50 or 165/55 tyres. Should help stick it to the road a bit better. Also some lowering springs too.

[lost in espace]

We had a D reg GTI from new, my brother was driving on L plates and hit a car head on as he pressed the wrong pedal. The dog was pinned against the windscreen and it was written off.

He is now Trafpol........

Great car, loved every minute of it though.