Any Suzuki Swift Sport Drivers?

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Any Suzuki Swift Sport Drivers?

DickDastardly

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#206078 8-Dec-2016 19:20

Im looking to trade my 2007 Passat TDI (currently 257K) as the repair costs are making it look cost effective to trade.

So i currently drive a diesel due to me travelling 1000k + per week.

With the Passat i get 1200+k's to a tank and it costs 70ish dollars to fill up. But i do have to buy RUC.

My goal is looking for something with comparable fuel efficiency but without the RUC! (is this a dream??!!)

Oh and a few toys too.

So after a bit of googling i stumbled across a Suzuki Swift Sport.

Xenon's, cruise, bluetooth, 6 speed and only a teeny 1.6l engine.

So can i ask from any Swift Sport Owners..

1) What do they think of them?

2) Performance on long journeys?

2) How much to fill up on regular 91?

3) What sort of range do they get from a tank?

Looking forward to hearing your views....

Cheers.

I don't want no sugar in it - thank you very much

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#1684856 8-Dec-2016 19:28

Buddy, holden barina rs (1.4 turbo) :)

Love mine :)

MikeB4

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#1684859 8-Dec-2016 19:29

We sold our at the beginning of the year. The Swift Sport is a fun little car and the best Swift. It is comfortable on a long drive and fun on testing country roads or hills, it rides on rails. Be aware though the boot is not huge but thru rear seats do fold. You CANNOT use 91 in the tank you need at least 95, that is the makers specification.

They do not have a spare but do have a compressor pump and puncture kit.

We were more then happy with the range and you can be very economical or less economical if you push it. The car loves being pushed and the paddle shifters are fun if you use them and work very well.

The Swift Sport never missed a beat and I really miss it. Our reason for selling was my disability and the need to carry a chair. If you want to know more let me know.

MikeB4

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#1684861 8-Dec-2016 19:31

The Barina (Daewoo) is not as good as the Swift build wise and the RS is no longer in production

Inphinity

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#1684867 8-Dec-2016 19:40

Never owned one, but was using a relative's for a few months. It was a manual, 2012 (maybe 2013? I forget).

1) Wasn't a fan, but I generally don't like such small cars. Felt cramped and impractical for my liking. Seemed pretty good for it's class though (comparing to likes of Mirage, Mazda2 etc that I've also driven)

2) Depends what you're after, I guess. Can cope fine, no issues cruising around 100, but as above not my preferred option. I wouldn't use the word 'performance' though ;)

3) About $70 to fill (at around $2.00/litre for 95) and do about 500kms on it (I didn't do a lot of open road, though, so may be better if you're doing mostly long trips). I think it's a 40 or 45L tank. Your Passat is probably closer to 70L.

tripp

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#1684881 8-Dec-2016 20:01

MikeB4:

The Barina (Daewoo) is not as good as the Swift build wise and the RS is no longer in production

Looking over the new ones, I am glad I got mine this year then :)

I don't like the front or back of the new barina and no more turbo :(

MikeB4

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#1684891 8-Dec-2016 20:11

tripp:

MikeB4:

The Barina (Daewoo) is not as good as the Swift build wise and the RS is no longer in production

Looking over the new ones, I am glad I got mine this year then :)

I don't like the front or back of the new barina and no more turbo :(

Holden in my humble opinion dropped the best Barina they had. The RS was the best and had exciting performance for a little car

lNomNoml

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#1684897 8-Dec-2016 20:24

tripp:

Buddy, holden barina rs (1.4 turbo) :)

Love mine :)

I almost went for a Barina but the infotainment system is trash, which in this day and age is completely unacceptable.

I almost got a Swift Sport but decided on the cheaper to run SE Auto (has all the bells and whistles just doesn't have that sporty look and engine, has a 70Kw instead of the Sport's 100Kw), I get roughly 600KM's per a tank driving around Auckland, it has a 42L tank and costs around $65 to fill up.

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Scott3

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#1684971 8-Dec-2016 22:45

DickDastardly:

Im looking to trade my 2007 Passat TDI (currently 257K) as the repair costs are making it look cost effective to trade.

So i currently drive a diesel due to me travelling 1000k + per week.

With the Passat i get 1200+k's to a tank and it costs 70ish dollars to fill up. But i do have to buy RUC.

My goal is looking for something with comparable fuel efficiency but without the RUC! (is this a dream??!!)

...

Not a dream.

$70 diesel for 1200km is $5.83/100km in diesel, add in RUC at $6.20/100km, and your fuel/tax running costs are $12.03/100km

Take a new shape Camry hybrid for a spin (something like this Link). 151kW, 0 to 100km/h in 8.1 seconds, and rated at 5.2L/100km of 91 petrol (gives fuel/tax costs of $9.36/100km). These are comfortable, reliable & cheap to run, there is a reason they are common in taxi fleets, they also have a range of 1250 km on a tank. Avoid the older shaper as the boot space is quite small.

Prius would be cheaper to run still, but comfort would be less than the Camry hybrid.

Personally I wouldn't want to do 1000+km a week in a suzuki swift. Hot hatches generally have stiff suspension. Combined with a short wheelbase, and small wheels, the ride will be a lot rougher than you are used to.

What are the makeups of your trips? Are they many long intercity trips, or a regular 100km each way commute, 5 days a week.

If it's the latter, and you can talk your employer into allowing you to install a charging station at work, a Nissan Leaf electric car (probiably would want the 30 kWh battery variant) would blow the above out of the water in terms of running cost savings. It's not bad to drive either.

tripp

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#1685005 9-Dec-2016 06:18

lNomNoml:

tripp:

Buddy, holden barina rs (1.4 turbo) :)

Love mine :)

I almost went for a Barina but the infotainment system is trash, which in this day and age is completely unacceptable.

I almost got a Swift Sport but decided on the cheaper to run SE Auto (has all the bells and whistles just doesn't have that sporty look and engine, has a 70Kw instead of the Sport's 100Kw), I get roughly 600KM's per a tank driving around Auckland, it has a 42L tank and costs around $65 to fill up.

android auto on my phone :)

But yes the mylink system is crap, before android auto i was only using the pandora app on mylink.

(sorry for going off topic)

trig42

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#1685050 9-Dec-2016 09:31

What is your budget?

Focus RS would be a real fun car to do those sort of k's in. Not sure of economy, but I think they aren't too horrible considering the performance.

Focus ST is a nice car too.

MikeB4

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#1685083 9-Dec-2016 09:48

trig42:

What is your budget?

Focus RS would be a real fun car to do those sort of k's in. Not sure of economy, but I think they aren't too horrible considering the performance.

Focus ST is a nice car too.

Has Ford resolved the transmission issues with the Focus?

CitizenErased

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#1685259 9-Dec-2016 13:25

MikeB4:

Has Ford resolved the transmission issues with the Focus?

If by "resolved" you mean switch back to a regular auto instead of a dual clutch, then yes.

CYaBro

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#1685287 9-Dec-2016 13:40

I have a 2014 Swift Sport and love it.

I'm not a small guy and don't have a problem with the space, in the front at least.

There isn't much room in the back seat so long trips really only comfortable for kids back there.

It is mainly used for round town but we have taken it to Rotorua, from Whangarei, with myself, wife, and two young kids, plus our stuff squashed into the small boot space, and it was fine.

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

KiwiME

213 posts

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#1685603 10-Dec-2016 09:34

I owned a 2009 Swift Sport for 3 years. I was the most fun car to drive I've ever owned (out of 21) but despite the current model having the sorely-needed 6th gear, the road noise alone means this is not going to be a good choice for the amount of driving OP is doing. I also think it's overpriced for what is provided. BTW, the Sport, with 11:1 compression, is actually supposed to be run on 98, as indicated under the gas lid, although 95 is acceptable with occasional knocking.

A VW Polo manual can be had new for 20k + orc, a far better quality car throughout but without the sharp handling of the Sport.

OP did not specify budget but for long distance driving I would suggest a Golf Comfortline with either the latest euro6 1.4 or the earlier version. There is also a 1.2 on TM right now, probably an import, that might be had for a good deal and these get pretty good fuel economy.

DickDastardly

227 posts

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#1685606 10-Dec-2016 09:47

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the varied and informative responses.

In answer to some of your questions, ill try and discuss some of your points.

I do understand the fun element of the Swift, the whole country road thing, and do agree with the comment about being on a long journey a little unpleasant due to a stiff suspension.

Not fond of only putting 95 in, i drove a Subaru like that years ago and very quickly disliked only having to put premium to fill up.

Thanks to Scott for putting me onto the whole Hybrid scene, not something i had considered.

Spent the day yesterday researching and found the Honda CR Z is loaded with goodies, but I'm not sure id be comfortable taking on a hybrid in terms of the battery replacement. There are lots of stories with batteries of all hybrids giving up after 7 or so years and around 150,000 miles. I see the appeal for Hybrids around town, hence the taxi usage, but not sure of the 100 each way 5 days a week open road hybrid idea.

Focus RS, agree fun, but this comes with not particularly dazzling fuel efficiency.

The search goes on i feel.

Im thinking the Swift is mainly a town car.....i need a fuel efficient daily long distance cruiser....

I don't want no sugar in it - thank you very much

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