suzuki swift any good

[Boza]

I was wondering if the suzuki swifts from like 08- on are any good the last suzuki I had anything to do with them were the gti swift's from the 90's.

Got a family member looking for a first car and like the suzuki's I have done a bit of reading on them and seem to be good value for money.

Looking at the sport models what are the re2,3,4 models they look ok as well.

[Windsor220]

They dont have much go wrong with them.

[Franco Cozzo]

They have an odd battery with small posts that not many auto electrical places stock.

[Ben73]

Mates girlfriend bought a brand new one and is not impressed. She got to the point where she wants her money back. Had it back for warranty work several times. Can't remember the problems but one was a transmission problem, she said it wouldn't change out of first gear.
She said she likes it when it's working.

[johnydep]

They're pretty good, only a few minor issues - Clutch is on the weak side. O2 sensor is common to fail.

[DJR MAN]

Parts are expensive, but reliable and nice to drive in my opinion. I have the SX4. A bit larger than the Swift.

[jaydee]

The local paper here in Perth in the motoring section did a compareo of 5 top small cars, Honda Jazz, Mazada2, Suzuki, cant remember the others, but on top was the Suzuki for value for money, Mazda was better finished but slightly more expensive, Honda was too dated, but for the money Suzuki got he gong.

[borough]

I had a 2005 Swift that I purchased new and had done 189,000km when I traded it on my XR6 in 2011. I never had an issue except that the Windscreen cracked when I was driving up the Hume just after I purchased it - the windscreen was replaced under warranty. Go the manual though, I drove an auto hire car and it was awful.

[happy1]

The Swift looks like a tin can that should be avoided. Seems to have got Zero stars in this crash test:

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=...613B88D299B523

Anyway, this is Ford forum, and we should share some good references on for example Fiesta or Focus as an alternative to the rice boiler suggested above.

Cheers,

[Whitey-AMG]

Originally Posted by happy1

The Swift looks like a tin can that should be avoided. Seems to have got Zero stars in this crash test:

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=...613B88D299B523

Anyway, this is Ford forum, and we should share some good references on for example Fiesta or Focus as an alternative to the rice boiler suggested above.

Cheers,

Are you referring to the swift maruti that's sold in India. It has no airbags as can be seen from the crash test.
The swift we get here and in Japan and Europe and USA has driver, passenger , side and curtain airbags on many models.
They aren't foolproof but are as safe as any other small car on the market.
Decent drive train , average economy and good resale and very good interior ergonomics.

[Uncle Niceguy]

my sister has an auto top of the range model from 09 and l think its pretty good once upto speed but my understanding is they HAVE to be serviced on time every time, thats what l found in my own research, also make sure you get the 1.6l version as the 1.5l would drive like a dog imo.

[Davehoos]

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=...B60D89F4C3728B

worked on Suzuki products from 1982 until 2010 so I missed out on the post GM Suzuki. most of the buyers I talk to love the vehicle. During the last few years other brands offered cheep finance to get sales numbers.

servicing-my trip to japan I witnessed a labour heavy system aimed at making low KM cars not worth keeping. silly stuff like replacing oil separators and valve guides on cars that looked new. My contact had a starlet with 120 000 Km that required water pump and drive shaft replacement because it was on the service book list to obtain a shacken-[roadworthy].

the old susuki had habit of filling the intake with oil needing a catch can. The compression often had to be lowered to reduce noise and running on-new pistons-because the japan fuel Is better quality than here.

coming across a few 10 year old that are having wiring faults, I suspect the newer cars with faults are being fixed under warranty. Items like fuel pump relay sockets.

[Boza]

all great info thanks guys

[sd1800]

The girlfriend has a sport she got new in 2008. Been a good car and are fun to drive like a go kart! Well built and the sport goes reasonably well when you put the boot in. Certainly not a highway cruiser....does about 3800rpm @ 100kmph. But it's not exactly built for that!!

In 70,000km it Has done a front top strut mount, and the gearbox got very very sticky and notchy. Replaced with good redline gear oil and that seems to have resolved it.

Anyway - couple of problems but nothing serious, I'd still recommend it.

[UtesRGR8]

We have a 2008 swift which we use as a work hack now. We've owned it since new and have not had anything fail on it yet. I checked with Suzuki recently about the service interval for the timing belt and they said bring it in as it was,at 180000 km. I did abit of research and determined that it is fitted with a timing chain which should be good for over 300000 km. I confirmed this at service time with my regular mechanic. Can't trust the dealers, anyway its been a great car for our purpose.

[OzJavelin]

Followed a new Swift along a few rural roads (100km/h) this afternoon on my '78 Suzuki GS750 bike. The little Swift was making me work to keep up with him accelerating and going around the bends

[happy1]

Suzuki Motorbikes are world-class,
When it comes to Suzuki cars they are relatively cheaply built, but still better than for example earlier models Hyundai.
I worked as part time mechanic at a high-volume Suzuki dealer in Europe from 1997 to 2004. (both cars and bikes at one dealer). The same dealer also sold Subaru cars. Back then the Suzuki cars had most of the faults. (Suzuki bikes and outboard engines never had any faults, Subaru cars very few faults). The Suzuki cars had a few repair campaigns, for example all the transmissions on Baleno had to be taken apart at the dealer to have some new parts fitted.

Apologies I was a bit too quick referring to the Swift crash video without airbag. The Australian version has some airbags, and probably has around 3 stars. Still not an ideal beginner vehicle, but at least better than all the inferior China / Malaysia low cost brands.
Cheers

[new2ford]

http://www.reliabilityindex.com/manufacturer

[Whitey-AMG]

Originally Posted by happy1

Apologies I was a bit too quick referring to the Swift crash video without airbag. The Australian version has some airbags, and probably has around 3 stars. Still not an ideal beginner vehicle, but at least better than all the inferior China / Malaysia low cost brands.
Cheers

You need to look at specific year/model.
Those models with added curtain airbags and ESC scored 4 stars+
Offset collision data for swift also fared quite well.
2013 onwards, most of the swift models scored 5 star ancap.
They are on par with most of the small cars globally from Japan and Europe.

[LyleXR8]

Keep your eyes peeled boys, hot bitches drive swifts!

[XR8putts]

Had a brand new (2014) Swift for a week as loaner while my car was in the shop. They are great little cars, not the most exciting thing in the world, but roomy and faultless.

[Boza]

well after reading this and some other reserch we have narrowed the weekend search down to a:

2012 swift sport
2010 mazda3 sp23
2008 xr4 fiesta
But the swift looks to be the best value for age and km's

[jpblue1000]

I had a 1992 swift for 13 years did 330,000Kms including track days and nothing ever went wrong. regular service items and a clutch My sister had a 1993 version for about the same length of time more km's, nothing ever went wrong and she never serviced, washed or cared for it. She has now got a 2009ish version done 200,000Km's and again nothing bar a clutch needed doing.
I also have an imported AWD 2 door swift as a play car and it heavily modified and again faultless and fun.
Mum and dad tow a SWB 2 door 2010 vitara behind their bus. they have done nearly 100K in the Suzuki all over the country in reputedly poor conditions again with no dramas bar smashed side window and plenty of dents but you cant blame the car for my fathers cavalier off road driving habits
Subsequently I would highly recommend the brand to anyone as our family has a had a good long run with the brand.
I think the mazda and fiesta are probably better cars (same thing really aren't they at that age) but were the next step up the ladder in price.

JP

[sd1800]

Originally Posted by Boza

well after reading this and some other reserch we have narrowed the weekend search down to a:

2012 swift sport
2010 mazda3 sp23
2008 xr4 fiesta
But the swift looks to be the best value for age and km's

Bit hard to compare as the Mazda 3 is a full size above the other two. But in reality the SP23 is a Mazda 3 Neo with a few more cc's and a spoiler (in my humble opinion), whereas the XR4 (Fiesta ST really) and Swift Sport are truly a sportier breed.

All depends what you need and if you need the extra size of the mazda3!

[danzvtil]

go down to your westfield shopping centre staff carpark, all the young sales assistants have them with frangipani stickers or strangely, aussie pride across the back window.
15 years ago they would have has 2 door lancers.
They are the bogan choice of a new generation.

[MercurySilver]

My mums got a newish one from last ten or so years and loves it

[jaydee]

Go the SP23 IMO, but you're not comparing apples with apples here.

[a-total-tool]

2010 would be a BL SP25, not SP23. I hsve a 2012 BL series 2 MZR (which is the 2.2 diesel). Bought it new, now has 75k on it. Had no issues with it, apart from a bluetooth module. The MZR has the same suspension/brakes as the SP25. Surprisingly fun to drive.

It would be my pick of the bunch that you have listed.

[TUF_302]

The bikes are excellent, so i can only assume the cars are good to, I've known a few people with them and they had no complaints, well except one mate who got one the same as his missus, and we took the mickey so hard he traded it for a VE ute lol