This is another interesting car that has recently been put for sale recently over at mudah.my, the favourite place for Yours Truly to trawl the want ads and dream a little. This is a gem of a car, the original Suzuki Swift GTI. Also known as the Suzuki Cultus GTI (as it is called in Japan), it is one of those cars that garnered a reputation for those of us who started dabbling with cars from the mid-1980s and throughout the 1990s. 



In those days, circa 1992-1995, when most of us were running around in our modified Proton Saga (the Wira just came on the scene), Honda Civic VTEC SiRs and Si series from the 1980s up till the then latest EG series models as well as the Mazda/Ford Familia Turbos. These were the cars that most of us were playing with at the point of time. Suzuki had a minor presence in Malaysia and their car line-up consisted of the Jimny and the 1.0liter Swift. But as usual, there were the private imports. And some brought in the Swift Cultus GTI. A veritable pocket rocket compared to the totally dull and boring, not so swift, Swift 1.0. I know it wasn't that swift because I was in college at the time and a course mate had one. It was actually the opposite of swift. My old at the time 1981 Honda Civic 1.3 SA series hatchback was miles faster. But Suzuki had a GTI version of it - the Suzuki Swift GTI or Cultus GTI.

Anyway, the higher powered Cultus/Swift GTi had an improved 1.3liter G13B engine. Now whilst it did not have variable valve timing and other Japanese witchdoctor magic thrown into it like a Honda VTEC, it was (in the 1990s) a technological marvel of small engine engineering. The engine featured hollow camshafts (for reduced intertia), stronger web casting on the engine block (for a very high compression cylinder head to be fitted), a better flowing intake manifold (the prior generation intake manifold had its shape compromised to fit into the engine bay), and its ECU now had electronic control over ignition timing. It was still a tuning marvel. Normally aspirated tuning straight from the factory. It produced approximately 100 hp (113hp according to JDM spec minus the catalytic convertor) at 6500 rpm / 112Nm at 5000 rpm. Redline is set at a high 7400-7600 rpm . The GTi also featured all wheel disc brakes.

You may think that 100hp/113hp is nothing much. But the darn thing weighed 810kg unladen. 810kg. That's lighter than even the lightest urban roundabout these days. This gave the Swift Cultus GTI a power to weight ratio of a minimum of 140hp per ton. This meant the GTI could easily hit the Japanese speed limited of 180kmh and have a 0-100kmh time in the high 7secs. It was fast at the time. The Honda Civic SiR EG6 model had about the same 0-100kmh time. So this car was on par with the boy racer chaps who ran the VTEC Civics at the time.

I remember seeing one being belted through the old road from Pusat Bandar Damansara to Taman Tun Dr Ismail just prior to the construction work of the SPRINT highway. It was so fast and nimble through the sweeping corners and damn, it was fast. And did I mention it was nimble? It danced through the corners. It was a sight to behold. A small two door hatch, narrower than a Civic EG at the time dancing for me to see. For something from the early 1990s, it was fast. And a cult car to have.

So we now have one on sale. Here is the link as well as it being posted below (as it will eventually be removed). Another JDM classic to get your hands on, folks.

Seller Says

Read more at http://www.mudah.my/1989+Suzuki+Swift+M+GTi+Cultus+2+doors-34133771.htm#tdFxaO46uWmkrvld.99

2012 beckons! I hope it will be another fruitful year for all of us.

Anyway, I do not wish to be retrospective as too many other websites, facebook and twitter postings would want us to sing Auld Lang Syne and other nostalgic stuff. I did nostalgia recently already remember?

But let's end 2011 with a photo of what a new 'small' Ferrari will never ever be like again. Small and totally curvy for the sake of being curvy. The Dino 246GTS. Spotted around Petaling Jaya early this year and that little car sounded great too. Oh yes, it wasn't equipped with a V8, but a 2.4liter V6. It was actually marketed as 'almost a Ferrari' back then as this was supposed to be the budget line for Ferrari. But everyone calls it a Ferrari Dino. It is actually worthy of the name, even without the supposedly required V8 engine that a Ferrari should have.

But it is small, and if it's small you don't really need such a large engine. Especially in those days. Check out how small it looks next to a Suzy Swift. Dainty isn't it?

Happy New Year people.

Suzuki has finally revealed the new Suzuki Swift Sport. Based on the recently launched new Swift launched early this year it should be equipped with the same 50mm longer wheelbase and lots more size and space. And we in Malaysia haven't even received the new bread and butter Swift to date. The reason we are not getting a new Swift when Singapore has already got the latest Swift models is that we assemble out Swifts locally. I suppose CKD packs of the current Swift have not run out to make it economically feasible for them to bring in the latest model. Boo Hoo to Suzuki Malaysia.

Anyway, aside from the small rant above the new Swift Sport should be going on sale sometime next year. If it is brought here we should get the 5 door version instead of the one pictured above which is certainly a Euro only variant as even the Japanese got the 5 door version of the previous Swift Sport.

It will get a revised 1.6liter DOHC engine that'll put out 134hp instead of 125hp. It also gets 160Nm instead of 148Nm torque. I suppose this is to offset the slight gain in size (and bulk) of the new car. It also gets a 6 speed gearbox  and 17 inch alloys too. I suppose the alloy wheel upgrade is necessary considering the car is slightly larger now.

Whatever the case is I hope that it'll handle like the earlier car, which was bloody good (aside from having a slightly tallish sitting position which is actually typical in all modern superminis). I rate that car as one of the best affordable drives around. You can click here to go to read about what I thought of the soon to be replaced Suzy Swift Sport.

As you can now see, I've finally learnt more about making this blog looking better than it was before. It has taken me a few months to actually decide on whether I should make such a change or not. Mainly as I was a little too preoccupied with other matters like raising a kid, drinking Earl Grey tea at home or going shopping with the missus. I think this new format does wonders to the outlook of this site and if I was a little less lazy, it would have been done sooner!

So aside from some Barisan National heads not deciding to take up ministerial posts, quitting their party leaderships and so forth, I managed to have a short test drive in the recenly locally assembled Suzuki Swift 1.5 hatchback. Those of you who have read my earlier posting on its more muscular sibling, the Swift Sport would note that I didn't like it very much simply on the fact that it wasn't as sporty as I'd expect; from the rubbery steering feel, to the rather tallish driving position as well as being slightly dangerous for those (I'd say a good 95%) Malaysians who have never driven a tail happy car. I suppose it was down to the 'SPORTS' monicker. When you put a word like 'SPORTS' or 'GT' (like the Lancer GT), you'd expect it to blow the roof off your heads or knock the living daylights out of you. However, I do not doubt that it would be a good car for me to own as firstly, I like small chuckable cars. Secondly, I am unlike 95% of the Malaysian population in which I can handle a slightly tail happy car and lastly, I like cars in White or Yellow.

Anyway, a family member was looking at a car to buy and being female, she obviously wanted a car that's easy to drive and added to that was the fact that it was time for her to try something that's not a Proton or a Perodua (or even a Kia). We (the wife and I) suggested the Swift in no time. So one sunday morning, we headed down to a few Suzuki dealers in the Klang Valley and compared prices, discounts and freebies. It was during that trip I managed to squeeze a short test drive of the Swift 1.5.

I have been in the 1.5 swift that was fully imported (CBU) when it was first launched and I must say that the ride in this newer CKD version feels sportier due to sportier suspension tuning and a crisper throttle response setup. In fact, it is so much sportier that it actually felt like driving the Swift Sport to an extent. To an extent is because it actually goes where you point it and was actually very nimble, predictable doing 120km/h downhill long sweeping corners with undulations (this was going downhill from Bangsar Shopping Centre to the McDonalds along Jalan Maarof, Bangsar). Never did it sway uncontrollably at any time whatsoever in that short run. It differs from the Sport in that the tail isn't as happy to pop out. But it hardly matters as the car is short and small. It is already in the corner that you want it to be. This Swift is one of the most chuckable new cars on the market that you can get. I'd say that the Perodua Myvi is light years behind chassis dynamics compared to the Swift. Note that in Japan, the Daihatsu Sirion, Honda Jazz are direct competitors to the Swift. The Jazz is a good car, but is already old and creaks. The new model is already out in Japan anyway.

The ride is somewhat typical of a car with a beam type rear suspension in which certain potholes would make the car jiggle a little over them. But this are minor niggles as what you would and should expect in a supermini or a small car nowadays. If you'd check, there are no reasonably priced small family cars running multi link rear suspension systems aside from Proton. But technology has come a long way. It is more that acceptable and the engineers are more than able to make such a car handle. The Swift is one car that is a good example.

The CKD Swift comes in a hatchback body with 4 doors, 4 speed auto tranny (with a nice J gated style for those who wish to shift sportily), 15 inch wheels, and a very well defined and put together interior. I have sat in the Swift Sport (which has better seats) and the CBU Swift and the panel fittings were good in the CKD version. The test car had a low 2850km on the clock and there were no rattles when I took the car over various speedbumps and potholes around town. The brakes are pretty good, discs in front and drums at the rear with no early lockup from the ABS system. Feel is pretty good also.

Rear space isn't premium, but is acceptable even for longer trips. Acceleration is pretty decent (with good throttle response - On par with the Sport) and surprisingly, according to the sales staff that entertained me isn't that much slower than the Automatic version of the Swift Sport 1.6. He added that a few of their customers actually bought the cheaper basic Swift over the Sport due to this fact (either the statement is true or he was trying to sell us the car). I have to say that the 102bhp 1.5 engine can really be wrung out and the transmission loss suffered from the 125bhp 1.6 (and added weight penalty from the Sport of about 20-30kgs somewhat negate any loss of acceleration. Amazing. Why bother buying an Auto Sport over this 1.5 then?

I think the main problem whe I tested the Sport was that I was expecting it to run circles round most hot hatches. That 'SPORT' monicker basically put the car on a pedestal and when it performed quite decent, it still wasn't great as I would have expected. Sometimes, having a normal '1.5' badge made the CKD Swift seem Sportier than its own good. I suppose when you test a car without any preconcieved notion of how its supposed to drive makes the experience better than otherwise. As such, the Suzuki Swift 1.5 is a great RM70,000 car to get. If you're looking for a supermini that handles well and is decently priced, there is no other car you should get.

1. The newly Facelifted GEN2 - 125bhp engine, new front end, no torque dip, new dashboard but it has the same stupid and ridiculous driving position - AVOID like the plague.
2. The Dugong - Toyota Vios - Its new, but its also dull. You will have 60,000 people drivng the same car after 4-5 years. You are dull, boring and you are waiting to upgrade to an MPV and then die.
3. The Tadpole - Its a Honda City. It sucks, big time. If it were Salem, Massecuhettes during the witch hunt, I'd proclaim it as Satan's work and have it burnt at the stake.
   
4. The Naza 205 Bestari - great looking Peugeot, but crap plastics. I once touched the door handle to open the door. Felt like it will break to bits - It won't, but budget French cars have tacky plastics that will make you worry unnecessarily.
5. Proton Waja - why would you want to drive the Malaysian 'Uncle Car'? It needs a new front end as the new front end of the facelifted car looks even more outdated than the pre-facelift version. It may drive decenly well, but it too has a bad driving position. Avoid.
6. Proton Persona - Yes! But it's cheaper, looks good and is superb value for money, and may be in production as long as the Wira (1,295 years or so). You will not be out of date in 2020 when you still drive your 2008 model, but don't you think you have too many friends that you don't know who made the same choice as you have? Think about it, it is like the Dugong, but with even more of those around.
7. Some other cars at RM70,000. But I can't think of any more right now.