Find Used Cars for Sale: suzuki swift sport

Hot

Showing posts with label suzuki swift sport. Show all posts
Showing posts with label suzuki swift sport. Show all posts

Sunday, July 19, 2015

TOP 5 JUNIOR HOT HATCHES YOU CAN BUY BRAND NEW IN MALAYSIA (2015)

4:06 AM 0

Welcome back! This is the first posting after the 2015 Id Fitr celebrations in Malaysia. I'm technically still on vacation but I think it has been a while since we had a 100%  Motoring-Malaysia posting instead of just the news. Well, I suppose there was that 'Spotted For Sale' Alfa 4C, but of course, the more the better. So now's the time for us to state THE BEST JUNIOR HOT HATCH IN MALAYSIA that you can buy right now (July 2015 that is). According to Yours Truly here of course. This is because I have driven them all nd I do believe that it is my duty to tell you guys about it.

Number #5 - Volkswagen Polo GTI



This spot belongs to the Volkswagen Polo GTI. I have stated before that I enjoyed the Polo GTI a fair bit. The car when driven on its own, in isolation is good enough for most to feel a certain motoring high. This car, with its rorty sounding 180hp/250nm twincharged 1.4liter engine and a very aggressive 7 speed dual clutch gearbox makes acceleration entertaining and feels more powerful than what it actually has. 

It loses out badly on the handling stakes by only being slightly better than a stock 1.2TSI (with 17 inch wheels). It feels like a car that is all tyres on a very narrow chassis. On the limit it actually feels like its tippy toeing around on the tyres instead of the hard riding chassis actually keeping everything planted. Yes, you can drive rings around most cars, but against opponents like the Ford Fiesta ST and even number #4 below,  it should give more than this. And you can never put as much power to the ground like you could the other cars that I've rated ahead of it. I think when Volkswagen comes out with the face lifted and revamped 1.8liter Polo GTI here then things may get better for this car. That has suspension mods that may make it a better car. Can't wait for Volkswagen to bring it in. 

Costs RM155,000+ but you could usually get a very healthy discount for it these days.

Number #4 - Suzuki Swift Sport


You're talking old school to the maximum here. If you're the guy stuck in the 1980s and 1990s and always talk about the Peugeot 205GTI and the Volkswagen Golf GTI MK1 and 2 as well as the fact that they don't make 'em like they used to then you haven't tried the current (and previous Suzy Swift Sport). This car is so old school in its performance and its handling that the only thing modern about it inside is the bluetooth and other connectivity functions. And better plastics. And layout. And brighter headlights. And better safety. Oh you get my drift.

Horsepower and torque figures come from days gone by - 133hp and 160Nm from  normally aspirated 1.6liter engine coupled to a 5 speed (or surprisingly very nice CVT) gearbox makes it super authentic. Acceleration is spot on 1980s-1990s too - mid 8 seconds and 195kmh. Very pedestrian in this day and age but it's about driver-machine interaction when it comes to hot hatches. This has it in spades.

You can throw it round bends without a care in the world. Bumps in the middle of a corner will not sway its course and it even takes our bumpy road surfaces like a champion. It never gets ruffled and charges on to the next corner with an energy that it unbecoming of its size and category. And the car is still very throttle adjustable (for a front wheel drive) that the tail is your best friend is most corners. The ride is hard but not harsh and suits its sporty characteristics. It will not shake your kidneys unlike some supposedly sporty hatchbacks. Now add the fact that it is pretty refined at highway speeds you've got a car that is also less tiring for those long drives back to the countryside. Oh, the ABS isn't intrusive and will only activate when the brake pedal is really stomped upon. 

Cost - RM100,000+  Very affordable and very interactive. I like. I really really like. Yes, it could have been placed higher if not for the super ol' skool performance. But heck, I like nostalgia sometimes.

Number #3 Renault RenaultSport Clio RS 200


Its the car I last drove - the RenaultSport Clio RS200 comes in third. It has 200hp and 240Nm torque from a 1.6liter turbocharged lump coupled to a 6 speed dual clutch automatic gearbox. Now why didn't I place this higher?

Well, I suppose firstly its the price - RM168,000+ before you throw in insurance. Now if you want fancy red trimming you have to add another RM6,000 I think. Less the discount of say about RM20,000 or thereabouts and you still get something expensive compared to the others here (all can be gotten at some large discounts if you buy it at the right time). Price is a big factor as if you're buying a junior hot hatch. Why? Hello, if you had more money you'd be looking at their bigger brothers lah - the Golf GTI, Megane 250 etc etc. 

So what's it like to drive? Stable fast but somehow down on interaction and character. The good thing about the Clio RS these days is that the plastics don't feel like bloody croissants and flake away in your hands anymore after buying them. The interior seems as well built as the other cars in here and it feels like a nice place to be sitting in. The car has a very smooth power delivery and gear changes by that DCT is smooth. I find it to be better than some VW DSGs in terms of low speed shifts and nearly as fast on the upshifts when you're gunning for it. 

Handling is good and predictable. And when you combine the performance and handling of the Clio RS it works out to be slightly too clinical in my books. There is less driver interaction compared to the two cars that come in below. I also think that Renault Sport had to lessen the torque figures for this RS 200 because it is DCT equipped for the sake of reliability. It does not feel as rapid to drive as some of the others. It's not slow, but it could do with another 20Nm or so to make it thrilling down the straight. Or maybe I should have switched on the artificial sound amplifier and make the darn thing sound like a Nissan GTR when I drove it (yes, you can make it sound like a superbike, a Clio V6, a Renault Alpine or even  Nissan GTR from the infotainment system). I suppose its the driver-machine interaction that I crave the most in these sort of cars. The Clio RS is slightly down on this point. 

Cost - RM168,000+. expensive in this crowd. More driver interaction needed. But, it is the best if you are too darn lazy to shift by yourself.

Number #2 - Ford Fiesta ST


The Fiesta ST is by far the best handler of this bunch by miles here but it costs RM10,000 more (which is actually opposite as the Pug is more expensive than the Ford in the UK). It would give you the best in terms of outright handling but overall performance falls a little behind - 180hp and 240Nm with some overboost in horses (and torque) on full bore acceleration. It may be slightly slower on paper than the Clio RS but it feels more rapid in some ways. It has to be driver interaction. That missing bit when it comes to the Clio RS over this feisty Fiesta. It, like the Suzy in number #4 has that extra bit of adjustability that makes it a a dream to drive and to own if the budget allows.

But its cabin is a tad more basic looking and less premium than the one sitting at number One. In fact a little too mundane and plain even though it has the nicest looking Recaro seats this side of an Audi RS3. But when you sit in it, you stare at that modern looking but quite cheap looking plastic dashboard. Maybe I am spoilt by the luxuries I have in my life. I think I could live a bit more luxury inside and live with about 10% less handling finesse. 

In fact, car number #1 has that. It has 10% less in handling for the extra (almost) 20hp in engine performance and a dollop more torque coupled with a slightly more premium interior (for day to day driving). Call me superficial and slightly cheap (as it is RM10,000 cheaper to buy). But I like my creature comforts and powaaahhhhhhh more than just handling (which I personally can drive around its flaws and traits.

Cost RM150,000 OTR (but you can have this with a discount these days too)

Number #1 - Peugeot 208GTI


And so, unlike what most motoring journos over in the UK or Europe say, I choose the Peugeot 208GTI as my favourite junior hot hatch by the thinnest of margins.......for the moment that is.

In the sub RM150,000 price range I do not think any brand new car can touch the darn thing in all out acceleration. Peugeot claims 0-100kmh in 6.8seconds. I managed 6.5seconds. From a standstill, it is really, really rapid for a supermini sized hot hatch. Stock VW Golf GTIs would actually be surprised if they were trying to follow one. Of course, it has 200hp and 275Nm torque. Torque makes it really move. The only issue is that it does so pretty quietly, much like the Clio RS in some ways. Like refined transport instead of hot hatchback in terms of aural effects. Not that it matters. I state again that I do not think any brand new car under RM150,000 can touch this car in a straight line. 

As for handling, the 208GTI is somewhat like its engine. Smooth and tuned for overall driving instead of just balls out driving. Maybe this is why Peugeot only dropped the car by 8mm. The ride is actually quite good for a hot hatch. It isn't as jiggly as some of the others in its class and actually rides better than the base 208 sold here. That one feels light, floaty and glides over bumps instead of absorbing is a little. Well sorted in terms of ride but the price to pay is in its ultimate grip and handling where it lacks some front end grip over the Fiesta and the wildness of its tail in-extrimis (white knuckles and all that wet your pants stuff if you're not ready for it) . 

The fact that Peugeot has packaged a very fast junior hatchback with a  premium looking interior, good ride, good equipment and only slightly flawed handling coupled with a price below RM140,000 makes it my favourite choice among all of the junior hot hatches sold today in Malaysia. 

Yes it does have some drawbacks but  I am single mindedly drawn to the engine performance it gives and it may have some front end grip issues (which I believe could be solved with custom alignment and better tyres). And that RM10,000 cheaper than the Fiesta ST has some weight in my opinion. You can do alot with RM10,000. A set of lowering performance springs for the Pug may cost RM1,200 and it would actually help make it a better car. You still save RM8,800 of your hard earned, and now less value due to shitty currency exchange, Malaysian Ringgit.

Cost RM140,000 (and could be less with a discount these days) - A complete package for the money. Of course, if you took the Fiesta ST over this I would also say you made a good choice for the ultimate driver's hot hatch that money can buy in Malaysia. This,  the Peugeot 208 GTI, is the better all-rounder for long term ownership in my books.

Note: Why is _________ (fill in with whatever B segment Hot hatch  you think should be here) not on this list? Well, is it sold in Malaysia? If not why should it be here? Secondly, why is the Proton Satria Neo not on this list? Hello? Best junior hot hatch? 2015 lah....not 2005. And it's slow..slow...slow...it does not do 0-100kmh in under 10 seconds stock. Hot? far from it lah. 
Read More
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , ,

Sunday, May 3, 2015

Guest post: Top 5 Pre-Loved Hot (and Warm) Hatchbacks under RM60,000

9:22 PM 0

Today is a public holiday in Malaysia. It is therefore a day to chill and relax.  So we now have an article written by my friend and fellow petrolhead Firdaus Asri. You may remember him as the chap who wrote that eye watering article about his latest purchase (and spending), the Volkswagen Golf R Mk6. Now he gives us a list on his favourite fairly new and affordable used Hot (and warm) Hatchbacks that you can get in Malaysia. 

My Top 5 Pre-loved Hot (and Warm) Hatchbacks

I have always had a soft spot on hot hatches because I grew up in the one that kick-started the whole hot hatch genre thing, it was a 1976 VW Mk1 Golf. A short trip back to memory lane, I vividly remember that my parents bought it from my almost abnormal uncle and for years it was pretty much the only car that we had that sort of worked and worked well.


So unsurprisingly ever since I started working back in 2001 until now, I’ve bought 3 cars and all of them are hatchbacks. Some warm and some, the very hot type of hatch. And let me explain why. In my almost narrow minded view (Ed- I do think he is narrow minded in this point), I see hot hatch as a car that gives all things to all men. When I looked at something worthy of a hot hatch, the most important thing it has to be something really small, offers decent practicality, and it needs to have a big engine under the hood with ample horsepower that gives you hope that you can keep up with almost anything you see in front of the windscreen. The kind of car that lets you be a good dad by sending your kids to school every weekday morning and nurtured you as a boy racer on every Sunday morning. It is a formula that worked and still working well to many men who think they’re still young at heart. I believe that age is just a number that keeps on climbing.

But because we’re living in a world where hot hatches that used to cost us a few pennies but now have its price bloated by taxes and duties into something that unless you’re born with a silver spoon , you may need to consider auctioning one of your kidneys to afford one brand new. Do not give up because there is still hope and below I’m sharing my top 5 pre-loved hot (and warm) hatchbacks you can take home below RM60K.

1. Proton Satria GTi 1.8 (M) – 1998 - 2005
Potentially a modern relic priced between RM18K-RM20K


It was introduced in late 1998 as a showcase of hope of what Lotus can do to Proton. Lotus' Julian Thomson and his team did their magic and managed to turnaround a bland looking Satria into an absolutely eye catching boy racer styled hatchback wrapped in Ducati Silver that is worthy of the GTI badge. The kit and interior parts like the Recaro seats made the Satria GTi look fabulous compared with the ordinary Saria… really! The Mitsubishi 4G93 1.8 litre naturally aspirated engine with 5-speed F5M22 box surely won’t set your pants on fire in today’s standard but there are plenty of go-faster bits that could easily push the power up to 160 whp. Been there done that. 

It is without a doubt a tasty nasi lemak wrapped in banana leaf and used newspaper at a price that everyone can now afford to buy one, cash. Good examples are currently advertised between RM18K to 20K. For the extra money left in your pocket, I would recommend you to put that into good use by restoring this piece of potentially collectible modern classic so that you can enjoy driving it on the weekends and special occasions. It may just be a Proton but there is something about it that when people spotted you driving one, people will say that this guy knows what he’s doing.


2. Proton Satria Neo CPS R3 1.6 (M) Limited 2011 -2012
Potentially the most reliable entry level track day carving tool between RM49K-RM55K



Based on the mad low number Satria Neo R3 Lotus edition but they’ve gone a bit smarter by coming out with almost similar car at almost half the price. In many ways, I do think it is the closest worthy spiritual successor to the Satria GTi. It is a kin to comparing Ferrari F40 and Ferrari F50 where the 1.6 litre CPS engine even after equipped go-faster bits lacked low end torque compared to the 4G93 in the GTi (although somewhat cleverly masked by Exora’s final drive). Yet if you drive it in anger you will know it is much more of a razor sharp point-and-shoot car than the GTi. Local drift and track gurus Tengku Djan and Faidzil Alang had spent time optimizing the geometry of the suspension into something that you can take it to track days on monthly basis and enjoy sub 3 minutes lap time at Sepang consistently. And it is a cheap car to run I’m sure.

Depending on your luck, 2011 and 2012 examples can be had between RM48k to RM55k. Considering it is much newer car than the GTi, you may not need to spend much in getting the car as good as new. And unless you know the car history from A-Z, I would recommend getting exactly stock condition for peace of mind.


3. VW Polo GTI 9N3 1.8T - 4thGen Polo Facelift version sold in Malaysia - 2006-2008
Potentially the definitive pocket rocket priced between RM50-RM55K for 2008 examples



As they say looks can be very deceiving. This Volkswagen Polo GTI looks a lot like a nicer version of a bodykitted Kia Picanto. Out of the box, there is nothing much to like about this car. But as an ex-owner the potential is enormous. Unlike the current 6R Polo GTI, it has a 1.8T engine paired with a 5-speed box that is almost nuclear proof . There is also an abundance of aftermarket parts for the engine. You only need a stage 1+ remap, front-mounted intercooler, full on exhaust, uprated clutch kit, uprated bushings, good tyres and well sorted suspension, and without trying too hard, a sure thing of a responsive 216 whp and 300 wNm on sub 1,200 kg pocket rocket at your disposal. (Ed-Oi! That's a heck of a lot of parts lah!!!! Cheap you say?)

It may not have the driving dynamics of the Type R Civics or even a Satria Neo R3 or especially Mk6 Golf GTI, they will have hard time shaking you off on winding roads (after you do this mods). And I still remember sitting behind an E60 M5 on the NSE and it will only pull off into the distance at 200 kmh onwards. Even with all those mods in, it can be a very reliable workhorse and would not be a problem commuting to the office in it daily. And unlike the bigger brother Golf GTI, it is actually much more sensible and cheaper to maintain too. Aftermarket parts prices in many cases won’t hurt your wallet as bad as you would imagine (Ed – with Ebay being your best friend). I said it before and I’m going to say it again, it may not be the best hot hatch in the world but given the right mods it is the definitive pocket rocket to my eyes.

Getting hold onto one can be a bit tough as there are only fifty units of the 9N3 Polo GTIs in Malaysia and most of the owners are pretty reluctant to sell theirs. But because of pressure from wives to stop behaving like kids, I do know some of the good ones can be up for grabs. Depending on conditions and modifications, realistically 2008 examples would be priced between RM45K-RM55K. As ever, a complete vehicle history does come in handy.


4. Mini Cooper S R53 – 2001 - 2006
Potentially timeless designed super mini


The Mini Cooper S R53 for sure cultivates in-crowd vibes not only to men but with ladies as well. Buy one and you’ll feel like you are joining an elite club, where the only requirement of entry is good taste. It is a brand thing and I’m unable to articulate anything further.

It might not have the outright grunt as modded Polo GTIs but with wider chassis and tracks, you can mesh almost all the juice coming from 1.6 supercharged engine into the corner and you can be rest assured it will stick to it. Going really hardcore, you could trail brake as you turn into a corner, instigates the tail to swivel, four wheel slides and the front bonnet should be able to pointing out of the corner very early in its radius. Once getting the hang of it, you can string corners together with dabs here, lifts there at huge amount of speed.

As good as it is, like many continental cars, it too doesn’t get spared from being hit by age, reliability issues and heavy depreciation. You may find 2003 examples can be had from as low as RM48K while the last batch ones are nearing RM60K. While it is generally a reliable machine , there are plenty of online buyers guides that you can look for potential and known faults. A word of caution though locally Mini parts prices can be on the high side like BMW .(Ed – 'reliable' here is taken with extreme caution...really really extreme caution as they are temperamental)


5. Suzuki Swift Sport – 2005 - 2012
Shopping trolley doesn’t get any better than this


I have to add this in because the founder of this blog won’t be happy if I didn’t...... hahaha (Ed – yes...this is very very true). Truth be told I can see why. Swift Sport may not have the looks of a Mini Cooper S but it sure does behaving similar to Cooper S in a more efficient and imageless sort of way. I think it is a case of uncomplicated drivetrain and 1,045 kgs of weight that makes a solid foundation for smooth, compliant ride and playful chassis giving you heaps of no frills interactive fun .

Because it is Japanese it therefore has honest to goodness engineering, it should work like clockwork and kinder to your wallet like the Protons when it comes to maintenance. While the car’s resale value remains strong, you can have 2007 and 2008 ones asking price between RM45K to RM50K. And as long as the car is accident free, expect it to be running even after you handover the keys to your kids.
Read More
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Suzuki Swift Sport CVT - THE One to drive if you cannot do the shifting yourself

7:01 AM 0


Fun to drive cars have always been a priority over here on Motoring-malaysia.blogspot.com. We thrive on driving cars that are fun. They may not have to be superfast but they have to have an emotional attachment with the driver when on the move. The thing about 'soulful' cars is there they are usually expensive here in Malaysia as we suffer, yes, suffer from obscene taxes and other whatnots. You need good credit rating with the bank or you must have a really fat monthly salary to indulge in such cars here in Malaysia. But occasionally you have the Suzuki Swift Sport to give you a rush at a price of around RM100,000. Hey, RM100,000 is affordable for a fun car in this day and age. Sad but true.

Anyway, I tested the previous Suzy Swift Sport (SSS) and I loved every minute of it. The car was a chuckable little monster. It had a good six speed manual gearbox and was a 125bhp car that you could wring it by its neck (or steering) and throw it into a corner with abandon. It would do some tail out antics if you're really brutal (trail brake into a corner or lift off mid corner) to it yet everything is so bloody balanced it feels natural doing so. Of course, I still troll the car ads looking for one and dream about having one in my garage – Of which I cannot do so as it is filled with too many cars already. Plus the fact that my bankers would never allow it at this point of time.

So when the new SSS came out I had to have a go at another one. This time I decided that I'd try it in a form that all Malaysians love – one that changes gears by itself, the Suzuki Swift Sport CVT. I wanted to see whether the driving experience is still good and whether that CVT gearbox kills it or not. Lets begin, shall we?

The design
Much like the older Suzuki Swift Sport, the new one looks like the earlier one but is slightly larger in MINIesque dimensions. It has the same deep front bumper, twin exhausts at the rear and the 16inch wheels and tyre combo. It sits more squat than the run of the mill Swift 1.4 but it still is an evolution of the earlier design and I don't have anything much to say about it. If you aren't a car person, you may not even notice.

The interior
The interior is a good rework of the earlier car. It has better plastics and the overall fit and finish of the top part of the dashboard and center console is pretty good. It is only when you reach for areas at the glovebox level where you see cheaper plastics being used. The overall look and quality is up a notch against the earlier Swift if one were to compare. The instrumentation is good and clear and the controls are nice to the touch. The audio system is better and has all the usual Bluetooth and USB support. It isn't one of those touchscreen GPS equipped thingy (Suzuki seems a little stingy here) but it looks better than previously. Again.

The driving position is spot on for serious driving and the seats offer good support everywhere. It is more snug than the usual Swift 1.4 but you expect it in such a car.

The boot is what I call a drawer. It is as big as one. You may carry two cabin sized luggage if you're lucky but there is also a floorboard which you can remove for a bit more depth in the boot. But you don't need boot space in this car. It is about driving. Wait till you get to the driving portion of this article.

Drivetrain
It is a 1.6liter 4 cylinder normally aspirated engine with variable valve timing that makes about 136bhp and about 160Nm/6900rpm torque. Stronger than the previous SSS and slightly faster. 0-100km/h times are quoted at 8.7secs are faster than the mid 9 seconds previously.  


Driving the darn thing.
You first notice that this Suzuki Swift Sport is something that you don't need to change gears in. It does it by itself and sometimes I have to admit that in the horrendous Kuala Lumpur traffic it makes perfect sense. Hey, you only hit those mountain roads once a month at the very least and daily hour long commutes may cause blood pressure spikes. Lessening such stresses is good.

So I tried the SSS with the CVT or Continously Variable Transmission. You may note that I hate CVT type transmissions. They are whiney as the hold the engine at high rpms whilst the car slowly gains its pace. It has no linear feel and some are saddled with a rubber band type of feeling when the road speed somehow matches the engine speed of the car. In my opinion, CVT only works with high torque engines as the pulling power is sufficient to hide this characteristics. However the SSS CVT setup is pretty good due to the SSS' lightweight. 160Nm pulling about 1,070kg may have something to do with it.

It does feel like a mid-8 second car to 100km/h. At kickdown (or traffic light races) the CVT is good and even Suzuki states that the CVT is as fast to 100km/h as the 6-speed manual. No, you're not going to beat the crap out of a Polo Gti but what you're gonna get is a hatchback that can make you grin from ear to ear. The driving experience of this car is fan-bloody-tastic. Even with this CVT equipped car.

Much like the earlier SSS you can throw it round bends without a care in the world. Bumps in the middle of a corner will not sway its course and it even takes our bumpy road surfaces like a champion. It never gets ruffled and charges on to the next corner with an energy that it unbecoming of its size and category. And the car is still (albeit a little more reeled in than before) very throttle adjustable (for a front driver) that the tail is your best friend is most corners. The ride is hard but not harsh and suits its sporty characteristics. It will not shake your kidneys unlike some supposedly sporty hatchbacks. Now add the fact that it is pretty refined at highway speeds you've got a car that is also less tiring for those long drives back to the countryside. Oh, the ABS isn't intrusive and will only activate when the brake pedal is really stomped upon. I like.

The best thing is that you don't even have to bother with those flappy pedals behind the steering wheel. You can just let the car drive but itself and use the brakes and the steering. You don't need to become an F1 driver to have fun in this car. When I test drove this car I was in the company of an ex-motor journalist and another motorhead. All of us agreed that this car is da bomb for driving. The tail is so mobile that it assists the front and the steering has some feel even though it is an electrically assisted rack. This car is rare in its price range. In fact one would need to climb up to a VW Golf Gti, Renault Megane 265 or a Toyobaru 86 for similar thrills. But the thing with those cars is that they cost a whole lot more. No, a Mazda 3 2.0 or a Honda Civic is less focused than the SSS. If you get what I mean.

It may not have boot space. But who needs boot space when you are one with the car. The Suzuki Swift Sport is the one. It is The One if you want a sporty CVT hatchback. The manual may be better but this one shifts by itself. It is The One for lazier people. The One at around RM100,000, that is.

SUZUKI SWIFT SPORT CVT Specifications
Base Price: RM102,888.00
Body: 5-door Hatchback
Mechanical Orientation: Front Wheel Drive
Engine: 4 cylinder 1.6-litre VVT normally aspirated
Power: 136 BHP
Torque: 160 NM
Transmission: CVT
Weight: approx 1070 kg

0-62 mph: 8.7 seconds
Top Speed: 195 km/h
Fuel Consumption: 6.5l/100km

For: Overall quality, power delivery, handling, handling, handling
Against: Boot space, BUT you don't really need it. Should be CKD so that it's more affordable for everyone.
Read More
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , ,

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

The 2012 Suzuki Swift Sport Is Finally Revealed

8:20 PM 0
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.
Read More
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , ,

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Suzuki Swift S-Concept showcases the upcoming Swift Sport

8:22 PM 0
The car above is the Suzuki Swift S Concept which was recently shown at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. This is how the upcoming Suzuki Swift Sport will look like. As some of you readers know, the Swift Sport is my favourite affordable supermini. I totally adore this little car because of its agility, handling and its honest to goodness nature. Not to mention if you love trail braking into a corner this is the car for you. The tail swings round to 'meet' you where you want it to.

 In the article I stated that if it ain't broke, why fix it. This sums up what Suzuki has done to the Swift. A little stretch, a little pull, a little nip here and some added girth there but it still looks pretty much like the earlier car.

Click here to read more about the S Concept
Read More
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , ,

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Driven: Automotive Bliss and the 2008 Suzuki Swift Sport

11:34 PM 0

Automotive bliss can mean a lot of things. One of it could be waking up early on a Sunday morning, taking that sports car of yours for a drive to nowhere and feeling great about yourself. It can also mean the satisfaction of fixing something small yet the pleasure, or pain, derived from it is immense. Bliss is a nice word to describe a feeling that someone who feels naively feels satisfied or truly happy when the actual situation isn’t so impressive.

Imagine this, your sister in law’s Proton Wira decides to not start when your wife, kid and sister in law decide to go shopping on a Saturday afternoon. You being all dressed up in your sports Rolex, Italian loafers, nice Audi T shirt and blue jeans ready to hop into your Subaru Impreza decide to help change the battery under the sweltering sun. It’s an automotive moment there folks, getting his hands dirty fixing a run of the mill Proton and enjoying that moment of pain and suffering yet accomplishing something. The car started, everyone was happy and could go wherever they wanted to.

Imagine this, helping your friend at 10.00 pm, after work, while dressed in your office wear, meaning long sleeve shirt, grey pin stripe slacks, a pair of Italian slip-ons, and an Omega on your wrist, at the rear of a Mitsubishi Evolution 7 pushing that darn car trying to make it start. It’s not everyday you get to see a WRC car getting pushed by 2 men and a guy trying hard to steer wide 235/45/17 tires without any power assistance for the steering. Most of us nearly puked after that as we just had dinner. Luckily the car started, but not after we pushed it. But that’s another tale altogether and I its guess the accomplishment of finishing that automotive task made us all feel good about ourselves even though.

Imagine taking your Subaru Impreza out for a drive through Genting Sempah and up to Genting, stop at the Starbucks Café at the peak, buy a nice hot cup of mocha and then scoot off downhill enjoying the ridiculously tight bends in your All Wheel Drive car. I’ve done it, it felt great and the thrill of hearing your straight through exhaust pinging off the mountain side makes the experience one to be cherished. The thoughts that ran through my head were that everyone should own a car that sounds like this, or better. I need an SL55, seriously.

Another non sweaty automotive moment was me testing the new Suzuki Swift sport. A 1.6 twin cam 125bhp pocket rocket that seemed to have the DNA from its early 1990s predecessor. Being yellow in colour and its slightly different front and rear bumpers and side skirts, 16in wheels and tires and integrated headrests made it look so much sportier than the run of the mill Swift. However, it still has that high mini MPV like seating position that somehow seems to appear in most small cars (like the Myvi) and that somehow kills the sportiness even though the leather wrapped steering wheel and other controls feel good in your hands. Being a CBU model, the quality is good as is expected. The throttle response is good, even better than the new Lancer GT I tested recently. The manual gearbox feels precise and good in your left hand. The engine is peaky in delivery but with decent grunt at low end which I think is due to the close and short gearing. 0-60mph is around 8.9secs and it has a top speed of around 195km/h. while pushing hard, it does feel nippy and does feel like a 9sec car, which doesn’t make it really fast enough to trouble any Civic typeR drivers out there. But the engine could be made to breathe better and this would ensure more bhp to be released. I’d imagine this car with a more open exhaust and a sports filter as a start.

Now the fun thing about this car is that it lives on trail braking into corners and lift off oversteer if your get off the power to fast or too late into a corner. It feels nimble yet if you provoke it, the tail will ‘assist’ you through the corners. Its short wheelbase actually is a blessing after driving so many larger cars. Much like the Satria Neo, this according to my journalist friend has the same kind of feel in corners. This actually is a scary thought. Cars like the Neo and the Swift Sport are surprisingly tail happy for front wheel drivers. This new school of thought is purposely engineering these cars to somehow behave like rear wheel drive. A good thing, but if you are not aware or expecting it, a dangerous thing. This is because most of us grew up driving normal understeery cars like the usual non typeR Honda Civics and Proton Wira or Waja. It actually is a whole different thing facing cars tuned to handle like this. So future owners beware, get a feel of the car first. The only setback I see with this car is that the steering is an electrically assisted steering. this makes it feel rubbery and has a servoed feel. I do not like these kinds on power assistance compared to the more traditional hydraulic ones. I suppose manufacturers these days want to save an extra 2% in fuel consumption and is willing to sacrifice feel for it. I don't agree and even most performance car manufacturers do not have this setup for their cars. luckily it is still precise and you can safely place the car where you want it to be.

It is old school in a way, with the peaky power delivery and the normally aspirated feel where you’ve got to cane the throttle to actually make progress. Not like most sports cars nowadays, all turbo and either that or large capacity engines. No one actually makes small nimble hot hatches nowadays; take a look at the VW Golf and you’ll see what I mean. It does bring back some memories, some, and that it also a little diluted aside from its handling. Most probably this is due to the slightly strangled feel of the engine due to emission controls.

Anyway, the car handles well on the 16in wheels and tires, but there is some body roll which sports springs some 20mm lower would cure this affliction. That and dampers 10% stiffer would make this an awesome weekend car for some. But in stock form, I felt like a girl. I felt the need to shave my legs, wear earrings and a wig in order to suit its cute image; especially when I parked the car, 2 kids probably college students coming out of their slightly pimped Myvi commented that I drove or owned a ‘nice car’. ‘Nice Car?’ I’d rather own a car that attracted girls. Or if it were guys, a car that makes guys go ‘whoaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa….it looks brutal. Does it have a million horsepower?’


A metrosexual guy would like this car, feel that its hip and cool, but I somehow don’t suit it. A slightly overweight man that looks mean with a 5 o’clock shadow in his face wouldn’t, and couldn’t look cool in a ballerina’s tutu. This is how I felt. So while it’s a great driver’s car, I can’t buy it as I would look too out of place. If you’re a girl, and you want to drive fast, by all means buy one as it’s the best driver’s car at RM100K. If you’re a guy, make sure you look good in high heels and a skirt or make sure you have another car for weekdays and keep this car for weekend fun. Make sure it’s a manual though.
Read More
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , ,

Automotive Bliss and the Suzuki Swift Sport

11:34 PM 0
Automotive bliss can mean a lot of things. One of it could be waking up early on a Sunday morning, taking that sports car of yours for a drive to nowhere and feeling great about yourself. It can also mean the satisfaction of fixing something small yet the pleasure, or pain, derived from it is immense. Bliss is a nice word to describe a feeling that someone who feels naively feels satisfied or truly happy when the actual situation isn’t so impressive.

Imagine this, your sister in law’s Proton Wira decides to not start when your wife, kid and sister in law decide to go shopping on a Saturday afternoon. You being all dressed up in your sports Rolex, Italian loafers, nice Audi T shirt and blue jeans ready to hop into your Subaru Impreza decide to help change the battery under the sweltering sun. It’s an automotive moment there folks, getting his hands dirty fixing a run of the mill Proton and enjoying that moment of pain and suffering yet accomplishing something. The car started, everyone was happy and could go wherever they wanted to.

Imagine this, helping your friend at 10.00 pm, after work, while dressed in your office wear, meaning long sleeve shirt, grey pin stripe slacks, a pair of Italian slip-ons, and an Omega on your wrist, at the rear of a Mitsubishi Evolution 7 pushing that darn car trying to make it start. It’s not everyday you get to see a WRC car getting pushed by 2 men and a guy trying hard to steer wide 235/45/17 tires without any power assistance for the steering. Most of us nearly puked after that as we just had dinner. Luckily the car started, but not after we pushed it. But that’s another tale altogether and I its guess the accomplishment of finishing that automotive task made us all feel good about ourselves even though.
Imagine taking your Subaru Impreza out for a drive through Genting Sempah and up to Genting, stop at the Starbucks Café at the peak, buy a nice hot cup of mocha and then scoot off downhill enjoying the ridiculously tight bends in your All Wheel Drive car. I’ve done it, it felt great and the thrill of hearing your straight through exhaust pinging off the mountain side makes the experience one to be cherished. The thoughts that ran through my head were that everyone should own a car that sounds like this, or better. I need an SL55, seriously.

Another non sweaty automotive moment was me testing the new Suzuki Swift sport. A 1.6 twin cam 125bhp pocket rocket that seemed to have the DNA from its early 1990s predecessor. Being yellow in colour and its slightly different front and rear bumpers and side skirts, 16in wheels and tires and integrated headrests made it look so much sportier than the run of the mill Swift. However, it still has that high mini MPV like seating position that somehow seems to appear in most small cars (like the Myvi) and that somehow kills the sportiness even though the leather wrapped steering wheel and other controls feel good in your hands. Being a CBU model, the quality is good as is expected. The throttle response is good, even better than the new Lancer GT I tested recently. The manual gearbox feels precise and good in your left hand. The engine is peaky in delivery but with decent grunt at low end which I think is due to the close and short gearing. 0-60mph is around 8.9secs and it has a top speed of around 195km/h. while pushing hard, it does feel nippy and does feel like a 9sec car, which doesn’t make it really fast enough to trouble any Civic typeR drivers out there. But the engine could be made to breathe better and this would ensure more bhp to be released. I’d imagine this car with a more open exhaust and a sports filter as a start.

Now the fun thing about this car is that it lives on trail braking into corners and lift off oversteer if your get off the power to fast or too late into a corner. It feels nimble yet if you provoke it, the tail will ‘assist’ you through the corners. Its short wheelbase actually is a blessing after driving so many larger cars. Much like the Satria Neo, this according to my journalist friend has the same kind of feel in corners. This actually is a scary thought. Cars like the Neo and the Swift Sport are surprisingly tail happy for front wheel drivers. This new school of thought is purposely engineering these cars to somehow behave like rear wheel drive. A good thing, but if you are not aware or expecting it, a dangerous thing. This is because most of us grew up driving normal understeery cars like the usual non typeR Honda Civics and Proton Wira or Waja. It actually is a whole different thing facing cars tuned to handle like this. So future owners beware, get a feel of the car first. The only setback I see with this car is that the steering is an electrically assisted steering. this makes it feel rubbery and has a servoed feel. I do not like these kinds on power assistance compared to the more traditional hydraulic ones. I suppose manufacturers these days want to save an extra 2% in fuel consumption and is willing to sacrifice feel for it. I don't agree and even most performance car manufacturers do not have this setup for their cars. luckily it is still precise and you can safely place the car where you want it to be.

It is old school in a way, with the peaky power delivery and the normally aspirated feel where you’ve got to cane the throttle to actually make progress. Not like most sports cars nowadays, all turbo and either that or large capacity engines. No one actually makes small nimble hot hatches nowadays; take a look at the VW Golf and you’ll see what I mean. It does bring back some memories, some, and that it also a little diluted aside from its handling. Most probably this is due to the slightly strangled feel of the engine due to emission controls.

Anyway, the car handles well on the 16in wheels and tires, but there is some body roll which sports springs some 20mm lower would cure this affliction. That and dampers 10% stiffer would make this an awesome weekend car for some. But in stock form, I felt like a girl. I felt the need to shave my legs, wear earrings and a wig in order to suit its cute image; especially when I parked the car, 2 kids probably college students coming out of their slightly pimped Myvi commented that I drove or owned a ‘nice car’. ‘Nice Car?’ I’d rather own a car that attracted girls. Or if it were guys, a car that makes guys go ‘whoaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa….it looks brutal. Does it have a million horsepower?’

A metrosexual guy would like this car, feel that its hip and cool, but I somehow don’t suit it. A slightly overweight man that looks mean with a 5 o’clock shadow in his face wouldn’t, and couldn’t look cool in a ballerina’s tutu. This is how I felt. So while it’s a great driver’s car, I can’t buy it as I would look too out of place. If you’re a girl, and you want to drive fast, by all means buy one as it’s the best driver’s car at RM100K. If you’re a guy, make sure you look good in high heels and a skirt or make sure you have another car for weekdays and keep this car for weekend fun. Make sure it’s a manual though.
Read More
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , ,