Suzuki Swift (1988 - to 2003)
BY JONATHAN CROUCH
Cheap affordable runabouts that are worth buying dont come much more cheap and affordable than Suzukis little Swift. Though the motoring press generally ignored the car, loyal customers kept buying them, attracted by cheap prices, low running costs and strong equipment levels. The same virtues hold true on the used market. Despite the flimsy feel, the car holds together well though its not great to drive.
Those in search of a tiny car on a tight budget however, could do a lot worse than try one.
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They come with features like electric front windows, central locking, power mirrors, a digital clock, a remote opener for the rear tailgate, a vanity mirror, colour co-ordinated bumpers and a lockable glove box. If you want power steering, you'll have to stretch to the 1.3-litre GLX five-door or the 1.3-litre GLS three-door. Automatic transmission was also available on some one-litre and 1.
3-litre GLX models.
In two words, not much. The earliest G-reg GLX and GTi models cost around £100 but theyre probably best avoided. Slightly better is the rare 4WD GLX (£200-£400 G to K-reg). The post-April 1992 GS, GLX and GTi 1.
3-litre cars are better and you could also have a three or five-door 1.0-litre car at around £800 (95M) to £1,500 for a T-reg). Later 02-reg models fetch between £2,100 and £2,300.
Build quality feels flimsy though in actual fact, the fixtures and fittings hold up quite well. On older models, check for possible electric faults, heavy front tyre wear, possible over-enthusiastic abuse of GTi models and under-floor damage on the rare 4x4 saloon.
(approx based on a - ex Vat) A clutch assembly is around £90 and an exhaust system about £115. Front and rear brake pads will be about £40 and £25. A radiator is about £100 reconditioned, an alternator about £135 reconditioned, a starter motor £105 reconditioned and a replacement headlamp up to £65.
Under the bonnet, you'll find either a little one-litre unit or a single overhead camshaft 1298cc engine which is fuel injected and catalysed in later models to provide 67bhp at 6,000rpm. Neither is fun to drive but they are frugal. Fleet and government figures have shown the 1.0-litre Swifts to be amongst the UK's most fuel-efficient cars. The Department of Transport's fuel consumption booklet recorded a combined mpg for the 1.0 GL five-door and 1.0 GLS three-door of 51.4 - well ahead of competitors.
Furthermore, the influential Costs Guide distributed by Fleet Management and Business Car magazines has rated the three-door GLS as the UK's cheapest car to run. Based on a four-year 80,000-mile period, the Swift would cost a mere 13.4 pence per mile.
The Swift is a car that Suzuki would like you to remember as "a stylish and economical hatchback for all round sporty performance or practical family motoring." As long as you can find a good one, you'll probably think of it as amazingly inexpensive little three or five-door shopping supermini.
