twinairturbo said:

With the Suzuki they have a "good will" package, when the 3 year warranty is up some things are still covered even when the car is a year out of warranty. Also I am looking at a new swift how has your swift experience been like if you don't mind me asking, am I making the right choice?

Thanks

MJ

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I have had two Swifts now. The previous shape and the latest version (pre-facelift). The latest model is much more refined than the original although it isn't as quiet and doesn't ride as well as my wife's VW UP! which smothers bumps that the Swift thumps over. Having said that, the Swift is a very tidy handling little car and it rides a little better than the Skoda Yeti I had before it. I also like that fact that they are reasonably exclusive; almost all Suzukis are bought by private buyers rather than companies and fleets. Buy a Swift for its looks, reliability, handling, fuel economy, value and safety (excellent spec and Euro ncap score). In the interests of balance, I would say don't buy a Swift if you really value boot space, soft feel interior plastics, ultimate refinement and a cosseting ride. I am also a little disappointed that they only come with 12 months roadside assistance and a three year warranty. I think Suzuki should be offering five years given the competition from Korea.

I would recommend the Swift to people but I won't be buying another because I need a bigger car and I miss the higher driving position of the Yeti I had before it. Suzuki may still keep my business with the S-Cross though, depends what I think of the 500L and others on my shortlist.

MJG said:

Have a chat with your FIAT dealer - you should be able to shave a good lump off the list price as it appears these cars are not exactly selling like hot cakes and we were certainly able to get an excellent deal when we got ours on a 63 plate.

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Thanks, I'll see what deals are on the table when I go shopping in January.

Shrub said:

I have had two Swifts now. The previous shape and the latest version (pre-facelift). The latest model is much more refined than the original although it isn't as quiet and doesn't ride as well as my wife's VW UP! which smothers bumps that the Swift thumps over. Having said that, the Swift is a very tidy handling little car and it rides a little better than the Skoda Yeti I had before it. I also like that fact that they are reasonably exclusive; almost all Suzukis are bought by private buyers rather than companies and fleets. Buy a Swift for its looks, reliability, handling, fuel economy, value and safety (excellent spec and Euro ncap score). In the interests of balance, I would say don't buy a Swift if you really value boot space, ultimate refinement and a cosseting ride. I am also a little disappointed that they only come with 12 months roadside assistance and a three year warranty. I think Suzuki should be offering five years given the competition from Korea.

I would recommend the Swift to people but I won't be buying another because I need a bigger car and I miss the higher driving position of the Yeti I had before it. Suzuki may still keep my business with the S-Cross though, depends what I think of the 500L and others on my shortlist.

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Thanks it's going to be my third car in 2 years I had a rover 25 with no problems then my punto TA with nothing but problems. Other than the swift the Hyundai i20 is also on my short list

I looked at the i20 before I bought the Swift. Good buying package, decent car but not as much fun to drive as the Swift. They have also just facelifted the Swift and brought out a new 4x4 version.

Shrub said:

I looked at the i20 before I bought the Swift. Good buying package, decent car but not as much fun to drive as the Swift. They have also just facelifted the Swift and brought out a new 4x4 version.

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The 4x4 is too expensive but I'm getting the swift sz4 if I get enough to clear my existing finance with my punto

Funny how Fiat people also like Suzukis.

I too may well return to Suzuki when I replace my Doblo. I had no intention of keeping it a long time, and I won't. I drove the new S Cross and it was brilliant. So it is now top of my list. Plenty of time to change my mind of course

I use to drive suzuki swift from 2002 with just 30000Km. Consumption in the city was about 8.5liters / 100Km.
My friend's Polo 6N SDI 1.9 from 1999 gives astonishing 5liters / 100Km consumption in the city and highway is about 3.8liters on 100Km.

Pandabloke said:

Last tankful, normal driving. Computer says 41mpg. Brim to brim 38 mpg. Not good enough.

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Seems comparable with what many 500 owners are getting however you have a heavier car and the 105 engine I presume?

Ulpian said:

Funny how Fiat people also like Suzukis.

I too may well return to Suzuki when I replace my Doblo. I had no intention of keeping it a long time, and I won't. I drove the new S Cross and it was brilliant. So it is now top of my list. Plenty of time to change my mind of course

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I'm glad you liked the S-Cross Ulpian. I've not driven it yet and wondered how you found it for road noise? The only issue I have really had with my two Swifts (particularly the first) is excessive road noise. I've read that the S-Cross is reasonably refined though.

Well, I thought it was pretty refined. At seventy, for only a short time I admit, I was easily able to talk to the person in the back. The ride wasn't as smooth as the Doblo, but it was not harsh either, in fact the ride/handling compromise was excellent. No, noise wasn't an issue, but I'd want another drive over more varied surfaces to be sure. The Diesel engine was a joy, far more alert and responsive than the 105 version in my car, with none of the turbo lag at low speeds, or very little. But then the S Cross is lighter, more aerodynamic, and more powerful, so a better drive is to be expected.
But, it is a fun drive, and that is rare. I would want a longer drive to be certain, but I confess that refinement wasn't an issue during the half hour I was in the car.
I actually saw a white one yesterday in the rush hour, and the salesman did say they have sold nearly twenty since the launch at the end of October.
The new Qashqai will be a competitor, but it is three inches longer, and wider. Plus the base Diesel is slower and the 1.6 is less efficient. And it costs nearly 3K more across the board, probably more spec for spec.
I like the clean, simple utility of the Suzuki, and the equipment is good, and easy to understand. And the drive was very unexpected
Have a go and see what you think.
PS. It has disc brakes at the back, I don't know if that is good, but the brakes were very good, and superbly progressive.
In all it seemed very well engineered - plus a Dab radio in the top two versions, and a decent Satnav, and a rear parking camera - all very nice to have...

simon willgress said:

...... if your goal is good mpg and high speed then the TA was never the right choice.
Still love being able to hair round the county roads on the odd occasion and still love the buzzy motor and exhaust note.

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As I said before, I just want the mpg figures to be reasonably close to the quoted figures. So far I have not even achieved the urban figures when on a run. The quoted mpg figures, are not, I believe, obtainable.

Thanks Ulpian. I look forward to trying it, although I'll probably go down the petrol engined route. By the way, my little 1.2 Swift SZ4 has even got rear disc brakes and it stops very well. One thing I didn't mention when I talked about the Swift was just how stable it is at high speed and under braking. It is the best little car I have driven in heavy cross winds.

I test drove both the 1.2 Swift and the Sporting. I loved the basic car and if it had had a larger boot I'd have bought one. The Sporing I wasn't so convinced by, possibly too hard riding and needing too many revs all the time.

The same engine in the S Cross has a lower power profile combined with more torque, so I'd expect it to be a decent drive. Let me know

Ulpian said:

Funny how Fiat people also like Suzukis.

I too may well return to Suzuki when I replace my Doblo. I had no intention of keeping it a long time, and I won't. I drove the new S Cross and it was brilliant. So it is now top of my list. Plenty of time to change my mind of course

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I think they share a lot of characteristics, the petrol engines are revvy and like to do so, the handling is tidy and they are more fun/faster than people give them credit for. The swift to me was like my old mk1 but without the fragility.

Going to previous comments regarding the warranty, yes it's shorter than you can get from other manufacturers however from personal experience it's excellent, I can't think of too many manufacturers who would replace brake discs under warranty after 2 years and 11 months.

StevenRB45 said:

I think they share a lot of characteristics, the petrol engines are revvy and like to do so, the handling is tidy and they are more fun/faster than people give them credit for. The swift to me was like my old mk1 but without the fragility.

Going to previous comments regarding the warranty, yes it's shorter than you can get from other manufacturers however from personal experience it's excellent, I can't think of too many manufacturers who would replace brake discs under warranty after 2 years and 11 months.

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I had brake discs replaced under warranty on my first Swift. There was an issue with brake squeal on the 2006 Swift but then I am sure many manufacturers would have not replaced them for free.

Pandabloke said:

As I said before, I just want the mpg figures to be reasonably close to the quoted figures. So far I have not even achieved the urban figures when on a run. The quoted mpg figures, are not, I believe, obtainable.

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It's down to driving style IMO, I get great millage around town (in the summer as the stop start doesn't like cold ambient air temperatures), generally the problem is how easily the engine rev's or maybe I have the only one that can achieve fiats advertised mpg. I would like to add that mine doesn't use a drop of oil either.

Shrub said:

I had brake discs replaced under warranty on my first Swift. There was an issue with brake squeal on the 2006 Swift but then I am sure many manufacturers would have not replaced them for free.

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Having seen the struggles my dad went through with Ford, Peugeot, Vauxhall, Renault after the 1st year was up nevermind turning up with problems after the best part of three years as the second owner after the 1st owner had skipped a service I was very surprised at how much they would do for free. I won't post the list but it was definitely problem child when I first got it.

My punto TA is working now and up for sale pm for details if you are interested should be in the classifieds later on

"You get what you pay for"
Drive like an Italian at maximum revs you'll get mid-30s
Be a little more restrained (British?) you'll get low to mid 40s
Drive like a nun (Eco, Stop/Start, change up at 1500 revs, never exceed 50mph) you'll get in the 50s
Me?
Must have some Italian blood in me somewhere - nothing sweeter than a Twin Air on full song at max revs
Oooopps - there goes the rev limiter cut-out again!!

simon willgress said:

We get anything between 50 -75 mpg from our twin air 500, its best at 60mph and below, if your goal is good mpg and high speed then the TA was never the right choice.
Still love being able to hair round the county roads on the odd occasion and still love the buzzy motor and exhaust note.

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As a matter of interest, how are you measuring this? On a particular journey or by the tank?