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Saw quite a few in France recently.
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Well, recently negotiated a brand new 1.5GLX for my sister (06 reg) - it came in at £8.5k with petrol in the tank and a set of mats. I would think you can get an auto for a bit over £9k. Used '05 manuals seem to pop up now and again at £7.5k, so that price for an auto seems good (presumably its a year old car though). My sister didn't think saving £1k was worth it for a year old motor - plus the '05 ones will be the first RHD production and therefore might have a few 'bugs' ( that was my input to the argument).
Not driven an auto so can't comment on that aspect. The manual goes quick enough, that's for sure. Its not a hot hatch, but plenty rapid enough for urban and sub-urban driving lady - and its quite fun to drive.
Obviously I like it. I'm not a small-car person, but if I was looking for a small car for under £10k I'd be very tempted. Obviously its not going to provide the same experience as a C/D sector car - but then if that's what you wanted you'd not be looking at superminis in the first place.
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Aprilia, can I ask where you got the Swift from? Was is pre-registered? The price on drivethedeal.com (with metallic paint) is just over £9k and for an auto it is just under £9900 (discount is only about £300).
If one year old manuals are being offered for £7.5K, I think that price for an auto is good. The one we have seen is in mint condition too.
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Yes, the price for that auto does look good. As I said though, it would be one of the first RHD models made, so you might want to check it extra carefully for any build faults (or speak to the previous owner). My sister was originally looking for a used '05 1.5GLX manual, but they seemed to sell very quickly and she ended up paying the extra £1k and having new.
We bought from a major dealer group and got about £500 off - this was after contacting numerous dealers who just wouldn't discount on the basis that they were able to sell all of their allocation at list price. Anyway, if you want the dealer details and contact name then please post your e-mail address in some 'no spam' format and I'll e-mail the info to you. Not sure if they'll still be discounting though - they promised us delivery 'within two weeks' (this was mid-February) and it ended up taking about seven weeks.
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Thanks for the info Aprilia, however, we have decided to buy the car, after my wife had a short test drive. Is the car your sister has a 3 door with metallic paint, or five door without metallic paint? The list price of both is about £9k. There is no discount on the 3 door model on drivethedeal.com.
I wasn't as impressed with the ride of the car as a front seat passenger, as I was when driving but, then again, the road surface is always worse near the kerb than out in the middle of the road and it was a particularly uneven road. In addition, it will be my wife's car and she liked it, so that made my mind up really. Having said that, I wouldn't like to ride a long distance as a passenger.
We got a £95 off the asking price and it will be serviced before we get it. It was registered in July 05, so not really due for a service until July this year. That will save us over a £100.
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My sister wanted a 5-door 1.5GLX in red - list price £8999. I did the negotiating and phoned lots of dealers. Eventually, after a bit of 'plain speaking' a dealer about 60 miles away offered £400 off, which increased to £500 if we had it registered before the end of March (so he could increase his March figures). I managed to haggle a tank of fuel and a set of mats. My sister is hopeless at negotiating - hence my involvement. So about £8.5k in the end - not bad for a 1.5 5-door with all 'mod cons' (keyless entry, air con etc).
After some unexpected delay (Suzuki UK ran out of red 1.5's so we had to wait for another boat load to arrive) I ended up collecting the car because my sister was away. I gave the car a very thorough inspection - only fault I found was a lack of a fuse for the rear foglight! Certainly seems very well designed and finished apart from some skimping on minor plastics.
I drove the car for about 2 weeks (250 miles) and I must say that I found it quite enjoyable to drive. I didn't think the ride much different to a Polo - firm, but not too firm. Its stable on twisty roads and nips along nicely. My sister is really delighted with it (she previously had a succession of three Punto's).
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One thing I wasn't too keen on is the way the wheel arch liners are fixed to the wheel arch. Those plastic fixings are a bit obtrusive, to my eye, plus it doesn't fit snugly all the way around the wheel arch. There is a bit of a gap between the liner and bodywork on the leading edge of the nearside, front wheel arch, which could let in water and dirt. It was the same for all of the new Swifts that I looked at too.
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Didn't notice that, but she's coming around later tonight so I'll take a look.
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Gentlemen,
I think I have looked at this car a different way.
Firstly, the Suzuki Swift is something of a miracle. It is supposed to be little, and, indeed, it LOOKS little. But yesterday, when I was parked at B & Q (emergency compost - don't ask), I realised that my car was higher off the ground than anyone else's. How could that be? It was so much taller than the cars next to it that I actually looked at the wheels to make sure no one had jacked it up. (I know, unlikely. But people are WEIRD.) So the supermini is as tall as a people carrier. Very strange. I am sure it wasn't like that when I first bought it, so it must have GROWN.
Secondly, there is LOADS of free space - all over the exterior - for STUFF. Stripes, flames, tribals, animal prints etc. You can customise to your heart's delight. And let's not forget - it has OFFICIAL spoilers. In contrasting colours. Cool. Compared to this, engine power pales into insignificance.
Thirdly, and this is the clincher, it has a button labelled "Illumi Cancel". I have no idea what it is for, but I love it.
If you buy an ordinary car - i.e. any car without an "Illumi Cancel" button - you will regret it for the rest of your life.
Good luck with your car! You'll love it.
Alijazz
Swift Owner (1.5 GLX automatic)
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>any car without an "Illumi Cancel" button
Beenb looking for one with one all my life. Nearest I saw was a DB18 with very low oil pressure whose owner had removed the warning light bulb so that it did not worry his wife.
Suzuki Swifts are go:
Phil I
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There is a bit of a gap between the liner and bodywork on the leading edge of the nearside, front wheel arch, which could let in water and dirt. It was the same for all of the new Swifts that I looked at too.
OK, I just had a look at her car. There are three trim buttons holding the liner to the bumper. On the N/S there is a small gap (no more than 2mm) between the liner and the bumper - is this what you mean. Its pretty small - its all plastic there too, so water getting in wouldn't be a problem.
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Machika - regardless of the deal make sure you have a proper test drive on all the roads that you want to drive it on to make sure it is the car for you.
Any dealer worth doing business with should allow this - even ask them to let you take it out for half a day so you can be sure.
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Machika - regardless of the deal make sure you have a proper test drive on all the roads that you want to drive it on to make sure it is the car for you. Any dealer worth doing business with should allow this - even ask them to let you take it out for half a day so you can be sure.
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Most dealers don't allow proper test drives, in particular, they don't allow anyone to take a car without a salesman tagging along, telling you where to go and how far to go. However, my wife liked the car, the car is for her and the deal is done.
Personally, I prefer our old Xantia.
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Strangely I didn't find that at all when shopping recently. Audi just gave me the keys, as did Honda (along with a full talk of fuel as they'd suggested I took it for half a day). VW on the other hand "couldn't be bothered as it was Sunday". Skoda were willing for me to take out but I didn't have time, ditto Mazda. I guess it depends on the area and the car.
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Not sure about the new Swift but Suzuki dealers have always been the best for test drives. On the 3 I've bought & 2 I've looked at been given a quick show of where everything is & told "see you back in an hour or so!" Recent one was the Ignis & Sport drove both over 2 days for about 15 minutes for the Sport & 1.5 hours on the standard 4Grip. The Sport is great but if I wanted another sports car I'd buy the 7, great as a Saxo alternative for the youngsters but I couldn't cope with the ride & noise. Damn quick & very good handling, but to full on for me. The Ignis 4Grip was great & I very nearly brought one.
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I've just been on the Suzuki website, can't find the Sport you mention. Am I being stupid?
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Sorry bit confusing, 2 x Ignis (Igni?) The 4Grip a 1500VVti 5 door & a Ignis Sport which is a 3 door hottish hatch, with body kit etc. Oh & lots of BHP for a little car!
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Not sure about the new Swift but Suzuki dealers have always been the best for test drives. On the 3 I've bought & 2 I've looked at been given a quick show of where everything is & told "see you back in an hour or so!" Recent one was the Ignis & Sport drove both over 2 days for about 15 minutes for the Sport & 1.5 hours on the standard 4Grip. The Sport is great but if I wanted another sports car I'd buy the 7, great as a Saxo alternative for the youngsters but I couldn't cope with the ride & noise. Damn quick & very good handling, but to full on for me. The Ignis 4Grip was great & I very nearly brought one.
Tend to agree with this. My sister was looking for a small car and I suggested a Micra (Suzuki wasn't on my 'radar') however she was driving past the dealer and called in. They 'booked' her a car the following day and I went along with her. No pressure and basically there was as much time as we wanted with the car.
Similarly, a couple of weeks later we went to a different Suzuki dealer and they were also pretty relaxed and offered drives in the whole range! They wouldn't discount though! I did try an Ignis 4Grip just for the hell of it (never driven one before), but I didn't like the ride - very practical supermini though - I can see that if the price was right a lot of people would be tempted as a 'carry-all runabout'.
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OK, I just had a look at her car. There are three trim buttons holding the liner to the bumper. On the N/S there is a small gap (no more than 2mm) between the liner and the bumper - is this what you mean. Its pretty small - its all plastic there too, so water getting in wouldn't be a problem.
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Yes, that gap appears to be on all of them. However small the gap, it shouldn't be there and there is obviously a slight fault in the fitting of the liner to that wheel arch
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Yes, that gap appears to be on all of them. However small the gap, it shouldn't be there and there is obviously a slight fault in the fitting of the liner to that wheel arch
TBH, I hadn't noticed it until you'd pointed it out. Seems to me the curve of the liner is slightly wrong there. I'll leave it, but if you were picky I guess a bit of doouble sided tape or a bit of heat from a heat gun would correct it.
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This will be the first Japanese car we have owned and it is not what I expected of Japanese build quality. To have it on one car is fair enough but to see it on all of them is not expected.
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It's assembled in Hungary I believe and not Japan....
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This will be the first Japanese car we have owned and it is not what I expected of Japanese build quality. To have it on one car is fair enough but to see it on all of them is not expected.
Are you serious? That gap is less than 2mm (probably more like 1mm) on my sister's car, and its a flexible plastic arch liner. I can assure you I've seen worse fit on Mercedes I've bought, never mind Fords and the like. And I thought I was critical of fit and finish...!
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I think it is more obvious because it is supposed to be an external flush fit and not recessed. It would have looked neater if the liner had been recessed behind the wheel arch, like most are.
I would say that on the ones that I have seen the gap is more like 2mm. As you said, on that section it looks straight rather than curved too.
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