Ali82

Anybody ever owned one?/ have any thoughts on them. Just looking for a cheap fun runaround for a few moths till I get my new car in October. Looking at one of these or a 205 gti, can't decide which? The Pug is definately more fun better image faster etc. but there seems more chance of the swift actually working.

CJB

swifts are mad wee cars kind of like a 106 rallye both have just over 100bhp iv driven both and the swift does not have the handaling of the pug but it screams and goes all the way to about 8000rpm and the swift is only a 1.3 compared to a 1.6 at the lowest GTI. u cosidered a pug xs 1.4 about 90bhp and only 0.1 of a second slower to 60 than a gti. E-mail me if u want more info mate.

Falski

Hi there, If I were you I'd go for a Toyota Corolla GT it's a twin cam 16 valve (FWD Hatchback, 1985-1987), low insurance red line at 8,000rpm, 125bhp, 0-60 8secs, cheaper to buy than the swift or the 106. Only prob is finding one.

CJB

u can buy a crap swift for about £300 but 106 is about 1.5k to 3k

The Zohan

My mate has one
It goes like stink!
used to keep up and handled as well as our MK1 MR2

interior is cr@p, cam belt and oil changes really important.

good mpg 35 no probs

CJB

well their brilliant little cars but pretty high maintanance as paul says but if ur able to do the work yourself then their a piece of **** to look after me and my mate have put 2 new engines and 4 new heads on in the last 4 years. o and his does 135

Stu_M

I used to own a '91J Swift Gti many years ago, which wasn't the very last shape of the Gti but arguably the best looking as they had a bit of a rear end revamp which didn't do it to many favours, the newer ones were also a bit slower as they came with a cat. Cracking little car, very entertaining, and would keep pace with a lot of cars that you would think it shouldn't have had a right to do so, round corners and on the straight, IMO highly under rated.

I had a Janspeed full system and 4 branch manifold put on for not big money, and besides sounding great at nearly 8000rpm it also made 114BHP on the rolling road which is over 10% increase from the standard. It made the car quite a bit quicker than a 106 rallye and also the 205 1.6 GTi.

I still think there a good looking car. Apart from a new clutch didn't think mine was to high maintenance, just routine servicing in 2 years ownership, might need to look hard for a good one these days though.

Cheers, Stuart

AllanB

Charade GTtis make great cheap runabouts and can be tuned to silly power levels and are quite easy to work on .


AllanB

si325i

my bro had one 4 a year or so. (swift) goes like stink, better than pug (stuffed pigs come to mind). goes round corner v well and quick to 90mhp.

CJB

well my mates used to get hammered to death and one new engine was because the engine seized and the other was the timing belt. but pretty much bombproof

DIKPD

TOYOTA STARLET!!! Great cars.

kenny.c

you know thay used to say the swift was a ladies car.
just look at the gear stick !!!! :-)

MeatballTurbo

What about a Mazda 323 4x4 Turbo?

Ali82

Trying to keep away from turbo engines; more to go wrong, harder to work on. What's the Charade GTi like for reliability? Like I said I'm only going to be driving it 6 months or so, I don't want it to be in the garage 4 of these (if I did I'd choose the Pug straight away). As for the Starlet I don't think my current Ins co. would insure me on an import and I'm stuck with them till Oct.
Cheers for the replies keep 'em coming.

MeatballTurbo

This was his grans swift before he modded it, she wants it back now.
http://www.cruisecheshire.com/pages/Galleries/cars/broomeygti/DSCF0001.jpg

subevo

another vote for charade gtti and it will eat swifts for breakfast.very reliable .

MeatballTurbo

Isn't the GTTi a turbo, and a turbo wasn't wanted?

AllanB

The Charade is relaibale and very easy to work on. I reppalced the head gasket on mine myself and I'm crap with spanners. its s very simple but sophisticated engine. First mass produced engine to break 100bhp per litre !

Have a look at the owners web site at www.gttioc.co.uk


AllanB

aceman

This is my first post on here so Hi to all you guys. I currently own a SEAT Ibiza TDi Sport 130PD although don't pay much attention to the 130 bit as it has been Revo'd upto 180bhp.

Anyway back to the thread topic. I used to own a Swift Gti back in '91 I bought it new on a 'J' plate and what a crcker of a car. I always regretted getting rid of the car as soon as I handed the keys over so I would recommend this car to anybody.

I had mine fitted with a full Janspeed system and tubular manifold and it transformed the car totally as it would pop and bang from the exhaust true rally car style and occasionally spit flames on the overrun (I kid you not!). The handling was superb better than the 205Gti I had before, you could throw it into a corner at practically any speed and easily catch the back end without any drama. The engine as said was a real screammer redlining somewhere around 7K if memory serves me right and should last you if it's been serviced OK as the japs made 'em good.

Things to watch out for are rust appearing around the rear pillers where the black paint meets the body colour as sometimes they were a little keen with the knife when masking in the factory. Sump plugs sometimes start leaking so don't be alarmed if you see oil dripping from the bottom as it's easily rectified. Oh and don't be put off by the falic symbol of a gearstick as the box is quite sweet but watch out for 1st to 2nd gear synco going on high milers.

Definatly a good choice as a cheap quick runabout.

Aceman.

RB5#295

Hi Aceman - I was thinking of you as I was reading this post and wondering if the Yorkshire chap further up who had the Janspeed was your journalist mate.

Anyhow, my Brother-in-law has just bought a Swift to run as a road car / hillclimber this season. I don't know much about it yet but I'll be watching it when the season starts in a couple of weeks.

Fen

aceman

Nah, his was a white one on a 'G' plate and then he got an updated black one with the 'orible slatted bumpers on something like a 'K' or 'L' plate but if you are reading this guys you know who you are !

Aceman

buff

i owned one fpr 2years before i bought the scoob.
good points-cheap insurance/tax,v good mpg,nothing ever went wrong,quite nippy but sounds quicker than it goes due to 8000redline
bad points-really scary in the wet(just wheelspins through first three gears),bugger all steering feedback,wooden brakes,tin foil doors.
but i'm glad i bought it