17th Mar 2003, 23:36

Subaru WRX and Mazda fan:

Inexpensive yes, but let me see hmm... for a price of a good second-hand Subaru WRX you could probably buy FOUR good GTI Swifts (!) This is what I mean by saying that they are not comparable. By saying this I am not defending Swift's weak quality, and I do not own one, hell I've never even driven one. However, I do believe that it lives up to it's reputation of a tough little hatchback with a rev happy engine. Something along a old Mini Cooper S lines perhaps...

6th Aug 2003, 08:28

Hahaha, you are comparing a $7,000AUD 4cyl N/A, to cars that are over twice as much, and turbo, I mean how could you compare an EVO to a GTi.. also another thing I'd like to point out is that the GTi's engine was designed over 15 years ago! and they are as solid as a rock.

And I would not say the cooper S is a bargain (if your talking about the new one) because that is like $30,000AUD.

17th Aug 2003, 17:49

The new 2004 Toyota ECHO Hatchback seems to be the today's equivalent to the Swift GTi. It has 1.5l-4cyl.-108 horsepower with Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i) technology taking it from 0-60 in 8.5 sec (manual transmission) It weights 2000lb ann uses 40 miles per gallon. And at around 10 grand it is hard to beat too!

16th Oct 2003, 19:30

I drive a 93 Swift GTi... it's great... only problem is CV joints.. otherwise it is fine. I think this GTi is a sports car. When it is turboed.. it can beat the Integra Type R on the 1/4 mile.. I have seen this happen.

30th Dec 2003, 20:07

As the proud new owner of a 93 GTi, I can only say one thing. The closest comparison anyone can find to this car was the 1275cc Mini Cooper of the 70s. What people have to remember is that this car was designed as a challenge to the performance cars of its day, something it achieved quite successfully. Now, we live in a world of WRX, but some puritans like me remember where the bang for your bucks trend was started, and I have one still sitting in my driveway.

5th Jan 2004, 16:49

As a proud owner of a Minicooper S, let me tell you that a Suzuki Swift is very far from being a car icon of the nineties, because it is just another hatchback as it was the Honda Civic Si, the VW Golf Gti VR6, the Peugeot 205 Gti 1.9 (by the way all of them faster and better looking that the Swift Gti). An example of a real car icon of the nineties is a Mazda Miata for example, an inexpensive car that redefined the concept of a roaster.

7th Jan 2004, 12:35

I totally agree with you. I have a Citroen Saxo 1.6 VTS. It is faster from 0-60 than a Swift GTi, it has better handling and it is an inexpensive car also. I do not consider my car as an sport car, but instead as a Hatchback with decent performance compared with other inexpensive cars. I wish to have someday a real sport car as for example a Dodge Viper or a Lotus Elise. So grow up Swift GTi owners, your cars or mine are not head turners or F1 cars.

2nd Aug 2004, 12:29

To the ax dude, I'm sorry to say, but your dreaming mate a vts would blow a swift gti along with your ax.

25th Oct 2004, 04:19

Alright all you people that think the GTI is crap then I guess you have never been in one. You got to remember this car came out like 15 years ago, compared to the WRX which came out like 5 years ago. Also it is only a 1.3L compared to the 2L turbo of the WRX. I have had mates say why would you have one, but once they get in and I take them for a spin in it they soon change there minds really quick. They are also get great in a drag. With there high RPM (8000RPM), I've seen cars go in to 3rd while I'm still in 2nd and sitting beside them, they also have great breaks so you can stop a lot later then most stock cars. In a drag between my 93 stock GTI and a V6 Turbo Ford. I got out first, then they went past me going into 2nd. I caught up in 3rd and was just in front in 4th. Lights went red and we braked at the same time. I stoped on the first white line with no problems at all, while they lost control and came really close to losing it. Also at the time my car had 2 other people while they had only one. So you can't say they are a slow car as mine dose 0-100km in 8secs and dose 200km which is really good for the 1.3L.

8th Nov 2005, 09:55

I agree that the GTI is a pretty quick car for a 1300cc, as I've recently sold my Civic ESI VTEC, which was pushing 160bhp after modifications, as I struggled from 0-50 to shake one of these little things off until the VTEC kicked in, and I was gone. I would recommend a GTI to a first time driver, if they can get insurance, as they are quicker than the VTR Saxo and the Corsa GSI!!!

11th Jun 2006, 16:20

Not even can compare a Swift Gti, with a Peugeot 205 GTi, a car that is still respected even by Wrx of Evo owners, a car not only for acceleration, but for a Great Handling, something a Swift Gti owner can only dream about, if you Gti owner think you Swift Gti handling is good, just try a Pug 106 Rallye, or the Mighty 205 gti.

5th Jul 2006, 04:45

That comment about WRX's is a laugh. I have a Swift GTi and I know that there is no way it would keep up with a WRX, but come on, a Corsa GSi, don't make me laugh. My mate has one with mods on it - my Swift GTi is standard and the Corsa is left for dust every time we race (cheap to insure, good mpg, beats VTR, VTS, GSi, which all have 1.6's in them)

5th Jul 2006, 08:58

Well, like yourself I can only speak from personal experiences. And mine was in a nova 1.4 8v SRI, it was on my rear 1/4 all the way to the next set of lights, from about 20mph the race started, for about 1/8 of a mile. Who knows, if its faster maybe he couldnt get the best out of it.