1989 Suzuki Swift GTi review from North America
"One of the all-time greats"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Exhaust rusted out at 220,000km and had to be replaced.
Replaced the brake pads at 250,000km.
Replaced the CV boots, grease and transmission-to-drive shaft seals at 250,000km.
Replaced the water pump at 260,000km.
Replaced the alternator brushes at 270,000km.
The cold start, fast idle air valve became troublesome at 330,00km so I disconnected it.
General comments?
This is a small, light, very quick car that has overbuilt mechanicals. This makes the car extremely durable mechanically. The old engine doesn't leak or burn any oil and gives like-new performance.
It will take on most V-6 vehicles and V-8 trucks, new or old, and win, while returning almost 50mpg average.
The body is not as tough as the rest of the car, but stands up OK.
The brakes and driveshafts look like those of a midsize car and there are extra reinforcements and braces under the hood compared to the base Swift.
The interior is attractive and the seats comfortable and highly durable. They look almost new after 14 years and over 350,000km.
Recommended reviews
| A fun, rabid, little go-kart, with good fuel economy |
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| This car is a great commuter car, that is a lot of fun to drive. |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1989 |
| First year of ownership | 1997 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.3 twin cam G13B Manual |
| Performance marks | 10 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 10 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 7 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 10 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 194000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 356000 kilometres |
| Date of Entry | 6th November, 2003 |