2004 Suzuki Ignis Sport from UK and Ireland - Comments

Supplied CD player skips when playing normal CDs - probably due to the sports suspension and the poor roads around where I live.

Starting with the negatives, the ride on this car is, as expected, hash - it's a sport model, and you really do feel the bumps in the road.

The supplied CD player skips because of the firm ride, although it's worth noting that MP3 disks don't appear to suffer from the same problem.

The driver's seat doesn't appear to slide forward to allow easier access for passengers in the back, but the passenger seat does - this isn't really a problem for me, but it's worth mentioning. Then again, how many people will buy one of these when they'll be carrying passengers in the back regularly?

That's the entire bad points out of the way for this vehicle. Seriously.

She's quick off the mark, and acceleration is fantastic.

The handling is absolutely spot-on - no trace of the instability that the standard model had when cornering at any speed. This is probably because this vehicle is slightly lower, with bigger, wider (asymmetrical racing) tyres and alloys as standard.

The air conditioning is a major plus.

The cabin is roomy, and the recaro seats are comfy and supportive, although there's no lumbar support. You don't really miss it, though, as the seats themselves hug you and keep you in place quit happily without it. They also still have the tilt control on the bottom part of the seat to help adjust the driving position if necessary.

There's tons of storage space, just like with the normal ignis model, although the tray under the passenger seat is now absent.

Fuel economy is excellent - I'm getting about 45 mpg at the moment driving to and from work.

This car is fun to drive - she responds very well to driver input, is sure-footed enough that you feel confident and happy behind the wheel, and will accelerate even when doing 70 plus in fifth gear.

If you can live with the sports-style suspension and the lack of back seats for passengers, give this car a trial run. At the very least, you'll have a big wide grin on your face when you finally hand the car back.

All in all, I'd recommend this car highly, over and above the 1.3 5dr model that I used to own before it was written off.

I am a fellow suzuki ignis sport owner and I can back what the article said the car has got quite good accelaration and handles well, i have added a full stainless exhaust system and a bmc carbon forced air induction kit to it,compared to a standerd one id blow it away,i kept up a with calibra turbo 4x4 the uther day, mind you I only kept up with him till 60mph, but he couldnt shrug me off up the hill and round the corner, wen we stoped at the lights he asked me what was in it and said it's a nippy wee car and that's cuming from someone ho drives a 2ltr turbo 210bhp 0-60 in 6.8 seconds and flats out at 152mph, my only fault is the ride hight and alloys, but a set ov 17s and eibach 35mm springs will sort that out. go get a ignis sport.

As another Ignis Sport owner, I agree almost entirely with the review - although I must drive my car a little harder as I only tend to get 38-40 mpg, but if I go easy, I can get it up to 43-44.

I seen one on the road, liked it, test driven it and was smitten. The "chuckle factor" is immense.

So OK, people say it's not the quickest thing on the road - true in a straight line it isn't tops out at 115mph. But take it on a road that you can't get flat out on combined with the handling, most struggle to keep up. obviously you won't be keeping up with Imprezzas and Evos, but then the cost twenty-odd grand. The Ignis is 10k list and I managed to get mine spanking new for 7k. YES! 7k for what is in my opinion the best looking, best accelerating (excluding Cooper S and Lupo GTI, but have you seen the price of those!)

On the downside though, the lack of steering adjustment and no footrest do mean it takes a while to get your position right at first. But hey! nothing is perfect and Suzuki Motorsport do a modified offset clutch pedal and footrest which I will be ordering. But these really are only minor niggles.

My car is standard, but it is that good, I don't think it needs any mods. At least not until its out of warranty (it only lines the insurers pockets anyway!)

My advice to anyone looking for a small warm hatch is to get to the nearest Suzuki dealer and try one out... You will not be disappointed. Haggle a good deal and go on a flash holiday with the money you've saved by not buying a Mini, C2 GT, Sport Ka and all the others you will leave in your dust.

I'd just like to mention that I drive my Ignis Sport hard on some fairly rough roads, and the CD player works fine. If I hit a pot-hole really hard it may occasionally skip, but that's the exception.

I'd get the dealer to replace the CD player in yours - it sounds like it isn't right.

I have definitely given my Ignis sport a run for it's money as since getting it (two months ago) I have clocked up 4,000 miles. It had done 5 when I got it so is now due a service (£120) but beside that it has run like a dream and I think I have come close to filling my pants a few times when pushing it a ittle too hard.

For anyone who does not like the look of this car then I strongly suggest that you test drive one first before sniggering at friend that gets one. My friends did the very same thing and everyone of them has been humilated by the ice cream van as they call it because of it high roof and flat sides. But considering they have MG ZR, Alfa 147 and Audi 1.8 Turbo, not one of them could keep up and has had to backtrack.

The drive is very hard, but that is what I expect from a sports car, if I had wanted a comfy ride I would have gone for the five door like my mother and drive it like her as well.

It is very impressive on country roads and is fun to watch faces as the little car rips past them from standing. It is a definate improvement from the Swift GTI which was as powerful in a straigh line, but very scary when faced with a bend. It is also nice to see Suzuki have managed to quosh their electric window problems which was mainly with the swift.

The down side I have found is the boot space, but if like me you don't use it all that much then there is nothing to worry about.

MP3 is definitely a bonus and would recomend anyone who has not got one as standard to have one fitted. 200 tracks per CD is great help when not having to change cd's. Although after 4,000 mile of the same 200 tracks I am due a change.

The Ignis Sport is a great hot hatch. I used to own a 1.6 Mazda MX5 Mk2 till I took the Ignis Sport for a test drive. I just had to have one.

A lot of people don't look twice at the Ignis Sport. Let's face it, it's not the best looking car, but when you fly past them as if they're stood still they start to ask questions.

This car IS fast. It leaves a lot of the higher priced sports cars struggling to match its performance. I've had Audi TT drivers look at me in disgust as I've out-paced them.

The problems with the skipping CD player is a norm. Once a CD becomes hot the unit finds it hard to read ahead of what it's playing so it can't keep the memory buffer full. MP3 on the other hand will not skip as it loads the track into the buffer and stops the CD from spinning all the time.

Purchased my suzuki ignis 3 months ago. Now covered 3000miles. A few mods icluding a K&N Induction kit and straight through de cat exhaust (major probs - had to have one made!!) I've owned numerous cars including a bmw 318is (sport version with a bhp in region of 150bhp) this suzuki is quick. a lot quicker than my previuos cars! Not had any problems at all either! been up against subarus and once even a porsche (must of been a mincy driver) and the car can mix it well with the big players... its scary!!

I wrote the article on the 27th june, i said I had stainless exhaust and bmc filter I have now purchased my springs I was the first in the uk to get and fit spax az they were special order, sice writing that article I have had some good races from my wee car ill give use some examples so use no how quick they realy are wen modded, kept with octavia rs to 100mph, bet 150bhp audi tt to 60mph, blowing away pug 206 gti, matched clio sport 182 to 60mph, beleve it or not it accutaly bet pug 205 mi16 to 90 then he passed me, but kiked his ass to60mph,

my next modd are gna be:dastek uni chip, stainless manifold,50bhp of nos, RMBER I'm GNA HAVE THE FIRST 1 FEATURED IN A MAG.

I wrote the article on the 27th june, i said I had stainless exhaust and bmc filter I have now purchased my springs I was the first in the uk to get and fit spax az they were special order, sice writing that article I have had some good races from my wee car ill give use some examples so use no how quick they realy are wen modded, kept with octavia rs to 100mph, bet 150bhp audi tt to 60mph, blowing away pug 206 gti, matched clio sport 182 to 60mph, beleve it or not it accutaly bet pug 205 mi16 to 90 then he passed me, but kiked his ass to60mph,

my next modd are gna be:dastek uni chip, stainless manifold,50bhp of nos, RMBER I'm GNA HAVE THE FIRST 1 FEATURED IN A MAG.

Hey.

I purchased my ignis sports a couple weeks ago and its tops. it's a silky silver colour.. pretty rare in my area. it handles spot on and 10 out of 10 for pocket rocket grunt. mine is standard... all my mates comment about the power its already got and the potential for underpants wrecking power... i was just wondering if anyone could recommend some worthy modifications that I could make, email : evil_clown666@hotmail.com

cheers.

Just come back from a test drove and I must admit the car is pretty nippy for a 1.5 and I am serioulsy consider buying one.

Is £5,000 good value for a one year old ex-demo with 3K miles on the clock? any comments?

I've had my ignis just over a year in which time i'v got a custom exhaust, bmc induction kit, supercharger, 200bhp wet nitrous in 25bhp step, gas flowed with lightweight pulleys and flywheel. dyno'd at 242bhp at wheels witout nitro, been of the clock. soo much fun.

Well, it looks like I'm joining in the fun.

I've just got back from putting the deposit dwon on my ignis sport and man I can't wait to get my hands on it.

Well i'll let you all know how much I loved it I can't get the smile off my face from the test drive. the plan was not to buy it today, but opps oh well.

Just got ma wee Ignis Sport. Test drove one a couple of years ago, but decided against it. Big mistake as it's a fantastic car. Felt a bit ridiculous at first as a 33yr old lassie, but soon got over it. Won't be modifying it-tho will have to get the spot lights. A necessity I think! Used to have a Jimny soft top which was absolute pants so can't recommend the Sport enough.

Hi. I myself don't own an Ignis Sport, but my friend has had one for the last 6 months, in a cool Yellow! She bought it to compete with my rare Honda Civic Jordan (bright Sunlight Yellow) and regularly tries it at the traffic light grand prix!

I think it's a cracking little car; pretty, nippy and looks sporty. I love the chunky lines and stock alloy wheels, but I find some of these reviews very hard to believe. Some people say they have kept up with and even beaten cars like Calibra Turbo and Clio 182 Sports. These are very quick cars and there is no way an Ignis Sport would keep up let alone beat them. I am not trying to hate. Like I said, I think it's a brilliant little car, but I don't want any potential owners to buy one thinking they have bought a true hot hatch because it isn't.

Its good for what it is, but realistically it is not fast (merely nippy), and only up to 60ish in 1st and 2nd gear. After that the power dies off quickly, but this is to be expected as the engine is quite small. My Civic with the B16A2 DOHC VTEC engine is only a 1.6 but pulls strong in every gear all the way up to 8000rpm, but then it is engineered very differently.

The Ignis also has considerable roll in corners. I suspect it may be due to the high ride height. A better suspension kit would sort it out. My Civic sits on Koni yellows, so I may be slightly biased here.

Overall, a fun nippy car which with a few handling and power mods would be very chuckable and good for street sprints, but definately no hot hatch.

To Jordan Civic owner: You are having a laugh, aren't you love? Get a man behind the wheel of the ignis, then see if you can best it! And as for beating powerful cars, I did a clio 182 to 90! Should have seen the look on the guys face as he crawled past.