And here we are, current.
So after the Golf I decided i still wanted something fun to drive, but cheap. Scouring Trademe i came across Alton, high KM but has a mechanical warranty, and was forsale by its only NZ owner since import. I went and took a look and what i saw, i enjoyed.
Its a 2006 Suzuki Swift Sport, in Champion Yellow. Its manual, has the M16A 1.6L engine, Recaro interior, and HID headlights.
It also had some mods, aftermarket 17″ wheels, it was lowered and had an intake and exhaust. What a later found was the suspension, intake and exhaust were all Suzuki Sport Racing gear, and the wheels are Direzza RSC. Pretty top end stuff for a Swift.
It makes some really addictive noises from the intake and exhaust, and loves to rev. The little M16A engine is a heck of an upgrade over the standard ones, with high compression, high lift cams and variable valve timing. Cheap on gas, and fun to rev. The gearbox is a mixed bag, great feel, solid but easy shifts and from 2nd onwards its close ratio…. the weird thing is that first is too long, and the gap from 1st to 2nd is too big so the engine falls out of its power band and bogs down even when changed at redline. It also doesnt have any sort of LSD, so can be a bit messy in the wet.
Since getting the car ive replaced all the tyres as they were shitty at best, cheap, old worn out Nankangs that wouldnt grip in the wet, or dry. Fitted some Falkens and it grips very well in the dry and manageable in the wet.
Ive also completely machine polished the exterior, as it was terrible. It had a lot of metal fallout stuck in the paint on all the top surfaces, which took a couple of rounds of Carpro TRIX (fallout remover) and a claybar, before i could even machine it. Since that though, the paint is crazy bright and glossy, with great beading in the wet.
As fun as the car is to drive, and as much as i enjoy it, its currently forsale. I decided that my next car MUST be of a certain type, so i saved my pennies and once this Swift sells, ill have enough to buy that car. Just a waiting game, and ill miss Alton 🙁
Discover more from Tastes Like Petrol
Subscribe to get the latest posts to your email.