2008 Suzuki Swift Sport

Intro

Back in the UAE, fuel and taxes were never an issue. Buying a powerful car was a regular thing. It is very frustrating on the road to drive a small powerless car. The drivers would not respect you, not give you a way, and will do their absolute best to kick you away. Especially if you are driving in the left ( fast ) lane. That’s why I always drove powerful cars. I owned a 2000 BMW 330 CI M package, and a 2008 Infiniti G35. I will probably talk about those bad boys on some other blog.

After owning some very nice cars to drive, the reality of owning a car in the Netherlands hit me. I honestly thought once I move here, I will buy some nice old classic car and work on it. This is not impossible but near impossible. Fuel, taxes, parking, emission and prices of cars are very expensive. Owning a powerful/fun car is not an option here. Unless you live with your parents, have a very well paid job or you lease it. Being a petrol head this was definitely not good news. After searching and searching, I have laid my eyes on the Suzuki Swift 2008 Sport coupe. After owning the car for a year now, I am happy to share with you this blog. I hope this will somehow convince you to stay away from the grey regular boring NPC cars that you see here.

2008 Suzuki Swift Sport

The Suzuki Swift Sport 2008 coupe is a sporty and fun-to-drive hatchback. It that offers a unique combination of style, performance, and practicality. With its great handling and attractive design, the Swift is a popular choice for drivers in the Netherlands.

Features

Stylish Design

The Swift Sport has an eye-catching design that sets it apart from other hatchbacks. The car’s sporty lines and aggressive front grill give it a sporty and youthful appearance. The red color is my favorite in the lineup. The color gives it some sort of spicy look, Harissa Man, remember?

Engine

The Swift Sport is powered by a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine that produces 123 horsepower and 118 lb-ft of torque. This engine is paired with a 5-speed manual transmission. The engine is known to be reliable and easy to work on and repair.

Wheels

The Swift Sport comes standard with 16-inch alloy wheels and low-profile tires that give it a sporty and aggressive stance. It does not come with a spare tire, it comes with a repair kit. This was done to reduce the weight. Besides that, the floorplan doesn’t allow a spare tire to be fitted, due to the dual exhaust at the back.

Suspension

The Swift Sport features a sport-tuned suspension system that provides agile handling and a responsive ride.

Exhaust

The car comes with dual exhausts. This gives it a very nice symmetric look from the back, which I really appreciate. Besides the look, it certainly has a nice tune to it. It surprisingly sounds pretty good for a 1.6 engine.

Interior

The Swift Sport’s interior is stylish and modern, with bucket sport seats. The steering wheel is leather-wrapped and has a great feel to it. The pedals are aluminum and it gives it such a nice sporty look.

Technology

The Swift’s technology features are somewhat limited, like I mentioned. But it does come equipped with features like a CD player, a 6-speaker audio system, and air conditioning.

Safety

The car comes standard with a variety of safety features. This includes anti-lock brakes, traction control, and multiple airbags.

Advantages

Fun-to-Drive

With its lightweight construction and responsive engine, the 2008 Suzuki Swift Sport is a joy to drive. The car’s 1.6-liter engine delivers 123 HP and 0 to 100 KM/h in almost 9 seconds. This makes it a great choice for drivers who want a car that is both economical and a bit exciting to drive. The car jumps around aggressively, like a cub. During the test drive, I really didn’t like how the steering wheel felt. The car was a bit hard to turn around especially at low speeds. However, after some research, I found out it’s due to the type of tires fitted. They were sport all season tubules and wide. They stick to the road to give you better handling and control. After I understood this, it all made sense. Despite the car being light, it is very stable on the road, even on high speeds.

Furthermore, when I went to Germany and drove on the almighty Autobahn, I put the car under a small test. I reached 185 KM/h with no sweat, and the car was very stable right after I got caught by la girlfriend and I had to slow down. And yes, there were a lot of old German folks driving RS6 Audi’s in the left lane passing me like it’s very normal day.

Affordable Price

Despite its many features and sporty performance, the Swift Sport is surprisingly affordable. There are several options in the market both new and used. I always recommend buying a used car anyway. Mine is an original Dutch car, NAP verified, one owner, agency maintained with 142000 KMs. The car’s overhaul condition is good for its age, despite minor scratches here and there. If you’re looking for similar specs and conditions, the price will range between € 3800 to € 4500. The car’s price is unfortunately not the only thing you will be paying. You still have to pay for taxes, insurance, fuel and maintenance.

Moreover, Car taxes differ from one car to another, depending on some parameters like fuel type, weight of the car, etc… My car taxes are € 34 euros per month, which is considered one of the lowest. The car insurance is about € 73 per month. Those two costs are mandatory to legally drive the car.

Fuel Efficiency

The Swift Sport’s 1.6-liter engine is surprisingly fuel-efficient. I tend to drive a lot in the city and during traffic, which makes the car consume a bit more than usual. On average 1 tank lasts between 500 km to 550 km. The tank capacity is around 43 L and the cost to fill it up is around € 78. The fuel price does fluctuate a lot so I did my calculation as the 1 L cost € 1.8. Fuel prices are different from one station to another, make sure you check the price before you fill up. There is an app that shares with you the cheapest fuel around. The app is called FuelNode.

TIP: Try to avoid filling up on the highways and from Shell and they tend to be pricey. You definitely run away if it is a shell on a highway, this combo is worth a kidney and a leg.

Safety Features

The Swift Sport comes equipped with a variety of safety features. It includes anti-lock brakes, traction control, and multiple airbags. These features help keep drivers and passengers safe in the event of a collision, god forbid. Speaking of experience, we had a car accident, driving the first car we had in the Netherlands. You guessed it right, A Suzuki Swift. It was raining heavily on the road, and there was oil spillage ( probably someone’s BMW ). The car slipped while cruising at 80 km/h , and we lost control over it. The car had 2 jobs, drive from A to B and protect the people onboard. The jobs were executed perfectly. The pictures will speak for themselves. 5 stars on a crash test much?

Disadvantages

Limited Cargo Space

Obviously, the Swift has limited cargo space, making it less practical for drivers who need to carry a lot of gear or luggage. The good thing is, you can fold the back seats and remove the divider which will make it a bit better. Surprisingly, we managed to fit so much luggage, furniture and stuff inside the car. It was the regular Suzuki Swift but still. We actually used the car to move from one house to another, pick up furniture from Ikea and even fit some suitcases. I will leave some pictures below to see our accomplishments.

Limited Rear Passenger Space

But I mean, give me a break, a small car and a coupe. What do you expect? While it can comfortably seat two passengers in the front, the rear seats are not ideal for long journeys. But I can fit all my friends in the front seat anyway :). Jokes aside, it’s really not bad for short distances if you are an average height ( not Dutch average height) .

Limited Technology

The Swift Sport’s technology features are somewhat limited compared to other modern hatchbacks. It does not come standard with features like Bluetooth or a touchscreen infotainment system. You can easily get the whole system replaced with the latest technology. I am a fan of original dashboards, so I did not get it replaced. Instead, I got a nice device connected to the stereo to make it Bluetooth compatible. You can install the device within 20 mins and off you go. Small investment, clean look and high value. This device is compatible with a lot of vehicles. Make sure you get the right fit. The link to the item is: Suzuki Swift Bluetooth Adaptor

Driver and Passengers Comfort

I mean, it is supposed to be a sports car, what is comfort? The original seats are bucket seats. The seats are designed to keep you in place when you are swerving and driving fast. But let’s face it, the car is not that fast and you don’t actually need them. While they’re ok for short distances, I can imagine they can be a bit uncomfortable for longer drives. We drove from Amsterdam, The Netherlands to Ostend, Belgium return, the same day. The distance in total was 600 KMs. Honestly speaking, it wasn’t that bad, so it all depends on you. Besides the seats, the suspension are sport and stiff, that means the car will not take the speed bumps soft. You don’t need to worry about the bumps on the roads in the Netherlands, but you should when you cross the borders.

Summary

Overall, the Suzuki Swift Sport 2008 2 Doors is a fun and stylish small hot hatchback. It definitely offers a unique combination of style, performance, and practicality. While it may not be the most spacious or loaded with the latest features, it is certainly still a great option to buy in the country. Honestly, It puts a smile on my face every time I drive it.