1993 Suzuki Swift - Throwback Thursday

Suzuki stopped selling cars in the States and Canada in 2012/2013. On Throwback we join Graeme with his review of the Suzuki Swift back in 1993.
Did you ever own a Suzuki?
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(The segment originally aired on Motoring TV 1993 Episode #23)

[@chewey3rd]

I had a 94 swift Gt back in the 90's. I loved it so much. Great memories.

[@rickradlmair4156]

Bought a new 92 swift 3 cylinder 5 speed standard , 48 mpg in city & 62 mpg on highway at 100 km per hour great car

[@jareknowak8712]

Love the GTI version with 1.3L 16V 100hp engine.

[@johnnymason2460]

It was only a Swift GTi in 1989. It was called the GT afterwards because Volkswagen claimed a patent on the GTI name.

[@lihtan]

I've owned a number of these in the early 2000s. They're great cars. I had a lot of fun with them. Although people think of them as shitboxes, the only other car that competes with them on their low curb weight is a Lotus. I modded mine with a chipped ECU, Cultus intake/headers, cold air intake, MSD ignition system, lowering springs, short shifter (along with replacing the rubber shifter bushings with welded steel plate), braided stainless steel brakelines, and urethane swaybar bushings. On one of my Swifts, I removed the entire interior and soundproofing, resulting in a massive 200lb weight reduction. That car would easily chirp it's tires shifting into 2nd gear. I never had problems with the motors. The chipped ECU bypassed the rev-limiter. You could take them past 9000 RPM without a problem. I did grenade a couple of trannies, had some issues with rust, and some electrical problems (these cars had no headlight relays, the full load was switched live in the steering column). The car taught me how to master electrical issues. I also served as a forum moderator for the internet's largest Suzuki Swift forum (teamswift.net). I enjoyed sharing my knowledge with other members, and also doing local meetups and cruises. It's a shame they don't make cars like this any more. Everything has become so bloated, heavy and overcomplicated to the point that I absolutely despise working on modern cars. I had no idea how good things were back in the day.

[@hariroyal5643]

Always old is gold 💕

[@kippaseo8027]

You still see tons of these little Suzuki swift/Geo metro puddle jumpers zipping through Miami traffic. They were great little cars in their time and since Their biggest killer was body rot from the ice and snow all of them down here in the Southeastern United States and Southern California escaped that fate. These were nicknamed the "Japanese beetle" because like the original VW beetle they were basic little cars mechanically which made them inexpensive to fix or replace parts. Surprisingly the 3 cylinder versions have held up the best. Perhaps it's the added weight of the 4 cylinder or the fact that many 4 cylinders were paired with the optional 3 and 4 speed automatic transmissions may have been more taxing for the little cars? But a simple 3 cylinder engine swap in one of these cost between $400 - $700 installed Helped to stretch their lifespans out a bit. Low mileage replacement engines from Japan are still pretty easy to find but now these things are getting caught up in converted into electric cars.

[@BB-ux9px]

wow! these shows are still nice to watch.

[@MotoringTV]

Thank you!

[@donaldgillmore7390]

I've had two Swifts, one GTi and one GT. I've done my best to preserve the GT and it's still in mint condition because I only let it out of the garage during the summer. The cars are known for their endurance in motorsports with the twin cam engine that's in GT and GTi variants. But people here are right, the bodies are flimsy, not like the engine etc, though to be fair, for a Japanese car that came out in 1989 the rust resistance was not bad, and that light weight tin can body with that 100hp engine and no power steering makes for a very entertaining package. My GT has been a dream collector car for being easy on the wallet and hassle free with zero mechanical issues in its 31 years. Driven sedately most of the time, stuff wears out really slowly. Even the brakes are original and its fuel consumption is 5.5L/100km.

[@arizainihidayat7535]

Whats different between GT and GTi? I cant get any information for that different... If iam not wrong the top line of this car is Gti/gti 4wd Gt ? Gs Glx Gl Ga

[@donaldgillmore7390]

@@arizainihidayat7535 The GTi is the original name but after the Swift GTi appeared on our shores in 1989 (in North America) VW threatened to sue claiming they had rights to the GTI name (though there are lots of GTi cars of various makes outside North America) and rather than fight them in court Suzuki decided to drop the "i" in subsequent years. So GTi is a 1989 model, the GT is for 1990 onwards. No meaningful difference between them, though in 1992 there was a facelift and interior refresh. The AWD variant never made it here; I think it was for the JDM only.

[@bryanarguelles1910]

Is there anyone could help me about the size of suzuki swift gs 1.3 year 1993/mk3 distributor oil seal.? Thanks.....

[@Prizm2356]

Never owned a Swift but I did have MANY Geo Metros with the 3 cylinder engines great little cars

[@Infinitrium]

Until they burn an exhaust valve

[@izzatfauzimustafa6535]

The Swift is a very popular car in Hungary and its neighboring countries.

[@BenJabituya]

The Geo Metro, as it was called in the US of A.

[@Matthawkins83]

I have the larger same engine 1995 Suzuki Swift HB 4cyl 1.3 sohc 5pd ABS over 208km purple her name is Smudge. Since 2006 been 175 70 13s going up in width increase handling and I believe it stops faster to! Mine is nearly showroom shape one in a millon like mine. Was my mums car for 26 years.

[@rumerssorc799]

the gs version had seats from gti here it is not ...

[@furqantarique3484]

I always see this car in Pakistan alot.....

[@Addycuber7]

This car had a facelift with 4 doors same tech and was sold till 2018 in Pakistan

[@filipesequeira4923]

But you are talking about this same version/generation? I woned sedan 1.3 version in 1990. I became a fan of this car.

[@Addycuber7]

@@filipesequeira4923 I'm talking about the hatchback

[@boris1009]

OMG... This is the Blista Compact from GTA

[@TheNewNumberTw0]

Wow it has the same AC as the Geo metro

[@johnnymason2460]

The Suzuki Swift is essentially a four cylinder Geo Metro.

[@KainRazielMT]

@@johnnymason2460 On the contrary. The Geo Metro is essentially a shittier version of the suzuki swift, with the weakest 1.0L 3cylinder engine, and and automatic transmission that makes the Metro slow as hell. Also, the material quality (especially the onboard plastic) is not of the best quality in the Swift, but somehow, GM managed to make it even cheaper in the Metro.

[@johnnymason2460]

@@KainRazielMT I was right, though. The Suzuki Swift had four cylinder engines only. The Geo Metro started out with a three cylinder engine only. The 1995 -2003 Metros had a three cylinder engine as the base engine with a four cylinder engine as an option. I still prefer the Swift over the Metro. The 1989 Swift GTi with an automatic would be nice right now.

[@D725U]

Imagine driving around with a lie on the back

[@MandusahRamirez]

🤣

[@rumerssorc799]

9 and a half seconds at 70 PS ??? factory data is 13 seconds...

[@filipesequeira4923]

Believe it or not its true. I had one and I also became surprised for its acellaration and consuption. It was easy to do under 5 lts every 100 kms. It was a really little sport car. It was really fun to drive and very relayable too. Mine did 320. 000 kms without any mechanical problem.

[@JamesSmith-sw3nk]

I was strong in 1993 from power lifting, I picked up the front end of a Suzuki Swift and moved it 4ft when a delivery person got stuck in the snow. This is my memory of this sh*tbox.

[@thebikeaholic]

Wow, what a POS. Cars have come a long way.

[@KainRazielMT]

You don't know much about cars, do you...

[@breddary]

@@KainRazielMT Nah, he doesn't 🤣