Suzuki Geo Swift Metro

[Brit]

'Ello, I'm Brit, guess where I live.

Since September 2013 I have been driving a 2002 Suzuki Swift GLS with the 54bhp, 993cc 3-cylinder engine. Being a GLS specification car I've got all sorts of toys; front fog lights, body coloured bumpers, PAS, bucket seats and a roof spoiler.

In January of 2014 I started tracking my fuel economy and the eco driving and modifications world has become more and more interesting to me. In the initial months I was a bit lax about taking note of all the relevant info so there are some gaps but I have become much more disciplined about it, I'll post a screenshot of my findings and a couple of photos of the car in this thread when my post count is high enough.

For now I will say that my lowest tank was 45.46 MPG (37.85 US), my highest 56.78 MPG (47.27 US) and my average is currently 50.003 MPG (41.63 US), 0.003 of a mile being 4.8 meters. ACCURACY! Suzuki say that combined I should get 53 MPG however I drive with my headlights on for safeties sake.

I am currently at a bit of a crossroads with the car; I don't much like it to be brutally honest mainly because I owned a Volkswagen before it so the quality difference is extremely noticeable. The car generally is in good condition but the low quality materials means that there are loads of little bits and pieces that are broken which annoys me so I have to decide whether I want to stick with the car and just throw a bunch of time & money at it fixing all the little bits and pieces or selling it and getting something better.

If I stick with the car I think I will make little tweaks to improve the fuel efficiency while maintaining the day to day usability of carrying multiple passengers but I would only like to make changes that can be reversed when it comes time to sell up as I get itchy feet with cars easily. Any suggestions on what I could do with that in mind would be appreciated. I'm thinking DRL's first so I don't have to use my headlights so much, some flat wheel trims (maybe over lighter alloy wheels?), rear wheel skirts and maybe do something with the spoiler - I don't want to change the entire tailgate because that would be a colossal pain in the butt so I'm going to have to consider my options.

[awcook]

Welcome aboard! I personally wouldn't sell the car, since buying a new car would be a major doodad, since not too many cars can match the ole' 3 banger engine in the Swift. If you think that the ride in it is uncomfortable, so what? If it gets you from point A to point B, then it's doing its job, and as long as you're not sitting in traffic all day, then you don't really need your car to be comfortable IMHO.

As for the mods, definitely get lower powered DRLs. Personally I drive with my lights off except at night or when they are needed. In my experience, driving with headlights on during daytime doesn't do too much good unless it's cloudy, but otherwise, they are just a distraction to other drivers. But that's just my opinion.

[Brit]

Originally Posted by awcook

Welcome aboard! I personally wouldn't sell the car, since buying a new car would be a major doodad, since not too many cars can match the ole' 3 banger engine in the Swift. If you think that the ride in it is uncomfortable, so what? If it gets you from point A to point B, then it's doing its job, and as long as you're not sitting in traffic all day, then you don't really need your car to be comfortable IMHO.

As for the mods, definitely get lower powered DRLs. Personally I drive with my lights off except at night or when they are needed. In my experience, driving with headlights on during daytime doesn't do too much good unless it's cloudy, but otherwise, they are just a distraction to other drivers. But that's just my opinion.

Ideally I would buy a replacement before finalising the sale of the Swift so it wouldn't be too much of an ordeal really. The Swift also hurts my lower back after about 75 miles so it's time with me is limited regardless. I always have an eye on the used car market in my local area, if a nice Peugeot 106 or Citroen Saxo 1.5D came up for sale I would probably snap it up in favour of the Swift as they can't be any worse than the Swift and standard they appear to average a good 9-10 MPG more before modifications.

I can't say that I have noticed any ill effects from using headlights during the day other than slightly increased fuel consumption, if anything I think I get cut-up less often. DRLs would solve any issue like that anyway but having had a look at the front my car I'm not entirely sure where I could actually mount them! The obvious place would be hung upside down from the opening in the bumper but that space is covered by the registration plate on these cars and I think the bottom of the opening would be too low.

What I really hope to do at some point is find a Citroen AX diesel and do some more serious modifications as they can average near 70 MPG with no mods so I'm very curious to find out what they could do with no interior, perspex windows and aero mods etc.

[MetroMPG]

It's funny to see someone driving a 2002 car with a bodystyle that was last sold here in 1994.

Originally Posted by Brit

I am currently at a bit of a crossroads with the car; I don't much like it to be brutally honest mainly because I owned a Volkswagen before it so the quality difference is extremely noticeable

Which VW was that? Don't forget that Suzi was designed way back in 1988!

selling it and getting something better.

With the plethora of small, efficient cars that you have available (which we don't get), I imagine it wouldn't be too hard to keep an eye out for something that catches your interest.

(maybe over lighter alloy wheels?), rear wheel skirts and maybe do something with the spoiler

As mentioned in the other thread, I'd ditch the spoiler. Yes, add smooth wheel covers (lighter alloys are not cost effective).

Also consider a fuel consumption gauge, if you haven't got one.

In town driving, the #1 modification that will save you fuel is an engine kill switch. For manual "auto stop/start" and engine-off coasting when safe.

Welcome to the forum!

[320touring]

Welcome, its a slippery slope

[Brit]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

It's funny to see someone driving a 2002 car with a bodystyle that was last sold here in 1994.

If you think that's funny you should take a look at the ones in Pakistan under the Suzuki Cultus nameplate, they are still making and selling them over there! They come with a single-cam, 16 valve, EFI equipped 4-cylinder.

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Which VW was that? Don't forget that Suzi was designed way back in 1988!

In truth I had two VW's before this and while the Suzuki may have been designed back in 1988 the two VW Polo's I had were based on a platform that was released in 1981 so they could well have started development in the late 70's...

It's little things that made the VW's nicer than the Suzuki; the materials are high quality so silly bits of trim don't break and/or fall off. For example the drivers side window on my Swift has two bits of broken trim; the little tab thing that sticks out and the locating tab in the very top corner are both broken. The later causes the window not to sit in the right spot when it's up so if I don't get the window into exactly the right place the wind makes a noise through it. The window comes out of the track sometimes too. Also the VWs were noticeably quieter at speed in terms of road noise.

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

With the plethora of small, efficient cars that you have available (which we don't get), I imagine it wouldn't be too hard to keep an eye out for something that catches your interest.

Exactly, getting a car here that does 50 MPG (41.6 US) for cheap is very easy, my Swift was spare change over $1,000 with 46k miles and two local previous owners.

Originally Posted by 320touring

Welcome, its a slippery slope

Good, we can coast down slopes

[Daox]

Welcome to the site Brit.

I agree with what the others have said. In the mean time I'd do as MetroMPG suggests and get some instrumentation and start tweaking that driving style. You will be able to see large gains there.