13 replies to this topic

[racingbob]

as I feel my mini days coming to an end soon will need to get something bit more comfy to take it's place (difficult I expect) took 2016 swift sport for a spin to see if I like it. well pèrformamce was pretty identical but missed the zest and fun (mg metro cam. race head) need to chip. exhaust. lower and air induction to make it feel betterfor me I would imagine. but was nice to drive. worried about early Cooper s or Renault sport as may only have about 4000

[nicklouse]

the earlier SSS were much more Mini like the later swift have been made a bit more sociable. the 2007 SSS was a different rear to the others as it was the homogulation base for the 1600 rally cars they built. Had mine for about 10 years.

[mab01uk]

4000 would buy you a R53 Cooper S with supercharger, rewarding to drive if you want some 'zest and fun', also comes with some inbuilt Rover and Mini DNA, the only downside is fuel consumption and high annual road tax due to emissions....handling/roadholding is Mini like but ditch the low profile runflat tyres if you want a more comfy ride.

https://www.goodwood...modern-classic/

[racingbob]

the earlier SSS were much more Mini like the later swift have been made a bit more sociable. the 2007 SSS was a different rear to the others as it was the homogulation base for the 1600 rally cars they built. Had mine for about 10 years.

so you reckon say about 2009 sport about 3750 quid about 50000 miles and modify a bit. only for fun got my hyundai accent for shopping

[nicklouse]

pricing i have no ideas on.

 

2009 the ECU is modifiable but to be honest you gain next to nothing. any engine mods dont really seem to give much not that i have done any as i am happy with it as it is. it hits the rev limiter in top so that will do. the fuel economy is poor as it is, but a 2009 should be a bit better as the change the final drive IIRC i have done 110000kms and had little go wrong. 

 

points to look for/be aware of ABS have failed there is a phantom error code that pops up through driving too slow and the EGR valve might need a good clean out soon.

[racingbob]

so would recommend a 2007 if found one with say 60000

[nicklouse]

not really. there is even less you can really do the ECU can not be mapped. the revs were lower and the final drive lower.

 

but again it depends on how far you want to play with stuff.

 

 

(2006 in other parts of the world) 2007- 2008- 2010  are the change years, the 2008 has 200 more revs. ECU you can get into, higher FD so better cruising speed. not it is build year.

[lawrence]

To be honest Bob why not try a few different cars as well as the suzuki swift, for example clio cup 182s? I myself contemplated buying one of those as they are small, nippy and handle well. Some have got the mod cons like heated seats too. Plus they are tunable. Many will be within your budget of 4k. 

[racingbob]

been put off Renault sport but I do like them. 2 mechanics said don't get and my mate said nothing but trouble. with swift worked out 1300 quid get suspension.air induction. janspeed exhaust and chipped. will see haven't driven early swift sport

[dyshipfakta]

Fiat panda 100hp is as close to the mini as you can get out of a modern car to be honest. I liked it when I drove one. You could drive it really hard and feel like your going like the clappers because its so small and has a modest amount of power.
Most other things I think suffer from being too big to be as much fun which is why the mini is so fun. I cant speak for the swifts though.

I personally wouldnt touch a new shape mini of any description. I know at least 5 owners of various models and all have had pretty major faults in unreasonable time frames.
1 death rattle, 1 gearbox with a hole,1 blower at 50k, 1 top end rebuild and most recently an electrical fault that caused the stereo to give annoying static even when switched off.

Edited by dyshipfakta, 11 March 2018 - 03:42 PM.

[r3k1355]

been put off Renault sport but I do like them. 2 mechanics said don't get and my mate said nothing but trouble. with swift worked out 1300 quid get suspension.air induction. janspeed exhaust and chipped. will see haven't driven early swift sport

 

The Clio's are fairly reliable to be fair, obviously wear and tear stuff will need doing on any car that age.

£4000 will buy you two of them, they really ain't that expensive.  Get one thats been looked after and crucially has had the cambelt done by a specialist.

 

Standard equipment on a 182 includes air con, cruise control, HID lights, half leather, auto wipers, auto lights etc etc etc.  

 

Significantly quicker than a Swift Sport as well.

[paulrockliffe]

I looked at the 182s, the consensus seemed to be that they were unreliable.  I looked at quite few adverts and the expensive ones all seem to make a big deal of being  reliable, but also list all the parts that are new and work that's been done.  Not really my definition of reliable.  I looked at some of the things that had been done, mainly as I didn't know what a dephaser was, and they all seemed very expensive to sort out and often need doing regularly.

 

They look nice are small and light and quick, but very risky too.  Not for me.

 

I've bought plenty of cars in the 10-15 year old range, I've always managed to find cars that don't need loads of things doing to them.

[r3k1355]

I looked at some of the things that had been done, mainly as I didn't know what a dephaser was, and they all seemed very expensive to sort out and often need doing regularly.

 

People usually replace them at or around 100,000 miles, usually at the same time they'll do the cambelt and waterpump - just as a matter of course.

 

Cambelt is a specialist job and due (roughly) every 5 years, so many people opt to change the lot when the car is near 100,000 miles rather risk having to go back and pay a second time for the belt.

Edited by r3k1355, 12 March 2018 - 01:13 PM.

[r3k1355]

If you don't like the Clio then the RS Megane's are a great laugh, 2 litre Turbo engine and simple to tune.

Like the Clio, they're easily available under £4000.