Fisch's '89 Suzuki Swift GTi

fisch · **Posted:** Sat Apr 17, 2010 10:00 am

Thought I'd post up my daily. It is a '89 Suzuki Swift Gti.

Back in 1989 I remember a buddy in highschool was going to get one, and I laughed cause at the time everyone wanted the Mustang 5.0. Well once he schooled me on what this is, I was hooked. Fast forward almost 20 years and I finally have one.

They are tough to find in the NE. I joined Teamswift.net and looked for 2 years once and finally gave up. But as luck would have it, recently I was looking for a new daily with some good gas mileage and this popped up on CL in NH, with almost zero rust, I was on it.

The reactions from people when driving this thing are pretty funny. Most laugh at me and write it of as a geo metro. But those who do know, usually put the smile on and give the thumbs up!

I love how small it is, here I am stuffing it on one side of my two car garage with my 71 Datsun 521! But now that I have the 1959 Datsun, Mr. McSwifty spends most of his time outside.

I love this little guy! It is like driving a go cart! But I also have a fondness for the older J-tin, and might consider trading it for some 70's RWD coolness. But that stuff is harder to find in the NE than an 89 GTi!

fisch · **Posted:** Sat Apr 17, 2010 4:21 pm

Hi guys! I see this got moved to the Off-Topic section? Is the swift too new to be in the other Garage section?

Did I make a mistake of some sort?

Garant · **Posted:** Sat Apr 17, 2010 7:55 pm

fisch wrote:

Hi guys! I see this got moved to the Off-Topic section? Is the swift too new to be in the other Garage section?

Did I make a mistake of some sort?

yeah, this really isn't a jnc ... yet
remind us in 4 years and we can move it back :wink:

littlejason · **Posted:** Tue Apr 20, 2010 4:01 pm

Oooo... sorry Fisch. I like your car.
Your other car is off the chart in the opposite direction!

Stationwagonguy · **Posted:** Wed Apr 21, 2010 7:40 am

I dig it.

Were these ever sold turbo'd? Or was that just the previous generation? (Or am I totally mixed up?)

john · **Posted:** Wed Apr 21, 2010 6:59 pm

Stationwagonguy wrote:

Were these ever sold turbo'd? Or was that just the previous generation? (Or am I totally mixed up?)

I think you might be confusing it with the Colt/Mirage of the same vintage? It came with a turbo 16V, not these. Pretty sure Fisch's car is the highest spec ever sold here. :tu:

Turbo Mirage:

Stationwagonguy · **Posted:** Thu Apr 22, 2010 8:10 am

I know I'm not confusing it for a Colt, but I thought there was a turbo version of these. Could be wrong.

82Prelude · **Posted:** Thu Apr 22, 2010 8:22 am

Stationwagonguy wrote:

I know I'm not confusing it for a Colt, but I thought there was a turbo version of these. Could be wrong.

I think you're right, but that was Canada-only.

john · **Posted:** Fri Apr 23, 2010 6:07 pm

The Sprint forum says the turbo models are the 85-88 first-gen?

Which is not nearly as cool as the 89+ second-gen.

KresSlyda180 · **Posted:** Sat Apr 24, 2010 10:40 am

I also thought, they had a turbo version of this generation. Anyways, don't go crazy and do this to yours... :wink:

Tyson · **Posted:** Sat Apr 24, 2010 9:47 pm

No, I have seen a factory turbo second gen. It had canadian plates. Possibly only 3 cylinder though.

fisch · **Posted:** Tue Apr 27, 2010 8:47 pm

Thanks guys! Lots of guys do indeed turbo these things. I hear it takes it well! Lots of aftermarket stuff out there for them! Mine is as stock as it gets though. There was even an AWD version of them in Canada!! I think the AWD was related to the Subaru Justy AWD. They didn't sell it in the states. :cry:

89 is the only year they called them GTi in the states, as I understand it they were sued by VW, and they dropped the i and just called it the GT.

They ran this generation from 89 to 94. One of the interesting things is how much it shares with the geo metro. It pretty much is a Metro body wise. (which helps with glass and body pannels.) But it is a Metro on steroids!

There are folks who will take the guts from this and stick it in the Geo Metro convertible. Fun ride if you can find a rust free one!

I love this little bugger! Hard to have this much fun and get 40MPG (on a good day!)

If it were RWD it would be perfect!

KresSlyda180 · **Posted:** Tue May 04, 2010 10:20 pm

fisch wrote:

If it were RWD it would be perfect!

Ya know, I was thinking the same thing. :wink:

Komeuppance · **Posted:** Sun May 16, 2010 7:34 pm

A friend had a Metro and a Swift at the same time... LOL...

We made this video of the Metro drifting, it might be interesting to you...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Djm-B1twX1c

-Robert

Mazdax605 · **Posted:** Sun May 23, 2010 4:29 pm

Hey Fisch,

I remember you from the Ratsun forum. I sold my Datsun,but I still have my REPU,SA RX-7,and now a 74 RX-4. Someday I will be in the area of central western MA,or you will be out my way,and we will meet up. I love your old truck,and now a sweet Swift. I sold my rally Metro years ago,but it was a very cool car. 3 cylinders of fury!!!!

I love your artwork by the way.

Chris

Fisch's '89 Suzuki Swift GTi

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