Swift Sport ZC32 or older FN2 Type R
Discussion
I’m just thinking out aloud for now, but will probably in the next 12 months or so need a car with 4 proper seats, meaning the GT86 may have to go.
Interested in hearing from anyone who may have gone from a 2+2 into either of the above? Ideally I’d switch and have some spare change, so looking at a budget of around £6-8k, obviously nearer £8k for maybe a 2011 FN2 with the LSD or a Championship White. Tempted by the bulletproof Swifts at similar or lower budget too though.
Have always wanted some sort of Type R, but is the Swift just too sensible and/or underrated to ignore?
Interested in hearing from anyone who may have gone from a 2+2 into either of the above? Ideally I’d switch and have some spare change, so looking at a budget of around £6-8k, obviously nearer £8k for maybe a 2011 FN2 with the LSD or a Championship White. Tempted by the bulletproof Swifts at similar or lower budget too though.
Have always wanted some sort of Type R, but is the Swift just too sensible and/or underrated to ignore?
I'd say go for the Type R if you can get one with the LSD.
As a leftfield if you want something a bit more modern & you can't get the Type R, I'd suggest taking a look at the Astra GTC VXR:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208188...
As a leftfield if you want something a bit more modern & you can't get the Type R, I'd suggest taking a look at the Astra GTC VXR:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208188...
AnhBanhBao said:
They do seem good value at £3-5k if I could find a decent one. Any particular areas to look out for in terms of corrosion apart from the roof - what are the arches like on FN2s?
Yep, plenty of FN2s around for that kind of money, go for a GT model to get a few more creature comforts especially cruise control. Rust wise, ive seen/heard of a few that have crusty back axles mounts.On a daily driver I suspect most people would survive fine with a non LSD Fn2 that is fitted with high spec tyres & has a geometry setup. That said there are often LSD gearboxes available second hand for around a £1K. Add a Hondata ECU and it's a pretty dam good allrounder, although in my opinion still not as exciting as the previous generation Civic Ep3.
Or, consider a Mk5 Golf GTI anniversary/Pirelli edition for a 230hp with the k04 turbo setup that is capable of >300hp with just software changes.
ZX10R NIN said:
You can buy a brand new Quaife diff for less than 1k which I think would be a better option than buying a used box.
Very true, there are also diffs from MFactory at around £600 and Kaaz in helical or plated forma for more which can be a bit more tailored to street/track.However if you aren't fitting it yourself the labour makes the overall cost double the initial cost hence getting a box with a LSD already installed can often be easier.
I've had both an FN2 and a ZC32S, I had the FN2 for 4 months and the ZC32S for 12 months before it becoming my partner's car.
I personally prefer the Swift, never had any issues with it, it's on 80k now, just has a service annually.
The FN2 just felt dead whereas on normal roads the Swift sings! Yes, the Civic is faster but not much.
We've moved house, been to Pembrokeshire and Cornwall in the Swift, it's turned out to be very practical, however the Civic is even more practical, so if that's a consideration it may be one to consider.
Aftermarket for an FN2 is much bigger also if that's your thing
I personally prefer the Swift, never had any issues with it, it's on 80k now, just has a service annually.
The FN2 just felt dead whereas on normal roads the Swift sings! Yes, the Civic is faster but not much.
We've moved house, been to Pembrokeshire and Cornwall in the Swift, it's turned out to be very practical, however the Civic is even more practical, so if that's a consideration it may be one to consider.
Aftermarket for an FN2 is much bigger also if that's your thing
AnhBanhBao said:
Thanks, that’s what I wanted to hear in a way. If you can have fun more of the time in the Swift then that could swing things its way. I used to have a Panda 100HP, so a similar kind of philosophy.
I would (have). I haven't owned that many cars, as I tend to keep them for a long time. But I can honestly say that in 30+ years and 750k miles of driving, the last 30k miles that I've done in my ZC32S have been some of the best. And that includes modified 131 sport and strada abarth 130tc, standard 205 1.9 gti and inte evo 2. Talking about semi-sensible fast road driving, it's similar but better than the 205. I'm keeping mine. 👍I looked at civic type r when I ended up buying my swift brand new in 2016.
Basically I could get a new swift or a not new civic. I drove both.
The type r is great but real world I felt the ride would annoy me. Everyone I tried showed terrible MPG on dash, and it has less kit than the newer swit ( mines got the NAV).
The swift sport is not a fast car but by god its fun, and bloody reliable. I'm at 50,000 in mine now and can say I've never regretted my purchase.
Basically I could get a new swift or a not new civic. I drove both.
The type r is great but real world I felt the ride would annoy me. Everyone I tried showed terrible MPG on dash, and it has less kit than the newer swit ( mines got the NAV).
The swift sport is not a fast car but by god its fun, and bloody reliable. I'm at 50,000 in mine now and can say I've never regretted my purchase.
My girlfriend went from a GT86 to a Swift Sport 1.4 BoosterJet.
We both prefer the Swift Sport in most ways.
It definitely feels faster than the GT86 despite being slower on paper.
We average 49mpg, with me ragging it, whereas we'd get high 20s in the Toyota
It's practical, well equipped (much better infotainment than the GT86 if you use Car Play/Android Auto), easy to live with and cheap to run.
I've never driven an FN2, but I suspect it will feel slow compared, even if it is faster, just because its all top end.
I prefer engines you have to work overall and for me personally, I'd pick the Civic if I'd also planned to do trackdays.
But as a general day-to-day car, I'd go for the Swift.
It's very comfy too, not rock hard like I expect the Civic to be.
The Swift is also much newer so you'll probably have a cheaper/easier ownership experience.
EDIT
Sorry, just realised the SSS you're looking at is the ZC32, not the 33 I've talked about.
I run a ZC31 as a track car. It doesn't feel very quick - because it isn't. But it's a great little driver's car.
It won't have the speed of the Civic, but as you say - bulletproof reliability, cheap to run and easy to have fun within the speed limit.
We both prefer the Swift Sport in most ways.
It definitely feels faster than the GT86 despite being slower on paper.
We average 49mpg, with me ragging it, whereas we'd get high 20s in the Toyota
It's practical, well equipped (much better infotainment than the GT86 if you use Car Play/Android Auto), easy to live with and cheap to run.
I've never driven an FN2, but I suspect it will feel slow compared, even if it is faster, just because its all top end.
I prefer engines you have to work overall and for me personally, I'd pick the Civic if I'd also planned to do trackdays.
But as a general day-to-day car, I'd go for the Swift.
It's very comfy too, not rock hard like I expect the Civic to be.
The Swift is also much newer so you'll probably have a cheaper/easier ownership experience.
EDIT
Sorry, just realised the SSS you're looking at is the ZC32, not the 33 I've talked about.
I run a ZC31 as a track car. It doesn't feel very quick - because it isn't. But it's a great little driver's car.
It won't have the speed of the Civic, but as you say - bulletproof reliability, cheap to run and easy to have fun within the speed limit.
Edited by TREMAiNE on Thursday 8th September 13:08
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