Swift/Fit/Demio

Nuw

Hi All,

A mate of mine is going to buy his first car and is considering the following (all from around 2007-2010):

- Suzuki Swift 1.5 auto (traditional 4-speed torque converter)
- Mazda Demio/2 1.5 auto (CVT, with 7 selection speed)
- Honda Jazz/Fit 1.3 auto (CVT)

All of which are Jap imports. He is 29 and has a few years named driver experience under his missus name, so it should be insurable or would it?

What do you guys think of these yokes in general? In my opinion he should go for the Mazda as it is probably the best to drive, followed closely by the Swift.

He had experience with CVTs before and actually doesn't mind them.

I've no idea how the Honda drives, any experience with them?

kupus

if he wants plenty of space then Jazz, I drove swift and jazz, mazda I didnt drive.
He is going to have a hard choice.
Swift was better for just driving, its small and nippy and its fun.
But the luggage space in the back of a Jazz. brilliant. Drive is fair, its your usual reliable honda, BUT the jazz is prone to autobox problems if you look up the reviews.
Its a hard choice.

Good luck with it.

selectamatic

Tbh someone looking for first time insurance would want to stay as far away from jap imports as possible.

He should consider a prius too if they're not too big for his liking.

Nuw

I hear you about the insurance, however these models are hard(ish) to find non-import, and they're plenty from Japan, so maybe he'll get lucky on this front... I already advised to get quotes before he actually hand over any money

As to the prius, he's defintely not a fan... Good machines however.

selectamatic

Make sure he gets quotes first anyways. His age might help I know most young first time insurers are laughed out the door when they try to insurers jap imports be it an integra, a people carrier or economical supermini.

The swift would be my personal fav but the torque converter box although reliable will most likely negate the cars fun factor.

Hybrid jazz could be an option most will be non imports. Or actually a hybrid civic could be a better option as it'll probably be cheaper.
Here's two examples

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/honda-civic-ima-4-door-auto/13406754

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/honda-civic-hybrid/13958475

Nuw

Thanks for that. I was under the impression a Jazz hybrid would automatically be an import as they didn't sell them here, or am I mistaken here?

Civic would be too big for him.

He's pretty set on one of these three...

Vote 4 Pedro

I have a Honda Jazz auto.
It's a great car and very user friendly, the boot is massive with the seats down, it's economical as well, drive is OK to boring and it's as slow as a dead slug but it's got more going for it than speed, It's a good car to own and never gives any trouble, I'd have another Jazz anytime,
I have had 2 swifts but that was a few years ago, liked them at the time but I wouldn't get another, never even been in a Mazda Demio so nothing to say about them.
The Jazz would also sell better when hes ready to change in my opinion.
The Jazz is the "second car" in our house but I like to drive it most of the time, it's great in town and you can park them anywhere.
The other car is a Audi A3 but the wife drives that most of the time.

Nuw

The lad just got quotes from Bank of Ireland on the three car, most expensive is the Mazda by far, then the honda and then the swift, was from 1750 to 2000 TPFT with step-back protection and no excess, which, if I'm honest, is almost reasonable... well... considering its a jap import, his first policy in his own name and all that.

According to him, the only thing they asked for was to confirm that they haven't been modified in any way. He went and ask for the same quotes with equivalent non-import models and apparently it came back just a tad over 100 euros less, which is less than I would have imagined.

Still need to get other quotes from other insurances, see how that turns out.

Nuw

Vote 4 Pedro wrote: »

I have a Honda Jazz auto.
It's a great car and very user friendly, the boot is massive with the seats down, it's economical as well, drive is OK to boring ....

Thanks, I'll pass it on

Is yours an import as well? What engine? The one he's looking at is the 1.3 VTEC 100 hp.

Vote 4 Pedro

Nuw wrote: »

Thanks, I'll pass it on

Is yours an import as well? What engine? The one he's looking at is the 1.3 VTEC 100 hp.

Mine is a UK import, I think it's the same engine but i'm not 100% sure.

Nuw

Vote 4 Pedro wrote: »

Mine is a UK import, I think it's the same engine but i'm not 100% sure.

Thanks, how is it to insure for you (say, compared with a different car you had)?

I think he's leaning towards the swift, he found a 1.2 CVT one which would be less expensive to insure it seems while being almost as good to drive.

yannakis

Vote 4 Pedro wrote: »

Mine is a UK import, I think it's the same engine but i'm not 100% sure.

As far as I know, engines are the same but CVT set-ups differ. Correct me if I'm wrong - the UK Jazz has "increments" to make it feel like it has set ratios, and the Jap Fit is just pure CVT.

I had a 08 Fit (GE8) for 5 years and about 80k km. Very low maintenance vehicle! If you take care of the regular oil & filters, CVT oil over 30-40k (if I remember correctly) it'll last you forever.

Vote 4 Pedro

Nuw wrote: »

Thanks, how is it to insure for you (say, compared with a different car you had)?

I think he's leaning towards the swift, he found a 1.2 CVT one which would be less expensive to insure it seems while being almost as good to drive.

I think the insurance is fine with mine, well it's the wife's actually, it was the same amount as the last car was, a Irish Toyota Yaris 1.3 Auto, about €325 full comp. (50, full licence, full N.C etc.)

Nuw

Thanks for that.

Actually managed to get more reasonable quotes from some brokers, he might just go for the jazz in the end.