I have a weird respect for the Suzuki Swift and it’s USDM cousin, the Geo Metro. When they were being sold, I couldn’t make enough jokes about those cars…tiny hatchbacks always meant that the owner had dug to the bottom, found rock, and located a jackhammer. Who would want a three-cylinder, three door commuter car that could kick out high-40 MPG figures all day long? Yeah, there was a punchline then, but now I get it. Thank (or blame) YouTube and the internet for showing me the potential these cars have: they’re light, came with engines up to 1.6L, and when properly set up, can actually be impressive in the corners and be…well, I’ll be nice and say “peppy”. Besides, even if you romp all day long on a Metro, you’re still pulling what…25-30 MPG if your foot is buried? When you can pick them up for about a thousand dollars, why wouldn’t you have a little fun in what otherwise would be a neat little economy car…or an oversized UTV with license plates? Hey, it’s all about perception!
This particular Suzuki Swift either was destined for the scrapyard or was a problem car. It’s hard to tell, but it’s beat on by Amon Oliver like the proverbial red-headed stepchild. It drifts. It jumps. It gets thrown around by the scruff of it’s neck and comes back for more, and all the while we bet that it was delivering excellent fuel economy. A bit of fresh paint and wheels that didn’t look like every other stamped-steel wonder that holds up the hulks at Pull-A-Part and actually entertain the idea of driving it in public.
