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Toyota vitz/ Suzuki Swift/ Audi A1


kalupora

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Hi,

I have narrowed down three models for the current budget of mine which is below 4.4m

They are,

Toyota Vitz 2017/18

Suzuki Swift 2017/18

Audi A1 2016/17

My plan is for casual use on weekends and some weekdays. Which would you recommend for overall comfort nd driving. (If I have missed any model please tell me as i am still on research stage). 

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Well comfort wise the A1 is quite nice although it’s very cramped inside. It has the best quality interior out of the three. It has a fare amount of Audi’s basic tech although basic climate control is missing in the majority of the cars I have seen.  The swift RS suspension is on the firm side so the ride can be a bit uncomfortable on broken Srilankan roads, not sure if the non RS variant suspension is softer. For the money you pay the swift offers the best features such as adaptive cruise. It also has the most space inside , The steering rack bushes can go out prematurely but it can be sorted at the agents. 

The Vitz is quite comfortable on our roads and is the most economical. Space inside , it sits in between the Audi and the Suzuki. Has basic features, it has held up well in SL conditions. 

 

Performance wise , Swift RS (1L turbo variant) is the fastest then the Audi and the Vitz is a lot slower. 

 

Comfort wise i would rate the Audi followed by the Vitz. The Swift’s firm suspension can be really annoying at times although it really shines on the highway ( it’s very smooth and you don’t feel the speed). 

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Vitz is the most practical car in the list! Proven reliability, second hand value etc.

Swift has better room inside and gxtra options comparing to vitz especially the 4 way cam etc but for some reason doesn’t look reliable as vitz. Interior is very plasticky

Audi is yes looks nice, european brand etc but the most impractical rear seats! Im not sure about the fuel figures but i think it will be the hardest to sell in the list after use. Audi 2016 is pretty old too in terms of product lifecycle.

Vitz will be the typical Sri lankan choice but I would go for the Swift RS.

Edited by zeem35
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4 hours ago, kalupora said:

Is there a major difference between vitz 2016 & 17/18?

Not at all I think. I drive a 2016 Vitz and been in a 2018 model too. As far as the interior features are concerned, there's no big difference (Almost same). multi function keys may or may not be there. depends on what model you buy. Mine doesn't have multi-function keys. Only visible difference would be the front and back.

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23 hours ago, kalupora said:

Toyota Vitz 2017/18

Suzuki Swift 2017/18

Audi A1 2016/17

The A1 despite being an Audi is not quite in the same class as the other Audis and imo does not justify it's price tag.  The Swift is a really nice ride - has some really nice features and has loads of pickup. The Vitz is a very basic simple A-B car. The interior in the Swift and the Vitz are like chalk and cheese and at times you have to really step on the gas to overtake etc in the vitz ( remember unlike the swift it does not have any fancy turbo). What you should buy depends totally on the  type of driver you are . If your primary purpose is to get from A-B then by all means the vitz is for you - it'll be relatively cheaper to maintain too in the long run. If you're a little more of a petrol-head and all the bells and whistles excite you then the swift.  I strongly recommend you take a test drive in both and decide what really appeals to you. For the majority of  Sri LAnkan  drivers  the vitz would be a simple no frills A-B car that will fulfill most of his motoring needs. 

A Friend of mine asked the same question from me - after all the initial explanations he wanted to go for a vitz but he eventually checked out both a Vitz and a Swift and immediately fell in love with the swift. 

 

9 hours ago, kalupora said:

Is there a major difference between vitz 2016 & 17/18?

Nothing major - cosmetic differences. 

 

9 hours ago, kalupora said:

Also i see that i can buy a used 2012 civic 1.8 around the same price, is it good?

This is a whole different league of car - look if you're not overly concerned about fuel consumption, and care more about comfort and basically enjoying your drive (you did mention that you mostly drive on weekends) then this is a nice option - the car is a bit thirsty but it will be a really nice experience as long as you properly get the car checked and find a good well maintained specimen (unlike the older civics Eg8/Ek9 the newer ones are not hacked or abused generally so you will stand a chance of finding a good specimen) 

Edited by matroska
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If you prefer a just A-B transportation with reliability, comfort, fuel economy and resale value, it's the Vitz. It's a boring car to drive with very few options, but should be more comfortable than the swift. I haven't driven the A1 so I cannot comment about it. The Swift on the other hand is a much more engaging to drive and has a load of options plus okish fuel economy. Reliability-wise I think it's too early to comment because except for the known issue of the steering rack (which can be easily fixed at a very low price). Best thing is to list out what are your major concerns. Then make a checklist for each 3 cars.

Audi A1 will give you prestige, nice set of options and more driving pleasure. On the other hand you have to spend more for the maintenance and likely to loose more value when you sell it. Swift sits between the sweet spot of the three. It's a jap ride, so it might not be hard to sell as the Audi and will provide you an enjoyable driving experience at the expense of comfort. Vitz is just basic and practical car with a good level of comfort and reliability. On the other hand it's not sporty and will less likely to turn the heads of the neighborhood when you pass by:D

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18 hours ago, alpha17 said:

If you prefer a just A-B transportation with reliability, comfort, fuel economy and resale value, it's the Vitz. It's a boring car to drive with very few options,

Depends on the Vitz....if you get a Vitz GR Sports or (GR Sports) GR....the handling characteristics change drastically. But these do cost upwards of 4.7 mil (the last time I checked). Then there is the limited edition GRMN which is completely bonkers and packs in 200+hp :)

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Depends on the Vitz....if you get a Vitz GR Sports or (GR Sports) GR....the handling characteristics change drastically. But these do cost upwards of 4.7 mil (the last time I checked). Then there is the limited edition GRMN which is completely bonkers and packs in 200+hp [emoji4]
It's 150hp right? Did they introduce a 200hp version?

Sent from my Nokia 1100 using AutoLanka.com mobile app powered by Tapatalk

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2 hours ago, Hyaenidae said:

It's 150hp right? Did they introduce a 200hp version?

Sent from my Nokia 1100 using AutoLanka.com mobile app powered by Tapatalk
 

The first Vitz GRMN which was released around 2013/2014 had only about 156hp. The latest one which was relased (and all sold out through lottery) last year,2018, had 209hp :D

The first GRMN came with a 1.5L Turbo charged 1NZ engine. The latest/last GRMN came with a 1.8L Supercharged 2ZR engine (basically this is a more street friendly version of their rally car).

Edited by iRage
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Just now, manojwije said:

This was really helpful. Can any one tell if the Swift is good for long distance driving like Col - Kandy. If so,, how will be fuel efficiency?

Also hows Mazda 3 2014 Red color one for 4.5Mn ? Is it costly to maintain? hows the repair costs  / Fuel etc..?

Well...the Mazda, bing a sedan, will be a bit more comfortable in long distance runs with the little bit of extra space and the weight to make it a bit more planted (thus less road vibrations, etc...) on the road.

Between the Swift and the Vitz....the standard Vitz would be a bit more comfortable with the softer suspension, however the Swift would be a nicer car to drive on those roads (but because of the firmer suspension some people might not find it comfortable). Fuel wise...well..it depends on how you drive, etc....and the variant you buy. If i were to guestimate I would say both cars would be pretty close but the Vitz might be slightly better ?

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2 minutes ago, iRage said:

Well...the Mazda, bing a sedan, will be a bit more comfortable in long distance runs with the little bit of extra space and the weight to make it a bit more planted (thus less road vibrations, etc...) on the road.

Between the Swift and the Vitz....the standard Vitz would be a bit more comfortable with the softer suspension, however the Swift would be a nicer car to drive on those roads (but because of the firmer suspension some people might not find it comfortable). Fuel wise...well..it depends on how you drive, etc....and the variant you buy. If i were to guestimate I would say both cars would be pretty close but the Vitz might be slightly better ?

Thanks alot. One of my friends said switf will not be good in terms of efficiency if I go col - Kandy. Since the climbing needs high fuel burning and energy. If I go to vitz will it be a significant saving ?

Also Mazda 3 is a two letter one with 80k Km 2014, do you think if I wish to resell it in 2 years will I get a reasonable price ?

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If the either car was to be properly maintained at a proper garage with decent parts they will cost more or less the same to maintain (again, depends on the variant you get, Hybrid, ICE, etc...). However, again, the Vitz has a slight advantage as there are plenty of cheap and aftermarket parts widely available (not that you should use some of these aftermarket brands); whilst the Suzuki and Mazda parts MIGHT not be as widely available as Toyota parts. 

You have indicated that your budget is 4.4mil, you should know that you should NOT spend the entire budget on purchasing the car, even if it is an unregistered unit. You should save some for after purchase fix ups, unless you have a separate budget apart from the 4.4mil. Even though the Mazda is a 2 letter car, if it has been properly maintained by the agents, etc...(with proper records to prove it has been) it will be a pretty decent car. Having done 80K you should be prepared to do some scheduled preemptive maintenance work (this is where some of the money from your budget which you saved comes in to play). Now, buying an unregistered car....there is a lot of junk being imported in to Sri Lanka...so ou still have a high degree of risk.

The fuel consumption between the Vitz and the Swift on C-K runs, I would not believe it to be that drastic (which over time might add up to some savings). Again...it depends on the variant. Gasoline ? Mild Hybrid ? Full Hybrid ? Type of transmission, etc...., and how you drive (including the weight of you and your passengers and the luggage).

With the Vitz, you need to remember that you pretty much will be buying a platform/design that is 9 years old. The P130 Vitz was first released in 2010 and until now it has been the same car with as many physical and technical updates a car could possibly get. Apart from some of the safety features, it is still the same old car in a different body. The safety features were added just so it can meet Japanese safety standards. The Vitz is supposed to get a complete model change coming in 2019/2020.

The Swift on the other hand is a completely redesigned model which was released in 2017 so you do get a much more modern car.

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.....you have all these arguments from people on the forum...

Now....forget about all that. Out of the Swift, Vitz and Mazda 3, which car makes YOU feel excited and want to just stare at it and makes you feel good ? Which car do you find to be the prettiest ?

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The first Vitz GRMN which was released around 2013/2014 had only about 156hp. The latest one which was relased (and all sold out through lottery) last year,2018, had 209hp [emoji3]
The first GRMN came with a 1.5L Turbo charged 1NZ engine. The latest/last GRMN came with a 1.8L Supercharged 2ZR engine (basically this is a more street friendly version of their rally car).
1.5L Turbo 1NZ huh? Wonder if its a direct bolt on to a 121...or an Allion or a Premio... how cool would that be :D

Sent from my Nokia 1100 using AutoLanka.com mobile app powered by Tapatalk

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7 minutes ago, Hyaenidae said:

1.5L Turbo 1NZ huh? Wonder if its a direct bolt on to a 121...or an Allion or a Premio... how cool would that be :D

Sent from my Nokia 1100 using AutoLanka.com mobile app powered by Tapatalk
 

The Corolla Axio TRD GT came with a Turbo charged 1NZ. But the turbo charger is available only for the manual transmission variant.  So yes...it is a direct bolt on and ECU upgrade for manual Corolla Axios. For the Corolla Axio TRD GT, TRD used the M/T Axio X grade as standard. Some owners got their Manual G grade to be the base car for the TRD GT.

I am talking about the ACTUAL Corolla Axio TRD GT, not the half witted TRD GTs you find advertised on SL papers just because it has the TRD body kit (and/or suspension) which the cars' owners like to call Axio TRD.

The Corolla Axio TRD GT was a homologamation of the Corolla Axio N2 racer Toyota did for some touring car racers.

To be fair on the what the SL people call the TRD GT....usually TRD conversions are available to be done on cars in sages/phases. Typically, first stage package includes body wheels, second, suspension, 3rd engine mods (including turbo charging etc..). Most of what is there in SL are just phase 1 or at most 2 TRD vehicles.

Edited by iRage
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Now that everybody seems to have ditched the Audi: its down to Swift vs Vitz, a topic that has been discussed numerous times since the November 2017 budget. There are multiple threads around.

Since in this topic used Mazdas and Honda's too have come up randomly, Here's what any potential buyer should do 

1. Spend a weekend or two and checkout used cars in your budget. 

2. If you realize they are not upto your expectations visit a car sale and check out new/unregistered options. And then make a decision.

3. At the end of the day your car should please you - there's no point of the car appealing to the local car market if you simply hate it. Go with what appeals to you. 

Edited by matroska
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3 hours ago, manojwije said:

This was really helpful. Can any one tell if the Swift is good for long distance driving like Col - Kandy. If so,, how will be fuel efficiency?

Also hows Mazda 3 2014 Red color one for 4.5Mn ? Is it costly to maintain? hows the repair costs  / Fuel etc..?

See with the swift, if you take the RST which is available for that price range ,when going uphil the turbo is constantly pushed hard hence more fuel than a average NA engine (Vitz in this case) is used. I did a couple of trips to Nuwara Eliya and back. Uphill it was really thirsty ,after a full tank it used up more than 50% of the tank. Down hill (also after a full tank)  believe it or not it used less than 20% of the tank, for some reason downhill it was more economical than a Daihatsu Copen which had a 660CC Turbo with CVT. If you really push the swift due to its Turbocharged nature it can get really bad economy , be gentle it can be as good as the Vitz. Overall driving conditions the Vitz will for sure be more economical. 

 

Long distance driving it depends , if the roads are super smooth then yes it’s quite comfortable, the seats are a little bit on the hard side compared to something like a aqua ,Vitz or Prius. Very nice to drive though compared to similar cars in its class  

 

If you opt for the hybrid version with CVT obviously those will be more economical but also costs considerably more. 

Edited by TheFlyingFox
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On 2/10/2019 at 3:59 PM, TheFlyingFox said:

See with the swift, if you take the RST which is available for that price range ,when going uphil the turbo is constantly pushed hard hence more fuel than a average NA engine (Vitz in this case) is used. I did a couple of trips to Nuwara Eliya and back. Uphill it was really thirsty ,after a full tank it used up more than 50% of the tank. Down hill (also after a full tank)  believe it or not it used less than 20% of the tank, for some reason downhill it was more economical than a Daihatsu Copen which had a 660CC Turbo with CVT. If you really push the swift due to its Turbocharged nature it can get really bad economy , be gentle it can be as good as the Vitz. Overall driving conditions the Vitz will for sure be more economical. 

 

Long distance driving it depends , if the roads are super smooth then yes it’s quite comfortable, the seats are a little bit on the hard side compared to something like a aqua ,Vitz or Prius. Very nice to drive though compared to similar cars in its class  

 

If you opt for the hybrid version with CVT obviously those will be more economical but also costs considerably more. 

This is exactly wanted to know. Thanks a lot.

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  • 4 months later...

Guys,

After a few weeks of hunting for a small car, the personal preference is boiled down to an Audi A1. My only worrying side is maintenance. This will be tough daily runner 160 km up/down (col-kandy) at least 4 times a week. I am thankful if you could share the following information based on experiences since this gonna be our first Euro:

1. Maintainance -   I am in Kandy. I don't know any garage handling Audis in here. Let's say, for regular maintenance, do we need to take it for a specialist garage (such as Vishwa) in Colombo?. I usually do oil change regular service by myself. Is it difficult for a Euro such as A1? 

2. Availability of spare parts: We won't be able to wait for weeks if something goes wrong with the car. How about the availability of spares for A1 in Sri Lanka.

3. What are the main challenges in maintaining the vehicle compared to a swift RS (though we don't like it)

4. Fuel - The car which we looking for has been imported from Aussie. Would 92 petrol be okay for the vehicle?

5. The model has been around for a while in Sri Lanka. Any known faults recorded? or experiences are highly appreciated.

Thanks

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Considering the high mileage that you would be clocking I would recommend the Swift for overall driving dynamics, equipment for the price.

Audi would be better to drive but may have issues when you clock high miles, you will have issues maintaining it in Kandy as even in Colombo there are issues to find proper places.

Aussi imports are fairly basic even the A/C is manual. You will have to check on fuel requirements as even Euros in Aussi require premium.

Toyota will be the most trouble free and un involving car of the lot, you will gain at time of resale.

Since it is going to be a long drive why don't you look at a bigger car

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1 hour ago, kush said:

Considering the high mileage that you would be clocking I would recommend the Swift for overall driving dynamics, equipment for the price.

Audi would be better to drive but may have issues when you clock high miles, you will have issues maintaining it in Kandy as even in Colombo there are issues to find proper places.

Aussi imports are fairly basic even the A/C is manual. You will have to check on fuel requirements as even Euros in Aussi require premium.

Toyota will be the most trouble free and un involving car of the lot, you will gain at time of resale.

Since it is going to be a long drive why don't you look at a bigger car

Many thanks.

Why an A1 is such difficult to maintain!!!!

It seems like swift is the option., though we don't like. 

Bigger car is not an option, since this for my better half. The time it has come to get rid of the GP1 we have been using but Vitz is not near to it in terms of quality of the interior. It's really a pity that with the present situation in the market, we are left with very few options.

 

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Euros have complex mechanical and electronics which need specialized tools / diagnostics and knowledge to maintain. Will need premium fuel, oils. If maintained properly technically should be as reliable as a Jap however it is not the case in SL for what ever the reason. May be it has something do do with our climate, heat, dust, humidity.

 

 

 

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