Who else thinks the Suzuki Swift is overpriced at P759K ?

[slamm]

From what i know, Japan doesnt have the same tax incentives as ASEAN sourced vehicles (i.e. Thailand).

Yeah, even an m/t model on the 1500 would bring the price down a bit (just add a sports suspension package and you're ready to run).

[neilpfernandez]

just to repeat, i feel the swift is overpriced because you could get full sized sedan for less (e.g. entry level sentra and lancer, for starters). and these other brands are more tried and tested in the local market. not too sure if the engine displacements are the same, though. probably these are 1.3 cc. still, personally, i'd pick these over the swift for practicality and versatility (more baggage compartment, fits 5 people better).

no offense to the jimny owner. it's just a personal taste of mine. i just happen to think it's hideous. and runs contrary to what an s.u.v. definitionally is all about: big, rigid, powerful... top gear philippines seem to agree. in their brand new car prices/specs index pages, they state sarcastically 'no one has bothered' on what comparable vehicle brands are relative to jimny.

[tigacainta]

^^^
Depends where are you coming from ??? or how you value exclusivity & rarity...

siempre mas angat ka kapag ikaw ay naiiba.........be it fashion or Ride....

sometimes people want to be unique so they willing to shell out a little more........ ( "thats opportunity for the biz minded" )

if we all are driving the same civic and has all the bling into it.... eventually it will get boring and dull.........once we see each other on the road...

peace...

[neilpfernandez]

Originally Posted by tigacainta

^^^
Depends where are you coming from ??? or how you value exclusivity & rarity...

siempre mas angat ka kapag ikaw ay naiiba.........be it fashion or Ride....

sometimes people want to be unique so they willing to shell out a little more........ ( "thats opportunity for the biz minded" )

if we all are driving the same civic and has all the bling into it.... eventually it will get boring and dull.........once we see each other on the road...

peace...

yes, as i keep qualifying, that's my personal take on the swift. still, even if the intention of suzuki is to give it some distinction price-wise, i find it a little hard to swallow. first because suzuki is not known as a premium brand. just your usual mass japanese brand, and a johnny-come-lately at that (vis-a-vis the toyotas and hondas of this world anyway). second, i don't know the rationale of pricing it above yaris and jazz (which are its closest rivals and are more established in the local market), as someone else has pointed in this thread.

maybe suzuki is aiming low. they sure are going to hit it.

[MarleneCF]

here in Doha, Qatar Suzuki Swift is only at P558,000. mura ang mga sasakyan dito... if for that prize, just get Honda Jazz mas ok ang performance.

[shun_sakurai]

Originally Posted by neilpfernandez

just to repeat, i feel the swift is overpriced because you could get full sized sedan for less (e.g. entry level sentra and lancer, for starters). and these other brands are more tried and tested in the local market. not too sure if the engine displacements are the same, though. probably these are 1.3 cc. still, personally, i'd pick these over the swift for practicality and versatility (more baggage compartment, fits 5 people better).

Then you're obviously NOT the Swift's target market, as simple as that. End of discussion.

No two ways about it, the Swift is more of a toy or second car. If you were looking at it as a primary car...well you better be single or loaded.

no offense to the jimny owner. it's just a personal taste of mine. i just happen to think it's hideous. and runs contrary to what an s.u.v. definitionally is all about: big, rigid, powerful... top gear philippines seem to agree. in their brand new car prices/specs index pages, they state sarcastically 'no one has bothered' on what comparable vehicle brands are relative to jimny.

Wrong again. SUVs are NOT by definition "big, rigid and powerful."

Look at the letters "S U V"---it's an acronym for "SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE". People nowadays think otherwise, but the emphasis of the name should be on UTILITY, and in that respect the Jimny serves it up in spades. It will haul you and your stuff farther into the wilderness than a RAV4 or CR-V ever will. It will humiliate a Porsche Cayenne in the muck and on terrain that will stretch most vehicles' axles. In pure utility terms alone, paying PhP800k for an automatic Jimny is a steal.

The past 15-20 years we've been brainwashed by nincompoops who don't know what SUVs were originally about apart from the "tall driving position." SUVs aren't supposed to be cushy or car-like---shame on you if you buy a Fortuner expecting a magic-carpet ride. SUVs are TRUCKS, bear that in mind. They're supposed to be rugged and sturdy, not big and macho-looking but little else.

You greatly underestimate the Jimny...underneath the diminutive shell, it's a real truck riding on a ladder frame chassis. It's the cheapest real off-roader you can buy, bar none.

[BOOGIECAT]

Originally Posted by MarleneCF

here in Doha, Qatar Suzuki Swift is only at P558,000. mura ang mga sasakyan dito... if for that prize, just get Honda Jazz mas ok ang performance.

mAY 1.3 liter kasi dyan at entry level na 1.5 liter,dito eh isang variant lang which is 1.5 A/Tand so far its selling pretty well...

The Jazz and Yaris have grown up to be a Euro compact hatch busters while the Swift and Mazda2 are catered sa small families.

[neilpfernandez]

Originally Posted by shun_sakurai

Then you're obviously NOT the Swift's target market, as simple as that. End of discussion.

No two ways about it, the Swift is more of a toy or second car. If you were looking at it as a primary car...well you better be single or loaded.

As Simon Cowell likes to quip, 'excuse me for having an opinion.' I just wonder, though, if you readily dismiss anyone as 'not being the target market' of anything if the item in question runs contrary to their sensibilities and they express it in no uncertain terms.

'End of discussion...' Snicker, snicker. I didn't know you were the moderator here. Spoken like someone who thinks HIS own opinions are always the end of discussion points.

'...the Swift is more of a toy or second car.'
How about it being a family car for a couple who intends to have just one child? Oh yeah, right, you were also expressing your opinion too. Sorry about that. We'll just let Suzuki define for us at least what they envisioned Swift to be---regardless if the target market embraces it or otherwise. Lol.

'If you were looking at it as a primary car...well you better be single or loaded.'
Nah. I wouldn't consider myself as being loaded if I were single and I bought the Swift. Just impractical given the other choices. I'd consider myself loaded if I could afford a top of the line brand new BMW or Audi regardless if I were single or married. But don't be alarmed, that's just me.

[neilpfernandez]

Originally Posted by shun_sakurai

Wrong again. SUVs are NOT by definition "big, rigid and powerful."

Look at the letters "S U V"---it's an acronym for "SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE". People nowadays think otherwise, but the emphasis of the name should be on UTILITY, and in that respect the Jimny serves it up in spades. It will haul you and your stuff farther into the wilderness than a RAV4 or CR-V ever will. It will humiliate a Porsche Cayenne in the muck and on terrain that will stretch most vehicles' axles. In pure utility terms alone, paying PhP800k for an automatic Jimny is a steal.

The past 15-20 years we've been brainwashed by nincompoops who don't know what SUVs were originally about apart from the "tall driving position." SUVs aren't supposed to be cushy or car-like---shame on you if you buy a Fortuner expecting a magic-carpet ride. SUVs are TRUCKS, bear that in mind. They're supposed to be rugged and sturdy, not big and macho-looking but little else.

You greatly underestimate the Jimny...underneath the diminutive shell, it's a real truck riding on a ladder frame chassis. It's the cheapest real off-roader you can buy, bar none.

"Wrong again. SUVs are NOT by definition "big, rigid and powerful."

SUVs, by strict definition, conform to certain manufacturing specifications backed by testings on offroad conditions. It's why AUVs are AUVs and AUVs are NOT SUVs. AUVs may pretend to look like SUVs, but cosmetics don't cut it. Although most SUVs are massive in volume, admittedly some break the mold like the Jimny. But everything is dynamic and evolving. And popular culture the past three decades has driven vehicle manufacturers to design SUVs that emphasize size, higher road clearance, rugged looks with matching durability to boot, and to your horror, car-like interior and amenities. It's called consumer-driven strategy and marketing in a high involvement product category. And it shouldn't raise the blood pressure of purists as yourself. In a competitive industry, bars are raised, envelopes are pushed, and higher standards become the norm just to compete.

'Look at the letters "S U V"---it's an acronym for "SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE'
Relax, this is a motoring forum. We all know what it stands for.

'People nowadays think otherwise, but the emphasis of the name should be on UTILITY, and in that respect the Jimny serves it up in spades. It will haul you and your stuff farther into the wilderness than a RAV4 or CR-V ever will.'
That's just it. With the puny size of the Jimny, how much can you really haul into it? And come on, is there any sense comparing the fuel economics of the Jimny with that of the RAV4 or CRV's? Of course it will be more fuel efficient with its substantially lower engine displacement. No surprise there. It's called a trade off. You get a smaller SUV, and you have yourself a gas or diesel saver. You get a bigger SUV like the Expedition which is classified as a truck in the U.S., well, you get a gas guzzler but you can also haul in more people and cargo. So let's stick with comparing apples to apples, okay? Otherwise...nevermind....

'It will humiliate a Porsche Cayenne in the muck and on terrain that will stretch most vehicles' axles.'
Yeah, but think about how good looking you'd be in a Porsche Cayenne. Even Manny Pacquiao's looks improve vastly when he's in it. HAHAHAHAHAHA! Seriously, dude, maybe, just maybe, Porsche Cayenne and Suzuki Jimny do not belong in the same sentence. And maybe we are not the target market of Porsche Cayenne unless we are really loaded.

'In pure utility terms alone, paying PhP800k for an automatic Jimny is a steal.'
Dude, pardon the self-indulgence, and this is just me...it's a steal alright...I'd feel that Suzuki stole my P800K when I could have just shelled out an additional P60K and got myself a Hyundai Tucson.


'The past 15-20 years we've been brainwashed by nincompoops who don't know what SUVs were originally about apart from the "tall driving position." SUVs aren't supposed to be cushy or car-like---shame on you if you buy a Fortuner expecting a magic-carpet ride.'
In a static world, the television set would still be black-and-white, the cellphone would still be big and accompanied by an even bulkier battery pack, etc., etc. Personally, I don't mind getting extras in today's SUVs like car-like comfort provided the ruggedness, power and offroad-worthiness in the original specs of SUVs are retained. Heck, for that kind of money, I don't suppose it's asking for the moon and the stars. Again, everything's evolving and I don't see any reason why we can't embrace enhancements brought about by new technology in product innovation.

Ah, but that's how purists routinely think. Anything that breaks out of the original mold is a bastardized version. And the ones that fall in line to buy are 'unenlightened nincompoops.' But I'll respect their opinions.


'You greatly underestimate the Jimny...underneath the diminutive shell, it's a real truck riding on a ladder frame chassis. It's the cheapest real off-roader you can buy, bar none.'
I did not comment AT ALL on the offroad capabilities of the Jimny. You give me way too much credit. I only stated that personally, i do not like its aesthetics that much. And its size does not suit my taste either. I may not be alone in this as ---to quote Top Gear Philippines--- 'no one else has bothered' (to make a similar SUV).

[neilpfernandez]

deleted double post

[shun_sakurai]

Valid points all.

My point is, if you can complain about how you're not convinced about Suzuki's 'overpriced' products on fora, you can actually have more of an effect by not buying their cars. As simple as that.

Money speaks louder than any forum post. If you don't like it, don't buy it---you're not the target market/audience.

Can't stop those who see merit in the 'odd' cars, though.

[neilpfernandez]

Originally Posted by shun_sakurai

Valid points all.

My point is, if you can complain about how you're not convinced about Suzuki's 'overpriced' products on fora, you can actually have more of an effect by not buying their cars. As simple as that.

Money speaks louder than any forum post. If you don't like it, don't buy it---you're not the target market/audience.

Can't stop those who see merit in the 'odd' cars, though.

Dude, it's called a forum precisely because it's an avenue for people to exchange views and comments and where a healthy discussion of as many sides to an issue is encouraged. What a boring world it would be if we all agreed to all issues all the time, wouldn't it?

As for people who easily take offense from dissenting views or express annoyance and little tolerance of such, well maybe they aren't the target audience of forums either.

Don't worry, it is not my crusade to stop those who buy things I'd think a million times about before i sink my money into. I just offer my two cents in the same way others do here or in other forums. I honestly don't care either if a product I dislike (or indeed a product that isn't targeted to me) goes off the charts and sell like hotcakes.
I wouldn't lose sleep over it because it has no bearing on me. It has neither made me richer or poorer.

[shun_sakurai]

And its size does not suit my taste either. I may not be alone in this as ---to quote Top Gear Philippines--- 'no one else has bothered' (to make a similar SUV).

Incorrect. I have three words to address this: Mitsubishi Pajero Mini. Some straggler units have made their way to our shores thanks to Cebu and Subic.

Both the Pajero Mini and Jimny started life as Japanese K-cars, and both are proper SUVs. TGP's statement is technically incorrect.

[yoroshikuonegai]

i love the suzuki swift. I'm just waiting for them to release a manual version , basta made in japan pa rin at hindi made in india bibili ako.

The next step for suzuki would be to bring a 4 door compact sedan with similar japan or us quality

[slamm]

Just to add, if i had the extra cash i would have been one of those who would buy the Suzuki Swift.

If you look at Suzuki, they serve a particular market niche, especially in Japan, with their small dimensioned, lightweight, smaller engined but peppy and good performing products (just forget about the Esteem station wagon which was pretty bland). Models such as the Jimny and Samurai with their 1300 engines are legends in their own right when it comes to off roading. They don't offer aggressive discounts on the Jimny and Swift as they do have a particular target market and don't seem to be after the mainstream market IMO.

Either way, to each his own... we all have our different (and valid) opinions.

[atsushi]

Hello,

Considering that the Jazz and Swift is almost equivalent in price... no one here really pointed out the difference between the Japan made models and ones that are manufactured here.

I heard from a company president that provides parts to various Japanese car manufacturers that some procedures in manufacturing cars localy/South East Asia is different from that of Japan.

Considering that and also with the fact that the Jazz/Yaris is almost the same price, I think the price of Swift could be justified.

However still, as a consumer, I hope Swift would lower the price. But then again, with the niche market that they are catering too, it is quite difficult I think.

Yes, there are cheaper sedans from Nissan and Mitsubishi, but it's not comparable when it comes to mileage.

Everyone seem to talk about management, local market etc., etc., but then economy is a big factor to consider as well and I believe somehow Suzuki would have a great change to justify it if they would have the chance to explain to all of you.

It all boils down to what you want and what you can afford. I've compared the Vios, Jazz and the Swift... And I am getting a Swift as my 1st car very soon.

[mazdamazda]

Originally Posted by neilpfernandez

Is it just me, or does anyone else feel the Suzuki Swift is overpriced at its retail price of P 759,000?

If you haven't driven one yet or seen it up close... it might seem *overpriced* at first glance. But the premium price over other *cheaper* vehicles is worth it... I'll discuss below

Originally Posted by neilpfernandez

At that price, you can buy the lower end models of Nissan Sentra (below P600K!) and Mitsubishi Lancer (below P700K). And you get a full-sized compact sedan, not a sub-compact vehicle like the Suzuki Swift.

That's because the Lancer & Sentra are really OLD cars with just a new skin. Their chassis & engines are almost a decade old. Even with their new skin, the Swift has a better interior & build quality.

Originally Posted by neilpfernandez

Don't get me wrong. I happen to like the stylings of the Suzuki Swift. There is no comparison if one were to rate it versus Kia Picanto, Chevrolet Spark, or Hyundai Getz (although I'm not sure if there are in the same category). To me it's not a bad looking small car at all. But the price is a tad too much for what you're gonna get (e.g. limited baggage compartment, cramped space at the back).

The Swift is not in the same category as the other above mentioned vehicles.

For one, the build quality is way better... the material used is better... and the styling is close to perfect. It's a Mini for the masses... it's not the most practical car out there (that where the APV, Avanza, etc. comes in)... but it's just looks gorgeous.

Originally Posted by neilpfernandez

Yeah, yeah, it's 100% Japan-made. But I think it's not enough of a justification.

That's another thing to consider... CBU imports from Japan have a slightly higher customs duty.

Originally Posted by neilpfernandez

Today's (e.g. February 9, 2008) PDI showed a small print ad of the Mazda 3 where it says 'prices start at P749K'. P*ucha, 'zoom zoom' na kung Suzuki Swift rin lang pagpipilian. No brainer...

But the base model Mazda3 doesn't have ABS+EBD. The Mazda3 1.6L also feels slower than the Swift (due to its heavy body plus boring A/T). Though if you want comfortable seating for four, the Mazda3 is a good choice.

As pointed out by another forumer, the Swift is a niche vehicle that is targeted for a specific market segment (most Swift owners that I've encountered have another vehicle or two in their garage - this is just their weekend or even toy car). Not everyone needs or gets it... that's why Avanzas and the like are the best sellers here.

__________________

bigbigcar.com Review: Suzuki Alto

[neilpfernandez]

from the website of toyota, the e variant of the all-new altis is quoted at P740K+ . good luck to suzuki swift! and that e variant of the all-new altis has a 1.6 engine. no brainer, if there ever was one. (in my opinion, hehehehe)

[R3'91]

Originally Posted by slamm

how's the ride and fuel mileage of the Jimny? It's actually a good vehicle to throw around... compact for the city driving yet you have a high ground clearance for bad roads and floods... and Suzuki thoughness is pretty much respected as well.

These are basically the main reasons I bought my Jimny unit - its compact yet tough. I use it mostly on-road, but do get to go offroad during the weekends when I visit my farm (where the roads are nearly non-existent).

In city driving, its really comfy (except when you are in the back seats - where it is really cramped) and mileage goes for around 10-11 km per liter (my actual usage). On the highway, it goes from 15-17 km per liter (again, based on my actual usage).

I would have loved to get the bigger ones but don't have the moolah. I originally wanted to get the Samurai (my brother has one and I tried it in the farm and it was wonderful). Buti nalang the Jimny came into the picture. At that time, a brand new Jimny and a brand new Samurai only had around 100k difference in price. Jimny na pinili ko. As I said earlier, after 5 years, no complaints.

Back on topic: the Swift looks nice; "poor man's mini", someone said earlier. If I had the cash, I'd get a mini. I would only consider a Swift if it came in manual. And even then, I'd still consider the competitors.

[neilpfernandez]

Originally Posted by shun_sakurai

Incorrect. I have three words to address this: Mitsubishi Pajero Mini. Some straggler units have made their way to our shores thanks to Cebu and Subic.

Both the Pajero Mini and Jimny started life as Japanese K-cars, and both are proper SUVs. TGP's statement is technically incorrect.

Ok if you want to be strict about it. But I think what TGP meant is that currently, there are no brand new alternatives to the Suzuki Jimny. Not even if you had the money for it, at least locally speaking.

And I think that statement of TGP was meant to convey sarcastically that they don't hold the Jimny in high esteem either.

As for Subic and Cebu, I take exception to thanking them for the influx of used cars from abroad. Certainly not when such are converted into left hand drive cars thereby compromising the engineering integrity and safety considerations of the vehicle. And most certainly when such sellers there are marking up 100% to 200%from their original acquisition cost. And for what? Because a hatchback version of the 1996 Honda Civic was not released here? Does that justify the P300K+ price tag for a freakin' 12 year old car? I feel sorry for their victims...