Two hundred-plus classic cars and three countries in one day: 1,300 miles over a long weekend – and one Suzuki Vitara providing the motion.
The classic car auction scene continues to grow, with sales being held from the West of England to Perth in Scotland, and all points in between.
And having to cover a sale at the historic motor sport show, Race Retro, and then be in Scotland for a sale the following day called for a comfortable, economical and reasonably rapid motor.
The classic car auction scene continues to grow, with sales being held from the West of England to Perth in Scotland, and all points in between.
And having to cover a sale at the historic motor sport show, Race Retro, and then be in Scotland for a sale the following day called for a comfortable, economical and reasonably rapid motor.
Step forward the Suzuki Vitara S, the latest model to carry the Vitara badge. Now more SUV than just a pint-sized four-wheel drive, it’s powered by a 1.4-litre direct injection turbocharged engine driving through a six-speed gearbox and Allgrip intelligent four-wheel drive, which is standard on the S models.
But how would a turbocharged 1.4-litre fare covering around 500 miles in one day? Those used to big-engined barges might approach my journey with trepidation, but that reveals a lack of understanding when it comes to modern engine technology. While diesels have (for the time at least) fallen from grace, their advances have been well documented, and put progress in petrol engine technology in the shade.
Any reluctance to accept petrol engines haven’t moved was soon removed with a squeeze on the accelerator pedal going up the M6’s Shap Incline. This notoriously long ascent came after an already long day, beginning in West Wales and having taken in Race Retro, held just outside Coventry.
But how would a turbocharged 1.4-litre fare covering around 500 miles in one day? Those used to big-engined barges might approach my journey with trepidation, but that reveals a lack of understanding when it comes to modern engine technology. While diesels have (for the time at least) fallen from grace, their advances have been well documented, and put progress in petrol engine technology in the shade.
Any reluctance to accept petrol engines haven’t moved was soon removed with a squeeze on the accelerator pedal going up the M6’s Shap Incline. This notoriously long ascent came after an already long day, beginning in West Wales and having taken in Race Retro, held just outside Coventry.
Getting as far as Shap was an arduous task, the M6 throwing all its Friday afternoon nastiness at motorists, but the Vitara’s cabin is a comfortable, pleasingly simple place to be. Notable are the good quality materials and, unsurprisingly, it’s very well put together.
With a powerful, easily understood ‘command centre’ comprising radio, sat-nav system and hands-free phone facilities it’s easy to stay in touch with the outside world and arrive at your destination without the hassle of using a map. The sat-nav is especially easy to operate and is very clear, while the sound system offers deep resonant sound and, thanks to superbly damped road noise, has little external sound to compete with.
With a gentle poke of the gas the Vitara picks up with diesel-like torque, and there’s no need to drop down a cog to get a move on. That’s almost a pity, because the six-speed is a precise, short-throw unit that snicks up and down like a well-rehearsed window cleaner using his ladder. It responds well on the motorway, whether empty or busy, and overtaking slow-movers is accomplished quickly and without fuss, the little turbocharger spinning up quickly and smoothly.
With a powerful, easily understood ‘command centre’ comprising radio, sat-nav system and hands-free phone facilities it’s easy to stay in touch with the outside world and arrive at your destination without the hassle of using a map. The sat-nav is especially easy to operate and is very clear, while the sound system offers deep resonant sound and, thanks to superbly damped road noise, has little external sound to compete with.
With a gentle poke of the gas the Vitara picks up with diesel-like torque, and there’s no need to drop down a cog to get a move on. That’s almost a pity, because the six-speed is a precise, short-throw unit that snicks up and down like a well-rehearsed window cleaner using his ladder. It responds well on the motorway, whether empty or busy, and overtaking slow-movers is accomplished quickly and without fuss, the little turbocharger spinning up quickly and smoothly.
Having successfully negotiated the plethora of motorways around Glasgow, the satnav guided me to Perth just in time for dinner. Outside it was well below zero, inside the Vitara’s heater pumped out the heat and the fan – unusually in many modern cars – is remarkably quiet, so there’s no need to turn up the volume when the need for heat becomes great.
Next morning saw me taking the short journey from Perth to Errol Airfield, where auctioneer Morris Leslie was holding its first sale of the year. There were some real tempters, including two restoration-project last-of-the-line Capri 280s. Their condition contrasted with the less-than-1000-miles 280 I’d seen the day before at Silverstone Auctions’ Race Retro sale, but all three were bought.
Going cross-country the Vitara S is as competent as on the motorway. The suspension is particularly good, ironing out ruts, bumps and poor surfaces, and the handling is way beyond what some might expect, with no body roll and a grip that would be more at home in a sports saloon rather than a competitively-priced SUV.
Next morning saw me taking the short journey from Perth to Errol Airfield, where auctioneer Morris Leslie was holding its first sale of the year. There were some real tempters, including two restoration-project last-of-the-line Capri 280s. Their condition contrasted with the less-than-1000-miles 280 I’d seen the day before at Silverstone Auctions’ Race Retro sale, but all three were bought.
Going cross-country the Vitara S is as competent as on the motorway. The suspension is particularly good, ironing out ruts, bumps and poor surfaces, and the handling is way beyond what some might expect, with no body roll and a grip that would be more at home in a sports saloon rather than a competitively-priced SUV.
The well-weighted steering offers plenty of communication and, working with Suzuki’s four-mode Allgrip system, offered sure-footed progress on icy, muddy roads. Allgrip offers both rear and forward torque control, the power split based on road surface, throttle position and steering angle
It also has hill descent control, which overcomes the need for engine braking and while I didn’t need to use it, it’s a practical feature that might have been useful if the roads were more icy.
I headed back to West Wales the day after the sale, Perth in minus three temperatures. The Vitara’s heater powers up quickly and cleared the inside glass in the blink of an eye, while the windscreen wipers – fortunately still parallel type rather than the ludicrous, increasingly popular clap-hands types – sweep almost all of the screen, so even in heavy rain, progress is relaxing.
After three days, travelling through much of England, Wales and Scotland, and covering around 1200 miles in the process, it was clear the Vitara is an extremely competent car, and great value too. Mixing superb build quality with performance, economy and practicality still defeats many car makers, but not Suzuki. Highly recommended, especially at this price.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION: SUZUKI VITARA 1.4 BOOSTERJET S
Price as tested (inc. options): £21,329
Combined MPG: 52.3
Maximum speed: 124mph
Acceleration (0-62mph): 10.2 seconds
Engine capacity: 1373cc/4 cylinder/16 valve
Max output (PS/Kw): 140/103@5500rpm
By Rich Barnett
It also has hill descent control, which overcomes the need for engine braking and while I didn’t need to use it, it’s a practical feature that might have been useful if the roads were more icy.
I headed back to West Wales the day after the sale, Perth in minus three temperatures. The Vitara’s heater powers up quickly and cleared the inside glass in the blink of an eye, while the windscreen wipers – fortunately still parallel type rather than the ludicrous, increasingly popular clap-hands types – sweep almost all of the screen, so even in heavy rain, progress is relaxing.
After three days, travelling through much of England, Wales and Scotland, and covering around 1200 miles in the process, it was clear the Vitara is an extremely competent car, and great value too. Mixing superb build quality with performance, economy and practicality still defeats many car makers, but not Suzuki. Highly recommended, especially at this price.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION: SUZUKI VITARA 1.4 BOOSTERJET S
Price as tested (inc. options): £21,329
Combined MPG: 52.3
Maximum speed: 124mph
Acceleration (0-62mph): 10.2 seconds
Engine capacity: 1373cc/4 cylinder/16 valve
Max output (PS/Kw): 140/103@5500rpm
By Rich Barnett
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