Ralliart Colt on the Highway

[bomber]

Calling all Ralliart Colt owners!
As a potential new owner of the Ralliart Colt, I've been extremely impressed with the car since test driving it. I've had it for a brief run on the highway doing 100km/h, but wanted to know how it goes on longer trips.
I'll be making my purchase of something in the next couple of weeks. Like the Colt because of the improved pricing and now it is just a performance bargain.
I had a Suzuki Swift Sports, which I loved. Great around the city and I love smaller cars, so you'd think that the Colt would be right up my alley. However, the Swift annoyed me at how high it revved when cruising on the highway at 110km/h. It'd do it no worries and even overtaking was fine, but the gearing was really short, so the engine was loud and thrashy at those higher speeds. With the bad NVH I have experienced for myself now in test driving the Colt, I'm curious as to how it handles the highway. It's not something I do everyday, but I probably do a 400km round trip out of the city at least once a month. Driving in the city, I have zero problem with it, but I'm curious about owners experience on the highway.
My initial reason for selling the Swift was to get a larger cubes vehicle that would handle coasting at 110km/h better, while still getting me good fuel consumption around town. However, the attractiveness of the Colt has increased since the price has come down.
Thanks for your opinions!

[killercolt]

I have had the colt know for 1 month and can say that its very good on fuel averages about 8ltrs per 100kms on the freeway it the tachco sits on about 2800rpms in 5th gear ride is a bit harsh due to the sports suspension set up.
Handling is awesome with the yokohamas.I would hate to see what the handling would be like on cheaper tyres.

[lovecolt]

For highway experience, i find the rcolt's rev / speed ratio around the same as my old 200sx. Hence, its very highway friendly to me. But it is true that i do hear abit of wind sound on highway, but it only very mild. Nothing you can't get used to.

With the strong mid range torque, RColt is very capable of doing good acceleration above 110kmph. Let's just say, i manage to keep up with a falcon and a commie on a earlier morning with no problem at all :p (yes, we are gunning it)

For fuel efficiency, i get around 7 on highways and around 8.5 +- on city streets.

[Rdster]

My Ralliart Colt is driven approx 95% on highways.Because I live in a rural area, that's about all we have to drive on (apart from the twisty B roads)!

The car is absolutely brilliant in many respects,and is a great highway tourer.
I normally sit on 100-110km/h, which translates to 2800-2950 rpm's.
I understand where you are coming from,in regards to the Swift Sports' short ratio gearbox.I used to own a Suzuki Ignis Sport, which at 110km/h was pulling a very noisy 3600 rpm.:eek:

The Recaros are extremely comfortable on both short and very long trips.They are without doubt the best standard fit seats I have ever experienced. The suspension set up I found to be firm,but comfortable, and not harsh at all as some tests have reported.

Before the Ralliart Colt,I was looking at buying a Swift Sport, but it had too many shortcomings for me, and above all, the car didn't feel anymore powerful to me than the standard Swift.

[Rdster]

I would hate to see what the handling would be like on cheaper tyres.

I suppose the result would be the same for any performance car, that was fitted with inferior tyres.

[Raymond6]

For highway experience, i find the rcolt's rev / speed ratio around the same as my old 200sx. Hence, its very highway friendly to me. But it is true that i do hear abit of wind sound on highway, but it only very mild. Nothing you can't get used to.

With the strong mid range torque, RColt is very capable of doing good acceleration above 110kmph. Let's just say, i manage to keep up with a falcon and a commie on a earlier morning with no problem at all :p (yes, we are gunning it)

For fuel efficiency, i get around 7 on highways and around 8.5 +- on city streets.

I tend to endorce Ryans comments here his fuel economy figures are nearly exactly what I have achived 6.9L Hwy cylce at 100 to 110kmph and 8.5 + around the city with a bit of fun thrown in. And my little Rcolt does have plenty of go if you need to overtake at hwy cruising speeds.

[27AME]

Around 3000rpm @ 110km/hr and around 5000 - 6000rpm @ 215km/hr :p

[ColtArt]

i have done in a 3 hour trip to Bathurst from canberra, done a days work stayed hte night and driven back the next day another 3 hours. i cannot say it was hard getting back into the seats!

i am used to larger cars then the colt, my history of highway cars is a Mitsubishit FTO (very well groudned), Mitsubishis Magna 3.5 Sport(BIG Sedan) Holden Commodore wagon (massive car)

out of all the cars, in terms of around trucks and such, i have to say the colt makes me a little nervis as it is so little and we get some real road traisn in australia.

in terms of comfort, ease to drive and over taking, cannot argue ! love overtaking people up a hill thanks to turbo talk ;)

all it really lacks is crues control but in my eyes, that keeps you awake on long drives and i ended up using it little in the other cars for that reason

[cisco]

Yeah I love mine on the Highway. Very smooth, great ride, not noisy. Still plenty of torque to accelerate swiftly above 110kmh no worries. Once i pinged from Newcastle all the way to Canberra sitting on very inflated speeds as I saw fit in low risk sections of the F1 freeway and Hume Highway, the car sits on high speeds very nicely. It can pull 180 up a very long gradual hill too with 2 people and HEAPS of bags in the car after returning home from an overseas trip.

The car has a bit of NVH, but its no worse on the highway than it is in the city.