secretagentmole Posted August 10, 2011 Report Share Posted August 10, 2011 My wife was fed up with grounding out the Skoda parking on the permission, she wanted an off roader, cheap. So we started asking questions and our friends (some of who are mechanics) advised us that a decent cheap 4x4 would include Vitaras and Fourtraks. Well the wife had a look about an turned up a 1995 M plater, Fatboy Vitara with 16 valve engine. We went over and had a look, oh boy, a seriously knackered roof (repairs attempted with staples, expanding foam and all manner of rubbish. The interior otherwise was quite good. It was an automatic, but the engine fired clean and ran well! The tyres were seriously ****, down to just over minimum on the front and crazing on the back. The asking price for this was £350 and she would not go down in price. OK, so we paid the money and got the Barbie Bus. It had to have been owned by a hairdresser... Right, first thing first, tyres, ebay, set of 4 virtually brand new Kuhmo's, cost £56. Fitting cost including balancing at local independant, £25, including disposal of the old tyres with alignment check as well! Roof, £50 from a local breaker, that was for a front roof and a back roof. Needed a stitching repair to the zips on the back, £20 at a local vehicle upholsterer. After much swearing and cursing I got the roof back together and fitted it... Insurance, Sure Term, quote of the web, as a second car, £202 third party. Cheapest by far, she goes to pay, gets upgraded to fully comp for free!!! So she has fully comp for the same cost as third party, Sure Term specialise in 4x4 insurance, worth remembering! We ran it down to the tyre place, it was pulling to the right a bit, new tyres on, balanced and alignment checked, like a new damned car! No pulling, easy to drive an enjoyable little bus! We were made aware there were mis-matching shocks on the rear. Something we knew, so picked up a set from the people who supplied the roof, £24! It will be going to a garage for service, fitting the tow bar (£26 from ebay), fitting the running boards and getting it all checked out and any rust spots underneath so it will last longer than it's MOT which ends in the middle of December. She has already started pimping it though, got a couple of stickers for the door pillar, not your usual Suzuki ones though, a design more appropriate for us.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted August 10, 2011 Report Share Posted August 10, 2011 haha Essextastic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted August 10, 2011 Report Share Posted August 10, 2011 Just make sure you hit all you shoot at or you will be the laughing stock of the local rabbit population. Should do the job nicely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Photoguy2910 Posted August 10, 2011 Report Share Posted August 10, 2011 Nice, wish I could find deals like that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keg Posted August 11, 2011 Report Share Posted August 11, 2011 Tin of ex army green as well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaun4860 Posted August 12, 2011 Report Share Posted August 12, 2011 Wont fitting running boards spoil the ground clearance? shaun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
four-wheel-drive Posted August 12, 2011 Report Share Posted August 12, 2011 That looks to be a nice little car I thought that I had found a good one a few weeks ago just like yours but a hard to and in red only one bit of rust under the drivers door fortunately I had looked up on the internet about where they rust so I raised the rear seats and lifted the carpet only to find two patches of rust by the seat belt mounts one poke with my finger and a hole appeared I got my friend who is fitter than me to have a look underneath he said that it had just been welded up to get through the mot but was still not that good the guy wanted £900 with no rust I would have had it but I just walked away there is no rush a good rust free one will turn up eventually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
secretagentmole Posted August 23, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2011 Ours has rust round the seat mounts, luckily we have a friend who is a mechanic and a welder, so bottle of single malt sorts that! Had the beastie round the permission, now 9 bunnies down, praying for the partridge and pheasant seasons to open, he he he! This little 4x4 outs up with horrendous pot holes, branches, ploughed fields, cant beat it for the cash! If the winter forecasts aer to be believed we can get to the shops, trouble is the trucks can't! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redditch Posted August 25, 2011 Report Share Posted August 25, 2011 Is the sticker because the missus is always rabbiting ? :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrwabbits Posted August 26, 2011 Report Share Posted August 26, 2011 Is the sticker because the missus is always rabbiting ? :lol: Can`t beat a bit of bunny :lol: Nice ride Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaxiDriver Posted August 26, 2011 Report Share Posted August 26, 2011 (edited) inner wings above the suspension turrets are one of its weak spots. I'm waiting to get mine welded and MOT'd, it's in need of one inner wing welding and new wheel cylinders and pads on the back axle and new handbrake cables as it broke during MOT test Edit to add : Yourrs isn't really the 'Fat Boy' as these had 10" wide wheels with much bigger wheel arch extensions and lower profile tyres (absolutely hopeless off road, or on road come to think of it) Edited August 26, 2011 by TaxiDriver Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fendrover90 Posted August 26, 2011 Report Share Posted August 26, 2011 i used to run a lwb vit wich was virtualy indestructable it took some serious hammer just dont let the mud hang about too long or it will rot before your very eyes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
secretagentmole Posted August 31, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 It has been round the permission several times, claimed a few victims as well! I feel like a tank commander sat on top of the back seats, gun on the T bar across the roof, issuing commands! Great fun, it has coped with a hidden hole), covered tree limbs, and general field plodding with ease, £350 well spent! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted August 31, 2011 Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 Round our ways the local gays would be all over you in that homotastic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevandkaz Posted October 24, 2011 Report Share Posted October 24, 2011 Nice buy :0) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.