suzuki

[kingsy18]

Debating on getting a little 4x4,either a little jimny or the 3 door grand vitara,any views on these.

[Davyo]

Had both 1 grand vitara 1.6 3 door.Brill

Of road with 80% muds on.If you looking at the old shape as mine was (check sills as its not a pattern part and have to be cut out/ new fabricated and welded in £300 plus,brake lines also are usually goosed after 10yrs.

Jimnys are in a league of their own again with 80% muds.My 1st was fully loaded and a lift done proffesionally (avoid a home brew).Fully modded is a pain to insure but the worst is trying to sell it on.If you look at a jimny lift the back seat out,The old ones fold forward the newer ones clip out with a quick tug.Look aroung the rear seatbelt anchore points and the wheel jack recess in the back.My 1st one (02 plate that had 91k on the clock and i paid £2k) had the rear floor cut out and 3mm steel plate welded in which gives a good load area but you loose the back seats for good.My second one (58 plate that had only done 26k was a standard jimny that was pristine paid £4950(no rust at all, i wipped it of to a specialist to get it pro undersealed ) i only put A/T 's on that one and it still coped ok.I made a removeable tray for the rear as i didnt want to lose the back seats.Plenty of room for 2 seat boxes and all the fishing gear.Only had that one 12mths and sold it end of October for £4500 to a guy who had been begging for it for months.

I never had any issues with all 3 suzukis and the 1st two used to get propper abuse.My advise is try and spend decent monies.The less you spend the more vigilant you will need to be.Have you given the terrios any thoughts? Once went to a game fair at Lowther and it rained,i went with a mate in his old terrios with road tyres (winter tyres).Parked right at the bottom of a grassy field.He just drove straight out when loads of high market 4x4s where either bogged down or going side ways.

Edited November 6, 2016 by Davyo

[WinchesterDave]

Jimny is spot on you won't go wrong with it mate, off road they're superb too.

[motty]

I would have a Jimny for the off-road ability. The downside for me would be that it's a little small for all my gear, dogs and dead birds.

[Stimo22]

I had a year 2000 grand vitara 2 litre for eleven years and it was brilliant off road and plenty of space as rear seats fold flat. I have now got a 2010 model and space not so big and a bit of a luxury with 2.4 petrol engine. Really pleased with it and sure it will be as good as old model

[Fuddster]

whilst not denying the off road ability of the micro 4x4's like the jimny etc--I would really begrudge paying road tax of £230-295 for such a small car when the same tax band applies to full size 4x4's.

 

to me, tax kills off the jimny/terios/shogun pinin for the option of say a shogun or disco.

 

my 2004 3.0 toyota landcruiser weighs in at £295 a year RFL-seems really mismatched for the rfl bands.

 

on the the plus side-the little 4x4s have footpring not much more than a quadbike and they will go places my TLC wont.

 

f.

[WinchesterDave]

I'm sure my Jimny was £180/5 Road tax? From memory...

[Fuddster]

just looked at autotrader and the first ones listed were £230

 

ouch.

 

f.

[Longbower]

The best compromise if you can find one , is the last of the j4U Vitara 2 doors . Mine was fantastic , never would have got rid

but No1 Son borrowed it and got t boned by a taxi.

 

Great car , just like a big Jimny.

[oldypigeonpopper]

hello, i have a terios in fact my 2nd and agree with the road tax cost for such a small engine car, the only thing i do not like is the swing back door a much prefer an upper ( if raining shelter) but i could not find a small 4x4 motor with one, off road is ok if not to muddy or deep ruts although it has a good body height, the engines are sound and reliable if serviced proper just changed 2 tyres at 34, 000 some wear on pads and shoes, old one i see in garage done 150,000 so should last me out

[IEH]

I think car tax is a very small proportion of overall motoring costs, so can't understand why people worry about it so much. I might baulk at the £500 band though.

[Jaymo]

I think car tax is a very small proportion of overall motoring costs, so can't understand why people worry about it so much. I might baulk at the £500 band though.

What's car tax?

 

We don't have it here- just a one off payment on registering a car based on its Co rating.

Think that and the cost of cars is why people aren't forever changing them?

[kingsy18]

Do the newer model vitaras have the high,low ratio gear boxes or are they always in 4 wheel drive.

[Gordon R]

Consider a Suzuki SX4 4 x 4.

[Stimo22]

My 2010 vitara is in 4 wheel drive and you have to switch to low ratio and switch off the Eps

[bullet1747]

Vitara grand , I've had three vitaras over the last ten years , latest is an 03 had it three years does what I want infant be up for sale soon due to works vehicle

[LowStandards]

I also have a grand Vitara, 2002, 2" lift and new 29" mud tyres

 

I use it mainly on road, but it's been brilliant at my perm at not getting stuck in the heavy land rover rutted tracks

 

 

I'll be wanting to sell soon, not getting the use it deserves as my mate has a new truck and we always go in his so a bit of a waste on the road all the time...

[kingsy18]

Between the jimny and vitara which has most ground clearance ,or are they about the same.

[Davyo]

Jimny,didnt even bother lifting the 2nd one

[spandit]

I just used my Jimny to tow a horsebox up a muddy hill and over some pretty rough fields. Didn't falter. Very impressed (horsebox was empty - was just moving it out of the way - but it's not a lightweight modern one)

[Daveo26]

I think suzukis are spot on,

The only issue with my 2008 GV is a lack of ground clearance.

If I could get away with a smaller car I'd have a jimmy no question.

[kippylawkid]

I recently changed car and nearly bought a Jimny. However, I pushed the boat out and bought a 2012 Grand Vitara 1.9 diesel.

The extra space sealed the deal for me. All the shooting gear, passengers and dogs fit in fine.

Bit thristy on fuel but I think you just have to accept this. It performs well off road in permanent 4wd - I fitted decent AT tyres which made a huge difference.

[four-wheel-drive]

If you want something that will go off road today it seems new cars/trucks with the land rover being finished about all that is left is the Jeep that still has a chassis and solid axles so gives you the option to lift it apart from that it is down to Pickup trucks.

 

I have been thinking about getting a Suzuki G/Vitara no front solid axle but can be lifted to some degree but as with lots of Jap made cars/trucks like Landrovers they do have rust issues I have looked up the MOT history on several up to 2005 G/Vitaras and most of them have rust issues puts me off strait away.

[kingsy18]

Don,t want to be nosey guys ,but how much insurance do you pay on these vehicles,phoned my insurance company up for rough quotes on vitara 1.6 petrol 06 reg came in at £380,little jimny 04 reg 1.3 at £450 the mind boggles.

[steve_b_wales]

I used to own a Suzuki JLX. Brilliant off road when fitted with M/T tyres.