Help please, need guidance on a 4x4 purchase

[Olly RM]

Hi guys n gals,

Right slight back story. I have recently bought a winter run around in the shape of a Pug 106. This is now not doing my back any favours and I am looking to p/x it against a small light to run 4x4. There is a reason to the 4x4 idea as I am moving up to Scotland next year and looking to get outdoors more with my mrs.

Now, what I have found so far are a few Suzuki Jimny 1.3 JLX's in my sort of price ramge. They are all in the £2.5k realm and look to be fine small cars. The other consideration is that my dear mrs will need to drive and park it so want to keep small. From reviews I have read this variant of the Jimny will average around 28mpg in town and towards 40mpg on long runs. does this sound realistic?

Can any of you point me in the right direction for checking these vehicles out, as I am planning to go and view a couple of them tomorrow. Are there any problem areas? known issues? or avoid completely?

TIA for all help.

Olly

[scrwright]

Look at a Grand Vitars, had a 3 door 1.6 (53 plate) and a Jimny and the GV is a nicer place to be, and not much bigger, and if you are doing quicker runs better on fuel. Jimny's are tiersome on longer vehicles and underpowered, which is made up for by shorter gearing

[Olly RM]

What are they like off road and in winter? Are there any main things too look and check for? Services etc? What were you getting mpg wise?

Thanks for your reply.


Olly

[TheHeretic]

The Jimny is probably one of the best little off readers out there. Quality bit of kit. Being a 1.3 it will be a bit tiring on a long trip, but I used to do mammoth mileage in 1980's ford fiestas, and I'm sure they must be better than that.

I have a vitara, and it's decent enough on long journeys, (I regularly do 500km runs to Sofia and back). Good enough off road as well.

[Olly RM]

Well I have been scouring the classifieds and I like the look of both the Jimny and the Vitara. (the little boy in me just loves the Fat Boy)

I've decided that I want the hard top version as I feel that the soft top could be both a security risk (on street parking) and also a potential for leaks.

Any major issues or points to check?

[TheHeretic]

Pretty basic engines. The usual temperature, belts, cv joints, etc. from the ones I was looking at, they don't seem too bad when it comes to rust. Mine is still rust free after almost 15 years. Check the 4wd system works, and run it to make sure no Grundy orrid noises. Just make sure you do it in a straight line if on tarmac.

[Olly RM]

Daft question, How do I check the 4wd system? I have seen a few suggestions on here for fault finding as in stick it on axle satds etc. But not sure I can do that on a forecourt haha. What sort of noises? Clicking/dry/bearings/rattles?

Thanks for fast reply mate.

[TheHeretic]

Just make sure it engages into 4lo, and runs slower than 4hi. The usual, really. Take it for a run, and see how it is.

[mcjimny]

Jimny's are awesome value for money off roaders. As a standard truck with little more than All terrains they are a very good tool. For the size they are surprisingly practical. I've got roof bars and a tow bar on mine and its the most practical car i've ever owned. I've also got a spare wheel bike carrier for 2 bikes. It tows a sensible sized "camping" trailer with ease at its natural cruising speed of 50. If it doesn't fit in the car, it fits on it! I'm 5'11" and its comfortable enough, most of the time i would rather use my jimny than our Focus. Its only the effort in trying to keep up with traffic that makes it tiring personally.

In terms of running costs don't be fooled into thinking its cheap! Parts are typically dearer, not by a lot but their dearer than your common cars. Its not economical either, 30mpg is a pipe dream even for a standard truck. I've only ever got that occasionally if i drive like its made of glass. Tax is expensive considering its a 1.3 iirc its about £50 difference between our jimny and our st170 focus!

You have to REALLY want one to live with one. They are a unique driving experience. On motorways or anywhere if you're going over 60 its screaming. At 70mph its doing 4k!

I would drive both a Jimny and a Vitara to make your mind up. Have a look over on bigjimny.com for some feedback, its a great community and you'll get an idea of the common issues - there are a few - but most of us give them a hard life.
For something of a similiar size look at SWB terrano's or pajero/shogun SWB.

[300bhp/ton]

Jimny's are great little off roaders, arguably one of the best you can buy. Not all that speedy, but no worse on road than any other proper 4x4.

Fairly ok on fuel too, although motorway work would get tiring at higher speed and knock mpg back quite a bit if you persist at running at high speeds.

A Vitara is probably slightly more road friendly in some ways, but I'd still go Jimny. Also pre March 2001 ones are cheap tax too due to only being a 1.3 litre motor and there's no reason you couldn't fit an LPG if you don't mind losing part of the boot space. That's then be 50-60mpg pence per mile costs.


For all things Jimny have a look here: http://www.bigjimny.com/index.php?option=com_kunen...

[scrwright]

300bhp/ton said:

there's no reason you couldn't fit an LPG if you don't mind losing part of the boot space

LOL, have you seen a boot in a Jimny, its tiny.

a few pics to our old GV & Jimny

GV http://www.offroading.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=23...

Jimny http://www.offroading.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=23...

I would still go a '03-05 swb GV over a Jimny, very good offroad, much better onroad, just easier to live with allround & better on fuel, our 1.6 got 35-38 mpg, Jimny struggled to do 30.

[Olly RM]

Hi,

Thank you all for such great information. I have made plans to go and view 4 Jimny's each one has been sold prior to me getting there! Typical.

I am really looking to p/x my 106 but also maybe even throw my 9-3 and ZX9R in towards something. I want to down size.

I have found a few other that have interested me.

What are the general thoughts on Running costs and reliability expected price price etc? on;
a Land Rover Discovery 2.5 TD5 7 Seater, 1999, 115k,
a Land Rover Freelander TD4 Diesel Van, 2003, 93k,
a Suzuki Grand Vitara, 2002, 85k,

I know this may be a bit of a turn around but same really applies. I want sensible (ish) running costs and something that I can have a go at off roading.

[jay140285]

Olly RM said:

Hi,

Thank you all for such great information. I have made plans to go and view 4 Jimny's each one has been sold prior to me getting there! Typical.

I am really looking to p/x my 106 but also maybe even throw my 9-3 and ZX9R in towards something. I want to down size.

I have found a few other that have interested me.

What are the general thoughts on Running costs and reliability expected price price etc? on;
a Land Rover Discovery 2.5 TD5 7 Seater, 1999, 115k,
a Land Rover Freelander TD4 Diesel Van, 2003, 93k,
a Suzuki Grand Vitara, 2002, 85k,

I know this may be a bit of a turn around but same really applies. I want sensible (ish) running costs and something that I can have a go at off roading.

reliability - Land Rover Discovery 2.5 TD5 7 Seater, 1999 and Land Rover Freelander TD4 Diesel Van,

Just my personal experience but reliability and LR don't go together, hence I no longer have a LR but a Jeep.

But Jeep and Running costs don't go that well together. LPG is far better but only see in the mid 20's on average. I am happy with a V8 and mid 20's but seems your after more.

[Olly RM]

I'm also wincing at the cost of tax for the post 2001 vehicles.

I fear I will need to hold off for the Jimny to show up. Will prices fall in sort of Jan feb time or are they relatively stable?

[Kermit power]

300bhp/ton said:

Jimny's (...) Not all that speedy, but no worse on road than any other proper 4x4.

Seriously??? Were Jimny's really that much of an improvement compared to the SJ series?

Having had an SJ 413 and now a Shogun, both of which were equally capable off-road, added size of the Shogun notwithstanding, but on the road there's just no comparison at all. The only reason I ever drove the SJ on the roads was if I was taking it to some mud somewhere!

[Olly RM]

As in good or bad?

[Kermit power]

Olly RM said:

As in good or bad?

The Shogun is multiple orders of magnitude better on the road than my SJ was, not least because it has bus-driver style air sprung driver and passenger seats. You discover just how much of a benefit this is the first time you take a speed bump at speed with adult back seat passengers!

I take the Shogun on holiday in Europe at least once a year, covering up to 2k miles in a fortnight, and the whole thing is a pleasure - automatic, cruise control, the bouncy seats, which are heated if needed, and aircon for if they're not.

If you want small, then look at a SWB version. I've only got LWB because I've got 3 small kids, so wanted the extra space. Mine would probably be worth around £1,500 if it hadn't got all the evidence of regular off-roading, and despite being 12 years and 175k miles old just feels like it will run for ever. I'd definitely suggest it for what you're looking for.

[300bhp/ton]

Kermit power said:

300bhp/ton said:

Jimny's (...) Not all that speedy, but no worse on road than any other proper 4x4.

Seriously??? Were Jimny's really that much of an improvement compared to the SJ series?

Having had an SJ 413 and now a Shogun, both of which were equally capable off-road, added size of the Shogun notwithstanding, but on the road there's just no comparison at all. The only reason I ever drove the SJ on the roads was if I was taking it to some mud somewhere!

Jimny's are coil all round. I've not driven an SJ, but aren't they leaf?? So I'd expect the Jimny to be miles better. SWB will still give a choppy ride though and it's still noisy and revvy, but to be honest I didn't find it any less comfy than a Defender or my 200 Series Disco that I drove to the Jiny test drive in.

They are also no worse than most sporting cars such as a MK3 MR2, MX-5, MGF type of thing in terms of comfort and noise.

[Efbe]

Olly RM said:

As in good or bad?

I may be reading this incorrectly, but the way you have been describing your requirements, I would say no to the jimny.

get a grand vitara instead. also quite small. nice enough inside and there are some absolute bargains out there.

the jimny is great for offroad, but a bloody pain in the rear to live with. your mrs would get very very tired of it very quickly, unless she really wants it.

if you test drive a jimny, make sure you take it on an NSL or Motorway, and try to remove your roase timted glasses of it

[Kermit power]

300bhp/ton said:

Jimny's are coil all round. I've not driven an SJ, but aren't they leaf??

Ah, fair enough. In that case, they probably are miles better than the SJ, which is indeed leaf-sprung.

I'd still suggest the OP gives a SWB Shogun a look though.