Any experiences of the Jimny?

[boobles]

Anyone own one or driven one or know anything about them please?
We are looking at buying a 4x4 but has to be cheap to insure for the other half to drive (not yet past her test) & I personally will only be driving it in the winter months when we have the occasional snow etc. It doesn't have to be able to climb everest & I know there are much better 4x4's out there especially growing up with a series 2A Landrover but we just need something cheap to buy/insure & maintain. Any one know if they are worth looking at please?

[scrwright]

Had one for 20k miles. Cheap as chips to run, petrol one is a bit noisy on long runs as its short geared. Went to look at one for oldest offspring as a first car and was supprised how rotten the earlier ones are now. Check out the boot area of older ones if looking

[boobles]

Many thanks... We will have a maximum of 2k to spend so probably any early is our only option & will inspect it thoroughly. It will only be used for short journeys & probably only used in the winter months as we will keep the car aswel.

[LouD86]

As above, check the boot and chassis!

However, great fun. Don't have the best road manners, but will sit on the motorway all day (crosswinds do affect it a bit though).

Coming to playing in dirt, or general mucky roads, snow etc, quite capable little things

[powerstroke]

Yes watch for rust and sludged up engines the front axles some times need a little tlc
Lose the front bumper and fit some aggressive tyres and I doubt much will keep up with it off road

[camel_landy]

Great little cars, fantastic off-road but horrible on long runs! Perfect for tootling around the local area though.

For a £2k budget, have a look at Jeep Cherokees too ('99-'02).

M

[scrwright]

Jimny would be a better bet for a new driver

[scrwright]

This was wifey's, she likes bling
http://offroading.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1772

[Spare tyre]

I've got a standard one apart from some all terrain tyres. I kept up on a 4x4 outing across Salisbury plain with a bunch of modified land drovers. I kept out of the very deep water as I didn't have a snorkel

It's only a toy car for me, but it's so simple it's great. Lots of space in the engine bay and so far it seems bomb proof.

This is my second, I've just sold an x reg one with 122 on the clock and replaced it with a 57 plate version.

Been bombing about the flood waters this week and it's been excellent

If you are local to Southampton you are welcome to come round to take a peek

[boobles]

Many thanks for everyones opinions. They come across as pretty decent little things.

Spare tyre - Thank you for this kind offer, I am about 45mins away from you & if I am in the area, I will let you know.

[drgoatboy]

I had one for 2.5 years. Amazingly capable off road, you can have tonnes of fun.
£2k should get you something tidy and the softtop may make it a bit more fun for the other half if she likes that sort of thing. Lots of mods available if you do want to make it a bit more offroad orientated...

As others have said not great on long journeys, but a hoot to drive around town.

Worth being aware that insurance may not be as cheap as you think (get a quote), and on the road they are RWD not 4WD.
I never, ever, managed to get the tail to slip in normal conditions but others have reported some lairy moments on wet roundabouts. (Quite what they were doing I don't know)

Edited by drgoatboy on Wednesday 8th January 12:55

[boobles]

drgoatboy said:

I had one for 2.5 years. Amazingly capable off road, you can have tonnes of fun.
£2k should get you something tidy and the softtop may make it a bit more fun for the other half if she likes that sort of thing. Lots of mods available if you do want to make it a bit more offroad orientated...

As others have said not great on long journeys, but a hoot to drive around town.

Worth being aware that insurance may not be as cheap as you think (get a quote), and on the road they are RWD not 4WD.
I never, ever, managed to get the tail to slip in normal conditions but others have reported some lairy moments on wet roundabouts. (Quite what they were doing I don't know)

Edited by drgoatboy on Wednesday 8th January 12:55

Insurance is currently our biggest headache for the GF. Nobody wants to give us a quote.

[andyb66]

powerstroke said:

Lose the front bumper and fit some aggressive tyres and I doubt much will keep up with it off road

We had one win it's class in our club ( www.scor4x4.co.uk) RTV trial competition last year.

[boobles]

andyb66 said:

We had one win it's class in our club ( www.scor4x4.co.uk) RTV trial competition last year.

Very capable little things as everyone is suggesting. I might even have a play on Salisbury Plain once I get one.

[drgoatboy]

boobles said:

Insurance is currently our biggest headache for the GF. Nobody wants to give us a quote.

If you haven't already try Adrian flux. They were cheapest by far for my lightly modded Jim. (rubbish for my other cars mind you...)

[boobles]

drgoatboy said:

If you haven't already try Adrian flux. They were cheapest by far for my lightly modded Jim. (rubbish for my other cars mind you...)

Thank you, will do. :Thumbup:

[loko]

Mitsubishi pinin is about the same size and for some strange reason it was cheaper to insure than the Jimny or freelander i looked at

[boobles]

Thank you


Thank you


Thank you..

[P I Staker]

Just for the record with a small lift and some slightly bigger mud tyres these things are fantastic offroad.

[boobles]

P I Staker said:

Just for the record with a small lift and some slightly bigger mud tyres these things are fantastic offroad.

Have been watching some youtube clips & they seem more than capable.