View Full Version : suzuki jimny
waterman
02-04-2010, 21:49
Has anyone tried a suzi jimny?. The professional reviewers slag it of as the worst thing you could ever own. Owners think its the best thing since sliced bread.Bit like our current political parties, one says they are right the other says they got it wrong for years. I need a bomb proof motor.not interested in comfort or style. Must tow my little caravan better than my gutless berlingo.
Any views?
Speak to Doc, he thinks his is the best thing since sliced bread :D His surgery covers a Highland area so the car really does get a work out.
cheers,
Toddy............who loves her Suzuki Ignis :D
I had an SJ413 way back in the day before the Jimny and I loved it. Same scenario the critics slated it but mine was a good little 4x4. needed WAY less attention than a Landrover for mechanics and rust and it was good enough offroad if a little top heavy. I'd always say talk to owners rather than critics. After all the critics get a limited time with the vehicle and you don't know who is slipping them the brown envelope for their "views"
Me and a mate managed to roll his mums going round a roundabout when we'd "borrowed" it when they were on holiday. Took some explaining that one I tell you.
Barn Owl
02-04-2010, 22:26
Don't know if it'd be good for a caravan but I too had an SJ413 years ago and it was a brilliant wee motor.
Only got rid as I needed a bigger vehicle then.
fast but dim
02-04-2010, 22:43
jimny's are awesome off road , just go to a pay and play site! as for sj's, i sold a defender this weekend, and about an hour later bought this:
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d144/fastbutdim/IMG_1388.jpg
tbh, if it works ok, i'll be looking at a jimny at the end of summer. tbh it's a toy.
look here:
http://www.kapsuzuki4x4.co.uk/jimny.html
http://www.offroad-armory.com/jimny.html
It's a defender in everything but size really. With that said, it's not quite like owning an ordinary car either.
They do punch above their weight off road, their only real drawback is how light they are which can affect deep wading - or as it's known to most Suzi owners "rowing". They'll rust if abused - other than that it's all good really.
No need to go to a P&P site - youtube is stuff full of SJ videos. Suffice to say, like defenders, they're a darn sight more competent off road than most of the people who drive them ;)
Me and a mate managed to roll his mums going round a roundabout when we'd "borrowed" it when they were on holiday. Took some explaining that one I tell you.
yeah i was in one that rolled on back lanes a few years back, we fell onto a drystone wall, which then collapsed. put it back on its wheels and it still worked fine, was a proper beater though, and had a roll abr as it was used for 4x4'ing so that maybe why it survived. was cool but uncomfy lol
Should have just driven over the wall Mr.Ed :D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zvc1bzxkG68
Should have just driven over the wall Mr.Ed :D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zvc1bzxkG68
well, we were slightly out of control, we hit a deer in the dark and its threw us all over the place. came to rest at 45 degrees against a drystone wall above a ditch, wall collapsed and we ended up in the ditch upside down lol.........
having said that i managed to roll a golf gti, and break a bone in my back once lol so you can roll any car.........
im so glad i grew out of driving everywhere fast lol
helixpteron
03-04-2010, 01:35
My girlfriend owned a Suzuki SJ413 and she loved it, took it everywhere on digs (she was a detectorist) and it never missed a beat.
I enjoyed it from a mechanical point of view (everything accessible) though it was cramped to sit in.
Its one of the few vehicles I'd like to own (especially one of the variants not sold here which have the LR Discovery type raised glazed roof) despite having absolutely no need for a 4 x 4.
I have a Jimny.
It's built like the proverbial - always goes through the MOT.
Like any 4X4 they can roll over if thrown round corners. Because they are small and 'cute' people treat them like town cars and hurl them around, which is why they got a bad reputation for rolling.
For on road driving don't expect to get anywhere fast. They are bouncy cars, but I don't mind that in the slightest. They are not towing vehicles, mind you. You can get tow bars for them, but they only have a tow weight of 1 (or is it 1 1/2?) tons?
As for off road, they are probably the cheapest true off-roaders (better than the pretenders like RAV 4s and the Daihatsu Terios - not true off-roaders). In that respect, the Jimny punches well above it's weight as an off-roader. So long as you've got off-road tyres, of course. When we had the snow down a nearby neighbour's BMW X5 got stuck in the snow. I drove straight around him! The Jimny is a surprisingly good off-roader (within reasons, of course - it's not a Humvee, after all). THere was an episode of Top Gear where they had to drive through a South American forest. Richard May used a SJ413 (the Jimny's predecessor, and basically the old model Jimny before it got new bodywork and a new name). It did everything the Range Rover did!
I love my Jimny. Best car I've ever owned, even if my girlfriend has nicknamed it 'The Tonka Toy'.
jimnys are very good but i would think you would be better off with the berlingo for towing. my berlingo van is a 1.9 diesel and it isn't gutless at all:confused: jimnys have a fairly small petrol engine don't they?
how about a vitara? i think some came with a 2L diesel which would be so much better for towing and better on fuel too. the last thing you want with towing is to be struggleing up hills in seccond revving the hell out of it.
daihatsu made a similar 4x4 called a sportrak which may be a good choice too. not too sure what size engine it has but from what iv heard it is basicly a miniture version of their fourtrak (defender size).
pete
The Joker
03-04-2010, 11:02
Here's a couple of pics of my Jimny, great little motor brilliant off road and surprisingly good on road. But as has been said probably not the best for towing on road.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f11/101Joker/4x4%20fun/P1030691.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f11/101Joker/4x4%20fun/P1030758.jpg
*Big Beast*
03-04-2010, 12:19
depending on the size of your caravan i would think a jimny would be under powered as a tow car, if you are looking for a 4x4 and a good tow truck combined what about a diahatsu f/trak 2.8 td smallish truck but a 7 seater. i had one and it pulled my caravan, went off road like a tank. or there`s the swb 2.8 td shogun pajero, again great for towing and off roading and great for comfort and long drives towing a caravan.
If you go to a 4WD Club meet you'll see the little Suzuki's playing in the big mud puddles like puppies - but Land Rovers wouldn't dare go where they do, they're amazing little machines. I had a SJ410, great fun, but desperately underpowered as a tow vehicle. If you want to pull a caravan then you're going to need something with more guts than the little Suzuki.
could you get one as a tow vehicle and stick a small block in it lol
It's a great wee jeep. Mine is 11 years old, and nothing has gone wrong except consumables. They are very, very capable off road - it is not a 'soft roader'. Also very good in snow. For the first time, I got it stuck in snow this winter - but that was with ordinary tyres and about 14 inches of snow. Everything else it just ploughed through.
I don't know about towing - a tow bar is available so it must be able to tow something, but probably not an eight berth caravan. :)
I get maybe 35 to the gallon. It is pretty poky inside of course, though you can easily get three roe deer in the back with the seats down.
I'm likely to replace it this year. With another Jimny.
Front Room Woodlander
04-04-2010, 08:01
Ive owned and trialled the SJ (hybrid). Fine off road.
As for towing though I'd have to go for the advice above and go for a diesel such as Pajerio, Shogun, Sporttrak / Fourtrak or even the Honda CRV.
The biggest motor we managed to squeeze into the suzuki jimny was, I think, a 1.8 diesel. By then we had fitted coil strings, raised the floor pan and body shell, external roll cage, no glass, inboard fuel tank and so on.
Now I like comfort and would plumb for a SWB Pajerio.
waterman
04-04-2010, 16:00
Thanks for all the input. Just confirmed what I thought. Will probably stick to the berlingo as the other options are more expensive than I can currently go to.
The berlingo is ok without towing but struggles with a 750kg caravan. I just love the look of the jimny and its reputed reliability and capabilities.:drive:
Chinkapin
04-04-2010, 16:48
There is a company here in the states that makes a kit that has all of the parts to allow a drop in fit of a VW diesel. I understand the HP just about doubles.
The Joker
04-04-2010, 16:50
They also do a 1.5ltr Diesel Jimny, supposed to be quite torque'y.
tenderfoot
04-04-2010, 16:54
usualy drive a series landrover but on holiday in crete hired a jimny. impressed by the fact it has proper hi/lo ratio gearbox. i got the impression that the newer model has less ground clearance than previously though. this may help with the rolling however. It was superb on tracks and mountain roads and pootled along the main coast road at 50 mph happlily if noisily 1.6 petrol engine. Seemed like good value for money but wouldnt want to tow anything too substantial as it is not that heavy and might steer light with a load on the back. Check with a dealership re tow weights?
A friend of mine who was very into his off roading had a SJ413 and there was a kit that would enable you to take out the petrol lump and put the 1.9 tdi lump from a vw caddy into it. The damm thing would go anywhere !
Chinkapin
05-04-2010, 07:33
Here is the site, finally found it.
http://www.rocky-road.com/diesel.html
Looks pretty cool!
adderrustler
05-04-2010, 10:21
i have driven landrovers for years, raced them, off roaded them, broke em, etc. extreme off road nothing compares to a landrover.
BUT and this is a big BUT, i have to say the suzuki's are incredible, not as much maintenance as a landrover, they do rust like anything else, and they do roll on road, real easy if your not carefull,they will compete quite well against a landrover if that what you want then get one keep it standard and enjoy it, i would not want to tow a caravan with one though, thats my only down point.
about 12 months ago we did a spread for a 4x4 magaxzine, and we pitted a landrover defender, against, a mitsubishi, toyota, nissan, subaru, and a suzuki.
the landrover won by a mile, and the little suzuki trounced the rest.
you will enjoy
i loved min i ripped out the back seats and boxed the rest the dogs and I went everywhere in it real work hoarse. same as everyone else though maybe a bit poor when it's got somthing on the back!
Chambers
06-04-2010, 19:28
Dont have one but always fancied one as heard that they are loved by the people who have them. I have also seen that the Vitaras are supposed to be good off road but not sure which is the better?
they do diesel van version in Europe - Spainsh (santana) built. Or they used to. 1.5 DDis
Muddy Boots
08-04-2010, 10:26
How about one of these?
http://www.hiluxsurf.co.uk/
Bomb proof on and off road and I love the one I have been running for the last 6 years.
Cheap as chips to buy a good example but they are heavy on fuel as are most big off roaders.
Andy2112
08-04-2010, 10:28
I had the old SJ4210 van blind many years ago, brilliant little motor, got a Grand Vitara 2.0TD now and love it, especially now i've got rid of the road tyres and got some General Grabbers AT2's on.
Graham_S
08-04-2010, 23:33
I had a SJ413 when I lived in Cyprus.
I kicked the living hell out of that car for three years, taking it all over the island.
We used to play in abandoned quarries at the weekends, drive over the top of mountains, race over salt flats, everything.
Nothing stopped it.
As for towing, I pulled a few landrovers out of the salt flats and sand dunes when they got stuck :D
waterman
09-04-2010, 16:10
I am amazed that a simple question not really related to bushcraft should have such a response. Good sense says buy the jimny and flog the caravan. Thanks again for the input.:drive:
fast but dim
09-04-2010, 21:41
couple of pics of my sj from the weekend:
i know it's nowt to do with a jimny, but i want to show off!
using my new kelly kettle
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d144/fastbutdim/IMG_1427.jpg
nearly cross axled
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d144/fastbutdim/IMG_1422.jpg
greenlaning is excellent fun. tbh my £900 suzuki is as good off road as my old 90, or my landcruiser.
not as good on it though.
Alexlebrit
10-04-2010, 17:42
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d144/fastbutdim/IMG_1422.jpg
greenlaning is excellent fun. tbh my £900 suzuki is as good off road as my old 90, or my landcruiser.
not as good on it though.
Is it in as good condition as it looks, because it looks amazing?
...... got a Grand Vitara 2.0TD now and love it ....
How much for a rinse and perm Andy ? :rolleyes:
Check kerbweights and towing limits here (http://www.cuddles.abelgratis.net/kerbweights.htm).
The max towing limit (1300kg for a jimny) is what the vehicle can manage to pull away with up a hill. For a caravan the advice is that the caravans laden weight (MTPLM) should not exceed 85% of the towing vehicles kerbweight. This is to avoid it overtaking you:eek:.
So although the Jimny will be better able to accelerate the load, the Berlingo will be more stable once you are cruising.
I ended up with a Ford ranger truck :drive: so I don't have to worry about weights or muddy fields anymore, just diesel bills!
Apologies if this is stuff you already know.
Z
fast but dim
11-04-2010, 19:48
Is it in as good condition as it looks, because it looks amazing?
yes, it's muddier now though! i'll try not to dint it too much. just got bull bars to go on!
Andy2112
12-04-2010, 11:03
How much for a rinse and perm Andy ? :rolleyes:
Leave it !!!!!!:D
£19.95, special price for you Rich, lol:D
I ended up with a Ford ranger truck :drive: so I don't have to worry about weights or muddy fields anymore, just diesel bills!
Z
Have you tried on mud yet - I had one for work and it was useless. It got stuck even in low ratio and with AT where the old Defender it replaced sauntered up in in high ratio second.
That said it was more comfortable, had a decent heat and you could hear the radio at more than 30mph.
I towed the van through some quite serious mud last "summer" and was impressed. I drive a defender for work occasionally and I agree that the defender is a league apart from the rest. I would not take the ranger places where a defender would manage easily.
Z
You see a lot up here in Perthshire driven by game-keepers, ghillies and farmers - that should tell you a lot
NS
Northsky
16-04-2010, 20:32
When I was at Agric College the Equine Studies folk loved em, Suprising how much hay you can get in the back of those things.
You see a lot up here in Perthshire driven by game-keepers, ghillies and farmers - that should tell you a lot
NS
They are cheap... that's for sure ;)
never owned one but saw this over on BB this morning and was impressed!
Think hs could probably do with a snorkel though! ;)
http://s692.photobucket.com/albums/vv283/paddyperv/?action=view¤t=Suzuki.flv
never owned one but saw this over on BB this morning and was impressed!
Think hs could probably do with a snorkel though! ;)
http://s692.photobucket.com/albums/vv283/paddyperv/?action=view¤t=Suzuki.flv
Cool. It's easy to miss but there is a small snorkel to the left of the windscreen.
I saw the cars 'snorkel' - I was thinking for him!:lmao:
I saw the cars 'snorkel' - I was thinking for him!:lmao:
Ha :lmao: Well in that case I heartily agree.
Laurentius
20-04-2010, 19:43
One of them Jimny's parked up besides my Pajero today, it looked tiny by comparison, still it's not the size but what you do with it, and no Pajero jokes please I know what it means in Spanish :)
Minotaur
21-04-2010, 01:55
Has anyone tried a suzi jimny?. The professional reviewers slag it of as the worst thing you could ever own. Owners think its the best thing since sliced bread.Bit like our current political parties, one says they are right the other says they got it wrong for years. I need a bomb proof motor.not interested in comfort or style. Must tow my little caravan better than my gutless berlingo.
Any views?
Mate had one. They not the best road vehicle in the world. I liked it, but I like defenders, so not a good judge. The big thing is they are a bit unstable. My mates was ended by a side on bash, he spent what seemed like hours on two wheels slowly sliding towards a bus stop. The car that hit he was not going fast, and he really thought it was going to end up on its side. They do have a rep for being easy to roll.
Have you tried on mud yet - I had one for work and it was useless. It got stuck even in low ratio and with AT where the old Defender it replaced sauntered up in in high ratio second.
Tyres worth a look. Seen a Defender struggle one week, and next with mud tyres no problems.
That said it was more comfortable, had a decent heat and you could hear the radio at more than 30mph.
:lmao:
You either get the best 4x4 in the world or no oil leaks etc. Defender air con - open flap. Defender heating - close flap.
That said have you seen some of the 90's people have tricked out. Would be scared to off road in them, they so nice inside.
Buckshot
21-04-2010, 07:31
We had a Jimny where I was keepering when I left school
Plus 2 defenders
The suzuki would go over the top of the mud where the Landies would go through it and so often went further.
The big problem came when loaded though - it really struggled with a dozen bags of wheat in the back. wouldn't go anywhere near as far as the Ladnies then
So IMO get one if it's going to be empty off road but think carefylly if loading with any weight first
Mark
Aristotle
21-04-2010, 15:36
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d144/fastbutdim/IMG_1388.jpg
That would be the road from the Pigeon Tower to the Ice Cream Run. More fun in the dark on a mountain bike under hoar-frost, though.
Chinkapin
23-04-2010, 02:17
I envy you, living where the Jimny is still for sale. The original Samauri got a lot of very bad publicity here in the U.S. over its supposed tendency to roll over while making a relatively tight turn. They were pulled off the market and that was it.
There was a time, not many years ago when there were quite a few sub-compact 4X4 vehicles. Some with hi-lo transfer cases. The only one left is the Suzuki Vitara. It is still a true off-road vehicle. Probably a better "balanced" vehicle than a Jimny, but I seriously doubt it has the same off road capabilites or the same "fun-factor."
myheadsashed
14-11-2010, 21:20
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22121&highlight=suzuki&page=9
They look like a lot of fun for little outlay.....
naefearjustbeer
14-11-2010, 21:34
My wife has a Jimny, It is slow, poor handling (on road) thirsty, not a lot of space for anything. But we both think it is an absolutely ace little truck. 4X4 abilities are fantastic (dont tell the wife as she doesnt know that I know) . On paper its sounds like a car to avoid at all costs in reality it is fun with a capitol F. However I dont think that it would cope with being much of a tow vehicle. Go for a bigger Suzuki vitara if you want to pull anything.
Its snow joke for the wee Jimny!
Had to laugh at some other big heavy 4x4 sliding around while the wee machine handled like it was on rails!
naefearjustbeer
07-12-2010, 01:41
I got our other car stuck in the snow last week it's a fiat doblo. The jimmy coped quite towing it up a snowy hill. Go jimmy power. Great we truck has earned it's keep in this weather.
ProjeKtWEREWOLF
07-12-2010, 09:14
My mum had one many years ago. Very limited space inside and zero rear legroom or bootspace, but fun in the dirt.