Jimny or vitara ?

[brim]

hi all im over here in ireland and im selling my 90 and buying a suzuki, i would like some advice on which model to go for.

It will be used as an every day car fo going to work, 35 mile round trip with green laning and off road at least 2 times a mounth.

which model would best suit my need, im gonna spend about £2000 any advice greatly apricated.

cheers b

[GVstu]

Tough choice really there mate.

I've had a jimny and thought it was underpowered to hell and back on the road - but then again drop it down into the lobster box and it went anywhere (also mine had all sorts of crap attached). Very small and cramped inside though which was annoying at times, really you would be better off (if you can) chucking out the rear seats as the OEM boot is pitiful! (tip - remove the huge plastic shroud on the rear door!). Also seems to me like the Jimny is the new Sammy - at least it has proper axles on it.

My mate has spent the last few months sorting out his 16v shortie Vit - and that little thing goes all over the place and keeps up with my pajero no problems. It is a bit 'tinny' on the inside (the whole thing rattles when you slam the door) but I'm mighty impressed with where the Vit will go on nothing but a set of muds, very tempted to get one myself. No proper axles on this and the front diff is a weak point (depending how hard you go at things...) - oh edit - we paid 600quid for that motor and it's a great little truck!

[Twiss]

If want comfort, get a jimny... if you want reconstructive spinal surgery, get an SJ

[(pete)]

hummmmmmm tough question im a sammie man myself but it can get very uncomfy in a sammy as the leaf springs are quite stiff how ever they are half the price of a jim and cheap to mod up too rust can be an issue but from some of the things i have seen this is getting to be the norm with some of the jimneys too

test drive of both i think will do you a favour in choosing your next motor and have a scout around for mods too (if you plan any)

[scut44]

I am a Jimny fan & like the seating position & the room inside,
20 stone person sometimes, 17 at present.
(there is more room in the seats & elbow room than in a 90 'fact' )

You can get different engines from 1298cc SOHC,1328cc DOHC, 1328cc VVT
& for 2 grand it would or should be a 1328cc DOHC probably.

But for a 35 mile daily drive thats going to be at least £6 a day for petrol, probably £7.

I would get a diesel Vitara or GV for 2 grand.
Your daily drive will be comfortable & more economic.

I doubt that either one will cost you less to run than your 90.

Only you know how much you will need to do to the Suzuki to make it
stand up to your weekend use.
(you will need to do more preperation & after use maintance IMO)
All will depend how hard its to be used.

george

.

[brim]

thanks for the replies, ive the 90 well modded (winch, rocksliders trutrac) but the road tax is killing me 935euro's a year a jimny is E310 euros and a 1.6 vitara is 440 euros a year

no doubt what ever i buy will be modded at some stage to suit me.

looks like i'll need to get a test drive in both and see what seems to suit most. i fancy a soft top to be honest too,

cheers

[scut44]

Sorry i dont know how the road tax work from your codes.

edit, sorry was that Euro's

Check out the different years & engines or emmisions tho
not all Jimnys are equall for Tax here,
& i imagine that older or newer Vitaras will be the same.

www.compsafari.co.uk/id21.html
some ideas maybe.

have fun.
george

[brim]

ive edited the post to give more info

[Twiss]

If you want a soft top, I would personally go for an SJ/Samurai or Vitara...

and that's only because I'm not really a fan of the looks of the jimny soft tops... there isn't enough of it!!! ... and the little windows look a bit silly

[4x4maddog]

I looked at a few Jimnys test drives ect and found them bit small inside for me (6'5") and had had vitaras in the past i ended up buying a 53plate 3dr Grand vitara feel theres more room and comfort than a jimny.

id test drive a few that are close to you even if you cant afford it, just to get a feel for them. I was sure i wanted a Jimney but after driving the GV id made up my mind. depending on how much room you need you can go SWB LWB both have deisel options.

I liked the jimnys and would have one no problem, just found the GV suited me more personally if i did more off road and less on road driving with a roof rack full of kayaks i would have one

[johnniehec]

I'd say no contest, go for a Jimny. Only downside they're only available with petrol engine. Nobody has pointed you to www.bigjimny.com lots of info there. happy hunting.