[BigCaroona]

Hi all, new to the forum and this is my first post.
Anyway, I'm looking at buying a zook soon and am just after some advice on which model to look at.
I like Jimnys but have read that a sierra may be better for off road and modifying.
The car will be used as a 4x4, hunting and fishing rig so would like to be able to take it on some pretty decent tracks.
Also id like to be able to spend less than 4grand (without mods) if possible.
Cheers.

[Gwagensteve]

I'd go with a LWB Sierra. At your budget a jimny will be fairly old and modification costs are higher to achieve less capability. However, a jimny will generally be nicer on road.

Jimny's do have an available Auto trans, power steering and EFI, three items that are quite expensive to fit to a Sierra, so if you'd rather not build a project car or have limited mechanical and electrical skills, the jimny might be a better starting point.

I guess it depends how difficult the terrain is you're planning on working with.

[BigCaroona]

Id prefer a manual over an auto any day so that doesn't bother me and Id like to take it on some pretty rough tracks like out in the wombat and around Gippsland as well

[AckerDackerly]

From my limited experience (Unfortunately, we don't have Jimnys in the USofA...) You would be pleasantly surprised at the ability of the Sierra or the 89-98 Vitaras (swb or lwb) to get around on unimproved tracks in totally stock condition.

Your choice depends on the level of creature comfort in the ride - Sierra being bone-jarring and Vitara being mild-mannered.

I drove my totally stock '88 Samurai (WT Sierra) offroad with very few problems for a year and a half before starting to mod it. I also drove a '96 swb Tracker (Vitara) offroad at Disney, Oklahoma then drove it 5 more years as a daily driver with no significant problems other than scuffing the rear transmission mount a bit.

I hope that this helps!

[Gwagensteve]

There's tough tracks and tough tracks.
Auto is so massively superior in difficult terrain that if you are genuinely interested in driving this sort of stuff you'd be looking to convert a Sierra to auto. I have years of experience with both transmissions in a range of vehicles.

Sounds like you should consider joining the Suzuki club before you choose a car.

[jordan00191]

Swb or lab vitaras or sierra's are deffinatley the way to go. The jimnys are also quiet capable but are still expensive to find decent ones, and all the modifications aren't as easy or nor as cheap. For instance you can't just knock up a tube bar at home for $100 and wack it on a jimmy. Seeing the Jinny has airbags it has to be ADR compliant and airbag compliant

I would suggest a sierra capability wise over a vitara but that's purely for the IFS factor of the vitara. The solid axle is a bit stronger and will be easier to lift. However the vitaras are slightly better on road..

So its up to you, I would look at what is most important to you. Comfort or capability. Its quite rare to find both in a vehicle now days.

[bumstein]

My answer to this question is always, 'whatever blows your hair back'. Everyone has different ideas on what is important to them, which car is more fun to drive, or if it's a workhorse which car they are willing to do panel damage to on 'pretty decent tracks'.

My choice is Sierra. LWB are a great rig for hunting, fishing and 4wd, but SWB will do just as good a job. They are basic, meaning they can be bumpy and loud. For shooting, pop down the front window (but watch out for the rear view mirror, they don't cope so well with receiving a 204 round) and shoot out the front.

LWB you can choose trayback or bodyback/softtop with rear seating capacity. Pop fibreglass canopy on it if you prefer.

Cheap and easy to repair. The competent home mechanic can do most things with the aid of a workshop manual. Good offroad even stock, I prefer the rigid axle setup as opposed to IFS. A tad underpowered, be careful if you want to throw large tyres on as it will upset the gearing quickly unless you offset the difference by transfer case gearing. For that matter, put careful consideration and read plenty here before you do any mods. Theres always someone else who has tried it and can tell you the reasons it was or wasn't a good idea.

Jimny's and Vits also have their virtues, I'm a Sierra guy so I will leave the Jimny and Vit spruiking to someone else.

[Gwagensteve]

To be fair bumstein, we have had a heap of people join the club over the years who bought a car because if blew their hear back and then realised they'd bought the wrong car. Working out what you need to drive the terrain you want to drive is critical, which is why I recommend people who are local to Melbourne and want to drive local areas to join the club and passenger on some trips before they buy a car. It's one of the advantages of being part of a club.

[bumstein]

Agree with you mate, not suggesting to bypass that process and purchase without careful consideration.

Just acknowledging that everyone has different taste, what blows my hair back will not always be the best car for someone else. Has to be a personal choice, I can't tell the OP what will be the best car for him but it has to be what blows his hair back.

[BigCaroona]

Thanks for all the comments guys, I think a sierra would be most suitable for me as I couldn't realluly care less about comfort just after a decently capable cheap rig.
Cheers

[bumstein]

Cool make sure you post pics when you find your steed!!

[vet 180]

I have owned:
Lwb Sierra
Swb Sierra
Swb vitara
Jimny

Gwagon is right there is tough and there is tough....


But I can generalize:

Jimny:
Mild mods best suited. 215's without gearing or 31's with. A good option to just drive and enjoy auto and manual available. Good wheelbase, very fun, nice compromise between offroad and road. Probably more capable than this forum give credit for. A decent aftermarket but mods can snowball easy. A great choice for a daily that heads out on the weekends.

LWB Sierra is the best as a project and more serious mods, wheel base is suited to bigger tires of 33-35inch

Swb Sierra the best budget build base. IMO best to keep simple 2 inch lift, RUF, lockers, gear and 30x9.5 tires or if you don't mind a little chopping 31's. Very fun capable build with the only sacrifice being on-road.

Swb vitara is the possibly the best compromise for budget, onroad, and offroad. Very stable, guards fit 31's easy, good aftermarket. Like the Jimny it's best to be kept to a simple build. Small lift, 31's, lockers. Would be my car of choice of the lot for beach work and mud tracks. Gearing and ifs are the limitations of this car.

[missmyljdaze]

For a hunting rig, auto is the way to go!, much easier to drive with a rifle in one hand - plus the ride is much smoother.

Long wheel base preferable, no doors [or easily removable half doors?] + folding screen mandatory.

Keep modifications to realistic stuff like decent radiator, oil cooler, trans cooler, chaff screens for all, mild lift.

Big wheels, big lift, big power, big noise, big bling are usually a waste of time and money on hunting rigs.

Most of your time will be spent crawling around fence lines and tracks - so over the top mods are not needed - and most adversely affect reliability anyway.

You want to be able to go hunting - not having to worry about being stuck in the middle of no-where with a broken down vehicle loaded to the brim with dead meat and firearms - and no way of getting home!

been there done that

more than once


stephen

[BigCaroona]

Thanks for the advice thinking I'll go a sierra and do some small mods eg 2inch lift, 30's as suggested.
Thanks again for the tips.

[jordan00191]

2 inch and 30's on a sierra will get you anywhere mate. Its an awesome combo. That's all mine had it kept up and at times surpassed the bugger trucks

[Gwagensteve]

How much experience do you have with victorian conditions Jordan? From what I've seen of the terrain around Alice, I reckon that would be plenty of car, but in Victoria it's not necessarily enough.

[jordan00191]

This is true. We are mainly rocks sand and dirt. Although when red dirt gets wet its just bottomless. So muddies are more common than you would think haha.

I did at one stage take the old girl down south, into NSW and VIC. And I will admit the setup for one condition of driving can be largely different from another. The back muddy terrain with A/T's on was a struggle.. And the leaf springs didn't offer enough soft rebound to keep the tires from digging. The stiff leafs would push the tires too deep.

So yes your right in a way Steve, the need for different vehicles and setups in different terrains is important. But so is considering what you like the best. I personally am not the biggest fan on the look of vitaras. It did grow on me a bit, but I still have a slight resentment against the look.