[gordon]

Hey guys,

I'm looking into buying Suzuki, I currently have a patrol I use as my daily driver/4x4. I thinking about buying a 4cyl vitara or GV pre 2005 5 door as their cheaper to run. I plan on putting some 30s and a 2 or 3 inch lift under it. Just wondering what your views on the two cars are, Which will be easier to modify as I have read in some places putting a lift in can be a bit of work. Also I have seen that the GVs have steel axles but parts can be expensive. What are your views? Which do you think would be the better option?

Cheers,

Jordan

[watermouse]

Welcome to AZ, Jordan.

Depends on what you will use it for primarily. As a daily commute and weekend 4wd the GV would be the easier, more comfortable car to live with but the Vitara would be a better 4x4. Very similar setup though.

Vit alloy front diffs can be swapped for steel GV ones. But not all GVs have steel front diffs.
2" max on suspension unless you go aftermarket arms. The front struts and CV's are problematic here
Gearing for big tyres is also a problem with Vitaras. Not so much for GVs.

[MrRocky]

245/75r16 (30.7") with 2-3" lift is the perfect recipe for broken cv"s in a gv if you actually intending on driving decent terrain (they even blow on the beach)
If u stay a smaller all terrain you will find the gv front alot happier

[gordon]

Cheers watermouse!

I only go 4wding once a month or so but I do go through some reasonably serious terrain so the cv problem is worrying me, that's why I'm leaning more towards a vit, are the vit diffs really that bad and are they easy to change? I currently have a 00' patrol so would you know how the ride would compare to that?

[threshold]

The ally diffs in the vits does have a reputation for blowing mate. In saying that mine is intact however i only do mildish offroading. Easy to change as any steel front diff on an ifs is. My ride is pretty firm from my dobinsons 2 inch lift

[ZUZUKI]

Hi Jordan,

The front diff & CV strength issue is effectively the same between the Vitara & the (early auto) Grand Vitara, but as the GV has more power & is a heavier car, the limits of bustability are reached quicker.
A 1.6litre EFI + auto update (1995-98) Vitara wagon, with a steel Grand Vitara Diff centre & housing (from a manual), twin air lockers, 35-40mm of suspension, a little guard massaging, 30/9.5R15 muddies, will be about a $10k all up serious package.
Strong enough, unless you do crazy stuff & have no vehicle empathy.
Will drive ok & be comfortable enough for daily use.

You could go 31/10.5R15, but need to do more cutting (some end up with a body lift to aid wheel well clearance) & lower ratio transfer case gears would be nice, then the strength issue is closer to the surface, so a fair bit of compromise for an extra sub-15mm clearance under the cross members / diff.

I have a Grand Vitara & love it, but putting 30" tyres on one has it's own issues, so like watermouse says, depends on what you want the bias to be towards.
Good luck with your decisions.
Rgs, Michael