[Bazookah]

Hi Everyone,

Was looking for a Sierra Hardtop for around the 5k mark but it has been challenging, have seen a 91 Vitara Hard top with roo bad etc for $3500 ONO but the motor has done 260,000km's.

It has also been mentioned that It has a noisy wheel bearing and it is idling unevenly so may require a tune.

What issues should I look for if I decide to view the vehicle and does this seem like an ok price. If not what do you think would be a reasonable offer?

I’m planning on installing a lift kit and fitting it out with some all terrain tyres.

Any information would be great!

Cheers,

Bazookah

[ninjamoses]

Where are you located mate. Vits are getting fairly cheap these days so I don't think that is particularly good value if its got a few things that need fixing..

If you are in Melbourne something like this would be a much better bet:
viewforum.php?f=7&start=30

Less km and a 96 model so EFI.
EDIT: Nevermind, I see you are in Perth so that one is out of the question.

[Reubs]

IMO don't bother comparing odometer readings to make a judgement.

I have owned/wrecked 3 coil Sierras and 3 Vitaras in the last few years. The vehicle in the most reliable condition is my current daily drive Sierra at 340,000km. My other coil Sierra at only 210,000km is bucket of garbage and could never be relied upon for a long distance trip unlike the one that has done an extra 130,000km! In fact - it was well past it's use-by date when I bought it at 160,000km.

My Vitaras are in the same boat - I wrecked a SWB with lower kms to buy a LWB with higher kms which was in better condition!

Odometer readings mean 2/10ths of stuff all when you are talking about 20 year old 4x4s!

IMO, look for a vehicle which is driven everyday - a good indication it is reliable unlike so many weekend-only toys. The owner's attitude is also a good indication of there vehicles condition - does the owner look like the sort of person who pays attention to detail and would maintain the car properly or are they the type which would just drive the vehicle into the ground and sell it on?

[Bazookah]

http://m.gumtree.com.au/1991-suzuki-vit ... i%20vitara

Thanks for the feedback guys. Yeah it does always seem that people go by the k's. I might check it out to check the condition and find out some more about the history of the vehicle.


Also would a lift kit like this be easy to install on the vitara

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com.au/viewi ... 2321440045

Sorry for sliding off topic!!

Cheers,

Bazookah

[DarkHorse]

$3.5k should get you a pretty good early Vit.

Look for the 16V EFI motor (LWB or later SWB.) 260,000km is high but not a deal-breaker, especially if it's had a rebuild that you can trust and looks like it's been well looked after. JLX spec will get you power windows, mirrors, central locking. AC was a factory option.

An uneven idle could (worst case) be a leaking head gasket, so a compression test would be a good idea on any high km motor. Also look for cracks in either the head or the block.

Otherwise it's normal used 4x4 stuff - worn or leaking seals, oil and fluid leaks, play in suspension, drivetrain and steering joints, wheel bearings, weird noises.

If you can get a look under the sill covers check for rust there, and around the doors, tailgate and windscreen.

If it's still on original suspension the shocks and struts will be cactus, and likely the springs as well.

Even if all of that checks out I wouldn't pay more than $3k for that Gumtree one.

That spacer and body lift kit looks OK, but hard to say with just the eBay listing to go on. I'd recommend getting a body lift kit from just_cruisin, and coil spacers from Bruce. Strut spacers and shock relocaters can be bought from Bits4Vits if you want to go that way, though you'd be better off with longer shocks/struts. All of that would cost you about the same for known quality. Have a read through some Vit build threads on here and you'll get an idea of options.

[Reubs]

Bazookah wrote:

Also would a lift kit like this be easy to install on the vitara

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com.au/viewi ... 2321440045

That 'lift kit' is junk aimed at being sold to n00bs with no idea. There are no shocks to go with those spacers so you aren't going to get any extra suspension travel and your ride will be harsh due to big spacers with old shocks sitting near full extension.

[Reubs]

DarkHorse wrote:

$3.5k should get you a pretty good early Vit.

Not in Perth - maybe 5K...

They have an interesting system over there - no safety/roadworthy certificate required to transfer registration (licensing as they call it). Therefore every seller thinks there worn out piece of garbage is worth top dollar - unlike over East.

Here any problem that would be picked up in the process of getting a Safety Certificate means the seller either can't sell the vehicle until fixed so many opt to sell at a reduced price because work needs to be done. This drives the price of (especially older) vehicles down and makes it harder to sell a dodgy vehicle.

There are also far fewer older Suzukis on the road in Perth. Over in Brisbane they are everywhere, but over there you see very few comparitively.

I bought the cheapest Vit I could in Perth a couple of years back and it cost me $2800. It was junk - I knew it was junk but did not realise just how junky it was until I started fixing it up to drive home. Once in Brisbane it wasn't economical to continue to fix... the only good bits on it were the ARB bar and the engine which appears to be a newish rebuild.

[jdk81]

Have you considered buying interstate and having trucked to you, or driving it back yourself?
It opens your options up significantly, when working with your budget.

There's enough people on the forum, who could probably look at a car on your behalf, and help you make an informed decision.

[Bazookah]

Geez thanks for all the advice guys, I have been on other car forums and have never received such great polite replies.

Jdk81 your recommendation is something I may have to consider as I am quite limited here in Perth.

Once again thanks for all the responses. Very much appreciated

Cheers,

Bazookah

[atari4x4]

I'll put my hand up if you need someone to look at a vehicle in Adelaide.

[shandy92]

I'll put my hand up if you need someone to look at a vehicle in Perth.