[Poz93]

Hey everyone I'm new to the whole world of cars and would like everyone's opinion.

I'm a 19 year old student in Brisbane who loves going camping and 4x4ing (grown up with it and I work casual at a outdoors store) but I also need a car that I can drive around town and get good fuel economy from. I'm going to be getting a loan from the parents to buy it so I'm hoping for a car around the $10,000 mark giving me maybe $3000 on top of the car loan to do some smaller practical mods.

So I'm looking into the Jimny because it meets most of my criteria. Quick search on Carsales comes up with this fella.

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/suzuki-jimny-2006-13706568?base=1216&vertical=Car&cr=3&eapi=2&__N=1216+1282+4294962891+4294962248+900&num=15&silo=Stock&Range=Price:Min,15000~0.5&sort=~Odometer

Thoughts? I do have a manual licence but I do a lot of peak hour driving and am honest enough to say I'm lazy.

What would be the first things you would do to it if you had say $3000-4000?

[Benz]

mild lift with a mild increase of wheel size opting for tyres that are more aggressive.

This will keep the fuel economy good and get you most places with ease.

then learn how to wheel!

but that's just me

[JayKay]

As Benz said, personally I'd also look at roof racks / basket as well.
seeing as your into camping and space is limited in a zook >_<

also if you don't think you'll need the rear seats, ditch em and make a flat floor.

[Poz93]

Yea the roof rack/basket and lift were going to be my first things to do.

Like I said I have a decent idea of what the roof rack would cost me through my job but any idea roughly what a lift would cost? (Just for the parts because I am decent around cars and so is my dad and we've done lifts on both 100 and 80 series Landcrusiers)

How big are the fuel tanks in the Jimny's?

[JayKay]

Poz93 wrote:

Yea the roof rack/basket and lift were going to be my first things to do.

Like I said I have a decent idea of what the roof rack would cost me through my job but any idea roughly what a lift would cost? (Just for the parts because I am decent around cars and so is my dad and we've done lifts on both 100 and 80 series Landcrusiers)

How big are the fuel tanks in the Jimny's?

Hey mate, see here for a bit of an idea http://www.superiorengineering.com.au/store.php?cPath=26_519_694

Jimny tank is only 40L

[Poz93]

Wow everyone here is so helpful. Awesome thanks that's a little cheaper than I expected.

I've been reading the topic on getting larger tanks and it doesn't sound all that easy. Is there really no space under there for not a larger tank?

How big of a lift would you recommend? Would 2" be enough? The most serious I would go would be somewhere like Fraser.

[sideways]

Poz93 wrote:

The most serious I would go would be somewhere like Fraser.

That's what everyone says when they first start out.

2" is fine, Suzukis don't need big lifts like the larger 4wds.

If I had 3-4k to spend on a Jimny that was going to be used on sand and for camping I'd go for some 215 mud tyres, a small lift and a bullbar. There'd be enough left there to get a recovery kit, air compressor, first aid kit, fire extinguisher ect ect.

The autos are weak and cost cubic dollars to fix or replace when they go wrong, I'd get a manual for that reason alone.

[Reubs]

Poz93 wrote:

How big of a lift would you recommend? Would 2" be enough? The most serious I would go would be somewhere like Fraser.

If you need a lift for Fraser then you're doing something wrong...

IMO do some wheeling with some similar vehicles to work out what you need. Strangely enough there is a Suzuki 4x4 club in Brisbane...

[Poz93]

Well I've been scooting around town in dads 80 this week and I don't mind the manual as long as the clutch is smooth. My sisters car is a pug 306 and its got a cable clutch and that's no fun to drive.

I only need the lift to go save my dads 80 and mates hilux when they belly out and get bogged.

I'll let you all know how I go and I'll be sure to ask questions and take pictures as I build the Jimny. Thanks again all for your help now just need to convince dad the Jimny is worth it before he loans me the money

[Poz93]

Whats everyone's thoughts on buying cars that have been used offroad already and has been kitted out as supposed to buying a family car and then fitting it out?

For instance buying:
http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/suzuki-jimny-2005-13416135?base=1216&vertical=Car&cr=1&eapi=2&__N=1622+1246+1247+1252+1282+4294962891+4294962248+900+1216&num=15&silo=Stock&Range=Price:Min,10000~1&sort=default

I'm not a big fan of what he has done in the back, would rip out the water tank and sub-woofer but whats everyone's thoughts?

Sorry to keep asking questions.

[Benz]

bugger me....
why a tv?
don't mind the water tank but in a jimny which would be a daily driver and only taken out camping every now and then, the room it takes up would be missed...

and the vvt m13aa's are much nicer to drive. saying that I have a non vvt Jimny and it's fine

haha who takes a trolley jack with them everywhere?

[Scales]

That white one looks pretty decent.

I got my 2003 for 10k But had no mods on it except for the ARB bar, winch and spottys.


That one has a few more k's than mine had/has. but has a nice rear bar and lift already etc... definatley worth a look IMO

[jimmy91]

I pull a 200 series cruiser out on the weekend. Space fr camping is poor but going moat places in 2wd is easy. My 120 series would have to work a bit at times where as the jimny loves the beach. How ever I find it a bit slow at take off, once its moving its pretty good for a 1.3L.

[Blakey]

that must be heavy in the back with the 80L of water and 40L of fuel when its full seems a little overkill on the water there id rather a 80L fuel tank with 40L water

plus hes lyeing it cannot be roadworthy as it has 30" wheels on it which in QLD is still illegal. and an illegal car cannot be given a RWC. as I'm pretty sure we still have no way to get larger tyres legalized.

[Poz93]

Well I thought I would update everyone on what has happened.

I'm now one of you. I own a Jimny!

I bought it of one of the our fellow posters on this forum and so far am very happy with it. Here is the topic where he was advertising it.

http://www.auszookers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=37002

Just got back from what has been a good old just turned 18 piss up at Mudjimba (Sunshine Coast). I drove around town for two days before I left and immediately realised that not having power steering was going to take some getting used to and so was driving a petrol manual (because I have learnt to drive in diesel LandCruisers and Peugeots and que all those that are going to complain that kids these days are soft for complaining about not having power steering etc etc. )

Now back and having had it five days I am loving it. Slowly finding things out that suit my needs. Like already looking at getting Rhino Aero Bars which means I'll have to get the gutters fitted to the roof. As well as getting rid of the standard radio/CD player and fitting a aftermarket double din touch screen radio like the one here:

http://store.sony.com/p/XAV-60/en/p/XAV60

So I ask the question, has anyone fitted one like this before to a Jimny? I know they fit straight into some cars but I thought I may have read somewhere that the Jimny's have a slightly bigger space creating the need to buy a whole new aftermarket centre console facia.

[Skippy]

ive got a new model pioneer touch screen that has a couple buttons, comes with reversing cam and bluetooth. paid $650 for it from autobarn but got the other gear at a good price

[JayKay]

I have a double 7" DVD player off ebay, does the job and for an extra $30 you can get a reverse camera for it.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/160737584453?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649