[Dr_Snapid]

Hello everyone

As you may know i have a 03 jimny with auto. Love it to bits. But I do many road kms for work and I am wondering if i wouldnt be better with a v6 GV (about the same sort of age) or other small 4x4

I dont want to lose too much off road ability and so far the jimny has impressed the hell out of me and my mates. I was wonderng if the GV was much softer in the offroad stakes. I know it's better than the softies like x-trail but is it as good as the jimny?

Of course I know the ramp over angle etc wont be as good because of longer wheelbase etc so a bigger lift perhaps?

My jimny follows 4inch lifted 80 and 4inch lifted GU2 patrol basically anywhere (admittedly with a fair bit of diffing out, i generally follow different lines of course and work the small car to my advantage where possible)

I want the GV's long range road manners (not that the jimny is bad but i'm tall and only just fit as it is) and that little extra room. I know the GV will shit on the jimny on road... which is enough to make up for a little off road loss...

I have a Hyundai Terracan which is kind of next size up (prado sized) and want to stay smaller for my daily/work/play driver. Of the smaller 4WDs it seems a limited selection

While i'm at it has anyone driven the Nissan Terrano 2? Nissan Pajero SWB? Would not totally rule out a SWB patrol but it would have to be in good nick

[Rockhopper]

If your looking at doing any modding, or even just parts, I'd probably stay away from the Nissan Terrano II. There's not a hell of a lot of them getting around, so parts will generally be more expensive than the others. As for off road ability, imo, none of them are as good as a Jimny because the jimny is the only one with a solid front axle. As an everyday driver, I'd probably go for a GV or a Paj, but the Pajero's have been known to suffer from oil leaks. Hope this helps

[vitzookman]

Have a look at all the gvs on this forum, they seem to be a good compromise but if you want a Jimny in a Gv then I would look at a 2L swb Gv - does every thing a lwb does but has short wheel base like a Jimny and you could stick a 2.5L in down the track

[bakerboy]

A nissan Pajero hey haha, rockhopper what are these oil leaks you mention?

What year paj were you looking at?

[Rockhopper]

Rocker covers, front pulley seals, rear main seals etc

[suzooky87]

they are well known to be oil leakers..............

[bakerboy]

Not to be confused with land rovers, never heard of these supposed common leaks. You will get rocker cover leaks if the gasket isn't fitting right. The most common problem though would be the crankshaft bolt working its way loose, however it is well documented so most people keep an eye out for it.

Swb would generally be a 2.8 diesel or maybe the 3l v6, with the 2.8 recieving the larger diff and axles, as well as 4.9's as opposed to 4.625's

Easy to lift, fit some lwb springs, longer shocks, wind the torsion bars up and maybe do a ball joint flip

They will also generally have the suspension base seats

[Scrawny]

The Terrano II was built in Spain, making it a bit of an orphan. They weren't the usual Nissan quality build of that generation. I wouldn't recomend them to anyone. My brother had a 2.8 turbo diesel SWB Paj for a while, it did him well (he doesn't look after vehicles). The 2.8 was a much better motor than the 2.5

[Dr_Snapid]

There is a 3L Paj in a mate's mech yard that the people who brought in in havent paid for the repairs. He's expecting them to walk away from it. I should tee up drive I suppose.

Haha on the Nissan Pajero that would be a great find wouldnt it... of course i meant mitsu and no offense meant to nissan drivers LOL

[bakerboy]

the 3L can be thirsty, and if neglected, the cooling system can let you down

[rustyzook]

bakerboy wrote:

Not to be confused with land rovers

land rovers dont leak oil, they just refresh oil frequently!! haha


go the vit! keep in a suzi family!

[Dr_Snapid]

Jeez I do love my Jimny. I dunno how i'll let it go. It can hang around until the right car comes along I guess. Thanks for your info guys. I agree the Terrano is out. 2nd gen Pajero SWB (Preferably NL) would be ideal I think but havent driven one yet... Would love a newer model but no $$$. I hope to get about 10K for the jimny and basically that's all i can spend on it's replacement, i dont want to get a loan.

I would like to stay away from thirsty cars but even the jimny is thirsty - 11l per 100kms being about the best I can get from it. I'm doing a fuel test today cos I do have smaller tyres back on it and the rof rack off. Maybe it's improved...

I find that you lose any money you save on fuel in the purchase price of a more fuel efficient car...