[niran]

Hey everyone,

Now I’ve come to a bit of a dilemma with the two cars. I originally bought a 1985 Suzuki sierra/holden drover for a good price however it did need some work. Of one those being that it needs a new engine as the stock 1.3 is blowing smoke and on its way out. I was looking at reconditioning it but the price being asked was a bit more than I intended, which got me thinking, if I should just put a 1.6 in it from a vitara.
Hence why I bought a Suzuki Vitara carby version for a cheap price (The whole car), My intention was to put the vitara motor into the sierra (common conversion and pretty simple I’ve heard), however after driving the vitara and seeing as it needs less work then my sierra does.. I was thinking of maybe just getting the yellow of the Vitara and keeping that.

But the problem that arises is I’ve heard the Vitara isn’t as good off road as the sierra but on road it’s heaps better. What are your opinions? I drive the sierra as my daily at the moment and therefore if I was too sell the Sierra and keep the Vitara, then that would become my daily. I don’t do any crazy 4wding, just something to take out on weekends with mates (terrain such as Mundaring, seabird and so on).
What are the pro’s and con’s of both? If I was to sell the sierra and then use that money to put a lift kit and good tyres on the vitara, would it cope much better?
They both seem to have their good’s and bad from the reading I’ve done. The sierra is simple, goes anywhere and parts don’t cost too much; however the vitara has power steering, wider track, aircon and electronic windows..

What do you guys reckon?

Cheers, Ni

[atari4x4]

sounds like the vitara will suit your needs, with a basic 2" lift & some 235/75/15 AT's or MT's it will perform quite well off road without taking the edge off the on-road manners

[Poita]

As above. The vitara is still very capable but much nicer as a daily driver.

[Samwich]

x3 Vitara can be an awesome offroader, depends how much you want to do it up Ect

But for a daily and casual 4x4ing its the way to go

[Zook_Fan]

Says the three vitara owners...

But seriously, if you care about stuff like power windows and aircon just go with the vitara. Sierra drivers compromise this stuff for offroad awesome but it doesn't sound like you want to do all that much anyway. I'd agree with the setup Atari has stated regardless of which of the two cars you choose.

[Samwich]

I dont have power windows ):

[atari4x4]

Zook_Fan wrote:

Says the three vitara owners...

But seriously, if you care about stuff like power windows and aircon just go with the vitara. Sierra drivers compromise this stuff for offroad awesome but it doesn't sound like you want to do all that much anyway. I'd agree with the setup Atari has stated regardless of which of the two cars you choose.

i never said they were awesome, you've got to DIY that into a vitara.... stock they're just poxy girls cars.

[niran]

Hey every one,

Thanks for all your input, much appreciated. That's exactly it, I don't mind going either way and hence why I thought I would get an opinion from some of you guys, especially ones who have owned vitara's like Atari, Potia and Samwich.. but then Zook_Fan also makes a valid point. I don't mind having aircon or any of the electrics but as a daily driven car it would be nice. My other car has no air-con either or power steering so its not too much of an issue.

I picked up the Vitara today, for $400.. It has some front end damage (light assembly, front fender, grill) , as usual a broken CV boot ,oil leaks and needs a new soft top(as its ripped), before it can go over pits again. Do you guys reckon its worth fixing all that and getting the Yellow off or just chucking the motor in the Sierra?

here are some links of the car

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/62/imag0583v.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/16/imag0582v.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/513/imag0581z.jpg/

[atari4x4]

damage doesn't look that bad, problem being in WA you're going to pay through the roof for parts.

[niran]

Hopefully should be alright.. as for all hard parts/seals/bushes I work at Repco so will use my staff discount .. just need to try find a soft top cover again, do you by any chance know if you can get a hard canopy for the vitara's ? I know you can for the Sierra's but I cant seem to find anything for a Vitara...

[atari4x4]

vitara fiberglass hardtops are about as common as unicorn poo

[atari4x4]

here is one http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Suzuki-Vitar ... 2a2561ac18

[niran]

atari4x4 wrote:

here is one http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Suzuki-Vitar ... 2a2561ac18

Oh dam!! I would be so keen to buy that, but he/she has said local pick up only .. Might have to keep trying to find this rare piece

[Poita]

Yeah I saw that but pickup in Melbourne only
Was posted on here somewhere as well, he wants $1200 for it.

[niran]

Poita wrote:

Yeah I saw that but pickup in Melbourne only
Was posted on here somewhere as well, he wants $1200 for it.

Oh wow, Maybe I will just stick to the soft top for now .. took it out today just around the block on sand, front wheels don't seem to be locking.. seems like the hubs aren't pushing the axles to lock, will remove them tomorrow and see whats going on. Hopefully just needs a clean/re-grease

[brando93]

im in i similar position, got a good vitara but kinda want a sierra haha. Vitara deffinately is good on the road though

[shandy92]

mate sounds like the vit is for you, the body work should keep you busy for a while anyway.

what repco do you work at?

[madmacca]

You Bugga I saw that on gumtree but the guy didnt send me his phone number

good buy was it a efi 1.6 or a carby

if you decide to just use the engine let me know I am looking for a 2 door shell

[niran]

Hey guys,

Started to take apart/inspect a bit more of the front damage and it looks like the front is bent/pushed upwards on one side. Might actually have to go with the original idea and put all the gear into my Sierra..

Will take more of the front apart now and see how bad it is, Are narrow track sierra's really bad? I've got a 1985 Holden drover/Suzuki sierra high roof. Maybe If i put the 1.6 in there and fix it up a bit, it wont be half as bad with a lift kit and all?

Shandy92 - I work at the Cockburn Repco

[niran]

madmacca wrote:

You Bugga I saw that on gumtree but the guy didnt send me his phone number

good buy was it a efi 1.6 or a carby

if you decide to just use the engine let me know I am looking for a 2 door shell

Haha sorry bud, Ah it was a 1.6 carby motor.. I guess its an upgrade from the sierra motor haha.. Yeah, I will let you know mate

[KEENSY85]

Get a Sierra, there amphibious well can be ROFLMAO. more trendy then a vitara,
Vitaras are still cool just not as much as a Sierra strait out of the box.

Both are great cars thou, just make ur decision before u start looking if u can.

[atari4x4]

bit late keensy on the advice... if you read the posts he's bought the vit & already own's the sierra

[SierraDan]

thou
pron.
Used to indicate the one being addressed, especially in a literary, liturgical, or devotional context.

[sideways]

Nothing wrong with a NT at all.

[KEENSY85]

atari4x4 wrote:

bit late keensy on the advice... if you read the posts he's bought the vit & already own's the sierra

Skim reading again sorry boys, oh and for poor grammar lol

[KEENSY85]

niran wrote:

Hey guys,

Started to take apart/inspect a bit more of the front damage and it looks like the front is bent/pushed upwards on one side. Might actually have to go with the original idea and put all the gear into my Sierra..

Will take more of the front apart now and see how bad it is, Are narrow track sierra's really bad? I've got a 1985 Holden drover/Suzuki sierra high roof. Maybe If i put the 1.6 in there and fix it up a bit, it wont be half as bad with a lift kit and all?

Shandy92 - I work at the Cockburn Repco

Nt are good, u can make it wt for pretty cheap anyway,a nt can flex more with nt diff spacing on wt diffs

[niran]

Thanks for all your help guys..

Yep, ended up going with the Sierra and putting everything from the Vitara into it. The Vitara's engine bay/surrounding is a bit bent and I think the rear main seal is leaking, so thought to just put everything in the straight body Sierra and then whilst the engine is out, do all the seals/gaskets

[masterA]

niran wrote:

........ I work at the Cockburn Repco

Were you the one that served me on Friday arvo....i brought the 8mm EFI fuel hose?

[niran]

masterA wrote:

niran wrote:

........ I work at the Cockburn Repco

Were you the one that served me on Friday arvo....i brought the 8mm EFI fuel hose?

Hey man,

Nah wouldn't have been me.. I only work on weekends as I do full time Uni at the moment haha