[cerberus]

Hi all,

So I've just joined the ranks and brought a White 1993 Vitara JX Estate 1.6 EFI 5 speed Manual (all stock standard) who I have dubbed "Khaleesi". As someone who is more accustomed to two wheeled Zooks, I am a relative newbie to the four wheeled versions, let alone four wheel drives.

She's done 270 000 Kms, but she seems to be well maintained and regularly serviced, so apart from a bit of general wear and tear she seems to be in pretty good nick. She starts first time every time, runs well and is easy to drive. My only little niggle is she is she seems a bit thirsty for a 1.6 lt, I haven't done the exact sums but I thought it would be little more economical than what she is or may be I'm just too used to bikes.

So my first question is there anything in particular that I need to keep an eye on? or pay particular attention to?
From what I've read in reviews they seem to be reliable and relatively easy to maintain.

I will be using her as my daily commute to work now but would like to be able to eventually take her off road on the weekends (i.e hunting trips/camping).

Which brings me to my next question, What mods would you recommend to turn her into a proper 4x4 without losing too much on road performance?

Some of mods/add ons I would like to do is
-Snorkel
-Lift Kit
-Spotlights
-Bigger Wheels
-Flared Guards
-Dual Batteries
-Bullbars
-Winch
-Roof Rack or Trailer?

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated

Cheers Monty

[atari4x4]

want a proper 4wd, sell it & buy a patrol.

[Gwagensteve]

You need to understand the difference between an accessory and something that adds capability. Of your list, most of the items won't do anything to make your car a better 4WD, they're simply convenience items.

Even the "bigger wheels" might not help much if you do nothing to correct the gearing.

In my opinion, a "proper 4wd" can actually drive all four wheels, so that means lockers. Once you have the added traction of lockers, you'll need lower gearing.

Beyond that, the accessories you choose might make your car look like it's a "proper" 4wd to the uninitiated, but they're really doing very little to get you further.

[David-mohr122]

Depends on what your doing