[Shaneoooo]

G'day Suzuki crew
I recently moved to WA and quickly realised that you don't get far without a 4x4. I drove my beloved holden WB panelvan across but looking to retire it from daily driving. I got a job 40 mins drive from home, so whatever I buy needs to have fuel economy and reliability in mind. I have done a bit of research, and it seems like Suzuki is leading the way in small 4x4 vehicles. I'm leaning towards a jimny simply because they are newer and have great reviews as a 4WD. They also have AC which I think I need coming from vic hahaha. Anyway I have a few questions in regards to the jimnys, if anyone has some knowledge on the topics, I would love to hear it.

Im a keen surfer and would like to be able to drive on the sand and not have to worry about struggling to move round. Is there a simple rim and tyre combination that will work for this? also being legal would be nice.

I like exploring and seem to find a lot of corrugated roads, I'm thinking a larger wheel diameter might help, if its not going to stress out the driveline to much. There doesn't seem to be much room for modification there without a lift kit put on it. any suggestions on good combinations? It seems to come up in forums that they develop shudders driving at high speeds when modified incorrectly.

Is it worth getting a diff locker for the beach driving?

Im wondering if by the time I do these modifications I might not have the fuel efficient car that I started with. If anyone that have done mods like what im looking at can shed any light on consumption figures that would be great.

also if anyone has an idea on costs of some of these things like lift kits and diff lockers, I would be interested in finding out.

Im also open to other cars of the jimny is not going to be the best option.

thanks

Shaneo

[killazook]

Jimny will be a good daily they are fairly good on fuel and seem to be comfortable compared to the sierra i used to drive.

If your only doing beach driving there is no need for a locker and lift the stock suspension seems to be pretty good

If you air your tyres down the way you should start at 12psi and work from there you wont even need bigger tyres.

If you want bigger tyres with minimal fuss just run 215/75/r15 thats what i run and it goes well
I hope this helps.

[henno]

I've never owned a Jimny and only ever driven one, but for beach driving, small-ish tyres (215/75/r15 is a good choice as mentioned above; any bigger will impact fuel economy and make it a bit of a pig to drive around town) and maybe some bash/skid plates over anything that's going to act like an anchor in the ruts - although I think the Jimny's are pretty good in this regard, diffs notwithstanding. Lockers definitely not required.

Other than that, avoid the deep ruts by picking lines that stay on top of the sand where you can(a Jimny will be better floating on top of the fluffy, powdery stuff anyway) and you will eat up pretty much every other car on the beach. The only way you'll ever get stuck in the sand in a Jimny will be from diffing out or driver error (which includes not having tyre pressures down low enough).

That said, I have a SWB grand vitara with a J20 in it and it gets fuel economy nearing that of a Jimny (within 1L/100km) but in my biased opinion is equal to or better at everything you've described than a Jimny is. The LWB grand vitaras are probably better again from a comfort and space point of view, but those extra few hundred kilos come at a cost in either performance (in the case of 2.0L 4 and 6 cylinder models) or fuel economy (in the 2.5L H25a).

I don't think I've ever uttered this sentence before: I think the Jimny might be the best car for you.

[Shaneoooo]

Thanks for the replies guys. So it seems like a stock jimny will be more then capable of doing what I want it to. How will the stock wheels handle corrugations?
How do they at 110kmph? Where there diff ratio options for the jimny or are they all the same?
Thanks

[Jezza86]

as im one of the most remote zookers in a jimny, i figure i can grab this one.
Stock wheels handle corrugations quite well, you just have to air down to get the extra traction and soften the ride.
i now run 30x9.5 on 15x7 sunnies, and thes hanndle it better as you have more traction and can air down more with the LT walls

the only issue with the stock 205/70's was traction on courragations limit your speed by 20kph compared to the 30x9.5's i have now

[Mike57]

The other issue with a Jimny is payload. If you load it up with mods there is very little carrying capacity left. Watch the weight and don't overload it and then take on corrugated roads. Be sensible about what loads you are carrying and air down the tyres and you won't have any problems.

To answer another of your questions I have 215/75/15 MTs and a relatively heavy car and I get about 10l/100km on average. The Jimny has a small engine and does not like hills. Don't expect to keep up with bigger cars going up hills at highway speeds. In Perth that won't be much of a problem as you don't have too may hills to worry about. They can certainly cruise at 110kph but are more fuel efficient at about 90 to 100kph.

Take one from a dealer for an extended test drive and include some highway driving. Take one up Greenmount hill and you will see what we mean.

[GraphicX]

as soon as you start fiddling with the jimny (bull bar, bigger chunkier tyres or suspension left or even just a hill or head wind) it'll get worse fuel economy than a full sized dual cab ute.

[Shaneoooo]

thanks again for the replies.
the payload may be an issue. weekend trip with 2 people plus gear is probably going to slow it down considerably. with the driving distances in WA this would not be very good. perhaps I would be better sacrificing a bit of efficiency through the week and getting something a bit more powerful. I guess I have some thinking to do

[Jezza86]

2 people weighing 100 kg leaves you with 200 kg for mods and gear. a front bar will cost you 30 kg, 50 with a winch.
pack smart, and you wont have a issue.

[MrRocky]

Perhaps a vitara wagon would be more suited
Or an earlier jimny with 1.6 upgrade and small trailer

[Mike57]

GraphicX wrote:

as soon as you start fiddling with the jimny (bull bar, bigger chunkier tyres or suspension left or even just a hill or head wind) it'll get worse fuel economy than a full sized dual cab ute.

My Disco 4 at 2,500kg uses less fuel than my Jimny. The Jimny is not a fuel efficient car when you load it up and travel at speed.

[Shaneoooo]

Maybe I need 2 cars, a solid 4x4 and a runabout to drive to work and back. I'm just wondering where to draw the line with the amount of cars that I'm registering. That would make 3 with the panelvan. Thanks for all the info guys

[vet 180]

Shaneoooo wrote:

Maybe I need 2 cars, a solid 4x4 and a runabout to drive to work and back. I'm just wondering where to draw the line with the amount of cars that I'm registering. That would make 3 with the panelvan. Thanks for all the info guys

Meh just because a mega dollar disco 4 gets better economy when loaded on the highway doesn't mean you need 2 cars. Yes fully loaded going through the hills it wont be the best but in general you will average 10L per 100 so its not all that bad. Yeah sure there are some more efficient newer 4x4 engines out there, but you will not get any change from 25k and you might be more paranoid taking it off road. for 5-10k you can jump in a well set up jimny and be reasonably economical for the driving you want to do, be cheap to mod (not that you need much) and maintain and wont depreciate (p.s. screw owning a landrover anything you will want to cut yourself when you repair or sell it).

[GraphicX]

being totally serious, my jimny on the highway is often returning worse fuel economy than the GQ patrol i sold to buy it (was an RB30). i enjoy the jimny a lot more, but the patrol would eat it alive off road & it was far more comfortable to drive, not to mention i could load it up with tons of gear without issue.

[GreaseMonkey]

henno wrote:

I have a SWB grand vitara with a J20 in it and it gets fuel economy nearing that of a Jimny (within 1L/100km).

Wow never knew both of those cars had that good of fuel economy, almost like a prius

[henno]

GreaseMonkey wrote:

Wow never knew both of those cars had that good of fuel economy, almost like a prius

Not at all, really. A Prius uses almost half as much fuel for the same distance travelled. Even Mrs Henno's Mazda 3, which uses 7-something L/100km is noticeable better on the hip pocket and with a far better range.

I'm not saying my GV is shitty on fuel - it's not - I'm just saying that it's easy to be deceived (mathematically) in to thinking that something using 5L/100km is "close" to something that uses 9L/100km just because they are both single digits.

EDIT: I think I know what you were trying to say now. You misread my post, thinking I was suggesting it was getting 1L/100km fuel usage? What I actually said was that my car was within 1L/100km of the Jimny's average fuel consumption. Big difference.

[tanshi]

Beach driving, comfortable comuting and corrugations.

Jt Grand Vitara. nuff said.

[Zook_Fan]

tanshi wrote:

Beach driving, comfortable comuting and corrugations.

Jt Grand Vitara. nuff said.

x2

[Gwagensteve]

X3.

The use the OP is describing would favour a vitara/GV/NGV over a Jimny in my opinion.

Steve.

[vet 180]

tanshi wrote:

Beach driving, comfortable comuting and corrugations.

Jt Grand Vitara. nuff said.

I was even thinking a early 90's duel cab hilux 2.8TD. Will do what he wants pretty well if he doesn't need the solid front axle. They are reliable, good on fuel, room for surfboards and passengers, strong driveline for bigger tires, better than a jim on the highway etc. The only problem is they are a are not easy to find cheap and you really need a TD or if you can find a NA cheap you can convert to turbo. I really like the higher comp NA's with turbos they go nicely.

Ironically when I had my sierra I would constantly give my mate crap for owning one of these as he thought it was the ducks nuts and the zuk was a girls car, but the little zuk went a lot further offroad. Made it easy to give him crap. Now I am recommending the lux......must be getting old!

[sideways]

I've got an early 90s dual cab hilux (solid axle). I don't think it's in any way or form more comfortable than a Jimny, stock for stock it's much more capable offroad though. I'd much rather commute in a Jimny.

FWIW I've got a stock Jimny and it goes everywhere anyone else does on sand. I live on a rough gravel road in the middle of nowhere and it doesn't have any issues with corrugations.

If I was to do any mods, it would be to put a bigger engine in. It's very cheap and easy to do on an M13 powered one.

GVs are a pretty good, sensible option.

What's your budget?

What you really need to do is overlander spec your WB.

[pete_79]

sideways wrote:

What you really need to do is overlander spec your WB.

Hells yeah.......

[Shaneoooo]

That is one mean looking panelvan!
Speaking of 1l per 100km, this has been achieved by VW. In fact not just achieved, but smashed. Check out the vid for a few details http://youtu.be/m75t4UtX93c

[vet 180]

sideways wrote:

I've got an early 90s dual cab hilux (solid axle). I don't think it's in any way or form more comfortable than a Jimny, stock for stock it's much more capable offroad though. I'd much rather commute in a Jimny.

FWIW I've got a stock Jimny and it goes everywhere anyone else does on sand. I live on a rough gravel road in the middle of nowhere and it doesn't have any issues with corrugations.

If I was to do any mods, it would be to put a bigger engine in. It's very cheap and easy to do on an M13 powered one.

GVs are a pretty good, sensible option.

What's your budget?

What you really need to do is overlander spec your WB.

Yeah I also had a lates 80's live axle lux and it was probably worse on road than my sierra. I think I am thinking of the lnr130 4runner that was good onroad. with the 2.4td or 2.8 it would be a good thing. With it's IFS a stock jim with 215/75's would be better offroad though.

For around town stuff I would still prefer the jim, but for 40km daily highway trips the lwb and diesel of the lux will come into its own

[Shaneoooo]

This is just around the corner from me. I'm going to look at it tomorrow. Anything I should look out for?
I'm guessing that it's nearing is maximum payload with those mods. Might be screwing the fuel economy as a few people have mentioned. Any thoughts? The link is below
Suzuki Jimny 2005 vvt 1.3L on Gumtree http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/1069084329

[Mike57]

With 30" tyres you need to ask if the gearing has been modified. If not it will be a pig to drive. If it has been modified ask what was done. The mods are not over the top. Look out for wheel wobble and with 30" wheels the clutch may have had a good workout. If it needs to get a roadworthy in your state then it probably won't pass with 30" wheels and that 4" lift.

[Shaneoooo]

Ok, I will ask about the gearing. So these mods are not legal in WA? No roadworthy needed, but I don't want to be hassled by the cops. I get enough of that with the panelvan

[Jezza86]

fuel economy wiill suck, the top of the tyre is doing 200KPH when the car is doing 100, and the big exposed wing area of that bar means thats a lot of air getting pushed around.


K+N Air filter means its been eating dirt at least some if not all of that 240000k
Steering dampener- aka had deathwobble but didnt want to fix it properly

[Shaneoooo]

Thanks mate, yeah the steering felt really baggy. Also had a rear dif locker, that was not mentioned till we started turning

[Jezza86]

auto locker is not a locker
sounds like its had a tough life. if the clutch is gone, id be expecting to spend $500 on a new transfer case chain pretty soon.