[amoooocow]

Hi guys,
Looking to buy my first 4wd after my previous car was written off and have about 6k to play with.
-the car will be my daily driver, decent amount of freeway driving
-would prefer soft or hard top rather than the closed top
-will probably be used mainly for driving on the beach every fortnight or so
-cheap on fuel $$$
-will ocassionaly have passengers in the back,

After having read some threads on here i think the vitara is my best bet? altough am open to other suggestions (sierra, jimny feroza)
Regarding the Vitara i do have a few questions.
-which engine? 1.6L or 2.0L 4cyl or 2.0L 6cyl? i am yet to see a 6 cylinder one for sale in WA and think i would prefer the 2.0L 4cyl the most. However there are plenty of the 1.6's and very few 2.0L 4cyl's
pretty much my question is, should i hold out for the 2.0L 4cyl? or will the 1.6 be enough for freeway driving and some road trips?
-how many KMS is too many for these engines?
-not really fussed if its manual or auto unless anyone has a strong preferance?
-havent seen any LWB vits but the extra space would be cool, is there much more room and is there any effect on fuel consumption?

Any help will be much appreciated, cheers in advance.

[sideways]

There's a few basic versions of the soft top Vitara. I'm not a Vitara guy so I don't know all the years ect off the top of my head, hopefully one of the vit guys can confirm?

Early models (until 1994, iirc) had the G16a 8v carby engine. A bit gutless and lower spec'd. Autos have a trimatic. Quite cheap and surprisingly common.

94(possibly) onwards has the G16b EFI 16v engine. A good improvement over the G16a. Autos also got the AW4 gearbox which is much better. In 96 (I think) they got a new dash and a 26 spline front diff.

The above 1.6s came in JX and JLX. JX being pov spec and JLX having electric windows, power steering ect.

SVs are the later model ones. These have flairs, usually two tone paint, JLX spec equiptment and the J20a (2l 4cyl) engine. LWB models had the H20a (V6)

The SV is by far the pic of the bunch IMO. They're have the best engines, best equipment, easy gearing options if you go for bigger tyres and IMO, they look far better.

Generally, the life of a Suzuki is 250'000-300'000kms. At this age, most G16 powered models will have cracked blocks or heads. Also check for smoke on start up (valve stem seals). J10a are pretty bulletproof. H20as can have timing chain issues, you'l hear a rattle on startup if they do.

For what it's worth, I searched for quite some time for a decent condition Vit in W.A and didn't find one. They've all got high KMs, rough bodies/interiors or multiple issues that needed fixing. I bought a Jimny, there's heaps of ones in quite good condition in your budget. Although rare, SWB Grand Vitaras could be another option. There's also X90s but they're immensely impractical and everyone seems to want a lot for them.

[amoooocow]

Wow thanks for such a detailed response!
So the J20a would be my best bet? Can only find one of them on Gumtree which has done 240 000 kms. Can see plenty of the 1.6's which I think are the G16b EFI 16v. Are the 1997 1.6's the G16b EFI 16v or something different?

My main question is if I can't find a 2.0 j20a, would I be much worse off with the 1.6 G16b EFI 16v? Will it be capable of road trips of a few hours of driving at a time?

What do you think of these ones?

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/armadale ... 1066614476

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/parkervi ... 1067449772

Once again cheers in advance!

[AckerDackerly]

The first Vitara seems well-equipped - ARB locker in the rear axle! It reads like the owner has installed a 2.0 with matching transmission. If you look at it, be sure to carefully examine the wiring harness and the rest of the engine compartment for general tidiness. The truck may look good on the outside, but the conversion may be an unreliable hack-job.

I like the second truck. Clean, removable hardtop, fairly low KMs for the year. No mods means no hidden problems.


At least here in the USA, the 1.6 16-valve with Mulitipoint Fuel Injection (like the white Vit listed above) in either the SWB or LWB Vitara-equivalant is fine for highway cruising except when you really load them up with gear or people. I have owned both types and they certainly do better on the highway than a Sierra/SJ413.

I have also owned a 2002 2.5 V-6 LWB Chevy Tracker (Suzuki GV equivalent?). It was much more peppy and easy to drive on the highway. Unfortunately, it does not lend itself to serious offroading (IMO) because of the "creature-comfort" 4WD engagement system that uses vacuum-assist to engage the front axle thus doing away with the locking hubs. That said, it might do quite nicely on sand with proper tyres and regular preventive maintenance.

I wish we had Jimnys in the USA (Curse you Consumer Reports!). From what I read and have heard, that might be a more cost-effective choice in your situation.

[vet 180]

amoooocow wrote:

Wow thanks for such a detailed response!
So the J20a would be my best bet? Can only find one of them on Gumtree which has done 240 000 kms. Can see plenty of the 1.6's which I think are the G16b EFI 16v. Are the 1997 1.6's the G16b EFI 16v or something different?

My main question is if I can't find a 2.0 j20a, would I be much worse off with the 1.6 G16b EFI 16v? Will it be capable of road trips of a few hours of driving at a time?

What do you think of these ones?

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/armadale ... 1066614476

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/parkervi ... 1067449772

Once again cheers in advance!

The first one looks awesome. Has all the basics there
lockers front and rear
lift for 31's
HD clutch
extractors
snorkel etc

The add is a little misleading as he says 2.0 GV engine, however it could be the h20 or j20, I personally for a daily would prefer the j20 due to fuel economy and torque distribution.

Give him a call and find out the deal. I don't think the engine has been converted (but ask) as that model comes with the GV engine, he has just highlighted it.

[DC3PTIKON]

It is a SV420 and has the J20a (2.0l 4cyl) which is standard for that model.

[DC3PTIKON]

Looks like a match! Same dents on the drivers door etc.

http://www.auszookers.com/forum/search.php?keywords=snorkel&t=7334&sf=msgonly

[amoooocow]

Haha wow well there you go. Small world!
The sv420 has 250ks on the clock, is that too much? Shame its the only one I can find with the j20a. Perhaps the other one would be better suited as a daily for me?
Cheers.

[vet 180]

amoooocow wrote:

Haha wow well there you go. Small world!
The sv420 has 250ks on the clock, is that too much? Shame its the only one I can find with the j20a. Perhaps the other one would be better suited as a daily for me?
Cheers.

I think above 150,000 its more about the maintenance of the car. I personally wound prefer something with 250,000 maintained well than 150,000 that has been flogged out and neglected.

[henno]

vet 180 wrote:

I personally wound prefer something with 250,000 maintained well than 150,000 that has been flogged out and neglected.

Absolutely. Unfortunately, without knowing the history of the car only one of those two is easily measurable and that is why the odometer is king. Assume the engine has been poorly maintained beyond 100,000km.

[VitNick]

J20 with around 150-200 000 will most likely be up for timing chain. Mine wasn't too bad then all of a sudden sounded like a diesel engine at 150 000 kays. SV420 slightly harder to find some parts for and pay more for parts in some cases. Headlights, and some other bits and pieces are common to SV and JLX but for body/ trim engine you are stuck with SV stuff only (some GV engine stuff works). Pick of the bunch tho being able to go up hills and not loose to much speed leaving friends in JLX's behind (I am biased in owning one tho ).
Locker, steel diff, tyres and diff's will see you driving most places you won't want to take a Vit. Add some crawler gears and they will go surprisingly far.

Both JLX and SV are fine on freeway and road trips, just don't expect to be in the right lane overtaking. Have been a way with my SV, SWB JLX and LWB JLX and all were fine and drove nicely. The extra power is good, but nothing to massive on longer trips. Only time I noticed it was on a long uphill I could hold my speed for longer but eventually start to slow

[bohuler]

http://carsales.mobi/cars/results?q=((S ... %20cars%5D)%26(Make%3D%5BSuzuki%5D%26(Model%3D%5BGrand%20Vitara%5D)))%26Postcode%3Dpoi%5B3781x10km%5D

Mine for sale. You can take off $500 of the car sales price ☺