2002 Suzuki Jimny

[HorneyMX5]

Because 3 road cars isn't enough. To add to the Yeti Daily, 1.8 MK1 MX5 sunny day daily and the supercharged 1.6 MX5 road legal sprint/hill/trackday car I decided I totally needed a cheap and fun offroader.

After a bit of research it appeared that a Jimny was the best for my budget to buy and modify. I placed a wanted advert on the BigJimny forum and this one in Oxford came up. A deal was struck at £1100.

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Came fitted with the Mud Terrain tyres (and a spare set of wheels with AT tyres) and 32mm spacers. Has MOT till October and very little of the crusty stuff. It's quite scratched but who cares.

One small issue is it seemed very down on power. The previous owner had replaced the lambda and cam sensor but not much improvement. A quick google revealed a common problem was the first cat (in the manifold) collapsing and blocking up the second cat in the exhaust with bits. Out came the angle grinder and sure enough that was the problem.

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Cleared out the first cat and made a decat out of some stainless that was kicking about.

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Now good as gold and pulls nicely. Took the scenic route to work this morning.

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Plans are a 2" lift kit, snorkel and lots of spotlights.

[HorneyMX5]

I've only had it since sunday evening. ha ha.

[HorneyMX5]

Friday night adventures.

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

[HorneyMX5]

Yesterday went to Salisbury plains with some friends including Nick of Skuzzle Motorsport. Fun was had!

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

[HorneyMX5]

They're 205 70 R15.

[HorneyMX5]

Ecosseven said:

Thanks. They look larger than standard - must be the tread pattern.

Is that the standard tyre size then? It came with them fitted and although it came with another set of wheels with road tyres I've not even looked at what's fitted to those.

[HorneyMX5]

Ecosseven said:

HorneyMX5 said:

Ecosseven said:

Thanks. They look larger than standard - must be the tread pattern.

Is that the standard tyre size then? It came with them fitted and although it came with another set of wheels with road tyres I've not even looked at what's fitted to those.

Yes, I'm pretty sure that the standard tyre size is 205/70/15. I'm told that 195/80/15 will fit without modification and that 215/75/15 might fit without a lift but it's tight. To be honest If I were you I would just get out there and enjoy the car as it is. Looks great fun and I keep looking at my local classifieds for something similar. Just need to convince my missus that we need another car!

Well these rub very slightly on full lock and occasionally bang the arches on the rear when tackling bumpy stuff. I'm going to source and fit a 2" spring and damper lift at some point.

Anyway, just buy one. You may guess from my username that I love MX5s. These are surely the MX5 of the offroad world? Small, cheap and punch above their weight.

[HorneyMX5]

Mr Peel said:

That's great. You can join 4x4 rescue now

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Mr Peel my friend! How the devil are you? Long time no see.

Funnily enough I looked at that when I bought the Yeti and then did some reading and decided it wasn't for me. I'll just stick to towing people out of snow or floods if that happens round here.

[HorneyMX5]

Roof lights mounted but not yet wired in:

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

and Tonka stickers because toy truck.

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

[HorneyMX5]

Snorkel fitted and another scenic drive to work.

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

2" BlackRaptor lift kit (Springs and dampers) due for deliver today.

[HorneyMX5]

Went to a Pay and Play day today. Sooooo much fun!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pq-zJC-nbos

[HorneyMX5]

bobby_vimto said:

What are the chunky tread tyres like on the roads? I realise the Jimny is mostly for off road fun but was thinking about a set of Yoko Geolanders for my own 3dr RAV winter hack rather than Michelin Latitude equivalents - it's just they just look really over the top? Are they super noisy, terrible wet grip etc. or is there not much difference as these things never reach any high speeds.

...usually.

Edited by bobby_vimto on Friday 8th July 16:12

Terrible. Wet grip is sketchy and they lock up very easily even in the dry. There also bloody loud. They are at least 8 years old though as they're Colway tyres and they went bust in 2008.

[HorneyMX5]

Video Part 2, because I found I missed some good bits.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbXA2MYBXjE

[HorneyMX5]

and the 1.9 TDI from some Pugs.

[HorneyMX5]

2" BlackRaptor Lift Kit fitted last night.

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

I'll park it up in a place I have a before shot at somepoint for a comparison. So far impressions are good. It feels softer damped on the road. I'll hopefully be taking it to get muddy on Sunday.

[HorneyMX5]

Went out to test the lift kit a bit this evening. Took my fave local lane to find a tree had fallen down.

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

PH Smiley

I went all Bear Grills and using another branch spent 20 mins levering it out of the way and then carried on.

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

So far so good. As per on the road it feels a little more softly sprung and damped. Articulation seems better from the drivers seat as well. THere's a few of us heading out on sunday fro some good lanes round Wiltshire.

[HorneyMX5]

Another mad sunday of greenlaning.

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Paintwork got ruined but a bit of t-cut seems to bring it back. The right side of this photo is what the whole car looks like, the left after a quick polish by hand.

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

[HorneyMX5]

Bought a rotary polisher and spent today de-scratching it and giving it a good clean.

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

My mate had some ramps he didn't want anymore. Time for an axel flex photo or two!

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Fitted my CB radio and wired up my roof lights.

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

And finally went out shopping and found another Jimny!

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

[HorneyMX5]

So Roger, a fellow 5er, bought a Jimmy a few weeks a go to but had been suffering overheating problems. He'd fitted a new rad yesterday so today we thought we'd combine a pub lunch with our better halves and a short test and see if his overheating problems had gone.

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Roger managed to knock a tyre off a bead.

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

And a short video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_JlgE_G_qc

[HorneyMX5]

Last sunday went to the Muddy Bottom 4x4 Playground in the new forest with fellow Jimmy nut Roger. I got stuck, a lot, due to the place being heavily used by people with Land Rover vehicles and the ruts are just too deep for clearance with the Jimmy diff. Bigger tyres would solve it but that messes up the gearing. Anyway, it was all part of the fun and a good time was had. Even if being recovered by a Disco ripped one of the rear tow eyes off the chases! lol.

Pics are mix from my own, Roger's good lady and the guys who run Muddy Bottom 4x4.


Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Getting pulled out:

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Stuck again:

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

and stuck again, lol:

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Nearly drowned in a big puddle, this was right by the burger van while everyone was having lunch. Ha ha.

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Er, stuck again.

Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr

Here's a vid of the day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qk0TgR97JtU

Edited by HorneyMX5 on Saturday 13th August 10:10