Would trhis be OK-ish as a winter 4x4
Discussion
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Suzuki-Jimny-1-3-JLX-/150639170612?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item2312cb5434
I used to hate them but it would be for our lass who needs a 4x4 in winter for getting out into the yorkshire dales.
I would borrow it occasionally for long trips up the M1 in the snow.
Seems better than kitting out mine and her cars in winter tyres, may aswell get a 4x4 and put decent winter tyres on it.
It also has the added bonus of making you look like a hairdresser in summer with the top down.
I used to hate them but it would be for our lass who needs a 4x4 in winter for getting out into the yorkshire dales.
I would borrow it occasionally for long trips up the M1 in the snow.
Seems better than kitting out mine and her cars in winter tyres, may aswell get a 4x4 and put decent winter tyres on it.
It also has the added bonus of making you look like a hairdresser in summer with the top down.
rallycross said:
awful for long journeys.
Really? Only the long ones?Fiat Panda 4x4 is head and shoulders above the Suzuki.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAg4DdXAp7Y
torqueofthedevil said:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Suzuki-Jimny-1-3-JLX-/150639170612?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item2312cb5434
I used to hate them but it would be for our lass who needs a 4x4 in winter for getting out into the yorkshire dales.
I would borrow it occasionally for long trips up the M1 in the snow.
Seems better than kitting out mine and her cars in winter tyres, may aswell get a 4x4 and put decent winter tyres on it.
It also has the added bonus of making you look like a hairdresser in summer with the top down.
Jimny's are very cool. Proper hardcore off roaders like a Defender or Wrangler. However they have no centre diff, so are either 2wd or locked 4wd. The latter means you can't drive it on Tarmac in 4wd mod without breaking something transmission wise. This isn't really an issue but it means the driver needs to understand how to and when to use the 4wd mode. It does mean that compared to a Land Rover like a Disco or Freelander or a 4.0 litre auto Jeep that in slushy or patchy snow the Jimny is slightly less useable.I used to hate them but it would be for our lass who needs a 4x4 in winter for getting out into the yorkshire dales.
I would borrow it occasionally for long trips up the M1 in the snow.
Seems better than kitting out mine and her cars in winter tyres, may aswell get a 4x4 and put decent winter tyres on it.
It also has the added bonus of making you look like a hairdresser in summer with the top down.
Ozzie Osmond said:
Really? Only the long ones?
Fiat Panda 4x4 is head and shoulders above the Suzuki.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAg4DdXAp7Y
Absolutely not. The Jimny is one of the best 4x4's out there. Fiat Panda 4x4 is head and shoulders above the Suzuki.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAg4DdXAp7Y
The thing with the centre diff is true.
But, it's not as extreme as has been implied.
It is, of course, all to do with the wheels turning at different speed in corners and the lack of diff meaning that the different drive shafts can twist against each other. Not the most scientific description, but close enough for most.
So long as the ground is slightly wet or slippy then it's not a problem.
Also, as long as your moving at a bit of speed it's not a problem.
Because the tyres will just slip a bit to drop the strain in the shafts – and even without a centre diff there's still a bit of play before they start getting wound.
You're only really likely to do any serious buggerage if you drive at very low speeds, do very sharp turns on very dry concrete.
So, if it's raining, snowing, frosty or in any way a bit unpleasant on the ground then you can flip the 4x4 button.
Just remember to flip it off before trying to drive up the multi story carpark.
It goes without saying that some other opinions may vary.
But, I drove a non-diffed 4x4 for quite a few years without damaging it, just by turning 4x4 on when it was slippy and turning it off when it wasn't.
But, it's not as extreme as has been implied.
It is, of course, all to do with the wheels turning at different speed in corners and the lack of diff meaning that the different drive shafts can twist against each other. Not the most scientific description, but close enough for most.
So long as the ground is slightly wet or slippy then it's not a problem.
Also, as long as your moving at a bit of speed it's not a problem.
Because the tyres will just slip a bit to drop the strain in the shafts – and even without a centre diff there's still a bit of play before they start getting wound.
You're only really likely to do any serious buggerage if you drive at very low speeds, do very sharp turns on very dry concrete.
So, if it's raining, snowing, frosty or in any way a bit unpleasant on the ground then you can flip the 4x4 button.
Just remember to flip it off before trying to drive up the multi story carpark.
It goes without saying that some other opinions may vary.
But, I drove a non-diffed 4x4 for quite a few years without damaging it, just by turning 4x4 on when it was slippy and turning it off when it wasn't.
doogz said:
300bhp/ton said:
thinfourth2 said:
Think of it as a defender thats been shrunk in the wash
or an original Series Land Rover with better suspension and doesn't leak.What about the Jimny though, and other 4x4's with no centre diff? Is the Jimny open at the rear?
A Jimny or other similar layout 4x4 can still be a good all weather vehicle though, it just requires the operator to know a little more about when and how to use it. Although in severe conditions even with a centre diff you'd still need to know about locking it though. Also manual freewheeling hubs are something to watch for.
OP - if the intended user isn't mechanically minded, I think something like a MK1 Freelander with TCS, Honda CR-V/HR-V on decent tyres or even a haldex equipped VAG AWD car might be a better bet. A Pre 2003 Jaguar X-Type or a Subaru would also be worth considering as they have LSD centre diffs.
The only downside with the car based AWD's is ground clearance, which I've found most useful in most snowy conditions.
That said, a Jimny is still a fantastically excellent little off roader and highly capable.
Snowboy said:
The thing with the centre diff is true.
But, it's not as extreme as has been implied.
It is, of course, all to do with the wheels turning at different speed in corners and the lack of diff meaning that the different drive shafts can twist against each other. Not the most scientific description, but close enough for most.
So long as the ground is slightly wet or slippy then it's not a problem.
Also, as long as your moving at a bit of speed it's not a problem.
Because the tyres will just slip a bit to drop the strain in the shafts – and even without a centre diff there's still a bit of play before they start getting wound.
You're only really likely to do any serious buggerage if you drive at very low speeds, do very sharp turns on very dry concrete.
So, if it's raining, snowing, frosty or in any way a bit unpleasant on the ground then you can flip the 4x4 button.
Just remember to flip it off before trying to drive up the multi story carpark.
It goes without saying that some other opinions may vary.
But, I drove a non-diffed 4x4 for quite a few years without damaging it, just by turning 4x4 on when it was slippy and turning it off when it wasn't.
I didn't mean it to sound a negative... just to point out the driver needs to be a little more savvy on how the AWD system works But, it's not as extreme as has been implied.
It is, of course, all to do with the wheels turning at different speed in corners and the lack of diff meaning that the different drive shafts can twist against each other. Not the most scientific description, but close enough for most.
So long as the ground is slightly wet or slippy then it's not a problem.
Also, as long as your moving at a bit of speed it's not a problem.
Because the tyres will just slip a bit to drop the strain in the shafts – and even without a centre diff there's still a bit of play before they start getting wound.
You're only really likely to do any serious buggerage if you drive at very low speeds, do very sharp turns on very dry concrete.
So, if it's raining, snowing, frosty or in any way a bit unpleasant on the ground then you can flip the 4x4 button.
Just remember to flip it off before trying to drive up the multi story carpark.
It goes without saying that some other opinions may vary.
But, I drove a non-diffed 4x4 for quite a few years without damaging it, just by turning 4x4 on when it was slippy and turning it off when it wasn't.
I agree and have used such vehicles myself. Although I must confess to being very glad of having a centre diff. My 4.0 Jeep can be 2wd, 4wd open diff and 4wd locked diff. It has an open axle diff, so in 2wd mode in the snow it's rubbish. But on patchy snow or even slush it's really not that happy in locked 4wd, so last year I found I used it in 4wd open diff most of the time in the snow accept when I really needed to lock the drivetrain.
I found similar with my Disco on previous years and a neat trick with the Landy LT230's is, you can use the hand brake while running with diff lock open which can seriously improve cornering ability in such conditions.
Ie, give a jab on the steering and hand brake to get the turn in and the back to swing out a bit. Then liberal use of the throttle, being an open diff it'll then send a lot of the power to the front wheels (while still driving all 4), but this has the affect of pulling you straight. Huge fun, and in my experience highly affective.
Be vary wary of using 2wd to 4wd drive sytems with no centre diff & using them on wet varying surface roads etc. Problem is once you hit a dry patch it WILL wind up. This wont be good at all, especially when you then find another slippy patch. Locked diff's & icey roads are not a good thing. My big Landcruiser has a centre diff that's lockable with a switch in high range, on ice & windy roads its not a good thing! Pulling away yes & straight steep roads its great however.
The suki is a great little car but any AWD Subaru would be a much better car all round & way more capable all round, an Outback even off road is really something else I must say & I own a big Landcruiser to compare one with.
Subaru Outback would be myfirst choice of winter hack
The suki is a great little car but any AWD Subaru would be a much better car all round & way more capable all round, an Outback even off road is really something else I must say & I own a big Landcruiser to compare one with.
Subaru Outback would be myfirst choice of winter hack
I use a Jimny as a winter 4x4.
To describe it as a shrunken S3 Landie with better suspension and no leaks is pretty accurate.
Mine follows a 4.0L XJ Cherokee, 4.0L Wrangler and a S3 Landie. I regard its off road abilities as at least equal to any of them.
Purely as a road car, it is pretty miserable.
It is a bit of a gutless wonder and it doesn't like bends. Lots of Jimnys also suffer from the Death Wobble, which manifests itself as shakes through the steering wheel at 40-45mph. It also doesn't have much of a boot and isn't big enough to be able to tow anything.
On a positive note, it is far more economical than most 4x4s and is reliable and easy to work on. Mine is well equipped, with leccy windows, CD player, air con and nice seats.
Jimnys are also girl friendly. The controls are light and easy to use. More recent ones even have buttons and not levers to operate the transfer box (I would prefer levers, personally). One of the main reasons that I bought one was because my wife wouldn't drive my previous 4x4s.
To be honest, unless you want to go off roading, or live somewhere up on the moors, then you are probably better off with something like a Panda 4x4 or a smaller engined Subaru, which will be much nicer to use on the road.
But if you aren't in a hurry, then they make a perfectly civilised companion. Be warned, however that a Jimny makes a 998cc Micra feel like a sportscar.
I rather like mine.
To describe it as a shrunken S3 Landie with better suspension and no leaks is pretty accurate.
Mine follows a 4.0L XJ Cherokee, 4.0L Wrangler and a S3 Landie. I regard its off road abilities as at least equal to any of them.
Purely as a road car, it is pretty miserable.
It is a bit of a gutless wonder and it doesn't like bends. Lots of Jimnys also suffer from the Death Wobble, which manifests itself as shakes through the steering wheel at 40-45mph. It also doesn't have much of a boot and isn't big enough to be able to tow anything.
On a positive note, it is far more economical than most 4x4s and is reliable and easy to work on. Mine is well equipped, with leccy windows, CD player, air con and nice seats.
Jimnys are also girl friendly. The controls are light and easy to use. More recent ones even have buttons and not levers to operate the transfer box (I would prefer levers, personally). One of the main reasons that I bought one was because my wife wouldn't drive my previous 4x4s.
To be honest, unless you want to go off roading, or live somewhere up on the moors, then you are probably better off with something like a Panda 4x4 or a smaller engined Subaru, which will be much nicer to use on the road.
But if you aren't in a hurry, then they make a perfectly civilised companion. Be warned, however that a Jimny makes a 998cc Micra feel like a sportscar.
I rather like mine.
schmalex said:
^^^. That looks awesome. Makes me wonder whether I should replace my S3 Landy with one....
It's seriously worth considering.Look at it this way, the original Series 1 Landy had an 80" wheel base and a 1.6 petrol engine. The Jimny is of similar size, has a ladder chassis and lives axles and suspension as good as a Defender.
The 1.3 litre petrol engine is peppy and will be more economical than a Tdi Discovery.
I had one - and for local roads, it was perfectly acceptable. Performed brilliantly in the snow for two years. I only got rid of it because I was starting to do heavy motorway mileage in it, and these things are not built for distance. They will get to 80mph, but in anything above a 2mph breeze, it's terrifying!
The one listed above is a soft top. I'd get a hard top version. It's also the older engine I think - the later one had a chain cam, which would be preferable, and they can be had for the same sort of cost.
The one listed above is a soft top. I'd get a hard top version. It's also the older engine I think - the later one had a chain cam, which would be preferable, and they can be had for the same sort of cost.
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