2023 Jimny... So bad it's good

[Pommy]

Here in Australia the order books for the Jimny Auto closed in January as they couldnt supply the demand for the auto, but having rented one and really enjoyed it, my wife was keen to chop in her old car. Chancing my arm I went into the local Suzuki dealer in March, 3 months ago and although they couldn't order it they'd put me on the list for when it did reopen.

Well imagine my shock when 3 weeks ago I got the 'congrats, your cars arrived' call. Erm, what?. Turns out for some random reason I've got hold of a new one just 3 months after ordering which for a Jimny is unbelievable especially when they originally quoted a 14-18 month wait. Perhaps a cancelled order but they said not many order black so perhaps I just lucked out with a dealer allocation.

So for $38,500 on the road, or £20,151 I now have a brand new Jimny GLX Auto. Annoyingly due to tax and on roads etc the car itself was only $33,000 or £17,400. Also snagged a 5.99% rate so works out about $695 month or £360, not to bad and that'll be gone in a year.

Turned up on 23 June with 13kms on the clock which is cool and never having had a new car it was pretty cool. That new car smell hmmmm. What wasn't cool was the dealer didn't fill in the book so it's a totally unstamped empty service warranty book

Engine is tight as a ducks arse and fuel consumption is shockingly bad at about 24mpg but reckon it'll free up. It's a rubbish car but so much fun and in Australia you can't have fun going fast so might as well have fun going slow. It has no storage or rear boot space - we put two umbrellas in the boot and it was full

Obviously a few mods done and planned and so far:

- full ceramic coating and detail to help with the UV here.
- black side indicators
- black door lock covers
- black rear brake light
- debadged the Allgrip badge, looked weird.







It's booked in on Monday for a full audio install of:

5.25" front speakers upgrades
5.25" rear speaker install (the Jimny only has 2 front speakers)
Front tweeters
Amp to drive the speakers
Sub under front seat
Dashcam

And on Tuesday a dark tint install.

It has zero storage of use so on the way is:
- new cupholder
- rear storage box for rear occupant
- front storage
- custom sunvisor

Planned upgrades:

Off-road tyres
Maybe new rims and absolutely love these



A throttle controller is likely as helps a lot.

And in a few months going beach driving which will be ace.

Oh and my wife is keen on this plate...

Edited by Pommy on Saturday 1st July 15:42

Edited by Pommy on Saturday 1st July 16:22

[rallye101]

Awesome little things, good work!!

[Pommy]

rallye101 said:

Awesome little things, good work!!

Thanks and agreed, so much fun. I mean I reckon it's got the highest profit v selling price % of any car as it literally doesn't consist of anything, its a good 18 years old in terms of tech and equipment, it's only nippy to about 40mph, my current insurer wouldnt insure it due to a 'too low safety rating' and a stiff breeze has it changing lanes on the motorway, but... It's so characterful, it's so honest it just is what it is without pretence and character by the bucketful. And they lose nothing depreciation wise. We could keep it 5 years (the plan) and we'd get $30k back on a 38k cost. #bargain.

The guy doing the stereo install turbo'd his - 147bhp for $6k.and 1000kgs would be very funny

[bungz]

Really like these, very cool cars. Would definately have looked out for one if they had somthing with a bit more pep,

Dont see many here think they couldnt sell many due to the emissions on the engine either, odd as the design and looks is spot on.

[Pommy]

bungz said:

Really like these, very cool cars. Would definately have looked out for one if they had somthing with a bit more pep,

Dont see many here think they couldnt sell many due to the emissions on the engine either, odd as the design and looks is spot on.

Yeah it's nippy up to about 30mph but over that it's straining. Suits here as people don't speed but in the UK would have thought it would be hard to live with.

I reckon the turbo kit would be fun but then you'd have a handling issue...

Surprisingly the actual running costs aren't cheap for what it is - I have a work hack Astra RSV (200 Sri in the UK?) which is $200 cheaper to insure, does nearly half the fuel consumption, cost $100 a year less to service and annual registration is about $150 less.

[Google [bot]]

Also in Aus, a friend of mine has been eagerly anticipating hers for months.I saw her the other day having taken delivery, she absolutely loves it.

[muchacho]

Congratulations OP. Looking good in Blue-Black. I had one from new for a couple of years and 30k miles. Cheap for a new car here in Blighty, bags of character but wasn’t entirely practical for the demands of growing children. In the end it was much enjoyed and I did the opposite of lose money when I moved it on.
Do enjoy looking after yours.

[Jimmy No Hands]

Surprised they're not popular in black - full on miniature G Wagen spec! Really like these, in a utilitarian sort of manner. Having lived in WA, I empathise with the utterly militant approach to speeding in any shape or form.

[celger7]

Good looking motor mate but I am a little biased.

I am in NZ, have had my Jimny since November 2021.

ARB lift kit changes it completely in terms of handling, I also had the windows tinted and have recently had sliding rear windows installed for my dogs. Also have a locally manufactured nudge bar and some LED spotlights.

Good wheel choice, I have American Racing Wheels model AR62 Outlaw on mine with 215/75/15 tyres.

Mine is manual and I can tell you from experience fuel consumption is not a Jimny game! Haha 37,000km so far, it is my daily driver and I don’t think I will ever sell it.

Anyway, here are some photos:

[wolfracesonic]

Thread title needs changing to ‘Pimp my Jimmy’.

[Bobupndown]

A 1.6 or 2.0 Tdi in these would be fantastic.

[ManicMunky]

Completely impractical for my needs, but I love these things!

[Didge3]

I've rented a ton of the model before this, the 1998-2018, on various holidays. They are simultaneously terrible but really fun. I'm not sure if this newer model carries on with the awful kingpin design that when it inevitably wears out you get terrifying death wobble above 50mph. The rented ones I've driven over the years pretty much always had this issue as they're poorly maintained, but yet still absolutely hilarious to drive and will readily spin up a rear wheel on a 'fast' launch

[andyj007]

wanted one of these, test drove the one of the first to the dealerships when they arrived.. utter rubbish above 60mph on any road.. worst car i ever drove noisey, gutless, and useless storage.. no good for what i needed a car for in any shape.. . but i still would have brought it if they could have got me a army green one ( these were not availble for uk) still want one..badly just to potter about in.. so super jealous defo get them wheels