Pistachio the Jimny!!
Discussion
Around September last year I was on the search for a weekend toy, having had a Z4, I had ticked off the convertible off the list and was looking for something else fun and interesting to bring a smile on my face on weekends.
I was looking with one eye at Jimny's because they were one of the few cars that Mrs MBE would consider swapping her oil leaking Peugeot 208 for (she is the definition of NOT a petrolhead). Thus, I could motivate my car buying addiction as looking for a car for my significant other.
Living at the coast in Cape Town, they are the perfect pop-to-the-beach-don't-mind-if-it-gets-sandy-park-on-the-curb car. I was looking at Gen 3 and Gen 4 models, but decided against the Gen 4 as they are still very expensive.
The Jimny Gen 3 only launched here in 2008 and had its first facelift in 2013, then again in 2015 before the Gen 4 was launched in 2018. My criteria were not too strict, but ideally sub R150k, sub 200k km on the clock and in a not boring colour. I spotted this one approx 40km from where I stayed, a really nice dad and son team that said they buy good cars, do a light refresh in their workshop, roadworthy the vehicle and sell on. They handed me a stack of invoices showing a R35k service/repair less than 20k ago along with full service history, 2 keys, original books and stamps showing it was an inland vehicle for much of its life thus having little rust.
A deal was done and Pistachio the Jimny was mine! A 2012 Alumina Green Jimny - this was the last year this colour was offered and is extremely rare - as with most cars, the subsequent 2 facelifts came with more and more boring colours.
This vehicle has brought such a smile to my face - slow, crude, bouncy, loud, uncomfortable and perfect. Predictably, Mrs MBE has said its too rudimentary and hard to drive, so it remained a fun weekend car rather than hers.
We have taken Pistachio on a few adventures - notably to go 4x4ing in the Atlantis sand dunes, where there are many Jimny friends that can be made - the Jimny is extremely popular in Cape Town and there are a number of clubs to join with other Jimny owners. A notable event I am hoping to Join is the 2025 Jimny Gathering in the Outeniqua area, about 4 hours away, where the Guinness World Record will be attempted for the most Jimny's in one place!!
https://jimnygathering.co.za/
One other cool element in the Jimny Facebook group is "Rules are rules" - when you park next to another Jimny, you have to take a photo (see last pic).
I was looking with one eye at Jimny's because they were one of the few cars that Mrs MBE would consider swapping her oil leaking Peugeot 208 for (she is the definition of NOT a petrolhead). Thus, I could motivate my car buying addiction as looking for a car for my significant other.
Living at the coast in Cape Town, they are the perfect pop-to-the-beach-don't-mind-if-it-gets-sandy-park-on-the-curb car. I was looking at Gen 3 and Gen 4 models, but decided against the Gen 4 as they are still very expensive.
The Jimny Gen 3 only launched here in 2008 and had its first facelift in 2013, then again in 2015 before the Gen 4 was launched in 2018. My criteria were not too strict, but ideally sub R150k, sub 200k km on the clock and in a not boring colour. I spotted this one approx 40km from where I stayed, a really nice dad and son team that said they buy good cars, do a light refresh in their workshop, roadworthy the vehicle and sell on. They handed me a stack of invoices showing a R35k service/repair less than 20k ago along with full service history, 2 keys, original books and stamps showing it was an inland vehicle for much of its life thus having little rust.
A deal was done and Pistachio the Jimny was mine! A 2012 Alumina Green Jimny - this was the last year this colour was offered and is extremely rare - as with most cars, the subsequent 2 facelifts came with more and more boring colours.
This vehicle has brought such a smile to my face - slow, crude, bouncy, loud, uncomfortable and perfect. Predictably, Mrs MBE has said its too rudimentary and hard to drive, so it remained a fun weekend car rather than hers.
We have taken Pistachio on a few adventures - notably to go 4x4ing in the Atlantis sand dunes, where there are many Jimny friends that can be made - the Jimny is extremely popular in Cape Town and there are a number of clubs to join with other Jimny owners. A notable event I am hoping to Join is the 2025 Jimny Gathering in the Outeniqua area, about 4 hours away, where the Guinness World Record will be attempted for the most Jimny's in one place!!
https://jimnygathering.co.za/
One other cool element in the Jimny Facebook group is "Rules are rules" - when you park next to another Jimny, you have to take a photo (see last pic).
Lovely!
I have strong want for one of these. In the UK, they are either very strong money, or frilly AF underneath..
ETA. Taking a look at some of the smart offerings on AT, and then reading their recent MOT history makes for verrrrrry interesting reading…
I have strong want for one of these. In the UK, they are either very strong money, or frilly AF underneath..
ETA. Taking a look at some of the smart offerings on AT, and then reading their recent MOT history makes for verrrrrry interesting reading…
Edited by CTO on Wednesday 28th May 21:43
CTO said:
Lovely!
I have strong want for one of these. In the UK, they are either very strong money, or frilly AF underneath..
ETA. Taking a look at some of the smart offerings on AT, and then reading their recent MOT history makes for verrrrrry interesting reading
That’s the problem, they hide their terrible rust issues so well. I almost went down the road of the new Jimny. I still think they’re great, however I ended up buying a Yeti.I have strong want for one of these. In the UK, they are either very strong money, or frilly AF underneath..
ETA. Taking a look at some of the smart offerings on AT, and then reading their recent MOT history makes for verrrrrry interesting reading
Edited by CTO on Wednesday 28th May 21:43
I’ve had my 2007 Jimny since 2020 - it’s lovely and great fun so while I don’t use it much I doubt I’ll ever sell it. MOT check was absolutely key when looking; a car which has been polished can hide a lot of nasties underneath 
Even when I had it MOTed last year, the tester expressed some surprise - it passed of course and he said he’d expected it to fail because most he sees are rotten.
Enjoy it!
Even when I had it MOTed last year, the tester expressed some surprise - it passed of course and he said he’d expected it to fail because most he sees are rotten.
Enjoy it!
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