RE: Suzuki Jimny versus... the Lake District

[ghost83]

So why has this car taken off the way it has

[ChocolateFrog]

ghost83 said:

So why has this car taken off the way it has

Because G-Wagons, Defenders and Wranglers are all now huge and if they don't cost £100k they're a long way towards it.

These look good and are affordable. They've also got some integrity that soft-roaders lack.

[anonymous-user]

ghost83 said:

So why has this car taken off the way it has

Social media influencers.

That was a joke before fingers start smashing keyboards.

[Macboy]

I must be in an absolute minority here but I was excited to see it and drive it but thought it was dreadful. It's like stepping back in time inside and dynamically it was a million miles away from modern. Quality of fit and finish and interior materials was very poor and it was so small inside as to be next to useless for any combination of people and luggage that I couldn't accommodate in a TT or Boxster. I like the idea of it but my (albeit limited) experience with it said to me that it's no bargain G-Wagon other than being very boxy.

[SydneyBridge]

it is classless

oh and looks like a G..

if Land Rover have such a success with the new Defender, they will be very chuffed and LR are far more dependant on the Defender being a success than Suzuki are with the Jimny

[300bhp/ton]

Macboy said:

I must be in an absolute minority here but I was excited to see it and drive it but thought it was dreadful. It's like stepping back in time inside and dynamically it was a million miles away from modern. Quality of fit and finish and interior materials was very poor and it was so small inside as to be next to useless for any combination of people and luggage that I couldn't accommodate in a TT or Boxster. I like the idea of it but my (albeit limited) experience with it said to me that it's no bargain G-Wagon other than being very boxy.

I suspect you might be missing the point of the vehicle a little and it's intended use/market position.

Objectively a Caterham 7 has poor quality materials in the interior and even less space considering it's footprint. The Caterham has a longer wheelbase than the Jimny.

The Jimny is very much like a Caterham, as in it's rather specialist in it's design and abilities. Treat it as such as you won't be disappointed. It most certainly isn't a TT or Boxster alternative and nor is it a budget G-Wagen really.

[300bhp/ton]

SydneyBridge said:

it is classless

oh and looks like a G..

if Land Rover have such a success with the new Defender, they will be very chuffed and LR are far more dependant on the Defender being a success than Suzuki are with the Jimny

But if only LR would take a page out of Suzuki's book (or Jeeps). As it seems the new "Defender" is only going to be a Discovery wearing the Defender badge

[anonymous-user]

Macboy said:

I must be in an absolute minority here but I was excited to see it and drive it but thought it was dreadful. It's like stepping back in time inside and dynamically it was a million miles away from modern. Quality of fit and finish and interior materials was very poor and it was so small inside as to be next to useless for any combination of people and luggage that I couldn't accommodate in a TT or Boxster. I like the idea of it but my (albeit limited) experience with it said to me that it's no bargain G-Wagon other than being very boxy.

Dynamically a million miles away from a modern 'what' though? The Jimny is in the same class as the last model Defenders and is a hell of a lot more sophisticated on the road than that. Only other modern car that really compares is a Jeep Wrangler and they're twice the price and a lot more showy.

Fit of materials seems spot on to me and for quality it depends what you're looking for - squishy soft-touch plastics, or hard wearing trim that doesn't mind some much and grime? There's plenty of room inside for a family of 3 for a weekend away and it'll take 4 adults no problem without luggage. Neither a TT or Boxster can do that.

The modern G-Wagen has left its proper 4x4 roots behind. It's a luxo-poser-barge now, same as the Range Rover.

Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 20th May 17:18

[Nerdherder]

Suzuki ought to ramp up production of these asap. And realise this could be the start of a line of variants. I NEED the lwb/station variant as envisioned below by the way.

[SydneyBridge]

6 wheeler for me please

[valiant]

If Suzuki did the lwb version as above, they’d have my money already.

Something honest about it and resembles, if you squint, my fav off-roader, the Toyota Landcruiser 70 series.

Suzuki seems to be on a roll at the moment with the Jimny, Ignis and Swift. Vitara looks a little odd though...

[MajorMantra]

caelite said:

That shape with potentially LEZ friendly euro 4 VVT can be had for £2-3k, the older ones are floating about for £1-2k, unlike other small hatches these seldom drop below a grand with MOTs, as farmers like to snatch them up.

I've been idly browsing Jimnys in the classifieds lately and while you can get them as cheap as that, I'd challenge you to find one in that price range which isn't very, very rusty. What is it about Japanese manufacturers and rust protection?

I still want one.

[GeneralSinn]

Saw my first one a couple of weeks ago - in a lairy green - looked ace

I’d sell my soul for a 6x6 variant!

[HeadForTheHills]

Great pictures from the lakes.

300bhp/ton said:

The Jimny is very much like a Caterham, as in it's rather specialist in it's design and abilities. Treat it as such as you won't be disappointed. .

I don’t need to move a family or run many motorway miles, so a last-gen Jimny and Caterham 160 work me for me :-)

When I get too old to fit in the Caterham, that will be the sign it’s time to get an EV.

[ChocolateFrog]

Macboy said:

I must be in an absolute minority here but I was excited to see it and drive it but thought it was dreadful. It's like stepping back in time inside and dynamically it was a million miles away from modern. Quality of fit and finish and interior materials was very poor and it was so small inside as to be next to useless for any combination of people and luggage that I couldn't accommodate in a TT or Boxster. I like the idea of it but my (albeit limited) experience with it said to me that it's no bargain G-Wagon other than being very boxy.

It's got a ladder chassis and solid axles, little wonder it's not comparable to a TT.

and it costs a decent chunk of change less than £20k.

[Klippie]

I very much like Suzuki cars ( I’am past Swift Sport owner ) and when my local dealer got a Jimny in I was right down there for a poke about at it, I really really wanted one but it’s just too small for me inside but what a fabulous little car.

[sparta6]

Congrats to Suzuki for not following the obese herd.

Authenticity is shining through in this car. Not pretending to be anything that it's not.

A rare thing these days !

[hammo19]

Never test drove one, ordered in Dec and took delivery end of April, sold on for a small profit as something else came up I wanted (W12).

Fun car to drive, very comfortable, well specified. Terrible on motorways, gutless around the Teesdale scenery and better suited to off roading. Not an everyday nip to the shops car but looks absolutely fabulous in the flesh. It’s a sure fire winner by Suzuki.

Demand definitely outstrips supply and Suzuki UK HQ have handled orders and communications really badly, my dealer was as helpful as they could possibly be but knew as much as us!

[caelite]

MajorMantra said:

caelite said:

That shape with potentially LEZ friendly euro 4 VVT can be had for £2-3k, the older ones are floating about for £1-2k, unlike other small hatches these seldom drop below a grand with MOTs, as farmers like to snatch them up.

I've been idly browsing Jimnys in the classifieds lately and while you can get them as cheap as that, I'd challenge you to find one in that price range which isn't very, very rusty. What is it about Japanese manufacturers and rust protection?

I still want one.

The one pictured, purchased December, 2017 for £2300. A little bit crusty under the lights (they go under the lights & in the boot floor), but no holes, has since been treated with kurust & painted. It had missed a service & sat for a bit but has been a solid car for me so far (I've done ~25k miles in it). Although I'll admit, the hype over the new one seems to have given the old ones a little bit of a price bump recently.

I looked at 2 properly gubbed ones before I bought that though, I'm in NW Scotland, all the ones that where for sale local to me where knackered, took a gamble and ran down to Newcastle for that one and it was ideal. I'd love a new one mind, waiting till they hit 3-4 years old and the PCP'd ones start popping up.

Edited by caelite on Monday 20th May 22:20

[Exclee]

Great little car, picked mine up end of January, I live in mid Wales and commute to work in Milton Keynes once a week, it’s not bad on the road but does rev as it doesn’t have a 6th Gear, steerings slow you just have to larger inputs into it, it’s great off road, should be doing the Strata Florida byway soon as it’s only a mile from home. Most importantly it makes me smile when I drive it, I have a Caterham so I know how a car should handle........it is a very capable off roader that does a pretty good job with its limitations on the road, don’t expect it to be your average soft roader, it’s not, I have Toureg 2 that runs great on the road but when the snow comes in the winter the Jimny is going to get me out to shopping and fuel, it’ll be a giggle doing it too!
Like the article.

Edited by Exclee on Monday 20th May 23:04

Edited by Exclee on Monday 20th May 23:07