RE: Suzuki Jimny | PH Used Buying Guide
Discussion
300bhp/ton said:
GreatScott2016 said:
Always had a soft spot for the baby "defender". Makes me smile everytime I see one, albeit they seem to be a rare sight 
It's not a baby Defender.... the Jimny has been about for over 50 years 
it is a baby Jeep if anything. The clue given in the naming such as LJ and SJ 
Walter Sobchak said:
300bhp/ton said:
Curious, but what other 4x4's would you consider as alternatives? Lets say under £33k.
Probably a lightly used commercial SWB version of a certain Japanese 4x4 that you often like to pretend doesn’t exist when talking about how great Land Rovers are .For the record I like the Jimny, old and new, I just wouldn’t pay £30k for one.
Standard for standard, streaks ahead of any defender 90. This is a 1981 SJ30, I'd put up up against any standard defender off road. 
I've driven plenty of defenders, so here's my opinion on why even the SJ is better:
No bulkhead to restrict seat movement for tall drivers (seats actually have decent foam in them too so they're comfy)
Tall drivers still comfortable to steer with the window up
A heater which clears the windscreen in a reasonable time
Electrics are far better quality
Dashboard plastics are better quality
Swivels don't piss grease when they see the slightest hint of moisture or dust
More reliable clutch design (cable with arm all accessable from the top)
Better steering box
Less panel gaps (bonnet popped in this photo)
No rivets
Only need metric spanners (fun fact Defenders still have some whitworth fasteners FFS this isn't the 1950s!)
No bolts or screws in dumb places you can't reach.
Chassis is 4mm thick, so they pretty much never rot through.
And the biggest advantage of all, no Land Rover badge tax.
The only good defender is a TD5, it keeps moisture out of your ECU by adding engine oil to it, unique feature.
If you're going off road, buy a unimog or that thing with the massive tyres I can't remember the name of.
Anyway, keeping on topic, if you look hard enough you can probably import a really low mileage Jimny for less than what the dealers are asking for. Both 1.5 or the 660 turbo. If you're not bothered about driving flat out, I'd recommend the 660cc for off roading, it's got better gearing and makes maximum boost at 2000rpm. The spec of the 660 is the same as, if not better, than the 1.5 available here. The Japanese options list is massive.
Fight me.
I've driven plenty of defenders, so here's my opinion on why even the SJ is better:
No bulkhead to restrict seat movement for tall drivers (seats actually have decent foam in them too so they're comfy)
Tall drivers still comfortable to steer with the window up
A heater which clears the windscreen in a reasonable time
Electrics are far better quality
Dashboard plastics are better quality
Swivels don't piss grease when they see the slightest hint of moisture or dust
More reliable clutch design (cable with arm all accessable from the top)
Better steering box
Less panel gaps (bonnet popped in this photo)
No rivets
Only need metric spanners (fun fact Defenders still have some whitworth fasteners FFS this isn't the 1950s!)
No bolts or screws in dumb places you can't reach.
Chassis is 4mm thick, so they pretty much never rot through.
And the biggest advantage of all, no Land Rover badge tax.
The only good defender is a TD5, it keeps moisture out of your ECU by adding engine oil to it, unique feature.
If you're going off road, buy a unimog or that thing with the massive tyres I can't remember the name of.
Anyway, keeping on topic, if you look hard enough you can probably import a really low mileage Jimny for less than what the dealers are asking for. Both 1.5 or the 660 turbo. If you're not bothered about driving flat out, I'd recommend the 660cc for off roading, it's got better gearing and makes maximum boost at 2000rpm. The spec of the 660 is the same as, if not better, than the 1.5 available here. The Japanese options list is massive.
Fight me.
You are right C70R.
I have loved and sold. A change of circumstance in 2018 meant that I needed a rural commuter, farm car and family runabout. I loved the blurb about the forthcoming Gen 4 Jimny so I put my name down for a plain jane SZ4 for <£16k. I got a white one in the autumn of 2019 and ran it until autumn 2021 over 30,000 miles.
It was great to throw around on narrow roads, carried a surprising amount of rubbish and livestock and I never got it stuck (on standard rims and tyres). The interior is brilliant though a moment’s thought and you realise where all the room comes from (paper thin door cards with no storage ((just ask 300bhp/ton))).
I thought I would be keeping it forever however; I couldn’t ignore what was going on in the marketplace, how the children were becoming teenagers and thereby less impressed with the rear accommodation so I sold it to Cazoo and bought a dirty Duster instead.
I still want a Gen 4 Jimny and may have one again but my (theoretical) money would go on a JDM kei car import: that narrow bodied version with the 666cc blown engine. If only because you can get better colours!
I have loved and sold. A change of circumstance in 2018 meant that I needed a rural commuter, farm car and family runabout. I loved the blurb about the forthcoming Gen 4 Jimny so I put my name down for a plain jane SZ4 for <£16k. I got a white one in the autumn of 2019 and ran it until autumn 2021 over 30,000 miles.
It was great to throw around on narrow roads, carried a surprising amount of rubbish and livestock and I never got it stuck (on standard rims and tyres). The interior is brilliant though a moment’s thought and you realise where all the room comes from (paper thin door cards with no storage ((just ask 300bhp/ton))).
I thought I would be keeping it forever however; I couldn’t ignore what was going on in the marketplace, how the children were becoming teenagers and thereby less impressed with the rear accommodation so I sold it to Cazoo and bought a dirty Duster instead.
I still want a Gen 4 Jimny and may have one again but my (theoretical) money would go on a JDM kei car import: that narrow bodied version with the 666cc blown engine. If only because you can get better colours!
Jimny is pretty much a unique offering now - you either 'get' it or you don't. If you don't, we're unlikely to have similar views on automotive things.
Only current cars that come close are:
Dacia Duster - good value, better on road and more practical as a family car 4x4 version better off-road than most people will ever need.
Fiat Panda 4x4 - size and value both good, good off-road.
Toyota Land cruiser SWB - best off-road, looks bloody horrible and is expensive.
Only current cars that come close are:
Dacia Duster - good value, better on road and more practical as a family car 4x4 version better off-road than most people will ever need.
Fiat Panda 4x4 - size and value both good, good off-road.
Toyota Land cruiser SWB - best off-road, looks bloody horrible and is expensive.
Downward said:
300 will be displeased with this comment and he will be along shortlygravitygravy said:
Dusters are great cars, but they're not in the same class as a Jimny off-road. No low range box is a killer. Have seen people burn out their clutches trying to get up trails that a Jimny went up with ease. Different design focus.
the little Jimmy does take some beating, it will easily leave behind far more expensive and complicated vehicles. As a car the Duster is better, as an off road toy the Jimmy is as good as it gets, certainly for the price. Phooey said:
gravitygravy said:
I don't believe the article is correct when it mentions retro-fitting rear seats back into the LCV. The LCV is missing the tabs and brackets needed to locate the seats on the body shell and the chassis is missing the additional impact box sections in the middle that the passenger version has.
Correct re rear seat belts - you can't retrofit them on the commercial. I didn't know the service interval is 12k, I thought it was 9k so that's a bonus (9k would be a pita for me)https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208158...
Phooey said:
I stand corrected.. LCV with rear seats fitted! (I suppose anythings possible if you're willing to go to the effort)
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208158...
Be an interesting insurance claim if you ever had an issue.https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208158...
gravitygravy said:
Jimny is pretty much a unique offering now - you either 'get' it or you don't. If you don't, we're unlikely to have similar views on automotive things.
Only current cars that come close are:
Dacia Duster - good value, better on road and more practical as a family car 4x4 version better off-road than most people will ever need.
Fiat Panda 4x4 - size and value both good, good off-road.
Toyota Land cruiser SWB - best off-road, looks bloody horrible and is expensive.
And if you didn't want a small off-road vehicle specifically, the Shogun Sport is available at a similar age/price.Only current cars that come close are:
Dacia Duster - good value, better on road and more practical as a family car 4x4 version better off-road than most people will ever need.
Fiat Panda 4x4 - size and value both good, good off-road.
Toyota Land cruiser SWB - best off-road, looks bloody horrible and is expensive.
andyj007 said:
utter rubbish to drive anywhere other than the local shop.. so wanted to like these , i remmber driving to the dealer with so much excitement and card at the ready.. too one for a spin and cried.. what a horrible driving car.. noisey , really only a 2 seater, horrible unadjustable driving position.. still loved the little crap thing, but could never ever own one.. too frustrating
It rather sounds like you were completely missing the point of the vehicle.
Silvanus said:
Something we can definitely agree on! Love the Jimmy, these are totally opposite to how a Jimmy should look in my opinion. Not sure I'd pay 20k for a second hand one though, not really a car you can use (I couldn't) as your daily, its definitely a toy/second car.
Sorry, but that is nonsense. Unless every poster here is a millionaire running expensive new luxo barges as their first car. The Jimny is no less suitable for daily use than almost any hatchback, Fiat 500, Pug 306, Fiesta etc. Honestly the rubbish being spouted is unbelievable. 300bhp/ton said:
bennno said:
You have to be mechanically intolerant to drive it at or above 70 mph.
I'm sorry, but WTF?Why on Earth do you think this??
The Jimny runs very similar mph per 1000rpm in top as many small hatchbacks.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff