Moving on from a Jimny

I’ve been a Jimny owner for a few years and I love it. But the wife is insisting on something with a bit more space and comfort. I don’t do off reading but I use it in rural Ireland so the Jimny’s Go-anywhere capability is important for us.

Uestion is, what would be best choice of replacement that keeps (some of) that capability? I want to stay fairly small. So, I was thinking two choices - a Grand Vitara from about 05 (am I right in sticking to that model rather than the newer one?), or possibly a Mitsubishi Shogun Pinin (also 2005ish) My instinct is for the GV, but there are quite a few low mileage Pinins around, so maybe a capable alternative?

Any advice or thoughts would be much appreciated. The Jimny will stay in the family though as our daughter wants it as her first car!

I've seen a few Toyota Rav 4's on AT tyres while driving about, in fields during harvest. I would think they would be the farmers other half's bringing food out.

I know they are a cracking road car and drive more like a saloon car than a 4x4. Off road I don't know, but if the farming community are using them I think you would be wise to have a look.

sniper

+3 for RAV4, If you can get a good MK1 (1994-2000) they are excellent- look like a proper car, have a centre difflock in the manual, the auto has a hydraulic automatic one, the Mk2 (2001-2005) is ok - a bit rounder, has a viscous lock on the centre diff, but they started to scrimp on the mechanics, any later and you might as well buy any of the SUV clones.

The other one to look at is a Subaru forester, again the MK1 is brilliant (1997-2002), the MK2 is good (2002-2007). The manuals need a clutch at about 80,000 miles (not cheap) but the autos are great if you can get one.


Honda CRV is fairly good for a softroader, the rear axle controls the 4wd, and needs frequent changes of special fluid. Yet again, the MK1 is better than the MK2 and the MK3 is just an SUV clone.


Bit of a pattern, I know, but usually, the MK1 of anything is the best, before the rivet counters get to shave a few pounds off with thinner metal, and flaky electronics to replace chunky clunky reliable mechanics.

Thanks for excellent advice. I had discounted RAV4 as one of the “only for looks” 4x4s but might investigate early model.

Is rust on the Grand Vitara inevitable? My Jimny is 02 and rust is manageable, if I find a well kept GV would it still be a good option?

The GV rusts quite badly, you don't see many early ones about. The latest incarnation is a crippled 4x4 with only the front driving. quite a lot of these "softroaders" are bought as 2wd only, I used to think that was pointless, but as the roads get worse in terms of speedbumps and potholes, I can see why you might want a 2wd with off-road suspension.

The MK1 & MK2 Rav4 are proper AWD with centre differentials. The MK3 went to effectively 2wd with a ratchet clutch to the back axle, so if a front spins out it starts to drag the back axle round- this is how CRVs, Subarus, Nissans and small Audis work. (They are a shade more sophisticated than a simple ratchet, but essentially, if the front tries to go faster than the back, the back is locked to the front. Causes problems when the front tyres inevitably wear smaller than the back too)
I know we are used to knocking the jimny in & out of 4wd like a human operated version of the above, but I do miss the centre diff of the RAV4, Rangerover & Defender.

Wifey has a 2005 GV 1.6....comfier and more spacious than the Jimny.....the engine is an outdated pos though...

It's a very clean car...not showing any signs of rusting......she likes it a lot.....I've tried several times to tempt her into a newer 4x4 Vitara but she won't have it.