How Much longer will The Jimny Stay in Production

Bought our first Jimny new in 1999 and our second an ex demonstrator in 2007.

The usual question has anyone heard if they will be dropped from the range. In 2007 the dealers did not want them as they were not selling, after the financial crisis in 2008 all the people with the elastic bank accounts found the funny money supply reduced and started to go down market to the Jimny.

Just wondering if after some 13 years if a new model will replace it.

If it stays in production i would imagine it will end up as a watered down version as they have done with the vitara. I can't vouch for the new GV's off road capabilites but its lack of low range removes it from the "proper 4x4" category.

To be honest though i can't see it fits "society" anymore. Its not especially economical and Suzuki no longer provides much in the way of support for its off road products anymore.

I'm not expert about such things, but it seems to me that Suzuki has done a pretty good job keeping the Jimny a good base platform for it customers to build on when it comes to offroading. The aftermarket has picked up the slack pretty well.

However, some how or another idiots seem to always get in on the decision making process so it could get jacked up, but I sincerely hope not.

I was at the Colin Appleyard off road event in November and noticed the 3 door Vitara had the low range back on its dial again, they seem to chop and change their products regular, you can no longer get a diesel 3dr Vitara any more. It was muted a couple of years ago the Jimny was going to be changed out but nothing happened and I presume the tsunami in Japan has put a few things on the back burner. I think unless there is any strong competition to challenge the Jimny which there isn't at the moment they wont feel the urge to bring any plans forward. Jeep have unveiled that they intended to bring out a small 4x4 by late 2012, it will be built on the stretched floor pan of a Panda (Jeep is owned by Fiat). Land Rover will be replacing the Defender with the concept DC100 by 2015 and the possibility of a small version according to press reports. It could be exciting times for the 4x4 in the near future and may force Suzuki's hand to compete, that is unless we hit another big recession then all bets are off

Yes Foxtrot - the wife's 2011 2.4 grand vit 3d

4H high-range normal driving - 4x4 mode with free centre differential, the front and rear torque is split 47:53, improving on-road response while delivering excellent off-road traction.

4H Lock, in this high-range 4x4 mode, a clutch locks the centre differential to eliminate any speed difference between the front and rear wheels, providing traction to power through deep snow or mud.

4L Low range four-wheel drive (again with a locked centre differential) enables Grand Vitara to cope with more challenging conditions. The transfer gear ratio is about twice that of the 4H Lock mode at 1.970, offering excellent low-end traction.

The Principal at Frankston Suzuki told me when I asked the question that 2011 will be the last year of the Jimny in Australia.

From 2012 all vehicles sold in Oz are required to have side airbag curtains and traction control. Suzuki (according to the Dealer) is unable to do these changes for such a small market and so they are currently running out stock.

The Qld importer is different from the rest of Oz but I believe they are ceasing imports too.

I will be sorry to see the end of them. I have had my current one for about 11 years and have been everywhere with it and always found it to be utterly reliable and a real head-turner. It consistently surprises other 4wd owners with its' ability to go anywhere.

maybe they could bump their numbers back up by sellin em in America again

It'll be regulations that finish the Jimny, that's what's done the Defender.
John.

When I bought my 60 plate model in December '10 there was a fairly long wait for one as they were being built to order. Once the tsunami hit the dealers have been saying they simply can't get any.

I would imagine that before long the idiot safety rangers in government will make the Jimny unsaleable as it's only a 3 star NCAP rating. Which is hillarious because those same safety rangers are also the green idiots and they don't seem to realise that more safety = more weight = more emissions.

The best thing we can all do is really look after our Jimnys and make sure their legacy continues once they're not produced any more.

Now, my boss has a TVR t350 and a company who specializes in the cars has the jigs to build replacement chassis for them, so now you can actually buy a whole brand new TVR again of sorts. So I wonder if it would be possible to do that for the Jimny and SJ somehow?

Municipal Waste wrote: So I wonder if it would be possible to do that for the Jimny and SJ somehow?

The SJ is still in production in India in LWB form, Maruti build them and you can get most bits to basically rebuild an old SJ. I'd love one but don't quite have deep enough pockets. I'm not sure the Jimny will continue in the same way, while basic in comparison to other modern cars they are still a bit too advanced for the bush mechanic imho.