Loss of control

I have recently bought a Jimny VVT (2005) and have never driven one before.Today on a roundabout in fairly light rain I lost control (doing 20 mph approx) and luckily didn't crash into anyone! Are there any general tips/advice for driving a Jimny on-road (my primary use) especially with regards to its limitations? Thanks

Gerbil wrote: I have recently bought a Jimny VVT (2005) and have never driven one before.Today on a roundabout in fairly light rain I lost control (doing 20 mph approx) and luckily didn't crash into anyone! Are there any general tips/advice for driving a Jimny on-road (my primary use) especially with regards to its limitations? Thanks

It has to be said they (and many 4x4s) need to be driven a little differently from regular motors. Something that can take a bit of getting used to is the rear wheel drive. Particularly with the plethora of front wheel drives around now. Yes it has four wheel selectable but one of the reasons I favour permanent 4WD is that selectable 4x4 (when it is primarily RWD) is never there at times when you want it.

Also a choice of tyre suitable to your application might help.

Ironically, the last car I span out was a FWD. :laugh: :laugh:

Just be gentle with it, don't accelerate hard when the steering isn't straight, and don't try going quickly round sharp bends/islands.

"Modern" cars are so good nowadays that people have forgotten what it is like to drive a Proper Car from The Olden Days.


When I'm in the Other Car, and I see a gap at a wet island, I just stamp the accelerator into the floor and hang onto the wheel, and it just shoots off from a standing start with a variety of lights flickering on the dashboard (your tyres are on fire/ you are not ripped enough to drive/electro-plasma system etc. ) and goes round the island at speeds that would have had my old metro on its roof. :woohoo:

facade wrote: and goes round the island at speeds that would have had my old metro on its roof. :woohoo:

Snap, it was a Metro that I span. :laugh:

Worth checking the age of the tyres.
My 04 Jim had the original Duellers on made in 03 and although still plenty of tread left on all the tyres it was very very bad in the wet :woohoo: .

Changed tyres to Insa Dakar mud remoulds 4 months ago and havent lost grip on the road yet including emergency stops in the wet.
( Remoulds are frowned upon by the tyre snobs, still havent figured out why)

and don't forget trye pressure can play a big part too