31.5” Gen 4 Jimny

So, I've been looking for a Jimny here in Iceland recently as I need a car that's gonna be a bit more economical on the 100km round trip I have to make to work every day. Currently driving a 3.5L Montero Limited and the fuel cost is destroying my very soul.

I think I know the answer (don't buy it) and my heart is leading my head, but...
A local place is selling a Jimny fitted with Trailmaster 2" lift, cut arches and 31.5 inch tyres. This thing is beautiful. I took it for a test drive and was pleasantly surprised that it didn't feel as sluggish as I expected given the tyres. The car has not been regeared and is an automatic. The reason this car is really catching my eye is that I drive into the highlands a lot. Very rough roads, river crossings, silly wind and steep sections, so the extra clearance helps a lot.
It seems ideal at first glance. 1.5l rather than the current 3.5L, so I would suspect it's much better on fuel but... those tyres. How badly will this have affected mpg? The trip computer in it was saying an average of 10l per 100k and at half a tank it said the range was ~ 165k. Obviously, this isn't going to be correct as the wheels are so different to standard and the computer doesn't account for that.

So. in your guys experience, what affect would this have had? Is it going to be just as bad/worse than my current car (90l tank that will do 500km max before I'm on fumes). I know it will have way less power, that's a given. I spoke to the tech guy at Arctic Trucks over here, they modify all of the ridiculous Icelandic jeeps, and he thought it'd be fine driven gently and wouldn't have affected mileage so badly. What say you guys??

The 1.5 is a good engine evidently with a decent amount of go for it's size. Assuming the car has been done properly and not mashed together then I would give it serious attention. Most people seem to be getting in the middle 30s mpg with a few outlying in the low 30s high 20s with other things than just the tyres changed. As long as the motor isn't constantly working really hard I wouldn't be too concerned.

Ok, this makes me feel a bit better about it. It’s only got 27,000 on the clock and is spotless. I’ve had a crawl around underneath and it all looks like good work, engine bay is spotless etc. Getting progressively more excited by the prospect.

You don't mention the tread pattern and that will have a serious impact on mpg. Between mud terrain and a purely road biased tread you will easily see a 5 mpg variation My Gen.4 will easily top 40 mpg on daily runs and if I am not pressed for time then 48 mpg is obtainable.

I would buy it and try it and use 4th gear if 5th is showing any strain. Remember, you can always change the tyres for something more suitable for your needs. I am still running OE tyres and a 50mm lift.

Roger

Roger Fairclough wrote: You don't mention the tread pattern and that will have a serious impact on mpg. Between mud terrain and a purely road biased tread you will easily see a 5 mpg variation My Gen.4 will easily top 40 mpg on daily runs and if I am not pressed for time then 48 mpg is obtainable.

I would buy it and try it and use 4th gear if 5th is showing any strain. Remember, you can always change the tyres for something more suitable for your needs. I am still running OE tyres and a 50mm lift.

 

The Tyres are General Grabber AT3 all terrain tyres.

The car is an automatic so only has 4 gears anyway. Changing the tyres if it doesn't do what's needed is a good option, it hasn't been regeared so that's an easy change, true.

AT tyres are a good option bearing in mind the terrain you encounter, so no problem there.

Roger