Gordon Murray daily’s a Jimny

Re BMWs, I had a X1, then X3, then 320 (2WD) as company cars all on stock tyres, which are low resistance tyres suited to the motorway in summer, they should come with a warning, don't use off-road, don't use in the wet/snow/mud.

Both X1 and X3 were manuals and useless on the snow, in fact the 320 (an auto) was almost as good (or not quite as bad depending on which way you look at it), it just grind it's way up the hills.

The missus' Qashqai was way better than either of the 4WD BMWs, so yes it is all down to tyres.

Since putting in my 1.6 and with the old and hard BFG MT slippers on it, I have been driving my Jimny like an idiot. Sideways in most roundabouts, and if i know the asfalt is old and worn and slippery when wet, i will of course try to make my jimny go a bit sideways. Ok so I admit my somewhat entertaining driving habits have had an impact on the car having to change rear diff, driveshaft and the gearbox when they have failed.
The now old and hard BFG MT will be soon replaced.
Note that they have never seen the snow, and they never will.

In the winter on ice and snow I use proper nordic winter tires. Got to adjust the speed to the grip or lack of it from day to day but still I allways feel there is no problems with the Jimny on ice, it is nice and predictable and does not offer me any surprices. I get everywhere I want to go, and as you may know this is not the flat part of Norway. With lesser tires I would slide down these hills like you see in the US on yo-tube..
The 4x4 is often on during road use in the winter. Allways on when driving on snow and ice below 30-40mph.

It's becoming my general practice to run the hubs locked in when there's actual snow on the ground or indeed in the forecast, instant 4x4 no worries about getting out of the car.

It's ​​​​​a fact the Jimny has a certain something that makes it fun to drive. 
Tyres and driving style are the major factors in all things sideways. I find my Jimny and 88 SWB Land Rover very similar. Both exhibit a  nervous feel on rough tarmac, but for both it's suspension design limitations and wheelbase rather than lack of grip. Both are fantastic in snow, but my Jimny required snow rated tyres to remove the tendancy to "side Slip", again highlighting the tyre choice.
In both, on snow, I try to get most places in 2WD (and succeed), 4WD is reserved for odd "stuck" situation.


 

Confirms what I've always thought my SZ5 auto is the best small city/country car around. In the city, park anywhere, all round visibility, sit above the crowd and just FUN. MY Gen 3 was good but Gen 4 is better.

Yep, I've probably said it before, but the Jimny is fun because of its limitations. It's effectively a Citroen 2CV and 88" Series Landy merged together.

While there have been times I've thought it would be nice to have a bit more space, or a bit more power, or extra doors, all of those things would stop it being a Jimny. It'd be bigger, heavier, more expensive, more complex, less economical.