Where to rent/hire a Jimny

Does anyone know of someone who rents Jimnys out by the day in the UK? I am based in London but can travel. Reason I’m asking is because there is one for sale locally near my holiday home in Spain (a gen 3, 2010 model) but I’ve never driven one before so need to find out first-hand if it’s for me. 

I'm not sure anyone rents them in the UK. If you are looking for a car out in spain then you can certainly hire them out there (My dad has hired one in majorca). Although these will only be early soft top models and being rental cars will be used and abused so won't be a great representation of a newer Jimny but should still give you the same driving experience.

Thanks - that is helpful. Do you know which company he hired from in Majorca?

He doesn’t know sorry but it wasn’t a big hire company. These sorts of cars tend to be for hire in tourist hotspots.

You could look for a dealer local to you with a Jimny in stock and ask if you can have a test drive.
The morel implication of having no want to purchase it from them is just something you will need to deal with, but people do a lot worse.
I test drove a Manual / auto this way, one dealer did get my cash, one did not. I just wanted to experience the difference in each gearbox before I parted with my cash.
I totally recommend you try one, they can be a shock if you are expecting a modern eurobox experience. But they are suited for narrow Spanish roads.
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Or find a Gen 3 for sale on the second hand market, go and see it and try to blag a test drive. Don't mention that you are only testing it to buy one in Spain.

Good tips, thank you! I’m going to take the plunge and try this 2010 model out tomorrow in Mallorca canellasrotger.com/cars/suzuki-jimny/

It’s got 94,000 km on the clock. Am really excited to see how it drives, and being 6ft 4, interested to check head room. Not expecting a ‘regular’ car experience as you say. It won’t be used much off-road but hopefully good for tight windy local roads, hellish parking situations, and my tiny garage.

Any tips on what to watch out for? I have read that rust can be an issue.

Rust can be an issue, but not sure if will be as much in Mallorca!
Check behind each headlamp on the inner wing, if you can see rust it's likely the body mounts below have rotted. You can't really see these as they are behind the front wheel arch liners, but rust above is not a good sign. Also check the middle body mount area just behind the front wheel and the inner sills just to each side. After that rear body mount behind rear wheel and rear floor in boot area, it's the place the jack is stored in the very small load area. Expect some surface rust but no holes. That's the rust covered.

Check the 4x4 system works. Stationery, engine running, out of gear and steering straight ahead switch to 4WD. You will get a flashing green symbol, you should here a click as front hubs engage followed by solid green symbol. Then press 4WL, you hear a noise followed by solid yellow 4L symbol.
To get out press 4WD and wait until yellow disappears, then 2WD and green disappears. If any symbol remains flashing that is bad news, something not working. Note that each will flash slightly as each mode engages.

Oil on the back of front wheels may be a sign that the kingpin bearing are shot. Ask if they have been fixed recently or assume you will need to fix them. Not a show stopper, but about £100 in parts for both sides plus about 3 to 4 hours if you have never changed them before.

After that it's just standard car checks, condition of things. The brakes are adequate rather than "modern car" sharp, but it should stop well and in a straight line. Pulling to one side could be a stuck caliper (they can and do stick), but shouldn't be an issue if it's maintained.

Hope you enjoy the test drive. They aren't fast but are great fun.
Mike

Thanks again for your tips. I’ve just driven the car and all seemed fine: fun even! The main issue for me is the soft top roof on this model. Do you know if that can be changed for a hard top? This is just the section of roof above driver/passenger.

I have seen them as part of a set comprising rear and front sections in fiberglass, so suspect they do exist. If I recall the set is a bit expensive. To be honest I quite like the idea of the front rag top, less so the rear, particularly in a warmer climate. It doesn't look beyond possibilities that you could make your own hardtop out of a light wood, then skin with glass cloth once shaped. Spray to finish. It's a method to build strong model aircraft wings, the glass coth finish is like metal and very very strong and waterproof. It's also light if you pick a light wood.  One such video of glass clothing, it's almost a Jimny roof panel