Should i get a jimny?

Hi guys, 

so for months I’ve been thinking of getting a jimny. Dreaming would be better. Now I’m not an expert driver, but now live in a very rural setting, lots of narrow lanes, muddy passing spots, tracks, hills, muddy gravel roads, farmland everywhere.etc etc. 

I didn’t realise you have to slip it in and out of 4WD, I have also read that you should never drive in 4WD in the above conditions I mentioned. Is this correct?

I also read that they have a tendency to roll??

on this forum someone talked about what tyres to put on. Would the correct tires make it easier in driving RWD with above conditions? 

I also read - I’ve read a lot- that it can be tricky to slip it into 4wd unless you are stationary with wheels straight!

im looking at older models 2005 for example.

sorry, quite a few questions. Feedback would be greatly appreciated 
Thank you. 
 

 

You can only use 4WD when there is some slip in the surface, so snow, mud wet grass and very loose gravel are all ok.

You can switch between 2WD and 4WD whilst moving but to engage 4WD low range you have to be stopped.

A decent set of AT tyres will cope with roads, muddy patches, grass, gravel and even off road, you don’t need 4WD all that often.

I don’t think they roll, that is probably a myth. I can sling my Jimny in to a corner and it has never even wobbled, in fact it’s pretty good.

So should you get one, well if your daily drive in out in the wilds and the road conditions are sometimes poor then yes a Jimny will keep you going when other vehicles fall by the way side.

Plus they are great fun.

Robin

Narrow lanes--tick.
Muddy passing spots --Tick.
Tracks --tick.
Hills -tick.
Muddy gravel roads -tick.
Farmland everywhere -tick (with permission ).
You do not drive in 4WD on dry roads
It was the SJ models that rolled and that was back in the eighties under extreme provocation.
Tyres designed for dirt, gravel snow and ice are always better than bog standard road biased tyres and may under some conditions suffice in 2WD but 4WD will be better still.
It is not difficult to engage 4WD but you need to be stationary to do it and straight wheels are not mandatory.
I think you need to change your reading material.
For the type of conditions you have mentioned, a Jimny is ideal as it is light so doesn't damage soft tracks as much as larger heavier motors, it's narrow so can squeeze down narrow lanes, it's tall so it's better at looking over hedges, it's frugal, always a good point and it's relatively cheap to run. Plus they are reliable and then you have us to tell you what not to read.
Welcome to the Forum.

Roger

If the conditions dictate you can quite happily change between 4x2 and 4x4 high range at upto 60 miles an hour though and this is just my opinion if you are doing 60 in conditions that require the additional traction of 4x4 you may consider slowing down unless its some kind of rally race.

The Rolling over thing  is nonsense and was started in America back in the 80s when some Automotive experts crashed one and tried to get the samurai removed from the USA. Suzuki Won the case as it was proved that the tests to roll the car were rigged and it was very difficult to roll one. All of this is on YouTube for those interested. Now back to the Jimny on a country lane in the wet or Ice there would be a high chance of the Jimny slipping and sliding causing it to crash so more care would be needed compared to other cars. The lightness and rear wheel drive can cause the back end to slip. Apart from that it’s ideal on the back rounds and most at home doing that kind of work. 

They are great cars, but most 2005 cars will have some established rust.  You need to spend half an hour inspecting it for serious rust, including shimmying underneath the car. 

Boot floor
Wheel.arches
Behind the headlamps
Body to chassis mounting points
Sills (looking outwards from underneath)

And check the 4WD actually works.  On older cars the vacuum system that locks the front hubs often fails.

Also, drive it at all speeds and watch for a violent steering wheel wobble at around 50mph.