Just chatting about Suzuki Vitara or similar

Well I had a test drive in a 2012 Grand Vitara 1.6 3door today and it was a very nice place to be. That's bad news, made worse by the fact the wife likes the comfort and I don't mind the way they look.  I don't want to sell the Jimny, wife suggested my Series Land Rover goes and I make the Jimny my mud plugger. ---- maybe...
Need to comfirm the tow limits, but I believe it's in the range 1600kg to 2000kg depending upon year (the years I am interested in).
You gotta love Suzuki for this, same car different limits depending upon which manual you read, but the info printed on the V5 is what counts.

I believe it's 1600kg for the petrol models, 2000kg for diesels.

Thanks, that makes sense. The latest and greatest current 1.6 is 1200kg, still enough.

Well some very sad news today. The better half has confirmed she's had enough of being jiggled around in the Jimny. I can't argue with this and her medical condition doesn't help. 
I wish I could find a way to disagree, but as our daily vehicle we are now asking it to be may things, something it can never achieve.

Had a drive in SX4 today and this has become the front runner. Bit strange to look at but exceptional value for money (no body wants them ), floats over the pot holes nd rust free, with the trusted M16 VVT engine. Not overload with tech, my sort of car.

So sadly our Jimny will be up for sale soon. Just MOTed (13 months), no advisories in the 6 years of our ownership and maintained with no expense spared. It's also as rust free as they get. I'll post it when the dreaded swap is done, but if you know anyone after a Jimny this will be it.

Staying on the forum though 

 

You are always welcome here. Good choice with the sx4, it's a suzuki you'll be fine.

Good luck with the SX4, keep us posted on how you get on with it. They are a strange looking car but in a charming, not trying-too-hard sort of way. That's something that's missing in most modern cars. I'd never noticed them until I was looking for a small tow car.

Good luck with the SX4 and stay in touch your knowledge is always welcome.

Perhaps Martin should start a section on Vits/SX4 or other Suzuki 4WD?

Robin

Done it, one SX4 on the way to our home, but I still have the Jimny as I didn't want to PX it ( that's what I told the wife)

For those that have no idea what they look like, here is a stock picture.
 
They are a bit strange looking, sort of reminds me of the AMC Pacer.

The SX4 is no off road vehicle, it's 4x4 system is a bit like the Panda 4x4. It's has three switch selectable opinions, being 2WD, Intelligent 4x4 or 4x4 lock. I am sure it can handle snow and the odd slippy field, but I wouldn't want to venture further.
2WD is just that, nothing is sent to the back.
Intelligent 4x4 it looks for differences in front / rear tyre rotation, sending power to the end with the most grip, but when everything is moving together it diverts to near FWD operation.
4x4 Lock splits the power to both ends 50/50 but it disengages at a set speed and is only for the slippy stuff, no tarmac.
 Don't know what the disengage speed is at the moment, internet suggests 30mph, seems a bit fast to me for a locked drivetrain.
The 1.6M series engine (VVT) looks familiar, but produces 118bhp and feels quite nippy. 60mph in fifth gear is about 1200 rpm lower than the Jimny.
So far it feels like the correct choice to transport the wife in comfort and pull the caravan.

I still have the Jimny

Martin - can you supply Suzuki SX parts? Just asking, like to keep business with Big Jimny if I can. Not after stuff listing on web site, simply ask if you can get xxxx-xxx sort of thing.
 

I have looked at the picture of the SX4 and I see nothing strange about it. There are certain similarities to Viv's Audi Q3 in that it is smooth and elegant, not like some small hatchbacks that appear to have been carved out of wood with a chainsaw and axe, IE lumpy looking with angular corners instead of smooth svelte lines that flow.
I believe we have reached a point where most designers are desperate to re-think the looks of their next generation model and can't come up with anything that looks good so go the opposite and try and con us into believing that it is the result of divine inspiration.
Good choice.

Roger

Just an update to bring this to a close.
Thanks to everyone for all the alternative vehicle suggestions, but it's been a few weeks and the (new to us) SX4 and Jimny are getting along together.
My better half is happy with the SX, it's smooth and quiet, everything she needs.
I am also happy I didn't sell the Jimny. After declaring it "perfect" in my pre sale words (it was!) and passing a fresh MOT, it took all of 10 days for the drivers side kingpin to fall apart. You just gotta love a kingpin. So spent this weekend on my knees praying fixing the kingpin. It's now perfect again

I have to admit I have grown to like the SX also, it's a bit of an underrated car in my opinion and overlooked, a real sleeper from a bargain point of view. It also doesn't have kingpins . The 1.6 engine is surprisingly quick, plenty of get up and go and the brakes are awesome. Not compared brakes / Engine for compatibility with Jimny, but it's a M16A with 118 bhp returning 42mpg, so a possible swap source that gets overlooked?
The 4x4 system is better than you would expect it to be, particularly in 4x4 lock, but ground clearance is always going to be the issue with the SX.
So my Suzuki allegiance continues....

Aw so cute together
 

 

I'm considering a Vitara to replace my Mazda 3, as it looks as if we're buying a house where the Mazda is not especially suitable - the lanes all have grass up the middle and you need to get two wheels on the verge when you meet something  coming the other way.  It also snows more there.  The Vitara also still comes with a proper handbrake.  It's no looker but it's quite popular around there as it ticks most of the boxes for living in the sticks.  If only it were a bit narrower, but it does at least save 20mm on the Mazda.  I bet the new generation eVitara will be stupidly wide.  Looking at the manual Ultra Allgrip (you have to have Ultra trim if you want AWD).