Just chatting about Suzuki Vitara or similar

The SX4 is an interesting suggestion. I know nothing about them but will try and see one in real life. 

Hi Scimike.

I note that you have Koni heavy track dampers. How do you rate them in comparison to standard and do you think a change to an adjustable shock like AVO would solve the "Jittery" ride?

Cheers

Roger

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300bhp - I don't have a budget limit, what I have is a dislike of spending anymore money on cars of any sort. For the correct vehicle I will pay whatever the going rate is, but for now the cheaper I can do it the better. Also older cars tend to be less Tech filled, less to go wrong. For Towing I can get away with 800kg, I did look at a Freelander in the traffic jam today, but I had always considered anything after Series / 90 / Defender to be a pile of trouble. I can be corrected on this, I own a Series and its never gone wrong, but then it only has two fuses

Will look into any suggestions for alternative vehicles, as I said, just pondering at the moment.... 


 

In my experience, pretty much any make or model has potential to go wrong. Older cars might have less tech, but are, well, older. And likely in need of more age related maintenance. Also "technology" in terms of sensors and the like have been in cars for best part of 30 years or more. So unless you are looking at a classic or something very specific, avoiding tech of any kind is likely a challenge.

With regards to a Freelander. I'd never want to say you could own one trouble free and there are certain things that can cause an issue. However as a family we've had quite a few and by and large they have been pretty good. I replaced the VCU (viscous coupling unit) the other year, which can be a fail point and a reason some are converted to 2wd. But a well maintained one should be good. One of the family Freelanders has 200,000 miles on the clock and has had a hard life. Mechanically it is still fine bar a brake line leak, which is more age related than anything.

We also have 2 x Freelander 2's in the family as well.

If you are considering older vehicles the Gen 1 or 2 Honda CR-V's look pretty good IMO. And as said, I like the Shoguns, as you can get a short wheel base (swb) 3 door. Fully independent suspension, but should still feel more 4x4 than car like to drive.

As for fuel type. Diesels should be fine for the most part. It is only DPF's on some vehicles that don't like short distances, diesel engines themselves don't actually care.

Hi Roger, 
The Koni's have performed well, I fitted them primarily to control the caravan better, they certainly did that. About 0 to 40% setting is usable for a std Jimny, 50% on gives a firmer ride. I have now put them at the softest setting and have a softer ride, albeit with more body roll.

This may be enough time alleviate the ride issues, only time will tell, but it doesn't compensate fully for its jiggling nature.

So I rate the dampers, the only negative is you need to turn the body to adjust rather than a side mounted adjuster. So you can't adjust them easily. This could be considered a positive as the side adjuster can be susceptible to damage / corrosion. 

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but it doesn't compensate fully for its jiggling nature.

If this is the main aspect of the ride you don't like. It is probably more due to the short wheelbase and narrow track. Short wheel bases tend to pitch more and a narrow track has the same effect side to side. When you combine this with the higher ride height, a small movement down load, translates to a comparatively larger one higher up.

Having had a few Ignis curtesy cars in recent years. I feel the JB74 rides better on most roads than the little hartchback. I think the higher profile tyres also help. The suspension is also notably more quiet on the Jimny. Where the Ignis was better was road humps where both front wheels need to suddenly move up together and on more extreme pot holed surfaces. I suspect the Jimny's live axle runs out of up travel in such situations.

Have you thought about a spring refresh, suspension is a system after all and the springs will get tired. Not suggesting a lift as I think that is unnecessary but when I had my last jimny I did the dampers first and that helped the ride but not as noticeably as the new springs did.