Brand newish Second hand Jimny day!

Today I went to collect the latest addition to the BigJimny clan. For those that know me I've been after a late model Gen 3 for a few years now but could never really find the right car and missed a couple because they are in very high demand (people were after mine whilst it was the dealership!). In November this one came into our favourite dealership out of the blue and with some lucky timing my dad was able to see and test drive the car before it was even prepped. It's slightly higher mileage than I would have liked and a bit more "Used" than I would have liked but it was a 1 owned car from new with full dealer service history. So I decided it was now or never as the cars are getting older and set out the challenge of trying to get this car back to near showroom condition with the help of roadworthy Suzuki in Bristol. It's not anywhere near my SJ levels of perfect and it will need some work to get there but I think we've made a good start and it will only get better. 

It was an interesting drive home as I've never driven an Auto Jimny before. I kept reaching for the gear stick at every junction and when I get in it I'm trying to find the clutch with my left foot 

I need to get use to the Autobox as after I left the dealership I was almost straight onto the motorway with a cold car and it was making some rather interesting gear changes and was reluctant to get up to speed without ragging it. Still a few miles in and it seemed to get its act together was sitting happily at 70mph. Cruise control would have been a nice with the auto box though. 

Anyway here's my 2018 SZ4 Auto 

You only have the main 3 gears when it's warming up, once it has 3 bars on the temperature then it opens up overdrive and the torque converter lock out. With the locked out it almost feels like it has a 5th gear as when it needs more power for an overtake or incline as it reverts back to letting the converter slip to utilise the higher engine rpm. Assuming you don't stamp on it to get it into 3rd or 2nd. you get used to it you can do it deliberately with the throttle. It's just a matter of seat time. Tis a lovely car by the way.

Makes sense. That little boost is quite addictive at the top end. As you say it's almost like having a 5 gear. I'm sure I'll get use to it. Loving the way it crawls round without having to be on/off a clutch. It's like having a lowered geared Jimny .

Very nice looking 

Another thing I noted today about the Gen 3 was how much better the seats are in the later Gen 3 compared to my Gen 4s. I prefer the more bolstered side supports. The quality is much better too being a half mix or leather & vinyl. My Gen 4 drivers seat is  already showing signs of wear at 10k miles. The seats in my 30k miles Gen 3 show no signs of wear on the drivers seat and just look more quality. Suzuki took a step back with the Gen 4 in the seat department in my opinion.