Intro'

Evening all.  

New member here from the surrey hills looking for his first Jimny. (but about 10th 4x4)
Im an old grumpy chap trying to retire but a succession of expensive hobbies delays that happy day.
Want a DB6 but need a 4x4 as my hobbies mean a couple of times a year I do round trips to Inveness @1000miles and in a 4L Wrangler that was prohibitive!
Other car is a Saab Areo convertible so Jimny is for fishing and shooting.
Any for sale in Surrey let me know.
cheers
Martin
 

Hi Martin,

Just to say hello. I am also a grumpy old chap trying to retire, its good fun no longer being concerned about a "career" 

Can't help with the Jimny unfortunately. You may get lucky and find one locally, but be prepared to travel as they are a bit thin on the ground unfortunately. They are also "reassuringly expensive" and tend to rust, but are generally mechanically reliable. The wiki above has all the places to look / problems to expect.

Good luck in both your search and pending retirement.

Do we think they are expensive? compared to Landrovers, Wranglers, and Land Cruisers they seem good value to be.

No, I think they are good value compared to Landrovers, Wranglers, and Land Cruisers.
Well the Gen 3 is, the latest Gen 4 may have reduced this margin.
They are expensive (in my opinion) if you don't care about a low ratio box and just want a 4 wheel drive vehicle. RAV 4 , Duster etc, even a 4x4 Panda can get you "off road" for less, its down to you needs and wants.
Of course this is just my opinion, being old and grumpy means every other opinion is wrong 

RAV 4 , Duster etc, even a 4x4 Panda

Just because Im old i havnt lost my sense of style, I mean flares platforms and mullets are still cool right?

Im looking around £5K that will get me round a pheasant shoot, get a carcass in the back, (deer) and have enough space for guns and fly rod.

cheers

My rifles only just fit in the back and I have taken out the back seats, I flippin love it though, completely unstoppable off road (rarely even use 4WD) and you just instantly get used to driving a bit slower on the road. Luckily the drivers mirror is at a perfect height to use as a rifle rest, I whack a bean bag on it and it's just right.

Such a feel good car.

Not sure if a big fishing rod would fit in though?

Have a look at this thread about a pristine low mileage 2003, it doesn't fit your budget, but shows you how the prices are going.
www.bigjimny.com/index.php/forum/6-jimny...room-2003-jlx#244599

Don't get me wrong, I think my Jimny is great, but it is a little small and slow for long trips away and since they stopped importing them in to the UK (except the commercial) the prices have rocketed. You might be better off looking at a Vitara 4x4, you will certainly get better value for money, more space, better on the road and just as good for the gravel tracks and odd trip across the moor.

Robin

Happy to consider a Vitara, but if Im out in the mud in Dec feeding pheasents, will it be able to get me out of the s**t? ( can it take a winch?)

I couldn't say how good a Vitara would be vs a Jimny in the mud, but suspect that the Jimny would be more suitable. Google Vitara and winch there are plenty of them out there.

At £5k you will definately be looking at an older Jimny, you might need to budget for some decent AT tyres and a winch, unless it comes with these fitted.

The answer might depend on which Vitara - the current Vitara in my opinion shouldn't be taken off a paved surface (yes, I know it comes with "AllGrip"), the previous generation however, although it's no match for a Jimny, is quite capable off road, and also larger & more comfortable, two features that can be important to us older folk.

One thing to bear in mind is that a first generation Vitara is now going to be twenty years or older, and whilst they don't rot as rapidly as a Jimny, you will need take a good look underneath, especially around the rear cross members & body mounts.