Would you swap?

l am not too concerned about which vehicle will be worth more in the long term.

l just want the vehicle that's best for my missus. (For the record l think that both SZ5 Jimny and Defender will hold their value if looked after)

With 25k to spend I'd be looking at all and everything else too. A land cruiser? A classic G wagon? A new 4x4 crossover?

My missus likes Defenders. She's had three of them.
But she also loves her Jimny.
We'll see what happens.

The Jimny SZ5 does have a better ride comfort than a Defender. l don't know how Suzuki did it, although l bet it's partially due to the suspension on the Defender having to deal with the maximum towing weight of 3,600kg.

so it has to be fairly heavy duty.

wrote:

I'd rather drive 1000 miles in my 20 year old, 120,000 mile Jimny than 100 miles in the Defender. It's cramped, awkward to drive, the engine is gutless apart from a small surge of torque at the bottom end, manoeuvrability is terrible

110's are quite long, but still pretty narrow by modern standards. With the steering stops sorted and the correct rims, it should turn pretty well though. A 90 as mentioned above turns brilliantly.

Not sure I can relate other, what is awkward to drive in the Defender? I've also found the engines to be pretty stout. The 12 plate with have is standard tune, but does have a big intercooler. The 65 plate 2.2 has a big intercooler and remap with just shy of 190hp and loads of torque. Very impressive. 5th gear at 30mph it'll really push you in the back of the seat and not let off until you are over 80mph.[/quote]

On paper the turning circle is just over 30% bigger, but on the ground it feels like you need twice as much room. That's with standard wheels, standard steering stops, 235/85r16 tyres that rub a bit on full lock. The slow steering and big steering wheel make it feel very cumbersome. Permanent 4wd means you can't steer it on the throttle like you can a Jimny, or drive it any particularly entertaining manner.
Awkward to drive because I have shoulders and elbows than the original designers didn't account for. It's a hi cap pickup and the seat doesn't go back far enough for me without being in a bolt upright position (I'm 5'6!) The drive-by-wire accelerator pedal has a lag that oscillates perfectly with bumps causing kangarooing. The mirrors are crap. The wipers are crap. The heater is crap. It jumps out of low range. The steering shakes badly over bumps. The ride is rough. The doors aren't air tight. You can modify anything to make it go quickly, but as standard they are slow lumbering things.

But that's all irrelevant in this instance. If Lightning's partner likes them then that's all that matters!

I'll arrange a test drive for my missus. She's never driven a tdci but from the above comments it looks like we'd be going for a TD5 if we did make the swap.

Some of the issues with the tdci can be resolved. A remap fixes the throttle response issue. Seat risers make the drivers seat go further back which helps taller drivers (not on the truck cab version though!)

lf the steering shakes over bumps it's likely the swivel
preload is incorrect, it's probably zero, resetting that makes a world of difference.