I am Starting Off Roading... What Car Should I Buy ? HELP :)

[emmajones]

Hello Everybody
i am starting off roading for the first time for me and i am looking for a suzuki but not sure what model is best etc.
i am dont want to spend to much and not sure where is a good sites to look for cars to view etc apart from the good old ebay

thank you and any help is welcome

[4eye]

Welcome to the forum!

a year ago(ish)...i was in the same position as you....wanted a sj and cheap...! So looked long and hard...but my baby came from.......... ebay.

Its a 410q santana sport...

1ltr softtop...and it does all what want....
(sorry bout the babbling )

If i were you...pick urself up a 410or a 413 thats pretty standard...no point paying for all those mod's if your just starting out.

stay away from anythin with a shackle lift(i know i have 1 but thats my mistake )

i hope my babbling comes to some use.

Chris

[Tramp]

right then, how long is a piece of string? Any SJ is a good choice for offroading, the earlier 410's and 413 were more offroad orientated, but although there are differences they are all about as good as each other, More than anything it comes down to personal choice, If it was up to me I would buy a 410 next, because the 1ltr engine feels more lively than the 1.3ltr of the 413 and in fairness there is not much difference between the top speeds,

Luke

[emmajones]

Thanks for the advice
i got lucky on ebay and found a sj410 1988 and only 36000 miles on it.
not really been used off road though so the next job to change the wheels and tyres and shocks and raise the suspension and add a roll cage.
any advice on raising the suspension?

emma

p.s the picture is my newbiee

[dominic]

Hi Emma,



Now that SJ looks nice, for a motor of that age are you 100% certain that the mileage is correct ? and not 136000 miles ?

Mines a 1985, and only showing around the 36000 miles on the clock, when in fact its done 136000 miles. but i can prove to anyone the full history of mine.

If you havent got it yet, then check any old paperwork, service book etc.


Dom

[dominic]

OOPPss,

silly me, i read wrong , you have got it,

Truefully, i wouldnt recommend doing a lift, but thats me, keep it simple, change tyres if you want to , and shocks,and a roll bar/cage, these SJ 's can go just about anywhere without doing a lift to them.

Enjoy

Dom

[ferris]

Welcome to the club, and congrats on your new purchase. Looks pretty tidy from the picture.

With the suspension it depends how much lift you want and what size tyres you hope to fit on there. A add-a-leaf kit is a good place to start, relitively cheap and with give you around 2" extra lift. There are other options but it all depends on your budget.

[Tramp]

It looks like its in pretty good nick for its year, although the cills maybe rusty under the chequre plating the arch's dont look to be rusted through, nor the bonnet. Its an interesting color scheme you don't see those decals very often, I don't know if you will see it but I can see how the decals changed over the years and changed from model to model It looks like it already has vitara 16" alloys fitted which is a modification alot of people do as the 16" wheels have a wider range of tyres available (as landrovers use 16" wheels too) You also appear to have the bracket fitted for a bull bar, so if you decide to fit a genuine bull bar it will fit right on the front! generally the 410's had the flat bull bar and not the wrap around type

Luke

[4eye]

If your goin to fit bigger tyre's...you may have to look into a lift...but also you may have to buy a set of wheel spacer's to stop the front tyre's rubbing on the leafs...fitting these will also help with stability...i bought a set(new)32mm off ebay for £30 delivered....they are the cast type which i find to be very durable...!

as for the lift...i'd have to go with ferris on this 1... Add a leaf is about £100 delivered to your door from LLAMA 4X4. Just a couple of things for you to think about.

[carnut]

Hi and welcome!,,

were abouts in the country are you..