SJ413 has gone looking at getting Jimny,any advice please.

[twiss]

If you get a V6 thought make sure its had the timing chain done as it looks like one hell of a job!

[RickUK]

Thanks folks,that has been some very good information,the 2ltr engine does seem to be bomb proof,Diesel ones are reliable as far as information that i am reading and camshafts can go this results in a very expensive job.As yet the V6 seems not bad relaibilty wise butworth looking at the camshaft change as that is a vital question i need to ask.

I will be asking those vital questions when i start looking at them within the next week,if they cannot answer my questions i will just walk away and look at the next one.Once i am satisfied that i have found a genuine one due to the small amount of miles i will be doing it it per years i could keep it for a few years.

Prior to be given the SJ413 i had the totally bullit proof 2.8TD Isuzu trooper from new and that ended up doing well over 200,000 miles and was still going strong but it started costing money with the expensive spares.

Once again thanks for your input.

Rick

[ScottieJ]

Scottie had a V6 GV for a while.

I'm not aware of any common faults with any of these engines. I guess if there were issues then forums would be full of people asking for advice.

The number one issue is rattly timing chain because of worn/sticky tensioners caused by infrequent oil changes or using the wrong oil, this is not a cheap or easy job to fix, also make sure the clutch feels good and that the hole in the pedal where it joins the master cylinder isn't badly worn and that there's no signs of a leaking master cylinder in the footwell side of the bulkhead. Also the very bottom Ujoint on the steering column where it enters the steering rack seems to be a common minor issue.

Apart from those things to look out for they 2.5 V6 is an awesome engine with plenty of torque and power, the handling can be a little boat like but it's certainly soft and comfortable and they do handle well.

If you like Auto's the AW4 used is an amazing Auto, possibly one of the best I've driven.

I've driven an Auto GV2000 and absolutely love the J20a engine, so much I bought a whole GV2000 just for the engine to fit into an SJ

Personally though if you like the SJ I wouldn't rule out the Jimny unless the size and space is and issue.

[RickUK]

@ScottieJ,thanks mate for your great indepth knowledge of the V6 engine,at least i am aware on what i have too look for and almost certain i will go for that option.Also the plan is to go for a as new model as i can find,this i hope should produce a low mileage vehicle that has a full service history.

Intersting feedback about the auto option as i had not thought about that,but will the power out of the V6 linked to the auto box it could well make enjoyable driving,i will be going for the 5 door model as i do carry a massive amount of gear with me when i go detecting and seeing the pictures of the boot this backup my idea that it will all fit in the back.

I have a few to view over the weekend,i feel its a buyers market and when the right one comes along i shall pull the wad of notes out and complete a deal,i am not it a hurry and certainly will take my time but i will update on how it is going.

My 1st option after the SJ went was the Jimny as it had a few more creature comforts,but the GV is also in a higher creature comfort league as well.Hence this is why i am going down this route.

Once again tanks for all your input especially the guys who have owned one of them.

Rick

[RickUK]

Just a quick update,have had a look at a few 5 door GV during the week,some ultra nice spec cars but for some reason i still keep holding off and gravitating back towards the good old Jimny.

Also had a go in a Jimny during the week,and it just seem right for my type of use,really loved the power steering especially after the old SJ,the only thing that concerened me about the Jimny was the space in the back for carrying all my detecting gear but saying that i dont have much more than what i carried in the old SJ.

Will be looking at a few more motors during the week,its a buyers market so i wont rush into buying the 1st one that i see.

Just a few questions,are the Jimny models very similar off road performance wise as the SJ was ??? although i wont be green laning or major off roading its more piece of mind so that i can get off a field during the winter if need be,also is the front drive train auto locking or do you have to manually engage the front hubs ??

Sorry if i seem long winded about buying one of these cars but i would like to get it totally right rather than offload a car and look for another car.

I am not a speed merchant these days,but all i want is a reliable plugger that carrys my equipment around with a few creature comforts,the Jimny seems to tick all the boxes,aircon,4x4,power steering etc.

Thanks again

[Rhinoman]

The Jimny will cope very well with off-road use with some decent tyres on it, I did some green planning and P&P days in mine and it was completely stock except for the tyres. I did a 40mile commute in it every day and I also drove it to Inverness and back from High Wycombe on a holiday.
Front hubs are vacuum operated, auto-engaging items.

[RickUK]

@Rhinoman,many thanks for you input,that is exactly the information that i was looking for,i dont do great amount of mileage i guess only about 100 miles a week if that.Its mainly just to get to the farms or permissions that i have for detecting on and we only tend to park around the edge of the fields but of course during the winter months it can get very wet and although i have as yet not got stuck one can never tell.

I guess if i was still 20 odd years old then it would be another SJ but i do like my creature comforts,once again thanks for all your input and sorry for asking what seems like stupid questions but with the help from the forum members its saved me a possible great amount of money if i had bought the wrong type of vehicle especially one that have known problems if that makes sense.

Thanks again and thanks to admin and helpers and all the members for making this a quality forum.

[dominic]

Jimny's are great.
I be getting my mitts on another as soon as I can.
I do miss the one I traded-in.

[RickUK]

@dominic,i went for a Vitara 2.0ltr V6 in the end,bigger load area for all my gear that i carry,and boy i dont regret getting it.Had it exactly a week today and every time i take it out i come back with a massive smile on my face,its that silky smooth V6 that i am certain that makes this Vitara so nice to drive.

Have done about 300 miles this week which is alot more that i normally would do,as i usually only do sub 100 miles to local farms etc but i think i am getting on average about 30mpg and i think it could go upto about 32mpg on a long journey.

Only thing i plan on doing to it is get a slightly more agressive tyres that is when the current one start getting low,but at the moment i cannot see me getting bogged down,its just a case of peace of mind that if i ever needed to get off a farmers field after parking on the wet ground all day i can then just put it into 4 wheel drive mode and get off.

Will admit i am a very happy chappy with my Suzuki 4x4.

[dominic]

RickUK, a V6 nice one !
Yer you will enjoy it a lot, I had my 2.0 diesel for 4 years now, and I love it like my SJ.
I will get round to getting a Jimny again once I have the funds.

Dom