Suzuki Jimny - any good for the misses or just utterly shocking all round?
11 August 2004, 12:58 PM
#1
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Suzuki Jimny - any good for the misses or just utterly shocking all round?
Now bear in mind the driver of the Jimny is the misses who is not interested in handling, speed, performance etc. She does do a fair few miles as a home carer so looking for small engines or diesels.
She really like the jimny's becuase she likes jeeps and likes the fact that its small and easy to manouver. Its a 1.3 so tax will be cheap and should be cheaper fuel compared to her current 1.6 petrol 97 Astra.
Only thing that puts me off is cost of tyres, whether its reliable and its build quality/survivabilty in an accident as we have a 2 year old.
I know it probably handles like jelly and very slow but shes not too bothered about that just likes the cool factor.
She really like the jimny's becuase she likes jeeps and likes the fact that its small and easy to manouver. Its a 1.3 so tax will be cheap and should be cheaper fuel compared to her current 1.6 petrol 97 Astra.
Only thing that puts me off is cost of tyres, whether its reliable and its build quality/survivabilty in an accident as we have a 2 year old.
I know it probably handles like jelly and very slow but shes not too bothered about that just likes the cool factor.
11 August 2004, 01:40 PM
#2
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Way back in the mists of time, my first car was an SJ410... last time I looked at a jimny it all seemed very familiar!!
Even then, it's "crudeness" was part of it's character, summer day \ roof down and the bounce \ noise didn't matter. It helped that I didn't have much to compare it to!
Build quality \ reliability will be fine, mine was in the family from 86(new) to 2001 without any major hassles. Not sure about the crash worthiness - try and find some current crash results? Ignore the "fallover" scares of the earlier one, they were unfounded.
Hope that helps...
Ian
Even then, it's "crudeness" was part of it's character, summer day \ roof down and the bounce \ noise didn't matter. It helped that I didn't have much to compare it to!
Build quality \ reliability will be fine, mine was in the family from 86(new) to 2001 without any major hassles. Not sure about the crash worthiness - try and find some current crash results? Ignore the "fallover" scares of the earlier one, they were unfounded.
Hope that helps...
Ian
11 August 2004, 02:21 PM
#3
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My missus has had 2 (currently on second one) .. she had a red ST (softtop) (01Y) and swapped it for a new (04) Jimny Mode estate - HT (Hardtop) 
She had the Soft top for 3 1/2 years and had the new one for 6 months so I should have a good idea what to expect.
Both are cool
she has a new Black two-tone Mode (which comes with alloys/leather steering wheel-gear lever/silver dials/half leather seats/fog lights etc) and I added a few other bits. We bought an A-bar and side bars for her red one and we carried them over to the Black one and I also put on chrome headlight covers and wing mirrors as a wee surprise. It's very girly but for her very cool.
We also have a 2 1/2 yr old and she prefers Mum's jeep
Driving: It's fun. OK slow (not as slow as the quoted 0-60 makes out) but will pootle along as 75 if needs be, quite low geared so you are up around 4-4.5K at 75/80. It does suck a bit of petrol at this rate. Handling is rolly but safe enough, you do get jiggled around a bit. She had a KA before this but it was very dull, I even like driving the wee jeep
Softtops have slightly different engines to hardtop (ST-SOHC, HT-DOHC) and the HT seems more pokey and quieter. It's perfect for around town - good visibility and will handle the odd motorway trip.
Off road and rain/snow is frankly astonishing for what you pay. Very secure in the rain .. proper off road ladder suspension/low ratio gearbox. We had severe snow in Aberdeen here last year and it was better than the scoob. Remember an off road magazine test where it basically killed a Porsche Cayenne across country.
Space/Interior: Inside is not too bad really, we've had 4 adults in it without too many problems. ST boot is useless as you need to take the back window out (it zips around) to get in it. You need strong fingers for it too so don't expect to be going topless too much. The boot is quite small but is useable in the HT and does carry fold down buggy/travel cot etc for the wee nipper if needs be.
Reliability: In 4 years we had one rattling exhaust heatshield and the speedo went twice (one loose cable, one needed a new PCB) both fixed without quibble under warranty. Plastic at the side of the drivers seat came loose/broke from use and that's it. Dealers very friendly and always willing to help.
Costs : Drank a bit more fuel than I thought it would although new one seems better and it was maybe deceiving as it only has a 40 litre tank. Servicing wasn't too bad and tyres are about 60 quid a throw. Add on extras are expensive. Mind you we cut costs on the A-bar/side bars as we just bought the kit through the dealer as supply only and my dad and I fitted them in abot 1hr ourselves as they came with all bolts supplied and the chassis is pre-drilled.
The only bad points I can think of is the interior plastics scratch easily and it's a bit wayward in a cross wind although sticking it in 4WD does help. You'd need to be doing something majorly stupid to get it to fall over though.
Personally for the missus and nipper as a cool, characterful car I can't think of another one for 10K that is better. My missus loves her, I said when she changed her car she could look at Rav4's/Pinin's etc but she wasn't interested in anything else but another Jimny. Forget the magazine reviews .. I'd have no worries getting her another
If there anything else you want to know just ask
Doofus.
She had the Soft top for 3 1/2 years and had the new one for 6 months so I should have a good idea what to expect.
Both are cool
she has a new Black two-tone Mode (which comes with alloys/leather steering wheel-gear lever/silver dials/half leather seats/fog lights etc) and I added a few other bits. We bought an A-bar and side bars for her red one and we carried them over to the Black one and I also put on chrome headlight covers and wing mirrors as a wee surprise. It's very girly but for her very cool.We also have a 2 1/2 yr old and she prefers Mum's jeep
Driving: It's fun. OK slow (not as slow as the quoted 0-60 makes out) but will pootle along as 75 if needs be, quite low geared so you are up around 4-4.5K at 75/80. It does suck a bit of petrol at this rate. Handling is rolly but safe enough, you do get jiggled around a bit. She had a KA before this but it was very dull, I even like driving the wee jeep
Softtops have slightly different engines to hardtop (ST-SOHC, HT-DOHC) and the HT seems more pokey and quieter. It's perfect for around town - good visibility and will handle the odd motorway trip.Off road and rain/snow is frankly astonishing for what you pay. Very secure in the rain .. proper off road ladder suspension/low ratio gearbox. We had severe snow in Aberdeen here last year and it was better than the scoob. Remember an off road magazine test where it basically killed a Porsche Cayenne across country.
Space/Interior: Inside is not too bad really, we've had 4 adults in it without too many problems. ST boot is useless as you need to take the back window out (it zips around) to get in it. You need strong fingers for it too so don't expect to be going topless too much. The boot is quite small but is useable in the HT and does carry fold down buggy/travel cot etc for the wee nipper if needs be.
Reliability: In 4 years we had one rattling exhaust heatshield and the speedo went twice (one loose cable, one needed a new PCB) both fixed without quibble under warranty. Plastic at the side of the drivers seat came loose/broke from use and that's it. Dealers very friendly and always willing to help.
Costs : Drank a bit more fuel than I thought it would although new one seems better and it was maybe deceiving as it only has a 40 litre tank. Servicing wasn't too bad and tyres are about 60 quid a throw. Add on extras are expensive. Mind you we cut costs on the A-bar/side bars as we just bought the kit through the dealer as supply only and my dad and I fitted them in abot 1hr ourselves as they came with all bolts supplied and the chassis is pre-drilled.
The only bad points I can think of is the interior plastics scratch easily and it's a bit wayward in a cross wind although sticking it in 4WD does help. You'd need to be doing something majorly stupid to get it to fall over though.
Personally for the missus and nipper as a cool, characterful car I can't think of another one for 10K that is better. My missus loves her, I said when she changed her car she could look at Rav4's/Pinin's etc but she wasn't interested in anything else but another Jimny. Forget the magazine reviews .. I'd have no worries getting her another
If there anything else you want to know just ask
Doofus.
11 August 2004, 02:31 PM
#4
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Thread Starter
Nice one mate, answered my question a treat.
Only thing though, you mention fuel consumption? My misses is a home carer so does a quite a few miles a week in her car most of which are short fuel guzzling journies. Long trips the Astra is pretty frugal but round town its rubbish and its also got aircon which hammers the fuel.
What would you say the MPG was on a Jimny? Any idea of what its doing to a tank miles wise.
Thanks mate, more convinced it'll be OK for her now.
Only thing though, you mention fuel consumption? My misses is a home carer so does a quite a few miles a week in her car most of which are short fuel guzzling journies. Long trips the Astra is pretty frugal but round town its rubbish and its also got aircon which hammers the fuel.
What would you say the MPG was on a Jimny? Any idea of what its doing to a tank miles wise.
Thanks mate, more convinced it'll be OK for her now.
11 August 2004, 02:39 PM
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Originally Posted by EddScott
Nice one mate, answered my question a treat.
Only thing though, you mention fuel consumption? My misses is a home carer so does a quite a few miles a week in her car most of which are short fuel guzzling journies. Long trips the Astra is pretty frugal but round town its rubbish and its also got aircon which hammers the fuel.
What would you say the MPG was on a Jimny? Any idea of what its doing to a tank miles wise.
Thanks mate, more convinced it'll be OK for her now.
Only thing though, you mention fuel consumption? My misses is a home carer so does a quite a few miles a week in her car most of which are short fuel guzzling journies. Long trips the Astra is pretty frugal but round town its rubbish and its also got aircon which hammers the fuel.
What would you say the MPG was on a Jimny? Any idea of what its doing to a tank miles wise.
Thanks mate, more convinced it'll be OK for her now.
Just my opinion.
Mark
11 August 2004, 03:22 PM
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I would say she gets around 30 mpg just pootling about. If you're up around 75-80 at 4-4.5K revs I would say the scoob was better (i get about 30, would say Jimny was more like 25). Suppose that makes it about 300 to a tank, most I've ever seen my missus put in is about £21 to fill it.
Does that answer your question?
You need to re-arrange your perception of a small car when you buy a Jimny, it a wee Tonka Toy like Jeep and is FUN to drive. It's a good laugh at low speeds around the country lanes up here. It's not a dull KA/Fiesta/Corsa type experience .. probably better cars but far and away more soul destroying.
Give it a test drive and see what you think, don't expect it to handle/be as quiet/sensible as a normal small car and take it from there.
I think hers is great but each to their own Mark
Doofus.
Does that answer your question?
You need to re-arrange your perception of a small car when you buy a Jimny, it a wee Tonka Toy like Jeep and is FUN to drive. It's a good laugh at low speeds around the country lanes up here. It's not a dull KA/Fiesta/Corsa type experience .. probably better cars but far and away more soul destroying.
Give it a test drive and see what you think, don't expect it to handle/be as quiet/sensible as a normal small car and take it from there.
I think hers is great but each to their own Mark
Doofus.
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