lilbob
Part of things
Posts: 419
|
|
Aug 31, 2011 18:38:04 GMT
|
|
hi all been having strange urges just lately about vitara's any advice?
what to look for what not too buy ? what are they like to live with?
i quite fancy a 3 door soft top fat boy with ALL the chrome goodies
|
| |
|
|
|
|
ezzysi
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,189
|
|
Aug 31, 2011 19:26:11 GMT
|
We had one a couple of years back  It was her daily but I stole the keys whenever she wasn't looking! loads of fun in the summer with the roof down. Ours had the removable hard top which, whilst good for security and lack of wind noise etc, was a pain when you want to go somewhere without the top on. Pain to store it, can't refit if your out and it starts raining and can't leave anything in car when parked up! I'd have another one tomorrow but with a soft top and again without the wideboy kit as i'm not a big fan of them. Bit thirsty too but probably not so bad compared to bigger/permanent 4x4's (Ours had freewheeling hubs on front as standard which helps with mpg's a bit) |
| |
Last Edit: Aug 31, 2011 19:27:31 GMT by ezzysi
1991 Mk2 Golf Gti 8v
2005 Passat tdi (daily)
1971 Mk1 Escort
2004 Touran (her's)
|
|
v8lee
Posted a lot
FoMoCoMoFo
Posts: 1,045
|
|
Aug 31, 2011 19:33:05 GMT
|
|
And you looked like a bear in it.
|
| |
No more old cars
|
|
|
|
|
Aug 31, 2011 19:35:28 GMT
|
|
I've just sold mine.
Fat Boy wheels were changed for standard steel wheels and tyres - massive improvement in ride quality. With the wide tyres you could feel every bump in the road, steering (PAS) not so "nice" (can't think of a better word) plus I'm not a hairdresser and prefered the more rugged look of steel wheels / more agressive tyres for greenlaning.
Only reason I got rid was I now use a mobility buggy some of the time and it wouldn't fit in the back.
In the past I've had numerous Land / Range Rovers and wished I'd discovered Vitara's earlier as suited me fine (before my stroke).
Check boot floor for rust. If it already has arch flares then examine carefully as they can trap damp dirt and it's not uncommon for the metalwork underneath to dissappear.
Only negative for me was economy - quite thirsty.
Paul H
Paul H
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Aug 31, 2011 19:45:02 GMT
|
|
I had the 3 door tin top, any more than the occasional rear passenger and it really is a pain.
There is no boot space at all with the rear seats down.
Mine was 1.6 16v JLX.
I'd have another for a toy.
|
| |
Some days you just need to take a grinder to an inanimate object, just to make your day a tiny bit better!!
|
|
ezzysi
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,189
|
|
Aug 31, 2011 20:09:01 GMT
|
And you looked like a bear in it. Its true, although I don't a vitara to look like a fat bear.! |
| |
1991 Mk2 Golf Gti 8v
2005 Passat tdi (daily)
1971 Mk1 Escort
2004 Touran (her's)
|
|
lilbob
Part of things
Posts: 419
|
|
Aug 31, 2011 20:11:15 GMT
|
|
did they do a 1.6 8v? when you say thirsty howbadare we talkin??
|
| |
|
|
THE_Liam
Yorkshire and The Humber
If at first you don't succeed... HAMMERS.
Posts: 1,363
|
|
Aug 31, 2011 20:25:41 GMT
|
Surprisingly good off-road actually. Lad I know has a Vitara van, they came with the PSA XUD diesel engine which can easily be tuned for 130-140 bhp and well over 200 torques but their like poor quality wobbly children's play pony wibblepoo  |
| |
|
|
Chris™
Part of things
This is clearly filler material.
Posts: 519
|
|
Aug 31, 2011 20:32:01 GMT
|
lilbob - Yeah they did a carb fed 8v and an injected 16v, and also the commerical with a the diesel but pretty hard to come by like pugman says. From what i've heard neither of the petrol models have good MPG for a car of that size - i've not owned one myself but maybe around 20 MPG or so as standard? (Some actual owners might be able to confirm this) Looking to get one myself as an engine donor for my SJ  |
| |
1989 Volvo 340
1986 Suzuki SJ413
2000 BMW 318ti
2006 Lexus IS250
|
|
lilbob
Part of things
Posts: 419
|
|
Aug 31, 2011 20:33:11 GMT
|
|
what are the sj's like ??
|
| |
|
|
|
|
THE_Liam
Yorkshire and The Humber
If at first you don't succeed... HAMMERS.
Posts: 1,363
|
|
Aug 31, 2011 20:41:04 GMT
|
|
|
| |
|
|
lilbob
Part of things
Posts: 419
|
|
Aug 31, 2011 20:50:48 GMT
|
|
it says ineed to register and buy a site supporter package
|
| |
|
|
|
|
tell me about suzuki vitara'saccord83
@accord83
Club Retro Rides Member 51
|
Aug 31, 2011 21:03:04 GMT
|
|
I had a Japanese built 16v lwb auto new in 1995, driven gently could get 29 mpg. Excellent bit of kit and suprisingly good off road, bit fragile on trim. I had a Spanish built swb 8v 4u in 1999? Had it back 6 times due to diff noise, eventually got a new JDM assembly. It was built shockingly compared to the lwb, but still vg offroad. They also built a 2litre v6 petrol and a 2litre td auto (lwb's). I would definately have another if I needed a small 4x4.
|
| |
74 Mk1 Escort 1360, 1971 Vauxhall Victor SL2000 Estate.
|
|
lilbob
Part of things
Posts: 419
|
|
Aug 31, 2011 21:24:52 GMT
|
|
what other smallish cheap to run 4x4 jeepish ones should i be looking at
|
| |
|
|
THE_Liam
Yorkshire and The Humber
If at first you don't succeed... HAMMERS.
Posts: 1,363
|
|
Aug 31, 2011 21:31:34 GMT
|
it says ineed to register and buy a site supporter package I'll try link some of the photos As for other cheap 4x4s, I'd recommend a Frontera. The 2.0 Sport that I had was brilliant off-road despite not having diff-locks, loads of ground clearance and axle-travel, bit rough on the road but not as bad as a Defender or SJ, plus I think they look ace. Only thing is the 2.0 petrol averages sub-20 mpg, and it's even worse with AT tyres, and apparently the 2.8TD Sport isn't much better and that's rare and pricey. There's a 2.3TD, but it's only in the LWB which isn't as good off-road, and it's shockingly slow. Mine was totally reliable as well Best bit is price, good 2.0 Sports can easily be had for 500 quid, and even LWB diesels are well under a grand. Can't praise them enough... My old one when I got it before the ATs and lift, 300 quid with a years test  |
| |
Last Edit: Aug 31, 2011 21:40:15 GMT by THE_Liam
|
|
lilbob
Part of things
Posts: 419
|
|
Aug 31, 2011 22:06:51 GMT
|
|
to be fair it doesnt need to be good off road the only reason i want one is iv always fancied one and i work in a ruralish location soim planning ahead
it needs to look good have lots of chrome available and okish on fuel the smaller the engine the better (1.6ish would be great so i can tow my trailer and caravan aswell)
|
| |
|
|
Chris™
Part of things
This is clearly filler material.
Posts: 519
|
|
|
|
what are the sj's like ?? I wouldn't recommend one for everyday living, they're really quite uncomfortable to drive any sort of long distance in - leaf springs all round! Again, not very good on fuel, probably get about the same MPG as a Vitara - maybe it's something to do with it being so boxy! That all said and done, they cost next to nothing to buy, parts are cheap, they're very easy to work on and go very well offroad straight out of the box! |
| |
Last Edit: Sept 1, 2011 8:53:32 GMT by Chris™
1989 Volvo 340
1986 Suzuki SJ413
2000 BMW 318ti
2006 Lexus IS250
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
cant tow anything with a Vit, towing limit is about 400kgs i seem to remember. heres my old one.    |
| |
Volvo back as my main squeeze, more boost and some interior goodies on the way.
|
|
|
|
|
Sept 1, 2011 10:13:06 GMT
|
|
A few years back, a mate of mine decided it was time to upgrade from his sj413t (that'll be a 410, with a 413 engine and a turbo) to a vitara, then he blew it up on the way home.....
We had a hunt round the garage, and the only spare engine we could find that seemed even close to suitable was a renault 21 turbo engine..... so we fitted that.... goes quite well now!!
lots and lots of fun off road, slightly more stable than a sj as well which is a bonus!!
|
| |
Current fleet:
'58 A35 (half mine)
'67 11 window splitscreen vw (half mine)
'77 mini 1000 (not quite 1000 any more!!)
'86 Armstrong MT500
'89 XR4X4
'94 Corrado VR6
Some sort of sevenesque kit car (no age yet!!)
'01 Mondeo estate 2.0 (engine eventually destined for kit car!) - scrapped, engine only left!
'98 E300 estate, rusty but seemingly reliable, fast-ish tat hauler. eventual engine donor
A35 van, or whats left of it after it lived in a field for many years
|
|
lilbob
Part of things
Posts: 419
|
|
Sept 1, 2011 18:21:43 GMT
|
|
the low towing limit has slightly lowerd my opinion now i had visions of towing the caravan down to cornwall in a vitara lol
i'm still very tempted
as for the sj i do about 25-30 miles a day to and from work and it would also be used at the weekend the poor mpg is a bit of a bummer i was thinking they would do 27-34 ish
|
| |
|
|
|
|
