TessierAshpool
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 513
Club RR Member Number: 168
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Sept 29, 2020 12:17:50 GMT
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I've got some money in my pocket after selling the Supra, and I'm looking at a few options for a next car. I'm looking at smaller cars due to space concerns. One off-the-wall thought that crossed my mind was the 1988-98 Vitara (MK1, before the Grand Vitara). I've not had a 4WD or jeep/SUVish car before, so not really sure what to expect.
It'll be a second car, and I wanted something completely different to the LS430 I'm dailying. I live in the westcountry and regularly visit the moors for camping, cycling, walking etc. so I'm wondering if a Vitara might be useful for that, and also possibly some mild green laning in the South Hams. I'll be primarily on-road though.
So, does anyone have any experience of them, what are they like to live with, anything to look out for? I'm aware that they are currently in the very cheap but very rusty phase of their existence. We should probably also discuss the Jimny too I guess, although suspect the first and second gen (up to 1998) are out of budget as the serious off-roaders seem to prefer them...
Thanks.
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Sept 29, 2020 12:53:54 GMT
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TessierAshpool
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 513
Club RR Member Number: 168
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Sept 29, 2020 13:13:11 GMT
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Thanks  The Rav4 did cross my mind, my mother had one back in the day. That salmon one is rather lovely, although a million miles from me. The Plymouth one however is not far at all, albeit with a savage price tag, but might be worth a look around though to get a feel for them. |
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stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,931
Club RR Member Number: 174
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Sept 29, 2020 16:57:16 GMT
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Apart from the rust they're pretty good. Only thing is if you want to go camping they are properly small.
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TessierAshpool
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 513
Club RR Member Number: 168
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Sept 29, 2020 17:23:05 GMT
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Apart from the rust they're pretty good. Only thing is if you want to go camping they are properly small. Thanks - my camping tends to be of the one-man tent wild camping variety, so hopefully it could manage that. The earlier comment has made me wonder about the Rav, it'll be less off-road capable as it lacks low ratio etc., but hard to know if that matters at this stage. I guess I'm second order ignorant on this... |
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Sept 29, 2020 17:43:08 GMT
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I do love a good rav4, if I remember rightly wasn't the suspension and transmission the same as the celica gt4, rally pedigree that. However these days I do have a hankering for a Daihatsu fourtrack strangely, I think if in the right spec they look mega  |
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// CURRENT //
1994 Eunos Roadster
1979 Ford Escort 1600 Sport
Instagram: Retro_Law
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Sept 29, 2020 18:15:30 GMT
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When I was involved with an off road driving club a few guys (mostly a Dumfries bunch) drove vitaras - I had an SJ 413. Both vitara and an SJ are really effective off road vehicles. You can retrofit a rear diff lock (not ideal for road use), lift them, fit winch bumpers and one Vitara was even bobtailed into a pickup. They were also very light and narrow which helped to go over soft ground and/or get rescued when you do get stuck.
In the late 90s early 00s they were all slow, noisy, bumpy, use a fair bit of fuel and tiny for carrying anything. The Vitara was slightly less awful but had more of an image problem at the time.
In summary, fabulous and you should get the least rusty car you can find. If you fail to find one then try a Jimny too.
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cjhillman
Posted a lot
1979 Capri (Rolling Project) 1985 Escort mk3 (Daily)
Posts: 1,602
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Sept 29, 2020 20:24:31 GMT
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My girlfriend is obsessed with the new Jimny and I'd be lying if I said i don't occasionally look for them either. I was looking into the old SJ's but they seem to have gone up in price a lot now and I havent seen one thats not rough so far. I imagine the Vitara will be better on road? My misses wants something she can use for everything which I feel like non of these jeeps are that?
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brachunky
Scotland
Posts: 1,329 
Club RR Member Number: 72
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Sept 29, 2020 20:46:58 GMT
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Well I have had my fair share of 4x4 & off road type trucks all much larger in all ways than my recently purchased 04 Jimny! Man it's wee thing but very addictive to drive with its little 1.3 motor.I bought it to introduce my grandson to greenlaning and how to swing a spanner but now drive it whenever I get the chance. Tis small,nimble and not a great car for the motorways but like a LS400 I had, everyone should own one at some point!  |
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TessierAshpool
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 513
Club RR Member Number: 168
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Sept 29, 2020 21:09:08 GMT
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Thanks for the updates everyone, keep them coming The Jimny certainly interests me, although SJ are probably out of my budget. 3rd gens seem a lot more reasonable though so I am considering them for sure - even if they aren't a retro ride |
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time
Part of things
Posts: 152
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Sept 30, 2020 11:06:54 GMT
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If you go for a Suzuki Jimny either learn to weld or make friends with someone who can weld, they are great cars but they rot in a big way
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TessierAshpool
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 513
Club RR Member Number: 168
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Sept 30, 2020 16:02:40 GMT
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If you go for a Suzuki Jimny either learn to weld or make friends with someone who can weld, they are great cars but they rot in a big way Yes I hear they like to rust alright! Seems to affect all the Suzuki models from what I can tell. I'll get the welder warmed up... |
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TessierAshpool
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 513
Club RR Member Number: 168
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Sept 30, 2020 20:39:31 GMT
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 After this gouge from a rock on the way home today I'm definitely getting warmer on the idea of an offroader. My commute features 5 miles of roads not wide enough for a line down the middle, and managed to clip one of the jagged rocks lining the edge today. The LS really is too wide and too nice to be doing this every day, a rough 4x4 with tall tyres would be more at home. Down to the cords unfortunately. £250 poorer now as I'll replace both front tyres as they were cheapos the last owner put on that I didn't like anyway The gouge on the alloy I'll have to live with for now until I refurb them, and let's face it it'll probably happen again soon. |
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I loved my Jimny until it was written off earlier this year.  This is what happens when a new a kid in a Corsa ploughs in the front of one. There a good bit of fun but you wouldn’t want to go to far in one. Whilst working with some Landrover engineers years ago they said (at the time) the 2 door Rav4 was the quickest thing through their teat track. |
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A rav4 chugged past me at lunch time today. Driver had a big smile on his face. It looked fun.
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I had one for 5 years couldn't brake it, I wish I still had it. Try to keep to standard size tyres as you don't one to mess with the gearing. Just keep on top of the rust. My tyres are the next size up from standard, with a 1 or 2" spring lift One winter I woke up to 8" of snow I got to work no problem If you can find a diesel they are awesome ( Peugeot 2L XUD diesel)   |
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It will come in handy even if you never use it
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I now have a P38 its too big and heavy for off road stuff but its like driving an armchair, I still have the same patterns off road tyres as the Vet as they are so good on and off road, its one of the best £1000 cars you can buy well assuming you can keep it going These tyres are the best compromise as quietist on road but very good off road  |
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It will come in handy even if you never use it
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TessierAshpool
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 513
Club RR Member Number: 168
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winchman that looks like it was a tough little machine, very much like that
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TessierAshpool
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 513
Club RR Member Number: 168
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jonsey hope everyone was alright, cars can be replaced.
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TessierAshpool
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 513
Club RR Member Number: 168
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By the way any thoughts on soft top Vs tin top?
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The Rav4 did cross my mind, my mother had one back in the day. That salmon one is rather lovely, although a million miles from me. The Plymouth one however is not far at all, albeit with a savage price tag, but might be worth a look around though to get a feel for them.
