Suzuki Grand Vitara advice

[AnnieOakley]

So I've been looking at cars and thinking about getting a new (used) one and the car that I really like is a Suzuki Grand Vitara. I used to think of Suzuki's as cheap little pieces of tin until I saw how robust they could be on a 4x4 track! (Thanks to Koi and Sumo's wife Angie for the rides during the past two Avalanches!)

I'm hoping someone can give me advice on how these cars are as a daily driver? I might do a bit of off-roading in it, but I might just leave that to Dixie's truck

Are they relatively cheap to insure? How many miles do they generally do before konking out? Are they difficult to repair? Due to budget, I'm looking at models roughly 10 years old.

Any advice would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Kelly

[Rustinho]

Keep an eye out for the "Escudo" (or Grand Escudo). It's the Japanese version of the Vitara (Grand Vitara) and comes with all the usual toys that Jap imports tend to (air con/climate control, electric windows, sunroof, mirrors, etc)

Not sure what your budget is but I was toying with the idea of bringing one over from Japan via a specialist importer late this year or early next year sometime. Not sure if I will or not but I'll be sure to post about it if I do.

The Suzuki 4x4 forum is fairly friendly (even if it's nowhere near as useful as this place!)

Here are some useful links for you to peruse at your leisure...

http://www.suzuki4x4club.com/
http://www.suzuki4x4club.com/forums/
http://urban4x4.co.uk/html_files/myvitara.html
http://www.offroad-armory.com/vitara.html

If you find anything else useful please do post it cos I may well find it useful myself.

[yoshie]

The vitara front diff breaks off road as if made of cheese, unless you get a diesel with the steel front diff.

[Rustinho]

Good point about the front diff. I hadn't noticed that before...

Possible solution?

Apparently the steel ones from the Grand Vitara can be made to fit too.

Also, the American ones were called "Sidekicks".

[Koi]

not sure the vitara would offer the ground clearance that a sj, samurai, jimny would offer for offroading as standard

[dieselboy]

The vitara front diff breaks off road as if made of cheese, unless you get a diesel with the steel front diff.

I think I see your picture on facebook! Must have been fun!
Is this the one:

[yoshie]

I think I see your picture on facebook! Must have been fun!
Is this the one:

Facebook? not me mate I dont have an account.
That however looks like smiffy burst front jimny diff.

If it is Frasers then that's the trade off from running highly tricked trucks.
That wee jimny of his has all sorts of mods.

[dieselboy]

You are right! No one puts their forum name in their page so I lose track of anyone that changes their profile picture - (I'm poorer than poor at remembering names)

[AnnieOakley]

Thanks guys, I'll have a look at some of the other ones you suggested as well. Very helpful info so far. Budget is quite low, maybe around £2000 or so. For me it's mostly a run around car for the weekends, though in sure I'll take it out to get dirty once in a while.

[Rustinho]

Thanks guys, I'll have a look at some of the other ones you suggested as well. Very helpful info so far. Budget is quite low, maybe around £2000 or so. For me it's mostly a run around car for the weekends, though in sure I'll take it out to get dirty once in a while.

I thought this was a nice cheap one (already sold) and it gives you a few quid for a holiday as well! (or more likely a few quid to sort out mechanical problems!)

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1826648.htm

[blackpoolsparks]

Thanks guys, I'll have a look at some of the other ones you suggested as well. Very helpful info so far. Budget is quite low, maybe around £2000 or so. For me it's mostly a run around car for the weekends, though in sure I'll take it out to get dirty once in a while.

for that money, you could have mine

[dieselboy]

for that money, you could have mine

Hi
Do you have locking diffs on yours?

[blackpoolsparks]

Hi
Do you have locking diffs on yours?

no
never needed them

[yoshie]

Aye and then you could have mine

Lockers on a jimny is like taking a 50mm machine gun to a paintball outting

[AnnieOakley]

for that money, you could have mine

Very kind of you, Gordon, but when you're that eager, I can tell it's not worth that much