Possible defection

[Digsit]

Right then.   I am playing with the idea of buying a cheap Vitara.  Can one/some of you give me some guidance?

Is there a model to avoid?
Is there a prefered model?
Reliability issues and common problems?
etc etc

all comments welcome  

[generation-x]

hi cliff
1st off wot are your needs swb or lwb?

simon

[Digsit]

Simon

How's tricks?

Well dunno really.  I suppose LWB for the dog. Do you get much boot in SWB?

[generation-x]

im not to bad m8 duckin and diving as usual lol
not much space in rear of swb unless you bin the rear seats tbh not much room in lwb though lol
prob about 2 foot id say

the lwb is good mechanicly wise as there all 16v so no carb issuses as you might get with the swb as the early ones are 8valve carb
the latter are still 8valve but will be injection.
if you go for the lwb try gettin the x-ec version as these have rear lsd as standard

swb will be better for offroading due to its size but the lwb will be more confedent off road due to its length.

usual places for rust rear seat belt mounts on all models
check body mounts usually the rears go 1st
and in the front foot wells too

simon

[Digsit]

Cheers mate

What year/model did they change to 16V?

Any known problems with V6 ones?

[wrecker]

hi guys,ive had both lwb and swb,

love the lwb on roads drives lovely,off road you will be forever hitting the back :? and is very hard to get big wheels under even when you start cutting,rear doors are very close so carnt cut much,

at the mo ive got a swb and took the rear seats out,then put a head board and cage so the front is completely apart,loads of room for kit and stuff,also if you do that you can make your self some boxes that go over the rear arches,

i have 6 dogs,(jacks) and plenty of room for them :D

also motor wise is you get the 8v you can put a 16v bottom end on the 8v top,that has made real diifrnce to mine :D

v6 ones i found to be very thirsty i was putting 50 a week to do 50 miles a week :shock:  :shock:  dont like water too

hope this helps mate :D

[generation-x]

all the same probs with the v6 im assuming your meaning the 2ltr version not the gv?

16valve in swb form was 1996 i think p reg ish

simon

[wrecker]

there the ones to get i think,

well saying that the 8v are better for off road as they have more low down grunt,

16v seem to last longer,head gaskets and so on :D

[generation-x]

mark i have to disagree about big wheels on a lwb

see mine now

only a few minor mods


simon

[electricbluebadger]

Caz has one... the 'Cazuki'

not bad as a runaround, very slow for a 1600cc, seems heavy and slow even compared to the Landy

very thirsty for its size, shes had 2 and they were both the same

complete rot boxes unless you look after em, spent a lot of time gravelguarding everywhere, even took the wings off to do the hidden bits to try and make it last.

seats in em are quite low, at 5'10" i still have a huge amount of headroom, feels really strange.

carbs can be a nightmare when they start to go wrong... cazuki now has a nikki aftermarket job... much better

 not a bad runaround, no landy but it handles greenlanes and the rough track shortcut to school...... buy one, wash the mud off from under the arches every week and itll last at least a year.. maybe even two before you need the welder out :)



Sad eh... matching his n hers :)



Cheers Steve

[generation-x]

suzuki basher steve  :(blackeye): lol

simon

[electricbluebadger]

LMAO... naah it really isnt a bad motor despite being a die hard Landy Fan, but Im happy its well n truly protected from the elements now so itll last a lot longer... hence the lack of stupid side sills poss the worst mud wet mud trap ive ever seen on any motor... perfect for rotting the sills :)

the sills are now gravelguarded then sprayed so nowt should rot em out...

Just hope Caz doesnt read this and see ive actually praised her car.... Ill necver live it down :)

Cheers Steve

[wrecker]

mark i have to disagree about big wheels on a lwb

see mine now

only a few minor mods


simon

i stand corrected, :oops:  :oops:

tho i was trying ti get 31s with a 2in lift,that was hard,not a 6 foot lift :twisted:  :twisted:

[mud4brains]

i got 31s on my lwb after a 3" lift and pleanty of flex with no rubbing :twisted:

[generation-x]

i got 31s on my lwb after a 3" lift and pleanty of flex with no rubbing :twisted:

i think it all depends wot make of tyre it is tbh say colway mt's in 31" are smaller than a grizzy 31"

simon

i

[Digsit]

Thanks all.....very interesting (and entertaining) reading so far  8)

[wrecker]

i got 31s on my lwb after a 3" lift and pleanty of flex with no rubbing :twisted:

i think it all depends wot make of tyre it is tbh say colway mt's in 31" are smaller than a grizzy 31"

simon

i

i was trying to get kumo  kl71s,31,10.50.r15 on,they would have none of it,

dont get me wrong they went on but no lock,rubbing every where,thats b4 i took it off road :roll:  :roll:  :shock:

nice to know you can get some on there tho

[mud4brains]

we have to meet up soon fella, we bin saying we will for ages, you around tommorow afternoon to do a bit round my area?...

[wrecker]

we have to meet up soon fella, we bin saying we will for ages, you around tommorow afternoon to do a bit round my area?...

yeah im up for it mate,im going laning 2mo any way,do you fancy meeting half way,there is allready 3 other trucks with me 2mo,rangy,1 vitara,sj,plus mine :D  :D