So…I need another car to ferry the kids around occasionally. No long trips, really. I’ve always liked the silly looks of the Jimny and they are indeed fun to drive, especially if your other car is an MX-5. Also hold their value stunningly well (it’s not worth buying a nearly new one), fully galvanised these days - I’m looking at you, Mazda - and reliable provided you get one without the 45mph death wobble. The “professional” reviews are bollix - owners usually love them, there is way more head- and legroom in the rear seats than in the hopeless Audi A1 Sportback I tried, and they are actually RWD most of the time, with the engine the right way round! The gearchange is horrible and there is more transmission shunt than London bus, but they handle quite well. For something about six inches wide with two beam axles, anyway.
I think a few people on here have Jimnys - what do you think?
They’re quirky and have a strong fan base. Mum’s friend is now on her 3rd, she buys a brand new one every 3 years - she loves them, although she’s it’s not particularly economical. Very popular with district nurses etc - which Shelley is
No, real-world economy seems to be about the same as the MX-5 NC, although it has slightly lower CO2 emissions (VED is £175). Aerodynamics of a brick, and even in RWD mode there is a lot of extra oily stuff to turn. Most people recommend sticking to 60mph to avoid wallet-draining bills. The 1.3 engine is very similar to the MX-5 - 16V, VVT, multipoint injection and a red line of 6500rpm. It’s an efficient design and very robust, but is only economical in a Swift!
Part of the attraction is the tiny size and petrol engine. Would only use 4x4 for camping (there have been a few occasions when we weren’t sure we were going to make it out of the field after a few days of rain) or snow. They’re slightly limited by ground clearance for real off-road use, which is why all the serious bunch fit 3" (or more) lift kits.
There is no problem with ground clearance and our friend has used ours for shooting and it went everywhere that the Disco’s and Range Rovers went off road. His Range Rover was off the road for a while. Not as big or cumfy but did the job
They are not galvanised.
We have done the Lake District in ours say 280 miles but a bit far for the car no problems apart from the sump rusting through on our 2007 car. Our 1999 car kept to 2007 never needed a new sump.
Picked it up on Saturday. It’s a great car. Rear legroom is very good due to the upright seating position (the reviews are rubbish) and it’s great fun with the high driving position. Excellent for popping into town because it’s small and has brilliant visibility of each corner. The crazy handling in corners and on washboard surfaces makes it real fun to drive. Only real complaints are that the stereo sounds awful (apparently a speaker upgrade is mandatory) and the gearchange is rubbery and vague, with a rather long throw. I like it at least as much as the MX-5.
Odd feature; it has an old-fashioned mechanical viscous fan, apparently for increased reliability, which means the engine is unusually noisy at idle. It’s a modern engine with 16 valves and VVT and I think only the Jimny has the mechanical fan in the Suzuki range.
We’ve got a Jimny. Bought it used about 4 years ago and love it. All the reviewers recommend the Freelander, but when you read the actual owners reviews, Jimny owners wouldn’t sway theirs for anything, whilst Freelander owners have most formed lasting relationships with their mechanics.
The bracket holding one of the front foglamps has rusted through last week. 2007 car but like Ian ours has a very good gear change.
Where the Jimny is used off road in low box the electric fan would be on all the time so they have gone belts and braces with a viscous fan.
As you have found it is horses for courses and as a country run about especially in bad weather it ticks all the boxes and for the odd long journey it is fine.
Not good for constant long commutes or where you need a bigger car as with luggage it gets down to a two seater unless you have a roof box.
