suzuki vitara

[carlisletiger]

im looking at pulling my engine out to do the oil pump and crank shaft if needed and i have been offered a suzuki vitara for not many pennys as a run around while mine is out of action. its an m reg 1.6 soft top ,anybody know what they are like on fuel ,off road etc? he only wants £200 for it and its mot till august and it is clean so i dont think i can lose on it - (unless i really like it and use it as a toy)

[Gazeddy]

front diffs are weak. the soft tops will leak. the engine is solid enough. they are perfectly capable off roaders too with similar suspension set up to frontera

[ianoneill1981]

i had a hard top a few years back and it was a good wee motor. not bad on fuel around town and only had it off road once on standard suspension and kingpin treckers and it was pretty good. not to dear to lift when i bought my lift kit then some pillock rear ended me about a week later

[justdan]

I had. 1 a few years back in a J reg ! 1.6 , it was pants on fuel ( but piston rings were goosed a think ) fun little truck tho

[steve 1967]

my wife had one for a few years, the fat boy version I think it was, not bad on fuel but like any 4x4 depends how its driven sort of thing, bit chilly in the winter months as I don't think the soft tops are very well sealed, but in the three years we had it, only ever needed a new rad apart from the basic servicing, and for that money I would buy it anyway.

[gregster]

We have had 4 vitaras come to our woods over the years....all bar one have left with smashed front diffs/shafts.... one after less than 10 minutes!!!

Say no more???

[SteveyDee]

Gregster! Its not funny!!!

Ive had 4 of them and after having a few frontys I wont buy another vitara.

Fuel is about the same as fronty, about as good offroad but the diff is a disposable item
The engines can crack between cylinders 2 and 3 so dont get the block wet when hot

Have it for 200 though. You can break it for 6-700 if you have the time.

[Fatbaz]

For £200 sheets you can't go wrong. Unlifted the front diff third member on moderate tyre survives laning, lifted and on Muds you run the risk of smashing it when the tyre bits after spinning aggresively. Axle housing from an early grand vit fits and is steel instead of alloy. Then you bust CV's, fit axle drop plates to lessen the shaft angle and they get better. Put a Piglet 405 diesel in it and it'll wade a treat and have better grunt.

Or simply use it as a run around til your Fronty is fixed and flog it on for as much or more than you paided for it.

Regards

Stuart

PS, if I hadn't have got the fronty when I did I'd have had one. See "Bits for Vits" forum for the fixes and mods, Daves been running them for years.