Thread: Suzuki, not LR!

How often would they be making the Cairns-Bamaga trip per year ?

Cheap to run and easy to work on. But she might change her mind after feeling how hard the ride is!

You should be able to get a good early Vitara 2 or 4 door for that.

I have had a couple and I like them a lot.

The carby can give trouble, as can the AGR valve.

It translates as a miss on tip in.

Most will have had an easy life due to their image as a hairdresser's car, but they are very capable 4x4s . The rear suspension is a RRC clone.

When I was looking I drove a Sierra and was appalled at the steering, due to the sloppy leaf springs.

2 door 1600 carby convertible that I had used to get about 10L per 100Km on the Highway at 100-120Kmh.
It will handle the cape no worries. It's a bit of a challenge to fit tow points on the front but can be done, and a towbar is a good point on the back.

Regards Philip A

we have a 1991 SWB Vitara SWB softtop, with the G16A Carby petrol engine.

It weighs nothing (970kg) has a proper transfer case, and is suprisingly good off road.

It is also amazingly reliable. My GF, who's car it is, got it when she was 16, and we still have it (10yrs later). It has now done 282k km and works everytime.

The only problem it did have was about 20k km ago where the head cracked under the cam journals, which is apparently a known issue on the earlier ones.

The later ones were fuel injected (maybe 16v too - cant remember) and the engines were designated G16B. There are supposedly even better than the earlier ones. The earlier ones didnt have power steering, but the later ones did. I think they are all 5 speed

Diffs (I mean the actual differential) aren't that strong apparently, but cant see that ever been an issue for your freind

The Vitara's are beam rear axle, with independent front. The Sierras (SJ's) are beam front and rear, with the later ones having coil springs. Apparently the leaf sprung SJ is the one to have.

Out of the two, I would say the Vitara is a better buy for that use.

Something like this, but maybe 94-96 should be in budget, as opposed to this one which is 98 and overpriced I think

Suzuki Vitara , Soft Top, JX, 1998, with BullBar Towbar - eBay, Passenger Vehicles, Cars, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 24-Mar-09 08:10:27 AEDST)

I bought my now ex wife a brand new Jimny last year , fantastic little car good on fuel excellent off road what more can be said ,a very under rated car all round

We use to run 2 sierras on a farm... Still going today and must have 400,000 on them and even more idling time.... never did any work on them apart from oil changes... quite okay on fuel... One had a 1.3 and other had a 1.6 (i think)...

Off road they were fine. Even go hard if you are willing to put the boot in.

But I would of thought your friend needs more carrying capacity and fuel capacity as you can't hang many Jerrys off them.

just arrived back home after 2 days and 1950km in a brand new Suzuki Jimny.
(Perth - Port Hedland)

Super impressed!

For your friend, i'd suggest a LWB Sierra though - they are a bit more stable and would give a more realistic load space for carrying Jerry Cans, swag, etc.

The leafers are like a series LR - nothing wrong with the ride, but greatly improved with spring upgrades.

Thanks people, sorry for the delay. Don't ya hate it when work interferes with your private life!

Her first problem will be getting it from Brisbane to Cairns, I was prepared to drive a Disco up but not a Suzi!

She intends to drive it up to Punsand herself; I don't think she realizes how far it is. Once there it will stay there till she finishes (1 or 2 seasons).

Thanks for the info, now I have some idea what to look for.

Ian.