Jimny Dsign Faults

I sort of see where the OP is coming from with this thread and it is interesting how it has developed. Not so much how bad or good the Jimny is but how most others are the same if not worse.

I've had Suzukis for years often running alongside other 4X4s; I stopped with 'regular' cars back in the early 80s. Maybe I am spoiled but I have run a Pajero for 10 years or so alongside Vitaras and a few others. If I weren't such a Mitsy fan I'd likely go Jeep by choice and the reason is because Mitsy and Jeep are (and I can't find the right word) solid motors. And yes, more expensive. Also I admit I don't buy new but prefer elderly motors. So whatever I say has to be in light of all that.

I suppose all cars have design weaknesses but the problem for me with Suzuki is the weakness- component weakness. I can list the Vitara shortcomings and I am getting a list of the Jimny ones but that's not the point. Frankly I am amazed how you guys off road these Jimnys but I suspect the vehicles used in rock climbing are a little different from the street version I drive. Plus I bet there are a large number of tinkerers in Jimnys; I am one; admit it, you just love to fix it regularly and love having a spanner in your pocket.

Finding bigger off road vehicles a little heavy for me at my age the Jimny is more manageable but hey, I don't want to be dealing with things twice as often just to have lighter jobs.

For me the little Zukis make a handy second car but I'll be honest, for a few years I have been searching for a lighter, maybe more economical vehicle, hopefully cheaper to buy (but still auto and 4X4) main car and can't find one cos my Cherokee and now Pajero are hard cars to find a substitute for.

I have a Rav 4 which is too feminine for me but then in some ways the Jimny is too. I honestly feel that if I could live with the style that the Rav is way better than the Jimny. Is that because it is Toyota?

If the shortcomings of vehicles are never addressed then it is a sad day for the consumer.

I totally agree with your last statement

helijohn wrote: .
I honestly feel that if I could live with the style that the Rav is way better than the Jimny. Is that because it is Toyota?

I think its because its less of an off-roader. The Jimny is probably the last true small off-roader, manufacturers don't build them anymore because you'll never get the comfort or fuel economy of a road based vehicle.
The Jimny is also an ancient design but Suzuki's biggest problem is that they can't afford to develop new vehicles, the tie-up with VW was supposed to bring in more money and split development costs but it was a disaster and so was their foray into the US market.

Smoggy wrote: Oh yes and before anyone starts going on about the 'perennial' Land Rover, my 2009 Freelander 2 with just 37000 on the clock has recently had a full new aircon pump fitted and now needs a complete steering rack at £1000!

It was 2 weeks outside the Stratstone warranty and they have told me they can't help me

park it across the front of the showroom entrance with a big sign on it saying how s**t it is until they change their mind :evil:

The biggest design falt of the jimny is not having the 1.6 as standard or evan as an optional extra

I really don't think jimny's have many design flaws......
Its a proper off roader, it's going to use fuel, be uncomfortable and have poor road manners.
If you use it off road, stuffs going to break and wear out faster.

Jimny's are CHEAP, the materials aren't going to be amazing, you get what you pay for

I work for BMW, if you think 29k on a set of disc's is bad. you'd be amazed at what we do. ever seen a program called watchdog.......

Pretty much all the repairs i've done to mine are as a result of offroading, age and milage related.

iam realistic about these things, its a £10k motor, thats 12 years old and done 100k miles........