Road use safe?

I once had to swerve round a reindeer while driving my (lifted) Vit.

Thanks for the comments and the welcome folks..

Don't plan on getting to friendly with 'drifting' in this but probably good to explore its limits :silly:

Jimnys go sideways well my advice would be to fit 30mm wheel spacers. Made hell of a difference to my cornering capabilities, I know that's not what they are designed for but for safety in your case I think you will benefit

Young Pretender wrote:
I'm a very relaxed and slow daily driver so, when it comes to me driving, I'm not too concerned about stories I hear about the jimny being prone to rolling in corners.

Cheers
Mark

Well Mark I have always felt it was a load of hogwash. I've had LJs, SJs, numerous Vitaras plus many other 4x4s, Fiat, Lada, Landrover, Jeep, Mitsubishi, Rav 4 and now a Jimny.

That's not to say I haven't had performance cars and bread and butter cars like Fords, BL, Rover, Honda. Lotus, Porsche, Sunbeam, AH Sprite, sports cars, hot hatches like Golf GTi, vans - small, medium and large to compare. The list is almost endless.

For the last 20 years what do I prefer.............4x4 and why............because they are all weather go anywhere motors, snow, rain, all terrain, fields, kerbs, high up for visibility.

I got into more trouble with cars than 4x4s. Only my Cherokee failed to inspire confidence because that motor needed long open desert roads cos in snow, ice and muddy fields it was very poor but I loved it anyway mostly for the sheer thrust and power.

So that's the key, power/performance and power to weight. The Jimny is never going to win races but I find it drives in a nippy manner though and corners nicely and I do corner smartly. Have to say mine has wider wheels and is not lifted which makes a difference I guess.

I believe if you want car type handling in a 4x4 my Rav 4 was as near as I got though they say the Freelander hits the mark too.

So don't be put off by the stories you hear. My only complaint about the Jimny is its cramped interior and the kingpins not being well enough protected from water ingress.

helijohn wrote: the kingpins not being well enough protected from water ingress.

Im surprised someone hasnt come up with a solution for this, like improved seals or something.would definately sell well as everyone suffers kinpin ware living in the uk!!

agree with everything else you said there John the jimny handles fine if driven within its limits :whistle:

jonesyba420 wrote:

helijohn wrote: the kingpins not being well enough protected from water ingress.

Im surprised someone hasnt come up with a solution for this, like improved seals or something.would definately sell well as everyone suffers kinpin ware living in the uk!!

When I first got my Jimny I gave it some real thought for a day or two to see if there was some sort of quick mod as they are so prone to KP failure and came to the conclusion there wasn't a really practical solution Alex. All you can do is avoid water and of course that makes a mockery of owning one. Mind you, my SJ Passed all its MoTs for 25 years and I never once did a number on the kingpins; I took that motor everywhere too. I left the manual hubs in engaged all the time. Had it been an automatic it would still be on the drive.