Vitara vs Jimny

Rhinoman wrote: I just checked the ground clearance, Vit is 1/2" more (7.5" v 8"), it seemed like more at the time.

The longevity of the alloy diff tends to depend on how you treat it, mine lasted over two years and a lot of abuse. The Jimny CVs aren't that strong and the rear shock mounts are an issue. The Vit can be a lot cheaper to mod as you can run a simple lift without the death wobble setting in. Its swings and roundabouts really, I had both at the same time and used the Vit for the tough stuff and the Jimny for mild laning and the easier stuff at the P&Ps - maybe I'm just a bit odd :laugh: :laugh:

i agree everything has its benifits and disabilities,

i blew a cv in my first month of off roading the jimmy i've now had nearly 2 years whithout breaking a second due to a bit more knowlege and mechanical sympathy,

in terms.of the rear shocks my o/s came undone once tightened it up with a breaker bar hasnt came loose since,

but it terms of power i'd love my jimny to have a bit more a 2.5v6 would be lovely, but correct me if i'm wrong isnt the vit higher geared in the gear box?

IFS v Solid Axle...



13.25" from the ground to the underside of the skid... or 3 stacked 330ml coke cans...

That's with 31"s on...

My mates vitara is unstoppable. It goes up and over things my jimny doesn't. His vit has a 1.5" lift with 1.5" body lift, welded rear diff, steel front diff casing as has been mention with a load of other tasty bits fitted.

To be fair to the jimny the main benefits his vit has over my jimny are the welder and much more aggressive mud tyres, if i put some insas on mine and a locker they would be very similar in performance. Never the less the things his vitara has gone over have left me impressed.

Something I have noticed is the clearance difference with the independent front suspension, I have beached on ruts that he has got over on off road courses before even though we run the same size tyres.

I'd happily have a vitara if I could find the right one. But performance wise I'd say they are very similar to the jimny depending on the amount of mods.

I would still rather a jimny, just because I find solid axles so easy to work on.

He has gone through cvs fairly regular, and had blown 3 diff casings before fitting the steel one. :laugh:

Don't ask Jimny-Dave how many CVs he went though on his Vitara "Stealth"