New member / new keeper.

Hi all, I've just joined as I'm going to be picking up a Jimny on Sat morning and know nothing about them. The car has been gifted to my daughter by a friend who's leaving the country, slight problem being she doesn't have a licence or any where to store it, so I've got a four hour bus journey on Sat to go pick the car up and bring it back to mine, 120 miles away! I haven't even seen this car so I have no idea what I've let myself in for. Is there anything I need to look out for handling wise, I'm used to driving Jeeps and vans so I don't expect a sports car, but I've memories of my SJ 410 happily swapping ends with little provocation. I'll no doubt be looking for wisdom as I go through the car and make sure it's ready for her when she passes her test.

Hello and welcome.
The Jimny is not a fast car and its handling is typical of any 4x4 type vehicle with solid axles. As you have had a Jeep in the past I am sure nothing is going to surprise you.
Just bimble along at 50mph and enjoy:laugh:
Things to watch out for until you have a few miles (and depends on vehicle condition )-
- Dont wear boots, the pedals are typically Jap and small.
- The brakes can feel a little soft compared to modern cars, keep your distance.
- You may get "death wobble" at 45mph or if you hit a bump in the road. Drive through it or slow down, but its is simply a feature of worn steering preload, nothing to worry about.
- They handle better than you first think, no real problems so long as you dont push it.
- They are great fun to drive, so enjoy.

Welcome to the forum and greetings from the Cotswold Hills!

I'll second everything Scmike has said.
I'd only add to that before driving off it might be prudent to check the tyres for correct pressures as garages (assuming a garage serviced it) are known to over-inflate them - my neighbour has almost been off the road (unintentionally) on more than one occasion due to her local garage inflating them as if they were low-profiles. The garage has since been "educated"
Off the top of my head, and assuming standard size tyres, I think they should be about 23psi front and 25psi on the rear (someone correct me if this is wrong) They should certainly not be anything like 35psi!!

On a badly uneven or bumpy road it will leap around all over the show - its fine (and fun) if you are prepared

Thanks for the reply, death wobble sounds like fun, 100 miles of the journey is single carriageway and single track so I'll get a good feel for it. The tip about boots is great, I usually always wear boots, so trainers on Sat, thanks.

Thanks for the tyre pressure tip, I've a feeling the tyres aren't too good, I'm going to take a gear bag with my 12v compressor, breaker bar and a socket for the wheel nuts/bolts, don't know the size off the top of your head by any chance do you? I live 20 miles past nowhere so I'll be lugging a load of gear with me, need to be able to look after yourself on these roads, no mobile signal in a lot of places.

I THINK they're a 19mm socket. I'm certain on my alloy wheels they are - I imagine it would still be 19mm on steel wheels (and I'm assuming all standard set-up here)
If you're expecting you might have a wheel/tyre drama make sure you have the locking wheel nut tool and that the spare can be removed. Someone here had a real PIA of a job because their spare couldn't be removed off the carrier!

When I picked up my Jimny I initially thought the tyres looked alright - but didnt realise that AT tyres tend to have deeper looking tread.
I soon found out the tyres were actually well shot, and quickly replaced them after a 'sideways moment' into oncoming traffic where a snow-drift had blown across the road.
I was a very lucky boy that day.

You sound right in the sticks - whereabouts?