Gen 4 paint finish

£7999 in 2001, adjusted for inflation is £12999. The base SZ4 now has a lot more standard equipment now, so £14499 still seems cheap to me.

This ^^^^^
A Jimny is a cheap car, expecting it to not be built to a budget is simplistic. That they are way more mechanically reliable than cars starting at twice their price is frankly astounding and to then expect the same levels of fit and finish as their direct competitors is again unrealistic. A Jimny is a direct competitor to things like the wrangler and G class and discovery in terms of off road performance so to achieve that and be as cheap as a 2x4 crossover has to involve a compromise.

I had a Lexus back in 2001. That wasn't painted in the engine bay, either. If it's good enough for them...

I was brand new Dacia Duster in 2014. It was the top of the range one and cost just shy of £15000. I had a good poke around it at the dealer and found rust developing in 17 different areas from under the bonnet to under the rubber door seals. It was coming through the paint. It didn't help it was white as it showed up much easier. I lifted the carpets and there was loads of surface rust patches. I pointed it all out to the dealer who looked a bit embarrassed and suggested I might spend my money elsewhere. Again a cheap car but there should not be rust on any new car. The Duster issue raged on..... it turned out rolls of raw untreated steel where being shipped to India from Romania and was rusting whilst on the ship. Then was basically given a quick clean and painted!!!

Your right with the Dacia Duster, for some strange reason it was the white and silver which had rust problems. They had other issues regarding leaks from incorrect door seals and poorly fitted accessories when they got to the UK. I had a Lauréate 1.5 dci 4x4 2013 slate Grey and never had any issues with it, however after a campaign to get Dacia to recognize the paint issue they were all recalled including mine to have them rust proofed. The courtesy car I got was a silver 18 month old model, this was bubbling rust under the paint work, which meant the waxoyl treatment was going to be useless. The brand damage was so bad that Dacia had to stop the Indian UK production and swap to Romania where the quality control was better. When it was 3 years old I traded the Dacia in for a 1.6 dci Vitara which is made in Hungary.

It's all comparative to other manufacturers.
The SZ5 is near enough 17K and does not come with better paint work or protection, it's not cheap anymore, but then it never was. A Citroen C1 / Toyota Aygo / 106 is a cheap car at 8K and the engine bay is painted! I owned a C1 from new, not a hint of rust when we sold it 4 years later, so it can be done for the money.
For 17K you can get a new Fiesta ST which is painted fully and loaded with gizmos, so why are they skimping?

Having said that it is what it is.

If I had 17k to spare (and wanted one) the lack of finish under the bonnet would not put me off. If I was just after transport and had no particular love for the Jimny I would get the ST :laugh: