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Suppliers/Dealers or anyone selling with a commercial view in mind CANNOT post here unless responding to a specific request of a member in a "wanted" post.
Suppliers include people "breaking for spares" on a regular basis, when purchasing spares members should ask a supplier what they contribute to the running of the forum particularly if contacted by a Private Message
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Gen4 Kei Car - walkaround and review!
08 Oct 2025 06:36 #262226
by facade
If it suddenly breaks, go back to the last thing that you did before it broke and start looking there
Replied by facade on topic Gen4 Kei Car - walkaround and review!
Good tip about the smoke!
I've watched loads of Japanese dramas & read mountains of manga, but I'd never twigged that smoking is pretty much a National Sport.
Now I think about it many characters seem to smoke, rather like being in 1970s UK.
I was excited by the indicators being on The Proper Side too like my old Gen 3, but then I thought after years of Euroboxes and with The Other Car as well it would only confuse me now...
I've watched loads of Japanese dramas & read mountains of manga, but I'd never twigged that smoking is pretty much a National Sport.
Now I think about it many characters seem to smoke, rather like being in 1970s UK.
I was excited by the indicators being on The Proper Side too like my old Gen 3, but then I thought after years of Euroboxes and with The Other Car as well it would only confuse me now...
If it suddenly breaks, go back to the last thing that you did before it broke and start looking there
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08 Oct 2025 10:56 #262232
by 300bhpton
Replied by 300bhpton on topic Gen4 Kei Car - walkaround and review!
Interesting video thank you.
I guess it is worth noting that the only reason the Kei version even exists is money/cost. In that, in Japan it would be cheaper to tax, insure and is exempt from some other charges. As an import into the UK it offers none of these 'features' or advantages over the 1.5 litre model. So the only appeal should be if it is significantly cheaper than a regular Jimny to buy used. No idea what sort of money was being asked though for this example.
Ultimately it is a slower, worse performing (probably worse on fuel too) version of the Jimny. For me the visual differences are minor and I personally prefer the regular model with the wheel spats/arches from a looks point of view. That said, I suspect there is no reason why you couldn't convert a regular model into a narrow Kei version with the right bits. As it is only rims, no arches and different bumpers as far as I know really.
Any off road advantage of the Kei version must also be minimal and likely not noticeable from the drivers seat. And in the UK an issue you'd face if you wanted it as an off road vehicle and wanted chunkier tyres or different wheels is the risk of the tyres sticking out of the arches, which would be illegal. So you'd likely end up having to fit arches to it anyway. The narrower wheel track also probably makes it slightly less stable on and off road too and a narrow track may be problematic on many lanes with deep ruts/wheel markings made by vehicles with a wider track. It can sometimes be a pain in a regular Jimny.
I guess it is worth noting that the only reason the Kei version even exists is money/cost. In that, in Japan it would be cheaper to tax, insure and is exempt from some other charges. As an import into the UK it offers none of these 'features' or advantages over the 1.5 litre model. So the only appeal should be if it is significantly cheaper than a regular Jimny to buy used. No idea what sort of money was being asked though for this example.
Ultimately it is a slower, worse performing (probably worse on fuel too) version of the Jimny. For me the visual differences are minor and I personally prefer the regular model with the wheel spats/arches from a looks point of view. That said, I suspect there is no reason why you couldn't convert a regular model into a narrow Kei version with the right bits. As it is only rims, no arches and different bumpers as far as I know really.
Any off road advantage of the Kei version must also be minimal and likely not noticeable from the drivers seat. And in the UK an issue you'd face if you wanted it as an off road vehicle and wanted chunkier tyres or different wheels is the risk of the tyres sticking out of the arches, which would be illegal. So you'd likely end up having to fit arches to it anyway. The narrower wheel track also probably makes it slightly less stable on and off road too and a narrow track may be problematic on many lanes with deep ruts/wheel markings made by vehicles with a wider track. It can sometimes be a pain in a regular Jimny.
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