SUZUKI JIMNY (1998- TO DATE)
The Suzuki Jimny is a car with more to it than meets the eye. Many will dismiss it as just the latest in a long line of effete ?barbie-truck? 4x4s that would keel over as soon as they saw anything resembling a muddy track. Whilst that may be true of some lightweight 4x4s, it?s certainly not the case with the Jimny. Think of it as a bonsai oriental version of the Jeep Wrangler and you won?t be far wrong. Yes, it is relatively crude, bouncy and noisy on road, but in the dirt it can more than hold its own. As a used buy, a well-looked after Jimny is the best budget way to experience the fun of off road driving.
HISTORY
The Suzuki Jimny is a more modern incarnation of the old SJ413 series, unfortunately dubbed the ?tumble jeep? by the press for its curious disinclination to remain dirty side down during vigorous cornering. The Jimny was introduced in October 1998, and its handling and road behaviour were far better than the old SJ ranges. Although the ride was still somewhat agricultural on road, it had a certain charm, and safety had improved by leaps and bounds. The range initially consisted of a three-door hard top model only, but in spring 2000, the Jimny Soft Top was launched. Retaining the basic appeal of the standard model, the Soft Top had a rather daunting two-piece hood arrangement and rather odd looks. Nonetheless, early sales were promising, fuelling suspicions that British motorists may have recognised a good car underneath the kitschy trappings.
The Jimny was subjected to an interior refresh in early 2005 and some modifications to its 1.3-litre 16v engine were brought in at the same time. Models later than this have a 3bhp power boost to 85bhp, a push-button selector for the 4x4 system and remote central locking.
WHAT YOU GET 
Unless you plan to take your Jimny off road, it would be worthwhile considering the large number of alternatives which offer a more relaxed on-road experience. One drawback of the little Suzuki?s off roading prowess is that it necessitates a harder, more jiggly ride. The cabin, though dominated by grey plastic, is equally user-friendly, with a neat, simple layout that does a disservice to the term ?bland.? For a small car, the driving position is excellent however, accommodating for anyone up to a six-footer, with plenty of head and legroom.
In true Suzuki style, you can also jazz up your Jimny by choosing from a huge accessory range. Front guards, alloy wheels, grille covers and surrounds for the multi-reflector headlamps are amongst the obvious add-ons. If you really must, there are also rear spoilers, body graphics and 'themed' spare wheel covers (!). Bear in mind, however, that these things are likely to do little for residual values when the time comes to sell.
The Soft Top version is a fun item. Despite pages of terrifyingly complicated diagrams in the manual, raising and lowering the two-part hood is pretty straightforward. The front section, above the driver and front seat passenger, can be folded back ?targa style? from within the vehicle and closed again in a matter of seconds. A separate ?pram style? hood covers the rear passenger area and load space. Once the clear, zipped-in PVC side and rear windows have been removed, this roof section too can also be folded and stowed in a single, easy action and reinstated just as rapidly. Zipping the windows back in requires patience and is not a job for cold hands!
WHAT YOU PAY
Jimnys are cheap. Expect to pay just £3,500 for the first of the manual hard top cars on a 1998 S-plate. You shouldn?t countenance handing over any more than £6,000 even for a 2002 52-plate example. The cars with auto boxes are worth around £400 more, but should only really be considered by those who wish to indulge in high street parading, a task for which an older Jeep Wrangler is a far flashier piece of kit for the same money. Prices for the Jimny Soft Top have yet to stabilise, but it costs the same new as the hard top car, although used values will be marginally higher. There was a big options list for the styling accessories for the Jimny range including items such as alloy wheels, chromed door sills, fog lamps, roof racks and so on. Don?t pay any extra for these items ? the only piece of optional kit worth paying a premium for is the smart Suzuki roof box, and then only offer an additional £100. Insurance for all Jimny models is a reasonable Group 7.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
The Jimny is a hardy little beast, but as with any off-road vehicle, it pays to check them out carefully. Inspect the body panelling and paintwork for dents and scratches, ensure the underbody and suspension are undamaged and inspect the exhaust system. The shift-on-the-fly four-wheel drive system can be abused, as can the low-range gearing, so ensure they are working properly on the test drive. Otherwise check for a fully stamped up service history.
REPLACEMENT PARTS
(approx based on a 1998 1.3) There aren?t too many horror stories when it comes to Jimny spares prices. A clutch assembly kit is £115, whilst a complete exhaust system and replacement catalyst is around £280. Front brake pads work out at less than £50 a pair, whilst at under £40 you?ll be able to afford an Imelda Marcos-like collection of rear brake shoes should the fancy take you. A new radiator is around £185, and a new starter motor only slightly dearer at £195. Break one of those headlights and you?ll be looking at a bill for just over £100.
ON THE ROAD
The Jimny doesn?t show its best side on the road. Noise levels are quite high, as the 1.3-litre engine generates its 79bhp at a heady 6000rpm. The handling is rather roly-poly, with the tyres making some tortured noises at quite modest cornering velocities. It?s all quite good fun due to the fact that the Jimny is the sort of car whose on-road antics can?t be taken too seriously. One note of caution ? watch that handbrake. It?s one of the strongest on any car available and will easily lock up the rear wheels at any given speed. The other interesting point about the Jimny?s drive system is that when switched into two-wheel drive mode, it?s the rear wheels that receive the drive, making the little Suzuki great fun to punt about on loose surfaces.
Like the original Vitara, four-wheel drive is selectable (these days via Suzuki's 'Drive Select' system), a surprisingly painless operation that can be accomplished whilst on the move. Over reasonably rough terrain, the little Suzuki feels very confident, thanks to its tough ladder frame chassis, a standard design feature that many small off roaders lack; this renders cars like Toyota's RAV4 effectively useless for serious off road work. You'll have to accept, however, that the Jimny won't ultimately have the wherewithal to reach the places that larger off roaders can. At least not in normal circumstances. Over in Iceland, they prefer light, simple little 4x4s like this because they don't sink into the snow: in soft boggy conditions here, it?s the same. Due to it?s inherent narrowness, the Jimny will also fit between obstacles that would leave a Range Rover flummoxed.
OVERALL
Buy a used Jimny if you want to go off road in a nearly-new, reliable manner. If you want it purely for on-road purposes, there are literally hundreds of better alternatives. Don?t let the Suzuki?s diminutive stature deceive you ? it?s a lot of fun and surprisingly capable when things get rough. In these days of GATSO cameras and ten-mile tailbacks, that has to be a good thing.
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