Vitara Buying Advice? (Should I Buy This One?)

[eXc]

Gday,

I have my eye on a 91 Vitara JLX SWB Hardtop. It's a 16A engine. 192,000 kms. Little off road work. Has a few scratches and interior a little rough, but that is to be expected on a 16 y/o car.

Engine seems pretty good. Oil leak somewhere on gearbox...Taking some ramps so I can get under it for a better look tonight.

One of the suspension is leaking fluid.

Battery is pretty dodgy from corrosion.

No visable rust.

He is asking $5000 for it. Redbook says it's worth $1800-$4100. Guys on here say you can get them for around $2000.

Is it worth the money? I thought I'd offer $4000 if you guys think it was worth it.


My other interest is how unstable is a SWB ? It's my 1st 4wd, and people say it's likely to roll forward/backward. How great is the concern in the real world for beginners? I understand if I was doing serious stuff then it would be unstable, but for a beginner what do you think?

Your advice is much appreciated and I look forward to going out with some newcastle area guys sometime when I get it, be good to meet ya's

Cheers
Chris

[eXc]

Oh, the other things is that after a 10 minute drive, the temp gauge only moved about 3mm....

It has 3 sections. A bar, then a gap. Then a bar, and a gap. Then a bar. The gaps are at about 3mm from the ends, the bar in the middle is about 30mm long.

The temp guage sits right on the first bar (so 3mm off the coolest most reading)

Is this something to be worried about? Or is that where the gauge usually sits?

[bartlettmoto]

in my personal opinion, i think it is quite dear, you should be able to get one in that condition for around the $3000ish without looking too hard. just think, you buy it for 4grand (if he takes that much), new battery $100+, gearbox leak (well if you know a bit about cars do it yourself, new shocks arnt real dear but still a bit of work to do when paying that much. you say a little of road work, are you sure of that? does it come with reg and rwc? but anyways everyone might disagree with me but i say dnt buy it for that price. way to much.
Unless you have alot of $$$$ to spend i wish i was rich.


Mark

[suzukiboy]

Too dear for the amount of klms.

I would want to see log books at that age and klms, allot of things might need to be serviced/replaced.
I would look for an EFI and free wheeling hubs one, I have one and not a hiccup off road.
As for unstable I have never had a problem with them.
I have owned a standard softtop, hardtop and now modified and lifted Vitara no problems with on road or off road handling.
Great for a beginner

[eXc]

Ok thanks.


It has no thermostat. That is why the temp never gets into the normal range...

I took it to a mechanic, and one of the leaks is from the rocker cover, but he said he can't tell...only way to tell is to clean it up and then see where it comes from...which is fine if i owned it, but he will be able to clean it off before I come to see it each time.

[suzukiboy]

The temp guage sits half way on mine allways.
I had a large oil leak over the gearbox in mine too but it was the tappet cover you should be able to see oil down the block coming from the tappet cover.

[intens]

no thermostat is a garanteed engine killer................slow but steady death



ohh and yes its tooo much, the vitara should be a great 4x4, ive had sierra's and now a jimny, Short wheel base's are more fun, im sure some dont agree with the last statement

[bartlettmoto]

yes no thermo is very VERY bad, Makes your engine stay cold for 10 times the normal period. Meanwhile your thrshing it, Cold engine + Revs = Lots of wear.


Mark

[Wanderer]

cracked alloy head - got stung $2K for that one! , check the oil to make make sure there's no coolant in the sump.

happened at 169K

[toysuzi]

Ok thanks.


It has no thermostat. That is why the temp never gets into the normal range...

I took it to a mechanic, and one of the leaks is from the rocker cover, but he said he can't tell...only way to tell is to clean it up and then see where it comes from...which is fine if i owned it, but he will be able to clean it off before I come to see it each time.

thermostats normaly get removed due to overheating problems

blocked radiator core - or bugs grass etc blocking air flow throught radiator fins
worn - corroded water pump impeller - head gasket and or cracked head - it could even be in the block
buts its all guess work without spending time n money pulling it apart.

would at least need to start with cylinder leakage test & tk head test just for starters

also with the oil leak - id say theres a good chance its the dizzy shaft seal & dizzy housing o,ring leaking there sitting above the bell housing.

cheers daryl

[Zute]

From what the people here are saying, Id walk on by.

[Impulsive]

I've owned half a dozen Vitaras now.

The 8v (carby) Vitaras come standard with dried up rocker cover gaskets, so they leak. The part is like $10, and if it takes you more than 20-30 minutes to fix (in total), you should slap yourself hard on the back of the head.

Regards,

Adam

[eXc]

thanks guys. I am gonna make the trip to Sydney next week if I can and check some out.

[suzukiboy]

I looked long and hard for my Vit brought mine from Sydney one owner with 80 000klms.
I live in Brisbane saw it the trading post, caught a flight down and drove it back.

[albey]

i have a jacked up landcruiser,spo,on35" muddys for $5000 its a swb frp top not a lot around will go any where looks good too