Outer Limits 4x4 Board

roi wrote:G'day,
I'm looking into purchasing a wee little suzuki to go bush with.
Obviously why i'm here, doing some research.
CAn anyone tell me which way i should look, is a sierra or a vitara better?
The mud side of things is what i want to get into, rather than rock hoppin'

I'm up for spending around $6000, but don't want to have to spend more than that once i've bought it.
Tyres and wheels aren't a drama, as i am in the industry.

It wouldn't be used for anything more than a weekender, but would like to know where to start. any advice would be fantastic.


cheers

rik

roi wrote:i should of made myself clear. i ain't driving to osama's house to get it.
in melbourne too.

what sort of dollar does it take to turn a stock into a decent mudman?

Which engine should i keep my eye open for?

Gwagensteve wrote:As per Grimbo's comments.

DO NOT RUSH OUT AND BUY A CAR

Have you had a 4WD before? If not, (infact, in any case) definitely come to a couple of club meetings, maybe arrange to passenger on a club trip - get a feel for what we are doing with our cars and how we build them before you buy a car.

The number of times I have heared "if only I had joined the club before I bought my car...."

Personally, mud is just something that you come across on the way to actual obstacles. Mud gets pretty boring for me. Wet weather means that most of the really hard summer tracks can't be driven because they are shut or too slippery, so bored drivers end up driving too fast or burying their cars in holes because there is no other challenge.

I also feel a bit guilty about mud driving too - it has the biggest impact on track surfaces and heavy traffic of tracks when muddy puts the most pressure on them to be closed.

I'm not sure what you mean by not spending more than $6K "once you have bought it" What the car ends up owing you will all depned on what you end up wanting to drive, and how easily, and how much repair/upgrade work the car needs as you go.

Vitaras are more comfortable and powerful, but more difficult and expensive to build into a capable car.

Sierras are cheap and easy to modify and work on, but are less comfortable and do not offer standard features like automatic transmissions and power steer. Until you can see what is out there and what we are driving with what car, don't make a descision.

Steve.

roi wrote:I could have filled in my profile.....

that would make things easy huh?
I live in Melbourne, My Dog's Name is snap-(she snaps at flies and junkies) I own my own home and run a small business, I also hate vacuuming.

I like long walks on the beach as long as i have a pocket full of rocks to throw at seagulls!
My carpet is a creamy white colour and my backyard is clay, it's a bad combination....

what else would you like to know?

Gwagensteve wrote:Don't go for a Vitara then.

Vitaras have their strengths, including the ability to build lots of wheeltravel for an IFS design, but they aren't more durable than a rodeo.

Preparation and maintenance are very important for cars driving mud. Generally, cars tend to run trouble free for a while and you think you are getting away with it, then over time, all the little problems start to hit.... flogged out seals resulting in bearing failure, then diff destruction.wheel bearing failure etcetcetc.

Diff and gearbox breathers, alternator and starter motor life, radiator condition, fan chewing up radiator, water in fuel, caliper failure, water in wheelbearings etc are all things that have to be dealt with, and as Love_Mud said, you will be doing rear brake shoes pretty much every trip.

I don't have self adjusting brakes in my 1.0 litre, and every time I drive mud I have to readjust them as a minimum.

In any case, a car that works in mud tends to work in most other conditions as well.

Steve.

Gwagensteve wrote:I can't answer that question for you. Very good results can be achieved with a vitara, but the path of building a reliable capable car is harder.

Sierras are cheaper, lighter and simpler, but will never match the comfort or stability of a vitara.

A sierra can be built to run a bigger tyre easier and with better gearing.

You really need to come along to a meeting/passenger on a trip and get a feel for what the cars do. It is too hard to advise you without you having an understanding of the compromises involved in both vehicles, and you will figure that out much quicker with them in front of you but especially on a trip.

Steve.

cj wrote:

Gwagensteve wrote:I can't answer that question for you. Very good results can be achieved with a vitara, but the path of building a reliable capable car is harder.

Sierras are cheaper, lighter and simpler, but will never match the comfort or stability of a vitara.

A sierra can be built to run a bigger tyre easier and with better gearing.

You really need to come along to a meeting/passenger on a trip and get a feel for what the cars do. It is too hard to advise you without you having an understanding of the compromises involved in both vehicles, and you will figure that out much quicker with them in front of you but especially on a trip.



Steve.

What he said

I have gone the Vitara route (more than once and I'm about to start building another) and while I'm happy with my choice there are definitely pros and cons compared with the Sierra. Come along to a Club meeting and ask some questions and have a look at some of the cars. Going on a trip at some stage would be a good idea too. You'll make a better decision if you do.

Gwagensteve wrote:From http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Suzuki_4WD_Club/
Our club forum on yahoo -

We do family to extreme 4WDriving, camping, maintainance and modification in a social atmosphere. This is a Suzuki based club, but we do accept other makes (so long as your happy to be ragged on This group is for Club members and their friends & family, and prospective new members.
Presently we have a mix of Sierras, Jimnys, Vitaras, Grand Vitaras, LJ's and non zooks. Below is a link to our club web page..meetings are 2nd. Wednesday of each month (except January) at AMRA Hall in Wills St Glen Iris 8:00PM start. All welcome. http://www.vic.suzuki4wd.com/ Club info booklet is available for download from club web site. Some good videos in the links section on left of main page. Great pix in Photo section, too. Have fun. Club Membership $60 a financial year, which includes VAFWDC fee of $15 and is due on June 30th to be paid by the July Annual General Meeting.

*shameless plug on*

I'll add a bit - I have been in other clubs but have been in the Suzuki club for 14 years. Couldn't imagine not being in it. I don't go off road unless I am on a club trip.

Unlike a lot of clubs we are a very small casual group with very few rules and no politics.

I love outers, but for me driving off road is as much a social activity as it is about driving and once you get into the swing of that club membership is a blast.

*Shameless Plug off*

Steve.