Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Im young, from perth, and looking for a small 4x4, i have heard a lot about the vit's, trying to find out if there is a good year or bad years.

have around $6k need a man preferred swb.

any info will be great ( model, year, one to avoid)
thanks shandy

What to look for when buying '88-'98 Vitara (CJ's the man!)
http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... hp?t=55981
Things to look out for when buying a Vitara
http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... hp?t=48417
Looking to buy a Vitara? (general mods tech)
http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... hp?t=30752
SWB Vitara Info
http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... php?t=3388
Vitara BUDGET lift info
http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... hp?t=33780

thanks Jaffa for that response, i have already read all those links,

trying to find specific info
thanks
shandy

$6K should get an EFI SWB - the only way to go.

What else do you want to know - those links are pretty good.

Steve.

hey steve

trying to find out if there are bad years or good years.

meaning did suzuki make dodgy vitara's?

i want a suzuki that can handle the often off road conditions, i will be on the road for most of the year but wont a car that can take me to my limits, when i do go off-road.

planning on doing basic modifications eg suspension lift, wheels, spots,bullbar.

thanks
shandy

Nope, any year is a good as another, just buy on condition, but you really want an efi one, and I'd recommend an auto - not because there's anything wrong with a manual but auto's are better and it's a fantastically strong auto - same as jeep used in the 4.0 cherokee.

I don't know what your limits are - but a vitara is more expensive to buy and build and less well suited to 4WD work than a sierra.

If the guys you go driving with run maybe 31's-32's on cruisers/patrols etc, you'll do fine with a lightly setup vitara.

If you're chasing guys in bigger cars - 33's and over you might want to look at a sierra - vitara's are more technically challenging to set up to run bigger tyres and harder terrain reliably.

Just some thoughts.

hey steve thanks for the info,
when i said i was young i mean im 16yrs old and looking for a first car to go off-road with, i wont to learn in this car as well so i wont to get a manual. also my fok's will not let me get a v6 (to much power, if i could get a v6 i would get an old landcruiser or something).

i will probally wont put any thing bigger than 30's on it tho.
i have heard they start to rube over that.

thanks
shandy

too much power in the V6? get them to take one for a drive - they're pretty slow- probably quicker than an old cruiser, but a 1.6 EFI will be heaps quicker than an old cruiser anyway.

V6's are only in LWB's - all SWBs were 4 cylinder. 1.6 up until about 1997 or something than then 2.0 after that. The 2.0 SWB's are cool - they have the interior of the V6, a wider track width (more stable) and perform much better, but I think you would struggle to get one in your price range.

Fair enough about learning in a manual - everyone should - but ultimately the auto is a better car.

30's will be a wise choice.

Steve.

hey steve, i prefer to have a 4 cylinder any way i think they look better.

can you or anyone suggest a good brand or model of tire, looking for something that is good off-road but is also gives good controll on the road as well

if u are in perth NOR. and want to see a setup Sierra theres a couple on here.

re: vits got the efi one def.

sierras are generally easier to work on and modify but the vit is better on road.

ok thanks,
what makes the sierra's better off road and vitaras better on road?
have you got a link so i can look at the sierra's on here?

also was size (inche) tires do a standard vitara or sierra come with

thanks

shandy

The sierras run a "live axle" or "beam axle" setup in the front and rear, vitaras run live axle rear but independant front suspension. IFS is better for on road handling but lacks the travel and ruggedness of a well setup live axle. That and sierras are a little lighter and rugged and also have alot more after market support for mild to wild modifications. That said, a vitara can and will be able to find the limits of your average new driver. I am tossing up the idea of selling my V8 commodore and buying a 2.0L 4 cyl vitara SWB which would be better suited to the daily driver/camping duties that my soon to be on 33's sierra is doing ATM. Vitaras are an awsome first car, much better IMO than a sierra as they are less offroad focussed but alot more versitile than a sierra.

thanks GRPABT1,
that has helped me heaps, i am not sure if i want a car for the on-road advantages or the off-road advantages, i still have to figue that bit out.

thanks again
shandy

IMHO if you don't see yourself going beyond say 30x9.5 (maybe 31x10.5) with the tyres then the Vit is pretty good. Just replace the suspension with something like Old Man Emu and a locker in the rear and it will surprise. If you are into more technical driving or doing the steep stuff then some lower gears in the t-case would be a good idea. After that point there are gearing issues to be dealt with and limits to what you can achieve with the IFS. I'm not saying it can't be turned into quite a capable vehicle as it can with some effort and $$$ and I have gone down that path but I don't know if that is your intention. As mentioned try and find an EFI which all the lwb are and the swb are from late '94 on. I would also consider the 4 speed auto option as well as it does work well offroad and helps deal with the bigger rubber onroad. The 2.0 is a better unit plus you get a 70l fuel tank but you will be starting around the $7000 mark to find one. While I still have a 2.0 swb Vit, I am now in the process of building a Sierra for play with 34" Swampers and it is a different thing altogether.

hey thanks cj,

at the present time i would just like a car that can handle boggy sand and rough, rocky roads. my in a few more years i might get into the tech stuff but i have seen some movie and they can get really technical.

thanks for that info, good to know.

shandy

i have a 95 swb soft top vit. its a 1.6 efi and is a jlx model with power windows and mirrors. i don't mind too much about the power options though, just wanted an efi vit.

in stock form, they are pretty quick for what they are. if you want it to run a bit better and a little quicker, a good extractor set and a good 2" exhaust will help it along very nicely.

i fitted a full OME suspension kit, with coils, front struts and rear shocks. i gained about 3" of lift on stock wheels and tyres.

after that, i fitted some 31" tyres on some 15"x8" steel wheels, and now it struggles a bit. i don't think my vit has enough power to turn the 31"s, and that with no lockers. i will upgrade my clutch and look at transfer case reduction gearing. i think this will solve all my power dilemmas off road and i may even be able to put lockers in after the gears.

on road, it still drives very good, with average to good power depending. i have power steering and aircon, so with the aircon on, its a bit slow, but i'm cool though.


new one next to the old one. 1st day.





stock wheel travel





lifted



wheel travel with OME

on the ramp with flares and 31"s

hey SiKiD_01

that is what i want to do to my eg. suspension kit, coils, shock and maybe struts.
is 3" enough or are you planning on doing more?

how much did that cost you roughly? so i have an idea for when i want to do it.

shandy

shandy wrote:hey SiKiD_01

that is what i want to do to my eg. suspension kit, coils, shock and maybe struts.
is 3" enough or are you planning on doing more?

how much did that cost you roughly? so i have an idea for when i want to do it.

shandy

3" for me is enough for what it is. i had to do a tiny bit of trimming to fit the 31"s due to the off set of the rims.

i have full OME sus, rear coils, rear shocks, front coils, and more importantly, front struts.

i have more than enough sus travel for what i do, and if i fit a locker, it will be enough for me.

saving for some new tyres, but thinking of going a bit bigger. i have a 2" BL sitting here. still very undecided about putting it in. if i go bigger tyres, i will have to, if i stay with 31"s i won't. chances are i won't.

the OME sus should cost you about $1250 supplied, and is easier enough to fit it yourself. be prepared to fork out if you get a shop to fit it.

tyres will be around $800-$1000+ depending on what you want, and rims on top.

I will agree with Skid on mods.
3" lift
30" tyres
Locker
It will take you most places you want to go.

Suspension would be the first mod I would do.
Here are some of my pics showing suspension travel like Skids.

ps. if you get a vit, take the plastic sill covers off. they will hold moisture and mud and rust the sills out.

cj, SiKid,

Interesting feedback. I'll try not to hijack. I've got a 4 door JLX 4 speed auto that came with 16" rims. So what you are saying is that it I should not have any drama putting 31" tyres on it cos it has the 5.12 diffs. ATM, only got 29" swampers with 15" rims on it 'cos I got them at a good price with the rims. It has the standard OME suspension kit and a 2" body lift on it and it goes anywhere until I run out of clearance under the front cross member.

Finally starting to round up a few bits and pieces to add another 2" of lift. 2" strut spacers from the US and diff drop brackets front and rear out of Taiwan on order. By the time I get QT approval for the BL and head up to the Cape and back, I'll be up for a new set of tyres. I lke the Swampers, If I put tham on my 16" rims, they start at 32", but i thought that might be a bit much with standard gearing and t case. Any thoughts guys?

Here's a pic leading a few other cars in my 4wd club around Mt Mee. Some got stuck, but my Rig just kept on going... A snorkel has gone on since this pic. Roofrack almost finished to carry a 2nd spare to the Cape. Might give some more food for thought. I agree, fix the suspension first. Wish I had done that 2 yrs ago...

Still got the plastic sill gurads and no sign of rust, but will probably ditch them one day soon. I got the steel on hand to make the sliders, but one day...

The plastic sill guards rubbed thought he paint on mine.

Sill slider have saved mine from alot of damage.

i've had 31" swampers on my vit before. keep in mind tyre weights. some tyres, are not as heavy as others, such as a GY MT/R compared to a simex ET, or swamper tsl in the same size. weight of the tyre(s) will contribute greatly to power loss. also contact patch friction in terms of tyre pressures. run less air, use more fuel going slower.

last two pics are the best pics i can get atm of my vit on swampers.

thanks SiKiD, suzukiboy

thanks for that extra info,
anything you give i will take of board, we can never have to much information,

much appreciated
shandy