Outer Limits 4x4 Board

I know this may not be the best place to get this info, being a softroader and all, but my wife and I are thinking about getting a new grand vitara.
Its a choice between the 2.4 petrol or 1.9 t/d. The V6 is out of the question as we do not want leather interior (dogs use the car) and would love to here some differing opinions on what to get.
Does anyone have one on here?

Leather is surprisingly tough- I've got a 2004 XL-7 with "leather" and just put a sheet or blanket over the top- or buy a seat of cheap seat covers. I reckon with my model the fabric interior would be more prone to damage because the fabric had little "loops" in it that claws would have got caught on.

These are worth the money too: http://www.petavenue.com.au/showproducts.php?rangeid=1 , not cheap but they protect both your seat and your dog.

PS: Note I said "leather" because only the part you sit on appears to be actual leather. The remainder of the seat is vinyl.....

A couple of people on here have got the diesel. Try doing a search and you should dig up some info.

i would look at the kw on the old 2.7 then compare to the 137kw of the 2.4 to see if thats the way to go and also check if it gets all the three letter words like the diesel ( ebd, hdc, hsc and traction control )

Seems that there is some threads regarding DPF issues on the TD. I have experienced this very thing with my current peugeot, and limped to the dealer 6 times. This leans me towards the 2.4.

Will see what the dealers have to say this week....

fordy1 wrote:i would look at the kw on the old 2.7 then compare to the 137kw of the 2.4 to see if thats the way to go and also check if it gets all the three letter words like the diesel ( ebd, hdc, hsc and traction control )

Torque (curve and peak) and gearing would be more relevant in a heavy vehicle.

i have td vitara new one . it seems good. one guy on this site had problems with cv but i havent. diesel chugs well but it IS smaller than v6 of course. economy is around 9 litres for all driving includidng heavy sand and commuting. its pedestrian and predatory all at once

oh and no limpring to dealer yet. i havent gone slow for 3oo clicks yet. I wonder ... i have done around 10000k already

we have a td vit at work......and let me just say there has been a couple of times where it has been freakin scary. if you don't have the right revs up when pulling into traffic the thing just won,t take off quick enough. this has also happened to others at work. in my opinion the manual td is a piece of crap......i'd wait for an auto version.

I heard there won't be an auto with that engine. Nissan has the rights for the auto and engine.


Rob

i thought it was Renaults engine??

we have an 08 2l 4cyl and it is a pretty good car.. gets 10.4km to the litre..

Yes Renaults engine but nissan is using it too. with the matching auto. I could be wrony and others maybe able to more on this.

robsjimny wrote:Yes Renaults engine but nissan is using it too. with the matching auto. I could be wrony and others maybe able to more on this.

So how hard would it be for the box swap? JoeBlow?

Grantw wrote: being a softroader and all

Blasphemy! Soft roaders don't have low range, my TD Grand Vitara does.

There was a recall regarding the DPF so the problem may have been solved. No problems in the 6,000 km so far. The manual gearbox is pretty ordinary and seeing as diesel is about 20% dearer than ULP, I would seriously consider an auto 2.4. 2008 petrols, with the old motor, didn't have traction control, esp, etc so I went for the diesel. As mentioned the diesel can be caught out in traffic when it bogs down. My main complaint is the lack of accessories or mods available. The suspension is not easily lifted and 17 inch tyres are expensive or not available in many brands. Having said that, in standard form it is impressive offroad, and the traction control works a treat as well.

Overall, they are great cars, either petrol or diesel will not disappoint.

And they are NOT softroaders.

AJFeroza wrote:

robsjimny wrote:Yes Renaults engine but nissan is using it too. with the matching auto. I could be wrony and others maybe able to more on this.

So how hard would it be for the box swap? JoeBlow?

would depend on the electrinics involved.

i took a custmers diesel gv for a spin and thought great and i would be very happy to upgrade my 04gv

hey steve you can get almost anything for a diesel gv you must be looking in the wrong places

I've just clocked up 60K in my TD GV, and the only drama I've had was a noisy bush in the front sway bar. No probs with engine, or DPF. It doesn't take long to get used to the way it takes off at the lights. I'm very happy with it.

fordy1, some place in Qld (Outdoor Auto) sells door handles and snorkels for 98 - 05 Vitaras via their website. Outdoor Auto also has a Ebay store but only lists headlight covers for current GVs (along with a photo of one with a snorkel), everything else is for 98 - 05 GVs, Jimnys and Sierras.


Before I bought the car, I asked ARB if they will be bringing anything out to suit the new GVs and I was told that ARB had purchased a Diesel GV and are working on a winch bar, etc. Last time I asked (pre xmas) still no bar, no snorkel and they only had springs available that gave a massive one inch lift. ECB only has a non winch bar, so no luck there. Ask TJM and they can't supply any accessory at all (or can't be bothered; was told no tow bar available, rang someone else who supplied and fitted one that week). And Ironman, EFS, etc don't do lifts for GVs (I know they are not simple things to lift). Overseas kits are available (Rocky Road, etc) but I have heard of some problems with them (torn rubber bushes) and would like a local supplier for warranty, etc.

I have seen your snorkel and skid plate ads, but as noted, they don't seem to be listed anymore. If its ok, could you pm me some prices, with freight to Melbourne. Same with the lift kit.

(just remembered something else you can't get for them - side air bag compatible seat covers)

fordy1 runs Outdoor Auto.