Outer Limits 4x4 Board

How can I find out what is the difference between a Sierra and a Vitara?
I have Googled and I have looked at the entries in Wikipedia and I am still unsure.
I am after a 4WD to travel firetrails and the occasional wombat track in my efforts to photograph and record the songs of lyrebirds. Ground clearance is more important than power or highway speed. 4WD wouldn't be needed very often, so getting out and twisting a couple of locks on the front wheels is not a problem. Obviously I need a low gear to creep up some steep inclines, but I'm not interested in wallowing in mud. Most of all, I see the car as a tool, not a project. I'm not going to modify it.
I was originally looking at a Daihatsu, but a couple of mechanics said that they had gearbox problems and replacements were almost impossible to get.
I don't know if this is the approporiate forum, but I would welcome any advice.

It would totally depend on how difficult these tracks are that you will be on. The Sierra is without a doubt the better car offroad but they are horrible on road. The Vitara is a much more comfortable drive.

Mate from the sound of what you want out of a 4x4, I would say the Vitara would suit youre needs well over a Sierra.
It doesnt sound like youre doing any serious rockcrawling or mudholes, so something like a Vitara would be capable enough to do what you want.
Vitaras are IFS and coilsprung and still have low range, so they have a great ride comfort, especially compared to a Sierra and can still get places.

you dont want a suzuki mate what you should get is one of these.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VOULfir ... re=related

tt92 wrote:I don't know if this is the approporiate forum, but I would welcome any advice.

Try posting in the suzuki section for starters.....


moved

sheps wrote:you dont want a suzuki mate what you should get is one of these.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VOULfir ... re=related

we should so use this idea for a new build with two suzukis
i always loved soviet stuff



for topic a simple vitara will do what your asking, and the jimny will too. any model jimny, even the early g13bb engines ones
(yes i said it)

i can choose between a sierra, challenger and new pajero for traveling
the only thing that stops me taking the sierra is if my family are coming as well.
sierra's are fine for traveling, you just need to have the right outlook.
i have no problems driving 1000ks in a day in mine.

sheps wrote:i can choose between a sierra, challenger and new pajero for traveling
the only thing that stops me taking the sierra is if my family are coming as well.
sierra's are fine for traveling, you just need to have the right outlook.
i have no problems driving 1000ks in a day in mine.

Nor mine but you and I have spent time setting up our suspension properly (I assume you have), but if you just want a vehicle to buy and drive, Vitara is still the go. Also if you are willing to consider other vehicles in Suzuki range, as someone mentioned before the Jimny is also comfortable and capable.

tt92 wrote:How can I find out what is the difference between a Sierra and a Vitara?
I have Googled and I have looked at the entries in Wikipedia and I am still unsure.

Sierra:
Early 1.0L motor with spd gearbox, later 1.3L motor with 5spd gearbox (all carburettered)
beam axles front and rear, most are all leaf sprung ('96-'98 are coil).
Can get SWB sopftop, SWB hardtop, LWB softop, LWB ute.
a small number have A/C.
A huge amount of aftermarket accesories/equipment available.


Vitara:
Notably larger vehicle than a Sierra, but still reasonably small; generally more expensive to buy compared to a Sierra.
1.6L motor (carby or EFI), or 2.0L 4cyl motor, or 2.0L V6 motor. 5spd manuals, early 1.6s 3spd auto, or 4 spd auto.
Indenepedent front suspension, Beam rear axle.
Can get SWB softop, SWB hardtop, LWB wagon.
Option of power steering, option of A/C.
Allot of aftermarket accesories available, not as much as a Sierra, but still allot.


The two vehicle actually dont share too much in common, and are completely different platforms, so the differences are actually allot more. The biggest flaws with both IMO (which they both share) is the standard tyres size which inhibits the choice of tread patterns in that size, and the low range gearing which is nothing great.

Thank you all for your responses. It does seem that we could happily use either. We drive for about 8K on bitumen and then for not more than 4K at a time in the bush. Whatever we get will soon be scratched so the state of the bodywork is not an issue. We have a Toyota for highway trips so the Suzuki won't often be used except for the bush.
Now to find one.

4000km in one hit in a sierra to look at birds. I would do 4000kms in a sierra but i wouldnt recomend it to a n y o n e.

Still say a stock vitara is the way to go (external dimention arent that much larger but internally those extra inches seem huge)

EDIT: i bought a couple of vows, i have been doing heaps of typos as late due to my laptop being a 4.5" screen/keyboard

Oops.
4K, not 4000K.
My neighbour does it regularly on his bicycle.
He, of course, is even more daft than I am.

Tomorrow (Wednesday) I will have an ad in all the local papers down the South Coast from Batemans Bay to Bega. "Wanted. Suzuki Sierra or Vitara. 02 44 738 583."
I have no idea what will turn up or how much the asking prices will be.
It will be interesting.

Two replies so far. One is a 1993 automatic Vitara, just around the corner from where I live. I'm not keen on an auto, simply because I know nothing about them. I can't envisage how the low gear range would work.
The other is a 1991 manual Vitara, about two hours away.

tt92 wrote:Two replies so far. One is a 1993 automatic Vitara, just around the corner from where I live. I'm not keen on an auto, simply because I know nothing about them. I can't envisage how the low gear range would work.
The other is a 1991 manual Vitara, about two hours away.

Here is a thread all about autos in 4wds; with some good tech, mixed in with some bits worth skimming over.
http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/ftopic114977.php

Is the 1993 vehicle EFI? that would be a big plus in my book, I'm pretty confident that the 1991 vehicle would be carby.

If the 1993 one is just around the corner, I would go have a look at least, it will at least give you a chance to get more familiar with a Vitara.

We will buy the 1993 auto Vitara. 1600 carby model.
It has electric windows
Its tyres are good, brakes are good, no readily visible rust, one cracked tail light, oil (transmission fluid?) leak onto the exhaust, which could be because it hasn't been run for three months. No oil on its garage floor. Will need timing belt soon. Starter solenoid is noisy and will need replacing NOW. No bullbar. Windscreen not scratched. Upholstery good.
Nothing like what we envisaged, but adequate for what we have in mind.
As the cold draws in and the shadows lengthen the softtop looks less appealing.
There is something to be said for buying a car from a near neighbour who has to look you in the eye afterwards.
Thank you all for your comments and pointers.

soft tops are usually quite warm and cosy once deployed

if you need a new one i know where you can get one delivered cheap