Outer Limits 4x4 Board

hey,

So I get the impression that the older vitaras are tougher than the newer ones.. I have a 1.6efi 2 door vitara and i was looking at the newer v6 ones but they seem to break stuff easier like cv joints etc.. can anyone confirm this?

im considering upgrading to a newer model, but I don't want something that will break offroad.. my current vitara has proved pretty tough so far...

cheers

Paul

I have a 99 V6 GV and its great havn't been able to break it yet!!!!

might get more accurate information if you mention the terrain you drive and what kind of mods you'd intend to do, as it would have a huge influence on reliability.

If you mean stronger offroad, then the scales would propably tip to the older Vitaras, as there is a lot more mods available for them to get them further up the track. Not to mention the older models are significantly cheaper to repair when damaged, and panelwork isnt as much of a concern as a shiny GV.

drifta wrote:So I get the impression that the older vitaras are tougher than the newer ones.. I have a 1.6efi 2 door vitara and i was looking at the newer v6 ones but they seem to break stuff easier like cv joints etc.. can anyone confirm this?l

I don't know for sure, but I'm guessing it's the extra horsepower that would make them more prone to breaking

Highway-Star wrote:

drifta wrote:So I get the impression that the older vitaras are tougher than the newer ones.. I have a 1.6efi 2 door vitara and i was looking at the newer v6 ones but they seem to break stuff easier like cv joints etc.. can anyone confirm this?l

I don't know for sure, but I'm guessing it's the extra horsepower that would make them more prone to breaking

That was my thought as well .

what about the piss weak alloy front diff in the vitara's....

ive heard of cv joints and locking hubs needing replacing on the newer models for no apparent reason.. (not from hardcore offroading)


The kind of driving I do is fast sand-dunes driving (yeah it gets pretty bumpy when u are going fast or up steep inclines) and a little gravel/mud stuff... mostly sand dunes though..


I actually wonder how a rav4 would go in the sand dunes.. but I've never seen one out there so I'm not sure, they seem to have a pretty good power to weight ratio and you don't need a 'full 4x4' system for sand driving, right?

Cheers

Paul

drifta wrote:ive heard of cv joints and locking hubs needing replacing on the newer models for no apparent reason.. (not from hardcore offroading)

Cheers

Paul

probably because in the newer model gv's they dont have locking hubs... they have vacumm operated side gears in the front diff which activates when in 4wd... so the front cv's are constantly turning whether in 4wd or not

They usually say that rav 4's are pretty decent in the sand, however their flimsy design means that if you bottom one out its alot easier to damage the mechanicals

also, as it doesn't have low range, recoveries and the like are a lot harder

In my limited experience of sand driving over the years more power and lower weight is the key along with appropriate tyres and tyre pressures. Low weight will also help with component durability. A 2.0 or V6 in a swb would be good.

I don't think that the actual components in the GV's are any better apart from the steel front diff housing that some models got and you can fit this to a Vitara if you want

I would still want a vehicle with low range for some situations too so I wouldn't go with a RAV4.

I have fitted free wheeling hubs to the front of my GV they are very easy to fit and stop the front diff from turning full time.

If you fit a bit larger tyre then standard when deflated they will "bag" easier allowing for easy sand driving.

I was out 4wding with a group of patrols with 6" lifts and 35", i kept up with them except for some deep ruts where i bottomed out.

Im very happy with my Grand Vitara the V6 gives it some poke when needed and a bit of lift gets me out of trouble....

Its all aobut driving style, to make a Vitara tough you need to put GV stuff in it

I have had both and they were as tough as each other, it is just that the GV had the potential to snap things with the extra power of the V6.

personally I think the GV is tougher (can be if you bomb it up like this)

^^^ damn that looks tuff!