Thanks, keep 'em coming!

Rhinoman, the budget is not really a problem (at least to buy one initially), I hope to get as good as possible without buying something more tidy than necessary for off-road modification, if you know what I mean. Trouble is, it's getting hard to find a UK SJ like this, and the owners of the ones that are are getting "wise" to their desirability.

Madvitara, I'm coming round to the Vitara idea a little, since they are more plentiful over here as you must know. I guess I just need to see some following SJs and Jimnys up cliffs! And talk to as many owners of modded ones as possible, as suggested earlier.

Thanks again.

What are you planing on doing offroad - EXACTLY. This will dictate what vehicle will be most appropriate. I own and have modified them all so I should be able to give you some sound advise. I will take into account your engineering ability and how deep your pocket is. Are you good mechanically? Are you made of money or like me and build on a budget? Are you after comfort or would you sacrifice comfort for offroad ability? Let me know.
ZeusZuki.

What are you planing on doing offroad - EXACTLY. This will dictate what vehicle will be most appropriate. I own and have modified them all so I should be able to give you some sound advise. I will take into account your engineering ability and how deep your pocket is. Are you good mechanically? Are you made of money or like me and build on a budget? Are you after comfort or would you sacrifice comfort for offroad ability? Let me know.
ZeusZuki.

Hi Zeus. I think the best summary of what I'm after would be like this:

Something medium lifted, say 4 - 6" total, possibly on 31s, quite well protected. I want the best possible compromise between roadability and off-road performance, say about a "medium" stage off-road wise but viable for the street, if that makes sense.

The money or access to engineering facilities isn't really a problem, and I'd do a mix of self-build and off-the-shelf stuff I'd say. I already know I'd want to improve engine performance (or possibly go the turbo-diesel route).

My choices I think now lie between SJ, Vitara and Jimny (Suz either way). If I go Vitara, I might consider a longer wheelbase 5-door ("Grand"). I do like the pure "jeepness" of the SJ, but the more I'm looking all three seem to have plenty of potential.

I'd be interested in your thoughts / experiences...

...and to answer to what I'd do off-road Zeus, probably most stuff to a point, but not much rock. Cheers.

The Jimny will require big body and suspension lifts to get 31" on. I think in the order of 3" body and 4" suspension with a little trimming or you could just go crazy with the sawzall and less lift It uses a different t-case to the SJ so if you want rock crawling gears you will need to swap to an older style t-case or you can get some 24% high and low reduction gears for the standard case. The front axle shafts are the smaller 1 litre size, not 1.3's. Big suspension lifts on the Jimny will require some reinforcing or you will find things tearing out. You can get things like front and rear ARB lockers and snorkels etc for them. There are 2 different 1.3 motors in them, the earlier ones are G series like the SJ while the later ones are M series. Have a look at jimnyworld.com

The Jimny will require big body and suspension lifts to get 31" on. I think in the order of 3" body and 4" suspension with a little trimming or you could just go crazy with the sawzall and less lift It uses a different t-case to the SJ so if you want rock crawling gears you will need to swap to an older style t-case or you can get some 24% high and low reduction gears for the standard case. The front axle shafts are the smaller 1 litre size, not 1.3's. Big suspension lifts on the Jimny will require some reinforcing or you will find things tearing out. You can get things like front and rear ARB lockers and snorkels etc for them. There are 2 different 1.3 motors in them, the earlier ones are G series like the SJ while the later ones are M series. Have a look at jimnyworld.com

Thanks for that, I wondered about suspension & trans, strength etc., the Jimny seeming to be a little more road-focused as standard. I did post up on jimnyworld.com a few days back, but in contrast to the help I've had here, no-one's replied!! Maybe comparison to Vitara & SJ is a thorny subject...  

Had a couple of SJ's and with no mods they are more capable than vitara but a lifted vit befits from more power, i have found mine to be stronger and is nicer to drive both on and off road. your back feels it after a good days laning in a leaf sprung zuk

Had a couple of SJ's and with no mods they are more capable than vitara but a lifted vit befits from more power, i have found mine to be stronger and is nicer to drive both on and off road. your back feels it after a good days laning in a leaf sprung zuk

Thanks. I've been looking more at Vitaras in the ads, and I'll look at a couple over weekend. I think it would be sometihng around a '97 - '98 probably, and I may even get a LWB 5-door yet. Are there any particular years that are better or worse for any reason, and do you have any knowledge / experience of the TD engine (in the LWB) ?

Diesel Vitara, im not sure which year the engine used changed, the early ones used the peugeot 1.9TD which people seem to hate in vitaras i've never driven one but one of my vans had the same engine and was a flyer the lads loved driving it so i would think a zuk with that engine should be great? heard nothing bad about the newer diesel but i would say if its the newer peugeot engine from the van experiance there not as good, much less pokey and less reliable.

The early diesel engine was a 2.0L Mazda engine, later ones had the 1.9 Peugeot and the new ones I believe are also a Peugeot engine. 1997/98 Vitaras should be 16V engines, try and find a Japanese built one as information for the Spanish built ones seems hard to come by. I would avoid the later 4u and 4u2 as they have the 8V engine and different electrics and there is no workshop manual available - not even from Suzuki! (ask me how I know  )
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Looked at three today, one LWB, and a hard top and soft top 3-door, all road spec. The 1.6 16v motors felt pretty good. I've since called someone with an already-prepared soft top 3-door (an older 8-valve) that needs some tidying, but is essentially ok (he says), so I'll go and see that in the next couple of days.

At least I can get moving on the dirt pretty quickly then, and see what I think of the Vit experience!

(still feeling a bit "diesel LWB" though!)

Thanks for the views.

swb soft top Vit, you won't be disappointed !

light weight, comfortable, simple,

cheap and easy mods with 2"susp & 2"body spacers, or full kits widely available for bigger lifts,
31"s are enough without too much impact on gearing, not too much wandering about on the tarmac ( maybe unlike leaf springs ?)

big grin factor,