Anyone have a Suzuki Grand Vitara gen 1? 1998-2005

[Kran]

Just wondering if anyone on here has one or had one and knows a bit about them. I just bought a 2005 1.6l swb as my first proper shooting vehicle. It’s in great nick but the lady that had it for the last 11 years never once put it in 4wd. The 4wd lever was only used to drape a handbag around by the sounds of it. She was only getting it serviced by a small time local mechanic and as she never used it as a 4wd I doubt he payed much attention to diff oils etc. I’m half afraid to bang it into 4wd after all these years in case something is seized up. Any advise welcome

 

[Andyquadra]

Change the diff oil to start with

 

[User00035]

It'll be fine. As above, if you're worried get the oil changed in the transfer box, but if it's never been used it should be brand new in there.

I had a MK 2 which has an electrical switch to transfer rather than a manual lever and if they aren't used often they can be reluctant to go back into high range. The lever boxes are no problem.

Just get all the oils changed and you'll be good.

 

[Kran]

Thanks gents, I will change all the oils and give it a whirl.

 

[bogtrotter]

It should be OK as others have said can be a bit reluctant to go back into high range if not been used for a while

 

[Kran]

It should be OK as others have said can be a bit reluctant to go back into high range if not been used for a while

Just out of interest do you mean reluctant to go from 4l to 4H or from 4H to 2H? I’ll probably never need 4l anyway.

 

[bogtrotter]

At one point both my wife and I had vitaras mine was used regularly of road her was used as a car and seldom was tne low box used on the odd occasion when I did use if low box was used it was reluctant to go back into 2 wheel
drive.
Found that taking it for a drive using all the combinations once a month or so cured the problem.
When I say reluctant it needed several attempts but always went in the end.

 

[filzee]

We use one as our main shooting vehicle absolutely brilliant and much better off-road than the new L200

 

[User00035]

At one point both my wife and I had vitaras mine was used regularly of road her was used as a car and seldom was tne low box used on the odd occasion when I did use if low box was used it was reluctant to go back into 2 wheel
drive.
Found that taking it for a drive using all the combinations once a month or so cured the problem.
When I say reluctant it needed several attempts but always went in the end.

That's exactly what my mk 2 was like.
Best thing about these cars is the brilliant chassis. I was amazed where mine would go and never a squeak or a rattle on the road afterwards. Nothing like the symphony of clunks and bangs from my old Disco TD5.

The Suzukis are light too. You will bend them if you run into things but they float across the ground without getting stuck or doing any damage.
My only criticism was a lack of underside protection. But for the money, one of the best and most civilised off-roaders you can get.

 

[Kran]

This thread is putting any fears I had well at ease. Looking forward now to loading my the first deer into the back of it

 

[Koenig]

My mate uses one of these. Never had a bit of trouble out of it. As stated above, I’d change the transmission fluids on the premise that it costs almost nothing and can’t do any harm.

 

[sh1kar]

I would also use all ratios and 4wd at least once a month for a few 100 yards just to keep the oils whirling around. Obviously in as straight a line as possible in low if it brings diff locks into play

 

[Bavarianbrit]

My pal is a vet in Germany he drove it into every fixed object over 380,000 kms it was dented all over as he did not want to look flush to the farmer customers. It never missed a beat, my neighbor has one too and he uses it all over his hunting area doing what I would be afraid to risk, never gets stuck, he has around 200,000 kms on his 1,6 petrols both of them.
They will run well used here around 5000 euros as the hunters all want them so keeps the price high.

 

[Kran]

My pal is a vet in Germany he drove it into every fixed object over 380,000 kms it was dented all over as he did not want to look flush to the farmer customers. It never missed a beat, my neighbor has one too and he uses it all over his hunting area doing what I would be afraid to risk, never gets stuck, he has around 200,000 kms on his 1,6 petrols both of them.
They will run well used here around 5000 euros as the hunters all want them so keeps the price high.

That’s great to hear. Over here in Ireland it’s Landcruisers at every turn, you wouldn’t pick up of any age one for less than 3k and that would be pretty much a wreck at that stage. Plenty Grand Vitaras about but they would mostly be driven by women and you could pick up a 2007 ish model with handy Kms for about €1800. I paid €1150 for the one I just picked up with 121 thousand miles on the clock.

 

[badbob]

I've had grand Vitaras, hi and low useful but only used on occasions.
Now got the mk 2 which is bigger ( 5 door)
Better ride , permanent 4 x4 . Punish it severely.
Ideal shooting vehicle for £1500 to £3000.
Still like the mark 1 though with the 4x4 lever. I rarely had to use it, but just ease the lever into 4x4 and away you go . Put it back into normal as soon as you no longer need it.
Not much room in the 3 door but good in tight rides and nipping between trees.

 

[User00035]

There are shed loads of off-roading after-market goodies available for them too, mk1s and mk 2s. If I hadn't wrecked mine I was going to put a 2" lift kit on it. On the mk 2 five door the spare wheel is on the tail gate which means a tow bar has to stick out a long way and it clonks on everything. Another two inches would have made all the difference.
Mk 2s are pretty much rust free but mk 1s can suffer a bit. If you get a good one it's worth giving it a deep clean and waxoyle underneath, including inside the chassis beams, to keep it that way.

I don't know if this is an issue with the mk 1s but one disadvantage of the diesel mk 2 is the dreaded particulate filter which is very prone to clogging. Crawling round fields for hours on tickover does them no good at all. I ran mine on premium and avoided all supermarket fuel like the plague because it was definitely much sootier. Luckily it's not a common rail engine so you can use additives. I used a shot of 2 stroke oil in every 40 litres and it was virtually smoke free. Had it remapped too which made it noticeably torqueier and upped the mpg from 32 to 36.

 

[Kran]

There are shed loads of off-roading after-market goodies available for them too, mk1s and mk 2s. If I hadn't wrecked mine I was going to put a 2" lift kit on it. On the mk 2 five door the spare wheel is on the tail gate which means a tow bar has to stick out a long way and it clonks on everything. Another two inches would have made all the difference.
Mk 2s are pretty much rust free but mk 1s can suffer a bit. If you get a good one it's worth giving it a deep clean and waxoyle underneath, including inside the chassis beams, to keep it that way.

I don't know if this is an issue with the mk 1s but one disadvantage of the diesel mk 2 is the dreaded particulate filter which is very prone to clogging. Crawling round fields for hours on tickover does them no good at all. I ran mine on premium and avoided all supermarket fuel like the plague because it was definitely much sootier. Luckily it's not a common rail engine so you can use additives. I used a shot of 2 stroke oil in every 40 litres and it was virtually smoke free. Had it remapped too which made it noticeably torqueier and upped the mpg from 32 to 36.

I probably won’t do much more modding than change the tyres on it to something more suitable for a bit of mild off road work but the waxoyle sounds like a good idea.

 

[sh1kar]

Bottle of NO and a switch?
S

 

[Andyquadra]

Bottle of NO and a switch?
S

I did that to my Renault 20 years ago, another 75bhp on a switch fas fun

 

[User00035]

I probably won’t do much more modding than change the tyres on it to something more suitable for a bit of mild off road work but the waxoyle sounds like a good idea.

The perennial "which all-terrain tyre" thread .
For what it's worth, I tried Grabber ATs and Yokohama Geolanders on mine. Off road, both were about equal in soft and messy stuff and the Grabbers slightly better on steep slippery grass and better at resisting sideways slewing on slick mud or when straddling ruts.
On the road the Geolanders were significantly better in wet, frosty and snowy conditions and much safer under braking in the wet. They were also slightly quieter and gave marginally better mpg. The Grabbers lasted about 10,000 miles longer. Both are about equal as a good non-aggressive all-rounder that offer reasonable off-road performance without doing too much damage to the ground.
If that helps..