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Car Forum / UK Car Forums / 4x4 Cars (UK group) / March 2005In Defense of Vitaras
As Vitaras appear to be a "joke" to some of the Urban Cowboys on this NG, the following may redress the balance. As a gamekeeper for 35yrs I drove Landrovers every day, and in many different types,petrol/diesel, long or short wheel base, rag-top/ safari. For a while I instructed employees of a major Utility in off-road driving technique. In "95 I had to retire and as a consequence buy my own vehicle, needed off road capability(part-time keepering) degree of comfort, cheap to run. So, "93 Vitara bought cost ?3800, 1.6 JLX. What other 4x4 could I have bought sub ?4k one owner almost mint. Today the Vitara has done 101685mls, off-road 4hrs a day. Regular m/way runs at 80mph with power to spare. Costs; Annual MOT and full service ?175 Full comp.insurance ?185 (saga) One fullset Bridgestone Duellers ?250 @ 65k miles One Battery ?30 3 rear section exhaust, 2 front sections, 1front pipe 1 set front brake pads 1 rear diff @ 97k miles The best bit; 28.65 mpg( 60k miles average). never failed to start, never let me down and never got stuck off-road. Would I have a Landrover? only as a gift. Vitara downside, lack of rear space/carrying capacity, towing ability(weight) This year she will have to go( mileage, general wear and tear), what will replace her, Grand Vitara TDI or V6 ?  SignatureBrian H................ I agree. I owned a SWB Grand Vitara for 3 years and found it's build quality to be absolutely rock solid. Very cost effective to buy and run and quite handy on and off road. If only we could say all that about all 4x4s ;) Group: uk.rec.cars.4x4 Date: Wed, Mar 2, 2005, 2:04pm (EST+5) From: C.Burns@NOSPAMMOFOncl.ac.uk (Chris Burns) wrote I agree. I owned a SWB Grand Vitara for 3 years and found it's build quality to be absolutely rock solid. Very cost effective to buy and run and quite handy on and off road. If only we could say all that about all 4x4s ;) I agree too.I've had the Geo Tracker version for a little over 3 years now and I have to say it is a well built little 4x4. I have taken it on a lot of trips including 2 trips into Mexico (I live on the east coast of the U.S.) and it has held up quite well esp.in Mexico where I put it to work delivering tortillas for my son in law last summer. Anyone who thinks these vehicles are a joke should think again because these vehicles are pretty tough. Steve > So, "93 Vitara bought cost £3800, 1.6 JLX. What other 4x4 could I have > bought sub £4k one owner almost mint. Ford Explorer. Signature"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Benjamin Franklin, 1759 On Wednesday, in article <1gst3of.77hlr0iclalcN%%steve%@malloc.co.uk> > > So, "93 Vitara bought cost ?3800, 1.6 JLX. What other 4x4 could I have > > bought sub ?4k one owner almost mint. > > Ford Explorer. Land Rover, GBP1750, new chassis, reconditioned engine, one owner from new, 24 years old. OK, so the paint was NATO IRR-green, and the owner was the MoD, but it's been running here for five years without problems. SignatureDavid G. Bell -- SF Fan, Filker, and Punslinger. "I am Number Two," said Penfold. "You are Number Six." > Land Rover, GBP1750, new chassis, reconditioned engine, one owner from > new, 24 years old. > > OK, so the paint was NATO IRR-green, and the owner was the MoD, but it's > been running here for five years without problems. He probably wanted a car with suspension . . .-- Budgie NB Reply to newsgroup. Email address will get you nowhere >> So, "93 Vitara bought cost ?3800, 1.6 JLX. What other 4x4 could I have >> bought sub ?4k one owner almost mint. > > Ford Explorer. How does it compare on running costs? I guess Vitara might be just a little cheaper to run. > >> So, "93 Vitara bought cost ?3800, 1.6 JLX. What other 4x4 could I have > >> bought sub ?4k one owner almost mint. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > How does it compare on running costs? I guess Vitara might be just a little > cheaper to run. Our (currently broken) Explorer is LPG converted. Does about 20-22mpg on petrol, the equivilant in monetry terms of 35mpg on gas. > > So, "93 Vitara bought cost ?3800, 1.6 JLX. What other 4x4 could I have > > bought sub ?4k one owner almost mint. > > Ford Explorer. See my post below, '98 Explorer, FSH and just 70k on the clock,bought for ?5k. 6 weeks down the line and 1000 miles later it nearly lunches the engine. None of the trusted local garages would touch it, so back to Ford dealer for approximately ?1000 worth of engine out and timing chains / tensioners work, becuase the timing chains are at the back of the heads against the bulkhead. Not happy. Tim,, Tim.. (Remove Safetycatch) <the.farm@NOSPAMbtinternet.com> wrote: > See my post below, '98 Explorer, FSH and just 70k on the clock,bought for > £5k. Too much. > 6 weeks down the line and 1000 miles later it nearly lunches the > engine. Bizarre, the 4.0 SOHC is one of the strongest engines Ford makes. Unstressed, and a real sweet engine. The only thing that can really go wrong with them is to be poorly maintained and to have someone neglect oil changes. If the oil ways sludge up they can wreck the engine. > None of the trusted local garages would touch it, They must be rather crap if they can't service a simple engine like the 4.0. I have a choice of three main dealers and two American Ford specialists here. > so back to Ford dealer for approximately £1000 worth of engine out and > timing chains / tensioners work, becuase the timing chains are at the back > of the heads against the bulkhead. Not happy. Bad luck, you could have taken out an insurance based warranty you know. Signature"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Benjamin Franklin, 1759 > Tim.. (Remove Safetycatch) <the.farm@NOSPAMbtinternet.com> wrote: > [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > > Bad luck, you could have taken out an insurance based warranty you know. I would point out its not actually mine, but an employee's and I didnt have any involvement in the buy, but when I first saw it I did think it looked very tidy for the year & money.. SGi gas kit on it too, and 4 new branded boots. That was until I heard the funny whirring at cold start... Admittedly it did go quiet as the motor warmed through but apparently it suddenly started a loud clattering, presumably as the tensioner let go... I too thought the 4l V6 was very strong, afterall lots and lots of these motors doing a big mileage in the US... Why did Ford design it with the Cam drive at the back of the engine then!? Oh well... Tim.. Tim.. (Remove Safetycatch) <the.farm@NOSPAMbtinternet.com> wrote: > I would point out its not actually mine, but an employee's and I didnt have > any involvement in the buy, but when I first saw it I did think it looked > very tidy for the year & money.. SGi gas kit on it too, For me that would ring alarm bells. Every gas conversion I have seen done on the Explorer has been a bag of nails. Also first real sign that the owner was a tight arse, hence more likely to skimp servicing. > and 4 new branded boots. That was until I heard the funny whirring at cold > start... Admittedly it did go quiet as the motor warmed through but > apparently it suddenly started a loud clattering, presumably as the > tensioner let go... If I'd heard noises as you describe I'd have investigated and more likely have not bought it in the first place. It's possible it has been clocked of course. I'd expect a '98 car to have closer to 173k miles on it. > I too thought the 4l V6 was very strong, afterall lots and lots of these > motors doing a big mileage in the US... > > Why did Ford design it with the Cam drive at the back of the engine then!? Because it rarely goes wrong, and it's as good a place as any. Even the £1000 for fixing it isn't bad you know, although IIRC the tensioners and chain only cost about £9. So I suspect he's payign the proice for main-dealer service charges. I would have taken it to a specialist and I suspect paid about half the price quoted. Also, IMO it's still not a bad price if the car really is a genuine vehicle. These are big, solid brutes and will last for 300,000 miles or so. And surely no one buys an Explorer thinking that it will be cheap motoring? Signature"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Benjamin Franklin, 1759 |
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