In 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 ?

--
Brian 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

Brian H <[email protected]> wrote:

> So, "93 Vitara bought cost £3800, 1.6 JLX. What other 4x4 could I have
> bought sub £4k one owner almost mint.

Ford Explorer.

--
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little
temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."

-- Benjamin Franklin, 1759

Group: uk.rec.cars.4x4 Date: Wed, Mar 2, 2005, 2:04pm (EST+5) From:
[email protected] (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

"Steve Firth" <%steve%@malloc.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1gst3of.77hlr0iclalcN%%steve%@malloc.co.uk...
> Brian H <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> 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.

On Wednesday, in article
<1gst3of.77hlr0iclalcN%%steve%@malloc.co.uk>
%steve%@malloc.co.uk "Steve Firth" wrote:

> Brian H <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > 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.



--
David G. Bell -- SF Fan, Filker, and Punslinger.

"I am Number Two," said Penfold. "You are Number Six."

""David G. Bell"" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> 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

"Steve Firth" <%steve%@malloc.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1gst3of.77hlr0iclalcN%%steve%@malloc.co.uk...
> Brian H <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > 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,,

"Roddytoo" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Steve Firth" <%steve%@malloc.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:1gst3of.77hlr0iclalcN%%steve%@malloc.co.uk...
> > Brian H <[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> >> 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.

Our (currently broken) Explorer is LPG converted. Does about 20-22mpg on
petrol, the equivilant in monetry terms of 35mpg on gas.

Tim.. (Remove Safetycatch) <[email protected]> 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.

--
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little
temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."

-- Benjamin Franklin, 1759

"Steve Firth" <%steve%@malloc.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1gsxfur.pafgdd1qpahr4N%%steve%@malloc.co.uk...
> Tim.. (Remove Safetycatch) <[email protected]> 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.


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) <[email protected]> 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?

--
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little
temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."

-- Benjamin Franklin, 1759