1991 Suzuki Vitara JLX 1.6 petrol
Summary:
You love it or hate it
Faults:
Nothing at all.
General Comments:
After many years of driving medium to large saloon cars I yearned for a change. I did not fancy driving around in one of the many computer generated clones which currently populate our highways, so decided to fulfill a long held ambition and go for a 4x4.
I was attracted to the shape and style of the Vitara and was impressed by the fact that even models in excess of ten years old were in immaculate condition.
Two weeks ago I took the plunge and purchased a J reg model.
Firstly there is not a sign of rust on the bodywork and the interior is clean and free from damage.
As for performance - well, it starts first time every time, it's noisy, it finds every bump and hole in the road and I love it!!!.
It may not have saloon car comfort, but then it's not a saloon car. I am not by nature a conventional person and the Vitara is not a conventional car, as far as I am concerned we are a match made in heaven.
This partnership may be only two weeks old, but I am in love with this boxy, noisy little vehicle.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 2nd March, 2002
12th Jul 2004, 06:13
I couldn't agree more about 'making the change'. I have driven many top class cars and was bored silly of everything always being just so - ride, quiet, like gliding through milk on a sofa - been there done that. Then I discovered the Suzuki Vitara softtop. Unlike the Jeep Wrangler, it goes around corners on four wheels amd as an added bonus - it stops in a straight line.
It is impossible to describe to someone not initiated, but this car is serious fun. Small, parked on a sixpence, and runs for miles on the smell of an oily rag, and costs three tenths of fa to insure.
There is something somewhere between terminally cute and attractive about the Vit and as far as I am concerned it's about putting the pleasure back in getting from A to B. Used to be minis, before BMW got hold of them, but the soft top Vit is the one now.
28th Aug 2008, 12:26
I have not long brought a soft top 1992 model and I love it!! I have driven sports cars all my life but never really liked 4x4s but this is exceptional!! They are great fun.
16th Dec 2010, 10:56
Hi. Can anybody let me know where I could find front differential box of Suzuki Vitara model 1991 JLX.
Thanks.
12th Mar 2004, 14:13
Feels good, doesn't it? On a J plate, you may want to consider splashing a little waxoyl around, as Vitara's tend to rust from the inside out. Take off your door panels & give the inside of the door panels a good squirt, also around the front suspension leg mountings in the engine compartment. If you really want to go for it, it's worth taking off the wheel arch extensions and brushing a little around the wheel arch rim. Another place to look out for inside out rust on LWB models is the top lip above the tailgate door. Change oil every 6000miles on the button as Vit's tend to suffer from camshaft/valve wear more than most, also check last time diff/transfer box/gearbox was changed. Tends to get overlooked & again a vulnerable area, first detected by noisy gearbox/diff whine in 2WD. ECU boxes can give out sometimes, but if caught early can be fixed cheaply rather than paying out SIX HUNDRED QUID for a new one. Look out for signs of one of the fuel injectors squirting erratically or stopping for short periods of time (erratic/stumbling idle or stumble during acceleration). Just things to look out for, not necessarily faults as such. But with the Main dealer bills being so high, prob. worth mentioning. Love my LWB ex-c to bits, still immaculate after 119,000 miles, but definitely a case of a little attention now saves large bills later.