2003 Suzuki Jimny JLX 'special edition' Mode from UK and Ireland - Comments

Nothing has gone wrong with the car to date.

If you have never driven a 4x4 vehicle before then take care.

I went from a Clio 172 (pretty fast, good grip and handling) to a Suzuki Jimny (pretty slow, terrible grip when cornering in the wet and bouncy handling). I had to adapt my driving style pretty drastically, especially after putting it into a hedge on a tight bend in the rain.

The car is pretty easy to drive, but care must be taken in adverse conditions i.e. heavy rain and strong winds due to it being a high sided vehicle with a high centre of gravity.

The trim level I got was quite nice, being leather upholstery and steering wheel. I was impressed with the quality of the interior when compared to the price I paid (big discount!). I felt I got a lot for my money.

Off road the vehicle opens up and demonstrates admirably what it was built for, although there are a few rattles, this is to be expected when it is being thrown around on rough ground.

The engine performs well, considering its size and available BHP. It doesn't feel slow, and has a bit of punch in it which surprised me. The 0 to 60 time is supposed to be 16.8 seconds, but mine shaves about 3.5 seconds off that. It has to be revved quite hard though to get to speed quickly. Top speed is supposed to be 87, but 95 is achievable.

I liked the dealer, the warranty and the breakdown cover.

I don't like having to slow excessively in corners, but safety first!

You folks in Europe and Australia are extremely lucky. Here (USA) because of Ambulance chasing lawyers and a certain consumer magazines unfair tests of the Samurai/Jimney, they are not available. I have a 2002 XL7 and a 98 Sidekick. Both are excellent vehicles, but they do not have the off road capability of the solid front axle Jimney. I would trade in an instant if they were available. The 2 door sidekick/Vitara is no longer available here either. We have two choices we can buy a Heep/J$$P or an old Sammy and put a lift kit and 1.6 out of a Sidekick in it. The prices for Sammy's are going up because a lot of people are doing just that, and turning them into rock crawlers.

I would highly agree. I would love something like an updated, newer model of the Suzuki Samurai (Jimny outside the U.S.) with coil suspension, ABS and dual airbags, not to mention newer thus more reliable. Suzuki, please hear our cries!!!

Nick D.

Flagstaff, AZ U.S.A.

This is not important though.

The car has been called "Jimny" in the country where it is from, Japan. There is a category called "KEI" which allowed to have the engine capacity of 660cc (only) but it can have turbo (generating almost same top end power). The category used to allow 360cc then go up to 550cc.

The car has been designed for the category.

1300cc model is also there in Japan, called "Jimny Sierra".

It share the some body.

In Australia, this is where I live, there is no 660cc model.

1300cc model has been called "Sierra" but new model is called "Jimny".

Also Vitara is called "ESCUDO" in Japan.

So it's a bit complicated for me.

See!! This is not important.

I read your report and did laugh as I have had the same experience! I was given one as a courtesy car and nearly ended up in a house on the first bend!! Loved it though so traded my Ignis 4Grip for one, getting it 1st March. It will help me slow down, as it scares me silly!

I had a gran vitara in canada when I lived there and it was also a bit scary at first, but you get used to it very quickly. I'm looking into a jimny now cos as far as I was concerned suzuki's are excellent. never had a thing wrong.

I have a 2003 Suzuki Jimny 1300cc. I think it's a great car. I have lots of fun every time I drive it. The only bad time I have is when I go for a fill up. I get 7.5kms per litter of gas. But I love that Jimny!

Pancho from the Philippines

pancho_taytay@yahoo.com.

Had one of these for a year done quite a few miles in it no known faults as yet taken down to France (Alps) about two thousand miles great!

Good dealer network have always had prompt service when needed only personalized the Jim as yet plus one service love this car.

chris Margate Kent England

Chris, do you still have your Jimny and how's it performing? Is the handling as bad as they say and how does the car perform on the motorway? I drive mostly in towm with the occasional motorway journey so what's your view on this from an owners perspective? The Jimny appeals to me due to it's size, reliability and seem cheap to buy, even new - all opinions and views much appreciated - Dean.

Suzuki USA, if you're reading this, please think again about your decision not to sell the Jimny in the USA. Your future does not lay with Daowo or whatever that Korean company is called, it continues where you left off with the Samarai, Sidekick and Tracker/Vitara.

Because of possible litigation, Suzuki USA will not do this.

This is due to America being the capital of the world compensation culture, and a car that is very likely to roll over poses too much of a risk of compensation compared to a possible profit.

I do agree with you that a pure Suzuki product sourced from the Japanese factory is a way superior product than the other products Suzuki currently offer..

Hi, my name is JOSE from Puerto Rico and I would like to have a SUZUKI JIMNY in Puerto Rico in the Caribbean as I have a 1986 SUZUKI SAMURAI, but authorized dealers down here in PR, don't want to bring the JIMNY down here, any advise would be very heplful on how to bring the JIMNY.

Hi guys, I'm back from Sri Lanka.. I too have a JIMNY and I find it as great driving experience... Its not bad on mud roads either.. also good 4x4 experience.. truly its not a great 4WD machine... But it will do the needful as your first 4x4 vehicle..

I own a Jimny since 2003. You have to get used to it. On St. Lucia (Caribbean) we

have potholes, mud etc. It's doing a great job. I beat on rough roads any standard Jeep Wrangler. I have Cooper semi-off road tires and an original bull bar. You can buy a lot of them 2nd hand from the Caribbean islands. But most of them have the steering on the right. Our dealer in St. Lucia "Sunset Motors"

can order one with left hand steering from Japan with his next shipment, but delivery time will be 4-6 months.

I have owned a Jimny, since last year and we use in for weekend and holidays. I normally drive a Ford and drive around 1,000 miles a week.

I have never been so happy with a car and I have had a good few. The Jimny is returning 38-42 mile per gallon, I am happy on the motorways at 50-60 MPH as it make a refreshing change from my mad Mon-Fri drive.

We spent the spring in the Highlands and off road found the car was well able to cope with every type of wet and ruff surface and having spent 20 years in the forces would rate it against any Landrover.

Great Little Car.

Hi-glad you like your car; the Jimny is well built and has character, and is exceptionally capable off road.

Please read the other recent Jimny comments about rolling, and please do be aware that it only takes one of the rear wheels to lose grip on grease/oil/diesel/ice/scum at low speed while turning a corner and the results could be very unpleasant.

As a compact off-roader it is hard to beat, but please be careful on road as the tarmac mode necessitates using two wheel drive which uses the rear wheels, which use off road tyres; there is also no weight over the rear axle and the combination of a high centre of gravity and no ESP is not ideal.