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- Suzuki Vitara 1.6 JX
- rfjustice's review
Have a picture of Suzuki Vitara 1.6 JX?, please send it to us.
Picture courtesy of Pete.
| Performance | 5.5/10  |
|---|---|
| Practicality | 6.5/10 |
| Reliability | 8/10 |
| Value for Money | 9/10 |
| Reviewer Rating | 9/10 |
| Overall Rating | 9.3/10  |
By rfjustice
on 11th Mar 2007
| Year Manufactured | 1997 |
|---|---|
| Length of ownership | 2 Years |
| Doors | 3 |
| Performance | 5/10 |
| Practicality | 7/10 |
| Reliability | 6/10 |
| Value for money | 8/10 |
| Overall value | 8/10 |
 rfjustice's recommendation | |
Great view of the road ahead and behind. Engine strong as an ox. You're laughing in the snow and ice. Transmission to 4WD and back is smooth. Real sense of personalised driving experience every time.
Constantly cut up by other drivers. Slow to accelerate (0-60 in 12 seconds-ish), rust issues on the wheel arches. Depreciates quickly. Terrible body roll. Selecting 1st gear really difficult but only when cold. Rubbish interior, although of better caliber than newer plastic cars.
I've had two of these cars. My first was the soft top, two-tone type which I quickly swapped after only 3 weeks because it wouldn't start, the plastic hat flapped badly and made a right racket when driving down the motorway. The suspension was bouncy and the feedback was scarily poor.
However - I changed it for a hard top version which was 6 months younger and it was a completely different story. Never had a problem with the car in two years apart from a growing rust problem either side of the car in the same place where the bumper met the body on the wheel arch. Advice from the garage was to let it grow some more and then replace both wings as it would reoccur.
I felt as though the car knew me previously and matched itself with my temperament rather than the other way around. It was hugely responsive, easy to maneouvre despite it's bulky appearance and I just kept wanting to take it out.
The interior is very basic but it gives you a sense that you're driving a real car rather than feeling as though you've been cheated.
Tested the 4WD twice. Once in ice, where all was dandy until I hit black ice, then I may as well have been in any other car - one without ABS of course, as these cars have no mod cons. Other time was reversing on a pebble drive which was very satisfying after having previously dug in whilst in 2WD mode. Slipped out with ease. Haven't tested on the Lickey Hills, but from what I've seen on TV, the Vitara is the sprightly jockey of off-roading.
To sum up, this car is perfect for those who form bonds with their cars. The car I had after this was a Mini One, which I still own, and I've never felt anything for it the way I did with the Vitara, despite the Mini being a far, far better car in all ways.
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