Vitara Purchase

[Werner]

Hey guys, I am on my way to start 4wheeling here in NZ. Just a quick question I am looking at buying a 1.6 Vitara 3door, manual. She has done 220000km mostly tar road. Are these km to high?

[Zooky]

it all depends on the price, what you expect to get out of it, and how handy you are with mechanicals. I have a 91 3 door that has done 265k and still runs very well. I bought it with a blown head gasket for 1300 and while it's not an oil painting, it still goes hard offroad. I don't see it making 500,000km, but that'd take a while anyway.

[Gofer]

My son has 1990a 3 door 1600 8V convertable and goes like a bomb (not bang either) The little bugger runs circles around my manaual V8 Disco hahaha You cant go wrong with the Zuky, even if u did have engine probs down the line they are so cheap to fix and very easy. i did big ends in one day, engine out and back in running.

[Werner]

Hey guys, thanks for that. They want $3600 for it, is this too much?

[kernels]

$3600 seems like a good price. Just need to give it a good once-over. Main thing I would recommend when buying a zook is to get on your back and have a look at the bottom of it. If it's covered in so much mud and clay that you can't see anything then walk away. Looking at the fuel tank is also a good indication of whether it's been seriously off-road. (look for dents)

Other than that they are a fantastic vehicle that will give you lots of fun and adventure at a very low price.

Where are you from ? Whereabouts in NZ are you staying and how long have you been here ? I assume your from the bottom of the dark continent?

[Werner]

Thanks for the advice. Auckland City, and you presume correct I am from South Africa. Been in NZ since 2007.

[kernels]

No worries, I'm from Pretoria originally, been in Auckland since 2000. I'm not sure what your mechanical knowledge is like, but if you find a Vitara you like your welcome to bring it round to my place and I can quickly run through it and show you some of the issues I've had with mine.

Are you intending to modify it straight away ? Any ideas?

[Werner]

Sweet, one of the first to move on

I am a IT system engineer by trade, so I am techinical minded. And there is where it stops, quick learner though

Sounds good, might take you up on the offer, waiting on the dealer, trading in a 2008 Honda CBF250, got my full about 3 months ago.

Not sure, depends on how much cash I have left.

[UBZ]

Has it had the cam belt done at the 200k mark? Easy to do yourself and good way to get alot more off the price.

Would also be interested in it's service history ie regular oil and filter changes

[kernels]

No worries, give me a pm to get some details when the time comes.

[Werner]

Hey guys,

1600 Suzuki purchase fell through, how are the V6 2000 engines?

Regards

Werner

[kernels]

No problems with mine so far as far as the engine is concerned. Just harder to add modifications because there are many more 1.6L ones out there than the 2L.