Offroad-Express

Hi, new member here,

I'm looking to buy a Suzuki. I had an SJ413 as my first car and loved it, now I'm looking to get another Suzuki . Looking around the 3-4k mark and have been searching for early-mid 90 escudos and vitaras. Just hoping someone can give me some advice on any potential issues to look for body and engine. I'm not sure how these engines go after 200,000ks but most are getting up around there now. And are Daihatsu's in the same league? similar pros and cons?

I'm a student so I'm not looking to jack it up or modify it greatly but will definately be finding some mud. In saying that, I want to minimise any potential repairs as I'll be predominantly poor for a while yet.

Also with 3 door and 5 door, if I'm wanting to do more than drive on gravel roads, is there any point looking at the LWB? Keen as to get into it so any help would be awesome!! Also if anyone knows of anything that would suit me let me know.

Bit of an essay but hopefully someone knows where I'm coming from.

Cheers
Paul

mine has done 288,000kms seems to be doing ok. uses a bit of oil between changes, smokes a bit on a cold morning, thats about it. 16 valve.

one thing to look for is to see if the clutch cable is pulling through the fire wall.I bought one and had to put a plate in to hold the cable.

There are also some issues with high-k's G16 motors flogging out the keyway on the crank pulley and also cracking heads. Look for one that has had extractors fitted for a long time, not sure how to check the keyway without disassembling the engine.

Then . . .

Get on your back underneath it! Look all round for rust, look for big dents in the petrol tank, look for scrapes on the chassis rails or cross beams. If it's covered in so much mud and crap that you can't actually tell what's going on then walk away.

Most of the things I've mentioned wouldn't be deal breakers necessarily, just points you can negotiate on.

Another thing to look for is how the car is used, a car with 200k kms that does 10km per day will be far more worn out than one with 200k kms that does 30km every 3rd day and is parked up for the other two. Long distance trips lead to less overall engine wear than short trips. So you might find one with 250k kms that is actually in better mechanical condition than one with 150k kms.

Good luck mate
Hein

Mine has done 300,000km and is all good. The 8 valves are less likely to crack heads and a SWB will be better unless you have a particular need or desire for a LWB.

Also if you get a SWB you can do the cheap lift and that will save your cross members a bit.

Ok cool thanks!

Would much prefer a SWB, just looking at all options at the moment. Any idea on the soft tops? If they have problems with rust around the seals or anything. I don't particularly want one but they come up from time to time.

Most I've seen on Trademe so far are around 170ks. Yet to find one close enough to have a look at yet. Most things I'd be worried about would be heads and gearboxes. Major issues like that. Was originally looking around surfs and terranos but put off by the RUCs and general maintenance on a bigger vehicle.

Would be looking to chuck extractors on asap if it didn't have them lift it up if I can afford it so will keep ideas for advice on here.