Looking to buy a Suzuki Escudo

Nato · Post by **Nato** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 3:24 pm

Hi guys, just looking at buying a SWB 1993 Escudo and wanting a few thoughts on the matter. It will be used for quite a bit of offroading nothing too serious just looking at doing a snorkel, 2 inch shock lift and some 30 or 31' mud tires. Need to know a few things:

-Do these have decent articulation?

-Do they have enough grunt to push 30' or 31'? (1600cc carb)

-Reliable?

-Go better than a surf with 2' lift and 31' mud tires in general 4wding?

-Cheap to modify?

-How much should I expect to pay? (Currently looking at one for 3000 with 150kms and stock no 4wding been done in it)

-Any alternatives that I should investigate? (Dont want to spend more than 3000 to buy the truck and no more than 2000 modifying it.)

Look forward to hearing your opinions!

Ash

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 3:56 pm

you wanna ask mroffroader and bubba they swear by there vitaras

turoa · Post by **turoa** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 4:05 pm

Ryan wrote:you wanna ask mroffroader and bubba they swear by there vitaras

Dont ask me though, I swear at them :wink:

icekayak · Post by **icekayak** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 4:53 pm

Yeh their not too bad.
-ave to be careful of CV's once u start lifting them.
-IFS has its downsides such as the snowplough effect through mud (great for people behind you)
-Sills are easily damaged
-Not great ground clearance (probably more than surf on 31's though)
-Go much better with a rear locker...
-You will be pushing it to fit 31's without cutting the firewall and def cutting guards even with the 2' lift.

Few things to watch for there is 3 different engines in them 8v carb, 16v inj, and 8v inj. The 16v inj has the most power. Some have ac/pw/power steering some don't.

Personally (and yes i've have got a vitara) i would say if your doing more offroading than on; a SJ413 would be better. They are easier to mod, and cheaper (maybe) initially, and with a limited budget would have to say they go better offroad. BUT the vitara's are much better on road, and much more confortable all round.

mroffroader · Post by **mroffroader** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 6:36 pm

Nato wrote:Hi guys, just looking at buying a SWB 1993 Escudo and wanting a few thoughts on the matter. It will be used for quite a bit of offroading nothing too serious just looking at doing a snorkel, 2 inch shock lift and some 30 or 31' mud tires. Need to know a few things:

-Do these have decent articulation?

yes with longer shocks and bigger coils

-Do they have enough grunt to push 30' or 31'? (1600cc carb)

30"s are good 31:s are pushing the gearing abit

-Reliable?

extemely make sure you maintin it!

-Go better than a surf with 2' lift and 31' mud tires in general 4wding?

of course

-Cheap to modify?

cost me $160 to lift 1 1/2" and $500 for tyres (yes parts are cheap too check trademe)

-How much should I expect to pay? (Currently looking at one for 3000 with 150kms and stock no 4wding been done in it)

perfect price yep go for it...check cambelt has been done....should be done at 100,000k's i think?

-Any alternatives that I should investigate? (Dont want to spend more than 3000 to buy the truck and no more than 2000 modifying it.)

thats a big budget for mods wack in a rear lokka...not a front you will blow cv's.....if you lift and 30"s you wont have any problem with cv's build or get one built a front skid plate to protect your diff housing and front crossmember

Look forward to hearing your opinions!

Ash

i have pm'd you back just should have done this lol.....dont get a 413 there crap too old and uncomfortable in my opinion GO THE VITARA!

Jerry · Post by **Jerry** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 10:55 pm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 508073.htm

413's are good if they are setup ok, like the Vitara's as well (like any truck), they are getting a bit old now though and harder to find, the Gen 1 Vitara is very common which means cheap and easy to find off the shelf bits....

Bubba · Post by **Bubba** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 4:04 pm

icekayak wrote:Yeh their not too bad.
-ave to be careful of CV's once u start lifting them.
-IFS has its downsides such as the snowplough effect through mud (great for people behind you)
-Sills are easily damaged
-Not great ground clearance (probably more than surf on 31's though)
-Go much better with a rear locker...
-You will be pushing it to fit 31's without cutting the firewall and def cutting guards even with the 2' lift.

Few things to watch for there is 3 different engines in them 8v carb, 16v inj, and 8v inj. The 16v inj has the most power. Some have ac/pw/power steering some don't.

Personally (and yes i've have got a vitara) i would say if your doing more offroading than on; a SJ413 would be better. They are easier to mod, and cheaper (maybe) initially, and with a limited budget would have to say they go better offroad. BUT the vitara's are much better on road, and much more confortable all round.

Preedy much agree with above, go for the 16v for sure. Rear locker mmmm

Sill protection, 30's, shock lift, maybe a body lift. Then you can show these land tanks it's not all about big motors and bigger tyres :wink:

(wait's for kneejeck backlash)

mroffroader · Post by **mroffroader** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 7:04 pm

i agree to but with 30"s youd have to be hammering it so hard to break a front cv...with 32's it can be done with ease :lol:

and also you can fit 30's with a 1 1/2" lift to 2" lift

icekayak · Post by **icekayak** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 7:16 pm

Other thing to remember is it makes the gearing worse off road when you go up in tyre size, and i've found the gearing is already a bit high (fast) for steep downhills....

The OME lift is 30mm and Kumho 30x9.5's fit with no rubbing.... 235/75's Hankooks just fit stock with some rubbing on top or the archs. Does depend on what rims you use though.

Catch with a bodylift is it needs certing whereas you sorta don't need to with a 30mm spring lift.

Another thing to think about is all 30's are not the same size (as silly as it sounds). ie a 32" Simex ET actually measures 33.7" from memory. Most 30's are around 29.5.. and 31's are around 30.5.

Also essential to fit rated tow hooks front and rear.

Nato · Post by **Nato** » Wed Oct 04, 2006 3:18 pm

Thanks for the advice guys, one final question:

Pros and cons of SWB compared to LWB?

mroffroader · Post by **mroffroader** » Wed Oct 04, 2006 5:54 pm

LWB you get bellied out on things...swb you dont...depends on wat you want though eg. do you have kids that want to come to or just you how much gear you got etc etc etc

icekayak · Post by **icekayak** » Wed Oct 04, 2006 6:47 pm

Nato wrote:Thanks for the advice guys, one final question:

Pros and cons of SWB compared to LWB?

Do you want a manual or auto?
Manual 5dr Vitara's are actually a little rare (comparatively).
For example at a glance I could only find one on trademe <$3000

How many people you gonna cart round with you?
Other than that its just the normal SWB LWB debate.. turning radius, bottoming out, space etc...

redzuki · Post by **redzuki** » Wed Oct 04, 2006 8:41 pm

So Mroffroader 413s are crap u think , but who was the one stealing the keys off me and wanting to drive my 413 round the other week :oops:

Mortisha · Post by **Mortisha** » Wed Oct 04, 2006 10:33 pm

I liked my 91/92 Samurai 413 - went well enough for me off road and that was completely unmodified. Managed to keep up with the big boys on several occasions.
Have to admit they are not the best on tarmac for comfort or power but off road there ain't many places they can't go. Wouldn't want to take one across a deep fast flowing river tho' for fear of being swept away as they are relatively light.
And mine was very very economical on petrol.

mroffroader · Post by **mroffroader** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 6:13 am

redzuki wrote:So Mroffroader 413s are crap u think , but who was the one stealing the keys off me and wanting to drive my 413 round the other week

its fun to drive....uncomfortable but fun :lol:

.......wouldnt want to own one tho :roll:

Bubba · Post by **Bubba** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 8:09 am

mroffroader wrote:
redzuki wrote:So Mroffroader 413s are crap u think , but who was the one stealing the keys off me and wanting to drive my 413 round the other week

its fun to drive....uncomfortable but fun .......wouldnt want to own one tho

Yeah 413's are like Tranny Drag Queens, fun, interesting but you don't want to take one home! :flower:
hahahahahaha!

Nato · Post by **Nato** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 8:58 am

Ok well it looks like im on the lookout for a SWB injected escudo then! (+ 30' muddies and a 2' lift) Cheers for the advice guys been a big help.

Bubba · Post by **Bubba** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 11:18 am

Nato wrote:Ok well it looks like im on the lookout for a SWB injected escudo then! (+ 30' muddies and a 2' lift) Cheers for the advice guys been a big help.

Yeah it's your best bet, proven, cheap as chips and friggin fun as well, like an old toothless pro :pukel:

mroffroader · Post by **mroffroader** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 5:22 pm

Jerry · Post by **Jerry** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 5:31 pm

Thats not very nice about the 410/413/Samurai/Jimny.....

Well setup they go anywhere and even have to recover big nissans

mroffroader · Post by **mroffroader** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 6:01 pm

lol but thats not a very stuck nissan...im sure youv'e seen the video you took of my trying to pull out "markR"s toyota....similar size to pootrol that was pretty stuck :lol:

yea i spose i was a little harsh to and non vitara owners....sorry if i offended :oops:

Jerry · Post by **Jerry** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 6:03 pm

Thats not the first Nissan etc that little green Zuk has extracted.....

mroffroader · Post by **mroffroader** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 6:05 pm

yea i bet...i also bet its packing more goodies than my vitara to like diff locks etc :cry:

my time will come :roll:

one day

Bubba · Post by **Bubba** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 9:20 am

You missed my point 413's are like Transvestites, Vitara's are like old hookers.

While I'm there.... Nissans are like fat chicks, everybodies had one at one time but few will admit it.

Toyota's are like the local ####, easy and everybody has been for a ride.

LR's are like the that disabled chick who can't move.................... :oops:

Jerry · Post by **Jerry** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 2:56 pm

413's will drive round you whilst you are stuck in the mud.....Nissan's will drive over you....Landrover owners will throw the parts that fall off at you...

mroffroader · Post by **mroffroader** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 4:54 pm

lol....that was quite random :roll:

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 5:14 pm

watch what you say about nissans bubba!!! :evil:

Jerry · Post by **Jerry** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 5:24 pm

I'm sure he insulted Pajeros as well :lol:

mroffroader · Post by **mroffroader** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 5:41 pm

us suzuki owners insult everybody.....except for people that drive suzuki's :lol:

Jerry · Post by **Jerry** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 6:04 pm

So that explains the Nissan/Toyota/Pajero/Landrover/Daihatsu tyre tracks on the top of your Zuk in the morning !!!!!

Looking to buy a Suzuki Escudo

Looking to buy a Suzuki Escudo

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