Brand new Sami's now available (kind of)

[lneil]

The third variant (Flat-deck) is still the same basic Maruti with the G13BB engine. They still cannot be complied but SNZ is continuing to talk to LTSA in the hope of finding a solution, although I wouldn't hold my breath on that!

Thanks for clarifying what happening with the Wanganui panelshop conversions, it's nice to know there's a good reason for them no longer being available.

The rust issue will be interesting, the very first of the new model Altos had surface rust appearing in strange places (badges, door-lock surrounds etc) although nothing structural and while the later ones seem to have no issues, I have no doubt the indian build and finish quality isn't a patch on the Japanese factory product.

The reason the Jimny conversions were so expensive is that they took a factory 3dr tintop Jimny and had to cut the whole rear of the body off behind the B-pillar, remanufacture and fit the rear bulkhead without a door, then fit a not-inexpensive alloy flat-deck, Cab guard, towbar and beefier springs, then get it inspected and certed. Around $5,500 was the cost price of the work when it was done in Wanganui.

I'm delivering one to a cocky in a couple of weeks and will be interested to have a close look at it.

I think the main reason Trepadors were chosen is simple. Try to find any other reasonable mud tire in the standard factory size (205/70x15)! I have tried to get alternate tires for many Jimny customers on that size and have really struggled if they weren't prepared to go a little bigger. I'm presuming that they haven't gone up to a 215/75x15, which is a little easier to find.