Suzuki Vitara 1.6 JX

This car is very fun and stands out when cleaned up it is cheap to repair and east to work on, with a easy to reach reliable engine, I picked mine up for £650 with 10 months mot, yeah it's not the fastest but it's can get you anywhere, not to bad on fule for a 4x4. There are many different models to choose from I have thee vitara jx 4u.

I have use parts off many models including he grand vitara giving my self extra cup holders nicer gators around the gear selector and even 1.5" lift using GV springs a comfortable ride but can be abit bouncy over speed bumps, very fun on and off the road,

The transfer box allows to to have rear wheel drive, 4wd and 4L so allows you to drift or grip on any surface. Not to bad to insure either. Over all it is a very practical car I have the 3d swb and can still fit long lenghts in it, it's even easy to climb in the back !!!

Prior to my vitara I had use of a company car which is a 2008 Vauxhall Astra. My mum owned a Vitara and I loved being in it as a kid. I picked up my black vitara with white roof for £800 with 82,500 miles on the clock. It has nicely sized wheels which work well on both mud and tarmac. I also have the sport version (Not sure what it changes though). Now in regard to the car overall. I personally like the ride. I am a 6"2 19 year old man and this is a very comfortable car to drive in. I love the ride height and personally love the ruggedness of the car. It doesn't feel delicate or like something you have to keep spick and span. It goes from a-b and will get you there safely and comfortably. The reason I bought this car let alone any other car is because I am a motorcyclist and after 2 long British winters decided that was enough and wanted to get a car. I considered a corsa/clio type deal but don't particularly like the idea of having a similar car to my friends not to mention they are tiny. I then considered a van as I am into kayaking and a bit of surfing but fuel and size were a turn off. Then I saw the 4x4's in my price range. There is the jimny but for me the engine is a tad small not to mention the vehicle itself. Then I remembered the Vitara and it's reliable 1.6 engine that my mum used to have and after a good look online I found the perfect one.

A couple of down points to the car. The fuel economy is not the best however I do not mind this as I only drive 16 miles per day and the car can do two weeks of this on a £50 tank. The soft top is all manual so is a bit more of a job but I don't mind. You can get hard top kits for them which cost around £700 and I will be considering one only to use during the winter.

So that about sums it up. It is a great car for winter, off roading and cruising during the summer time. The next job is to make it look like ken blocks car as one man has already. Just type ken block vitara and see if it is to your taste!

for a first car; I love it!! may not be the quickest thing round but you take it off road and you'll have the time of your life! it flies across the sand and tackles up-hills with ease! the only thing i dont like about is is the suspension and the amount of rock it had even when goin over speed bumps!

if you want a car that you can have heaps of fun in and still is very nice to your back pocket then i recomend this car

rust bucket, never own one again!! off road it was horrible, on road it was heavy and slower than my moped. suzuki??.............. SUCK UZI!!

I love my vitara during off roads, never get stock in place where i loved to go. climbing up hill, driving on mud is fun and its gives me a feeling

of freedom.

Great all rounder vehicle. If you want people to notice you on the road you need the top of the range JLX SE with wider wheel arches and 'fat boy' wheels.

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.