Suzuki Club UK

I have a problem. As most folks that went to Wagtail probably noticed, my SJ is in a deteriorating state.

I don't have the skills nor can I afford the gear to sort out her bodywork myself and I can't afford to pay a bodyshop to sort it out either.

Now doubt spreads like cancer and I've ended up looking at alternatives and their insurance. Turns out that a decent 1st Generation Grand Vitara 5 door 2.5 V6 can be picked up for about as much as I paid for my SJ, if not less, and with that you get a decent sized boot, back seats that can be easily accessed, three times the power and roughly the same mpg. Looking at insurance quotes a GV2500 would only be £65 more for the year on my insurance. I looked at a few other trucks, like a 300TDi Disco, 2.0TD Grand Vit, 2.0 V6 Vitara (pre-'Grand') but they all came back as a couple of hundred pounds more expensive.

I really, REALLY don't want to get rid of my SJ410. I love her to bits but I'm a skint oaf full of hot air and daft ideas and I can't give her what she needs. I would like nothing more than to be still driving the old girl with the same grin on my face when I'm a wrinkled old prune but I'd rather part with her and let someone who can restore her, one way or another, than have her rot through my fingers in a couple of years time.


So.....what do I do? Does anyone have any better idea how much bodywork repairs cost, other than 'a lot' because that's all I know.

I'd love to give you some inspiring advice Ed. Shame Im all out.

Given the condition of your SJ, where and how bad the rot is, bodge it, VL it, off road it.

Is it really that bad? I always thought your was a really good example edd? Is it the cills and wheel arches or more serious?

Tramp wrote:Is it really that bad? I always thought your was a really good example edd? Is it the cills and wheel arches or more serious?

Not sure about sills bit certainly arches, wings and back door pillar has got it bad.

It's a tough one. As id drive either.

Buying another car is always a gamble.

But I would say if you can't afford to patch the sj up.

Could you afford to fix the gv when something goes bang?

How much in extra tax for the vit? And consumables like brakes and clutch?
Timing belts / chain costs? Tyres?

My little tin tops getting worse and id contemplated a modern equivalent.
But then id be back in the situation I was in before I got the sami.
Had a skoda vrs for two years still depreciating like most modern cars
It was going to want a clutch at some point at the 400-500 quid region.

I struggled to get 1800 for it when i sold it and it was a pretty tidy car.
If I had it now tho it would only be worth 900 quid.

So my sami takes more work but I am happy knowing that really the price of these little jeeps will
Only creep up.

Grab some jenolite or rust remedy and start treating the light
Rust. Now before winter kicks in. Even if you do decide to sell
It at least you're slowing the rot down.

And juat slamp a bit of zinc primer and some paint over the top.

There is also the probability that anyone who buys it is not going to restore it. But strip it and off road it.

I've only seen a few snaps of your SJ on here and it always looks pretty tidy...as we all know, pictures can hide lots!!

I've had a few Vitaras over the years and I keep coming back to SJs. The Vit just doesn't have the same fun factor and my view is the Grand Vits are just too grown up. Just my opinion - I'm sure many wouldn't agree. We had a look at buying a Grand Vit a number of years back but ended up with another 3 series Touring (My wife's choice)

Keep an eye out for another SJ that is fairly unmolested and with as little rot as possible. I found my current one on ebay and paid £850 for it. Sold the hard top that was on it for £100 and fitted a rag top I had in my workshop. Its not perfect but its the tidiest truck I have had for years.

Too many choices dude....

You've seen the quality of my workmanship Ed. Proof any baboon or oaf can bodge an SJ together.

Ed just start treating the small bits yourself before they get worse, I'm sure you can sand, filler and add a bit of paint yourself.

It's nowhere near too far gone to restore, I had a good look over it at wagtail. Next year I'll have loads of space in my workshop so you'd be welcome to bring it down here for a week and I'd help you sort it.

ScottieJ wrote:Ed just start treating the small bits yourself before they get worse, I'm sure you can sand, filler and add a bit of paint yourself.

It's nowhere near too far gone to restore, I had a good look over it at wagtail. Next year I'll have loads of space in my workshop so you'd be welcome to bring it down here for a week and I'd help you sort it.

That would be awesome. Thanks Scottie.