An entry-level adventure tourer, a versatile petrol 4x4 with AT, a nimble turbo-petrol C-SUV and a raw and unadulterated project car.

BHPian Akash_1806 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I am starting this thread to share a 22-year-old's dream garage - a dream that took many years to materialize. It's a combination of vehicles, each excelling in its own segment. I won't delve into technical details and reviews, as there are already informative posts on our forum. Instead, I'll provide my observations, both pros and cons, based on my personal experience.

Starting with my background:

I'm 22 years old and work for a startup in North India. I've been a car enthusiast for as long as I can remember, and my passion began with my Hot Wheels collection, which now boasts more than 200 die-cast vehicles. I've been driving since I turned 18 and have covered over 1,50,000 kilometres in the past 4 years.

A brief overview of vehicles we've owned in the past:

• 1996 Bajaj Chetak: Purchased pre-owned in 1997 and sold in 2010, this scooter was driven 90,000 kilometres over 13 years by my grandfather.
• 1998 Hero-Honda Splendor: Bought new in 1998 and sold in 2019, this motorcycle covered a total of 2,32,000 kilometres in 21 years, ridden mostly by my father.
• 2000 Maruti 800 4 Speed: Acquired pre-owned in 2001 and sold in 2015, this car travelled 73,000 kilometres in 14 years, driven by both my father and grandfather.
• 2006 Hyundai Santro (Converted to CNG in 2013): This car served as a learning vehicle for me and my mother. We drove it for around 45,000 kilometres. It was purchased new in 2006 and sold in 2021, accumulating a total of 137,000 kilometres in 15 years within the family.
• 2014 Nissan Terrano: Purchased new in 2014 and sold in 2023, this SUV was driven for a total of 1,48,000 kilometres by my dad and me in 9 years, with 58,000 kilometres driven by me in 2 years.

Now, onto the title of the thread - A Dream Garage:

I've been planning to write a combined ownership report of all my vehicles, but I must confess, I'm a bit too lazy for that. However, I believe that each vehicle in my garage is unique in its own way and cannot be compared to each other or to any other vehicle. For my family and me, every machine is special, and it wouldn't be fair to compare them.

2023 BMW GS 310

The first time I saw the baby GS at Lutyens Motorrad, Okhla.

We purchased the baby GS brand new in April 2023 and have ridden it approximately 2,000 kilometres to date. This machine introduced us to modern-day motorcycles. The initial observations can be found here.

Pros:

• A well-engineered product resulting from the BMW-TVS partnership, evident in various aspects.
• It boasts sorted driving dynamics, providing a stable and reliable ride and handling experience.
• The build quality is top-notch, with no rattles or vibrations from the body or drivetrain.
• The 310cc reverse-inclined engine, generating 34bhp and 28nm, is smooth and offers decent fuel economy (averaging 35 kmpl in typical riding conditions). It doesn't heat up like other motorcycles in its segment.
• The upright seating and riding position, which were essential for me and my father, are comfortable.
• BMW's after-sales service and customer support have been excellent, with no major issues encountered.

Cons:

• The cost of spare parts and service is on the higher side. For instance, a brake lever replacement costs around Rs 6000, and the 1000 km service costs approximately Rs 5500. This cost reflects the premium associated with the BMW brand and customer service.
• While the engine is smooth and refined, the same cannot be said for the 6-speed gearbox. It feels clunky, and shifting between 1-N-2 and vice versa can be challenging.
• Although there are no vibrations or rattles, the bike becomes quite vibey around the seat and fuel tank at around 6000rpm.

2023 Maruti Suzuki Jimny Zeta AT

We took delivery of this vehicle on August 30, 2023, from Fairdeals Nexa, Sector-10, Noida. We've driven it around 600 kilometres so far. We were looking to replace our 2014 Nissan Terrano, and my dad was particularly impressed with the Jimny, especially its smooth and refined automatic transmission. The initial observations can be found here.

Pros:

• We adore Jimny's looks and its no-nonsense boxy design.
• The K15B+4AT combination feels decent, and it doesn't feel underpowered in our use case. The car always seems to be in the right gear (possibly due to having fewer gears).
• It's a proper petrol 4x4 AT with a low ratio and most of the bells and whistles, all under 17 lakhs. Features include 6 airbags, ABS, Hill Descent Control, Speed Chimes, Seatbelt reminders, and more.
• The NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness) levels are excellent, especially when compared to my previous daily driver, a 1.5 K9K Diesel Nissan Terrano.
• With its compact body structure, lightweight, and 103hp on tap, this vehicle is fun to drive and handles small bumps and potholes exceptionally well.

Cons:

• Although the ride quality is better than the Thar, it doesn't quite match up to our Ecosport or the previously owned Terrano.
• The engine behaves like a turbo-petrol when it comes to fuel efficiency. Even the slightest touch on the accelerator pedal results in extremely low fuel efficiency. Coasting seems to be the only option for longer stretches.
• The stock tires are fine for on-road usage and extremely mild off-road trails. However, extreme rough road or off-road usage may necessitate a switch to all-terrain or mud-terrain tires.

2014 Ford Ecosport 1.0 Ecoboost Titanium

This vehicle was purchased pre-owned in 2021 with approximately 60,000 kilometres on the clock. It has covered around 20,000 kilometres to date, driven by my mom and dad.

Pros:

• The 1.0 3-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, producing 125hp (stock) and paired with a 5-speed MT, is extremely fun to drive.
• It handles like it's on rails, with no surprises in terms of ride quality and handling. I particularly enjoy the hatchback-like handling in corners.
• The spare parts and service costs are reasonable. We haven't encountered any issues with Ford's service so far, and we hope it remains the same.
• Loaded with features compared to the Terrano of the same manufacturing year.
• The build quality seems decent, and the NVH levels are on the better side.

Cons:

• The 1.0 turbo-petrol has mediocre fuel efficiency. City driving yields around 10 km/l, and sensible highway driving provide around 14 km/l.
• With Ford India's exit, we are uncertain about the quality of spare parts and service.
• The ride quality is acceptable but on the stiffer side. All the bumps and undulations are felt inside the cabin.
• The 1.0 3-cylinder engine doesn't sound good at higher RPMs. It's average at best, and the signature 3-cylinder vibrations become noticeable at higher RPMs.

The Project Car and Off-road Build, the 2005 Ex-Army Maruti Gypsy King 1.3 MPFI (prepped to taste)

I affectionately call it the 'King.' We acquired it in 2020 (it was registered in 2016 with a few modifications already done) and have driven it around 19,000 kilometres since then, mostly by me. It has undergone various modifications but remains as robust as any off-roader can be. It was built by Auto Attitudes in Noida, courtesy of a fellow BHPian, Amanpreet.

The list of mods includes:

1. FFE Side exit with Performance Headers.
2. K&N Air Filter, Conical type.
3. Gabriel Shock Absorbers.
4. One less leaf spring on each wheel.
5. AC.
6. Radiator from 1.6 Baleno.
7. Upgraded cooling system with an electric fan.
8. 65 Amp Battery.
9. NGK Iridium Spark Plugs.
10. 6-inch Extended Rally Cabin.
11. JBR Reclining Racing Seats.
12. Blaupunkt Music System with two 6-inch JBL speakers.
13. Checkered floor and bed plates.
14. Tachometer.
15. Yokohama Geolander All-Terrain Tires, 205/70/15, on stock steel rims.

Pros:

• An extremely capable and mod-friendly G13BB engine, a proper 4x4 with low ratio, and no electrical aids for pure driving bliss.
• Spare parts and service costs are minimal compared to other vehicles, and spare parts availability is not a concern.
• A no-nonsense off-road machine built for one purpose: conquering obstacles one after the other.
• Did I mention that the Gypsy is extremely mod-friendly? Modified NA builds have reached up to 190hp, and TC builds have achieved a whopping 450hp at the crank.
• The narrow body structure is a blessing in traffic.
• The mods done to the engine provide excellent low-end torque and a livable mid-range, which is not the strong suit of NA petrol engines.

Cons:

• Power steering? Power Windows? Stock AC? Creature comforts? These terms are foreign to the Gypsy.
• Gypsies tend to overheat in extreme off-road and traffic conditions if the radiator hasn't been upgraded.
• The less said about the ride quality, the better. A Gypsy is only stable when it's at a standstill, thanks to its leaf spring suspension.
• Fuel Efficiency? What is that? It gives me around 6 to 8 km/l on average.
• It can only be driven on private roads or tracks due to the NGT ban on 15-year-old petrol vehicles.

After going through the above-mentioned points and details about the vehicles, a question might arise for the readers: How is this a dream garage?

To answer that question, I'd like to emphasize that I have realistic dreams and ambitions in life. I believe that things in life take time and happen only at the right moment. While I do think that this garage could use a proper 7-seater SUV (perhaps a Fortuner?) and a fast sedan or sports car (maybe a pre-owned 530D or a Porsche Cayman?), I feel that this is a perfect dream garage for someone like me. It surpasses what I had imagined five years ago, wondering if I'd be able to own my chosen cars in my early twenties. And here I am, with these beauties from the diverse and amazing world of wheels.

An entry-level adventure tourer, a versatile petrol 4x4 with AT and plenty of features, a nimble and comfortable turbo-petrol C-SUV, and a raw and unadulterated project car that would terrify any sane person (read non-enthusiasts). It's a perfect experience!

Ending the post with 2 beautiful pictures.

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I’m a little disappointed with the fuel economy and don’t think 15+ is remotely possible in a highway run unless you have an MT and preferably stock tyres.

BHPian Vikram9193 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Did Dehradun to Delhi and back in the Jimny AT. One person in the car, AC on, 215 AT tyres, sunny afternoon conditions.

Drove with a heavy foot to Delhi and a light foot on the way back to assess performance and fuel efficiency.

Performance

On the way to Delhi, I had no trouble at all making overtakes since the AT kicked down willingly and, revs allowing, a second kickdown was available for tighter overtakes. The first kick-down produced audible noise but with the road noise and music, it wasn’t an issue. I think with company it might’ve been an issue, and this is really a turbo’s trump card.

The second kick downs were very rarely deployed and definitely made a huge racket. That said, I don’t think I was ever overtaken by anyone doing legal speeds - there were a few people who did serious triple digit speeds for brief stretches. The Jimny felt like it could keep up until 120-140, but I refrained.

I also didn't have any real trouble with sweeping corners on the highway, bumpy concrete surfaces or expansion joints. I wasn’t happy with the spongy brake pedal feel, but there weren’t any panic braking moments to really test the brakes.

Fuel efficiency

On the way back I tried cruise control at 70 kmph with AC off for a few kilometres, which gave an indicated 18.5 kmpl, while 90 kmph with AC on yielded 14+ kmpl. For the rest of the drive, I allowed the car to shift up at 3000 rpm (no kick downs whatsoever, but enough pressure on the pedal to keep it from shifting at 2000 rpm - this is fine in town but on the highway, you have to let it rev just a little) and topped out at 95 kmph.

Fuel average was sadly well below 14 kmpl even before I hit the hilly climb entering Dehradun, where the numbers went lower. I’m a little disappointed with the fuel average and don’t think 15+ is remotely possible in a highway run unless you have an MT and preferably stock tyres, or are willing to stay below 80 kmph max.

Comfort

The Jimny may not have the monocoque or the stiff, tied-down suspension to ride properly flat over poorly surfaced roads, or the right sort of aerodynamics, but is perfectly capable of triple digit cruising in reasonable peace and comfort.

The AT may be slower in 0-100 but the ease and predictability with which it kicks down makes it faster in the long haul. The AC and tinted glass kept me comfortable. The narrow dimensions and high seating position were a plus. I had a metal water bottle standing in as an armrest, and definitely think an armrest would be helpful. Even the awkwardly placed dead pedal was less of a bother than I had anticipated.

That said, it isn’t a patch on the quietness, fuel efficiency or sense of reserve power that many other, more low-slung and modern cars offer.

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Since both India & Japan have RHD systems, I could get front floor mats from Japan.

BHPian Rahul Lal recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I did not buy any MS genuine accessories at the time of buying Jimny except mud flaps & mats. However, now I am slowly adding a few essential items to make Jimny more comfortable to drive & pleasant to look at.

Console tray: To create more space for small items I bought a centre console tray from Seiwa JP. Made of soft material. So no rattling sound when items are kept on it. Quite useful in keeping small things.

Floor mats: I tried using both MGA - Weather mats and premium carpet mats. But the front mats, especially the driver-side mats were too small to cover the carpet. Despite being fixed to floor locks, these mats kept on sliding.

Since both India & Japan have RHD systems, I could get front floor mats from Japan. These are TPE resin 3D mats which fit perfectly. They cover the maximum carpet area & stay firm. Also, the holes matched the floor locks. Since the 5-door model is still not available abroad, I could not find rear mats. Anyhow MGA rear mats are still better & stay firm.

Engine hood Insulation pad: I always felt the bonnet should have an insulation pad which was missing. Tried getting one but could not get it in the local market.

So bought one from ANTC Japan. It is made of three layers- aluminium foil, soundproof cotton & PET cotton. It too fitted perfectly. Too early to comment on noise & heat insulation levels but definitely felt a dampening of engine sound.

Changed the front grill: Bought a vintage-style front grille from a seller in Delhi itself. With this Jimny's front gives a wider look.

Removed spare wheel cover: Since the spare wheel comes with an alloy rim why hide it behind the wheel cover? Bought OEM hub cap from MGP retailer store & Farad star nuts to secure the spare wheel. Preferred to put all-star nuts to give a uniform appearance. Now rear gives a bold look.

Fog lamp bulbs: The stock fog lamp bulbs are of Osram 19W normal H16 type. They give dull yellowish light. So went for Sealight F1 series LED 22W H16 bulbs. Using these regularly with LED headlamps improve the nearby side visibility ie. footpath or dividers.

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I could have purchased a Mahindra Thar or Scorpio N at the time of their launch but something inside me told me that the best was yet to come.

BHPian jojoinassi recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

My observations with a recent 750 km trip with Jimny over three days.

Before that, my reasons to buy one.

• Had a liking for the vehicle ever since MSIL disclosed its Indian plans for Jimny. (That's to say I was never a big gypsy fan) Used to follow the media for the titbits ever since closely.
• My wife was a big Gypsy fan. She always wanted to own one. Since her other love was a Mini Cooper, I thought this one made sense.
• Before buying a Jimny, I had a choice of buying a Thar and a Scorpio N at the launch (first lot). I cancelled both since something inside me was telling me that the best was yet to come.
• And of course, the Team-BHP review made it easier (as with my previous cars).

At last, a month ago, got our Kinetic Yellow Alfa AT. Delivery was delayed although we had the very first bookings at two different dealers (that's a long story, maybe I'll disclose it someday).

Now my idea of buying Jimny was NOT to use it as a pure off-roader. For that matter, I detest the idea of off-roading for the sake of off-roading- I hope you understand what I mean. I love to travel by road. I had instances where I felt handicapped with the vehicles I had (with an Ecosport initially- which led me to buy a Jeep Compass 4x4. But even with the Jeep, there were times I hesitated to do certain things. However, I should admit that Jeep had given wings to my dreams. I could do a lot of adventure drives across India, and find the best of like-minded friends).

So my idea of buying one was to have a vehicle for my wife which can be used for small drives in and around the city, our not-so-infrequent drives to the hill stations nearby and to the occasional drives to the Himalayas. Somehow I badly wanted to have drone shots of my Kinetic yellow Jimny driving through the snow..

About this trip

First the drive on the good roads- at speeds around 60-90, it was doing a decent job. Stable, planted but very very sluggish. It was a pain to see all those hatchbacks zoom past. The remedy? Handed over the steering to my better half.

On the winding mountain roads, it did an excellent job. Taking curves was not at all an issue. I was very apprehensive about this coming from a Compass which was very good at this. Felt the lack of power uphill anyway. But was not very bothersome.

Now coming to the best part. The way to the resort was a steep uphill climb spanning over a few kms. Google Maps showed 2 routes with similar ETA and to my luck, I chose the road less travelled. It was a gravel road with potholes, big stones, narrow and steep. I wouldn't have tried this in any of my previous vehicles. It was a cakewalk for Jimny. Travelled effortlessly over the terrain without any hitch. Wifey was also super impressed. We also climbed a few big rocky hillocks on the way.

Another instance- we were driving through a forest and they were building a new bridge with the approach road yet to be completed - quite steep and high with big boulders. Again it was effortless for the Jimny (other vehicles were taking a detour).

These small things made me feel that I made a good buy. Of course, it's heart over the head any day. But there are times when you should listen to your heart.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

It felt surreal that the vehicle that I had dreamt of for so long, was actually coming home with me.

BHPian Hirohito recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Why Jimny?

This decision to go looking out for a successor to my SS80 was triggered, partly by the Government’s apathy towards older cars, and partly due to increasing traffic volume at higher speeds, warranting higher safety.

As someone who loved the boxy, minimalistic, quirky and perhaps even timeless designs of the Lada Niva and the Fiat Panda, Jimny was on my radar for quite some time. As much as I love its boxy, angular and retro classic aesthetics, I was equally interested in its go-anywhere allgrip capability and compact dimensions.

Most importantly perhaps, I felt ready for a small entry-level 4x4, to keep exploring the Northeast of India. In the last few years, I’ve pushed the 35yo Hirohito on every possible terrain that my journeys have demanded. Now as I compared the two, unsurprisingly so, the Jimny excelled on all parameters when pitted against the SS80. What’s surprising though, is how it’s never by a huge margin. The SS80 is up there, neck to neck with the Jimny, on all parameters like top speed, acceleration, braking, off-road capabilities etc, always just a few steps behind. It’s like the Jimny and the SS80 are both from the same slow family, just that the Jimny is younger and faster, but still slow when compared to its contemporaries. And perhaps the only time the Jimny appears muscular is when it’s standing beside an 800.

The only occasion where the SS80 leaves the Jimny behind is on passenger comfort across the cabin. This time the Jimny isn’t far behind either. Because the Jimny’s suspension in itself works like a charm when you take things into account like it’s a BOF and comes with two solid axles. It’s not too often that a BOF feels as comfortable as it feels on the Jimny. And the only occasion where the Jimny excels the SS80 by a significant margin, is on safety.

Why Alpha MT?

While I loved the steelies on the Jimny’s Xeta variant and the smaller infotainment screen that sits snugly into the dashboard, I still went for the Alpha variant for one small reason and that is weight. Being a smaller engine, just like all kei cars, the Jimny is built light, banking on the power-to-weight ratio to remain peppy and light-footed. The alloys cut the unsprung weight of the Jimny by approx 6-7 kilos compared to the steelies in the Xeta variant.

As a resident of a small town, I don’t have to drive through city traffic on a regular basis. But mostly on the open highways and narrow mountain roads. So manual transmission was my natural choice. I would have definitely considered AT if I had to deal with city traffic on a regular basis.

Booking and delivery

I wanted to get a Jimny from the used market. That translates into a long waiting period of at least 12 months without a significant value depreciation.

This and my own impatience made me dabble with the idea of going for a new one instead. After a few days of pondering, I checked with Bharati Nexa in Bongaigaon, Assam. I could have checked with Nexa in Guwahati, as both Guwahati and Bongaigaon are equidistant from home. But I wanted to avoid dealing with the bumper-to-bumper Guwahati traffic right after the delivery at all costs.

It turned out to be one of the few very good decisions that I’ve taken in recent times.

Additionally, Bongaigaon happens to be on the route to my in-law’s place in Kokrajhar and that sounded like a bonus to me. So I finally took the call to book a Jimny at Bharati Nexa at Bongaigaon. They had a few Jimny bookings already and the sales advisor suggested that I do so at the earliest, if I wanted the delivery in the first lot itself. I took a few more days before finally taking the plunge, promptly sending the booking amount on 16th of June. I did keep calling, Debapriya (SA), from time to time to check if my car was in transit.

On 11th of July, I got a call from Debapriya, inviting me for the unveiling of the Jimny the next day. Since I was planning to go to our in-law’s place, I along with my wife, decided to drop by Nexa Bongaigaon along our way, the very next day.

Since we had time, on our way we went to check out this abandoned site that we had been curious about for a long.

At 1 pm, we arrived at Bharati Nexa Bongaigaon. They had a fully kitted Jimny in Kinetic yellow on display. And the unveiling had been rescheduled for that evening instead of afternoon. Debapriya went out of his way to remove the black satin cover allowing us to sit inside the display car while attending to my queries. I was told that my car was in transit and had reached Siliguri stockyard which is less than 300 kilometres from the showroom. But they couldn’t tell when it would arrive. When I asked for a test drive, the SA was apologetic as this was their only demo car and had been prepped up for the evening’s unveiling. But he assured me that if I dropped by the next day i.e. on the 13th, I’d be able to take it out for a test drive.

Checking out the Jimny in real for the very first time.

So we left for my in-laws hoping to swing by once again for a TD on our return journey the next day. Dipom, a fellow car enthusiast and also a member of Crew37 was waiting for me at Nexa the next day. Just as I was parking my SS80 planning to take a TD, he broke the news to me, apunar gari ahi gol “your Jimny has arrived!”. I couldn’t believe my ears.

Debapriya was not at the showroom, but he had asked another SA, to get me a test drive. But I instead asked him to take me to the stockyard, which was luckily attached just behind the showroom and lo behold! There was my Jimny in white amidst other Jimmys in red, yellow and grey. I decided not to waste any time, and opted out from taking a TD and spent some time at the stockyard with the car.

My Jimny in white

with Dipom outside Nexa, Bongaigaon

I found the key on the dashboard, turned it on and left soon after. Half excited, part worried, with the sudden turn of events. I wasn’t expecting it to arrive like the wind. The amount of work that needed to be done, if I were to pick it up the very next day, looked insurmountable. Which included 300 kms of driving. 100 kms of which needed to be done in the next one hour in the SS80, and be at the bank before it closes. As we left Nexa and started our journey home, it was 3 in the evening.

I was doing a consistent 80 kmph, with a fluttering heart, racing and occasionally stopping to speak and arrange bank statements and other documents, for the loan. A shout-out to my banker friend from school, Jagat for attending my calls and sending me documents along the way. Then just before reaching home, I decided to pay a visit to the financing office which was still open in the town of Goalpara. I just had to take a small detour along the old highway overlooking the Brahmaputra river to the left. Hard to believe how this used to be such an important road, before the Naranarayan Setu was thrown open after years of delay in 1998.

Soon we reached Goalpara, met the manager and then took the state highway that passes through the important archaeological site of Surya Pahar, then Sainik School Goalpara, which happens to be my alma mater, then crossed Matia, and reached home, after passing through a small patch of Sal trees. The idea was to take the delivery the next day i.e. the 14th of July and I was running against time.

Reached home by evening

The next morning while I waited for mother and wife to get ready, BHpian yogi…Reeturaj, dropped by in his Hyryder from Guwahati. He was around visiting relatives. This gave me a brief but much-needed break from the whirlpool I’ve been through in the last 24 hours.

Yogi…Reetu’s AWD with our Honda

After lunch, we drove 90 kms on the Mobilio and arrived at the Nexa showroom. The SA, Debapriya and the GM at Bharati NEXA, Mr. Bipul, who turned out to be an acquaintance of mine, made the delivery experience seamless and quick.

The quintessential delivery photo

After the delivery flamboyance, which remotely reminded me of my wedding ceremony just a year ago going by the number of cameras flashing at us, we were finally heading back home at around 6 in the evening. What a relief. It felt surreal that the car that I had dreamt of for so long, was actually coming home with me. Just me, and the Jimny, with mom and wife in the rear seat and our driver in the Mobilio behind us. When I had booked, I had convinced myself that it would take at least three months, based on the experiences shared on the internet. In my case, it took less than a month but might take much longer to sink in.

Heading back home with the Jimny

Initial days

Day 1: 1st wash goes down the drain

The next morning I woke up early and took the Jimny to some spots that I’ve frequented on cycles and on the SS80, into the neighbouring Garo hills, pineapple gardens and the paddy fields closer home, without waking my wife up. The joyride kept extending itself until it was 8 in the morning and I decided to return home for breakfast.

Pineapple garden

8 am and I was winding up my very first joyride on the Jimny, by the river, less than a kilometre from home.

Post breakfast, I decided to give the Jimny its first wash. I find it therapeutic to wash my own car. And today of all the days, I needed to do this to let it sink in. Along with our driver, we gave all three cars a wash that morning and neatly parked them inside the garage, as a downpour looked imminent.

Ist wash together

It rained and Mother asked me to come to the temple to get the new car baptized, if that’s the right word. I asked if we could go in the afternoon when the rain subsided, but my mother said the priest wouldn’t be there. All the hard work was about to be washed away. But that’s alright. I had prayed for the very first time in years, before committing for a brand new Jimny. My wife and I kept talking about how, things just happened, one after the other and everything just fell into place, ending with the Jimny in our garage. In fact, ours ended up being the first Jimny to be delivered from the dealer. So I was okay to get mud on the Jimny, clean it again, if it can secure the blessings of the almighty.

Later that evening I went for a joyride with my wife, and she absolutely loved the little Jimny to bits, especially the panoramic view and the comfort. In fact, this was the first time she was sitting at the front. The previous evening on our way home, both she and my mother were sitting at the rear. Dipom had taken the front seat for the short test drive from Nexa to the petrol station across the road. And we dropped him back to his car at Nexa before leaving for home. The front seat remained empty for the rest of the journey. Later that evening she did mention that the SS80’s seats were cozier somehow and she missed that a tad bit.

Evening out in the Jimny

Day 2: Engaging 4x4 for the very first time

The next morning I woke my wife up to man the camera as we sneaked out in the Jimny once again, to try out 4H on a muddy section nearby. The way it handled itself in 4H, I knew it was destined to widen my travel horizon in the coming days.

Day 3: First long drive (450 km)

The first longish drive happened on 17th, 3 days after delivery, as we drove towards Shillong. Wife had some work related to her Phd in NEHU (North-Eastern Hill University). On the way, we had a short pit stop at Guwahati, where friends from Crew 37 had gathered to check out the Jimny. All three had their share of TD the Jimny amidst a light drizzle. Crew 37 is a car enthusiast group from Assam.

Jimny TD with members of Crew 37. Sanjay’s brand new Scorpio, Yogi… Reetu’s Hyryder and Nayan’s Ecosport in the backdrop.

After driving close to 200 kms, we stayed at a friend’s farmstay at Umsning without entering into Shillong. NEHU is about 30 kms from the farm. Nowadays, we generally avoid visiting Shillong, especially in our vehicles. And thankfully NEHU is on the outskirts of Shillong, so we skipped Shillong altogether.

Siblings on the Guwahati - Shillong highway

My wife who had been using this road for some years now, exclaimed how she was seeing for the very first time, a hill up here and up there by the road. She thought it had something to do with the visibility through the Jimny’s windshield.

During that trip, I only had to engage 4H briefly once on our trail leading to the farm-stay and once more when I had parked on a slippery slope and the rear wheels skidded as I tried to pull out. A quick flick from 2H to 4H did the trick. For me that’s value for money not having to ask my wife to step out in the dark, to push the car, thereby saving the the evening from a certain disaster.

During our two days of stay there, while wife had to run around the campus, I mostly waited in the car, working on my iPad. A number of people kept approaching throughout the day, seeking permission to check out the Jimny. I am used to curious people around the SS80, but seeing it happening to the Jimny left me amused.

A trio checking out the Jimny outside the exam block, NEHU

A duo outside life sciences department

We started early on 19th morning from Umsning. Wife picked up some pineapples and some eatables from Nongpoh, a popular pit stop on the GS road. We got some extra for the GM and the SA, at Nexa since I was planning to go there the next day for the number plates.

Garo hills to my left, as we approach home. Reached home at 10.10 am

20 & 21 July (88 x 2 km)

Car gets its number plates

The next morning, I was headed to Nexa Bongaigaon with mom and dad, as my registration plates had arrived. As my odo reading was 800+ kms, it was suggested that I get my first servicing done, which is usually done at 1000 kms. In addition to the servicing I also got the chassis and the silencer painted and mud flaps installed, which were out of stock last time. Dipom from Crew 37 joined us for lunch. Dipom, I and a few others were planning Ladakh in our cars in September, but the tragedy unfolded in Himachal Pradesh and I have put my plans on halt for now. He is still eager to do the trip though.

We returned home the same evening, followed by a 230 km to and fro drive to the Nokrek UNESCO biosphere reserve in neighbouring Meghalaya, with parents, the next day i.e. 21st of July.

Sunset over Garo hills, Meghalaya on our return journey from Nokrek

Both the Jimny and I were now ready for a slightly longer drive and that was about to unfold within a day.

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Commendable job by Maruti providing all the off-road capabilities along with all the creature comforts at this price range.

BHPian R.Daroga recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I got my Kinetic Yellow Alpha MT delivered yesterday and a few observations:

1. Very good experience at Nexa Sai Service, Lower Parel, Mumbai.
2. At the risk of stating the obvious, the ride quality is just supreme.
3. The cabin is very well insulated and you leave the din of the outside world behind as soon as you close the door shut.
4. The Kinetic Yellow ranges between solid yellow and lime green depending on the lighting outside.
5. The infotainment system works seamlessly with wireless Android Auto.
6. The Arkamys surround system is not a gimmick and on the Acoustic setting, provides excellent sound staging. Yes, it cannot handle heavy bass but the notes are nice and bright. I quite like it.
7. The engine is so silent that you need to look at the RPM needle to see if it is alive.
8. Air conditioning is good. UV-cut glasses help.
9. Visibility all around is brilliant.
10. You sit at the same rider's height as a Hycross, an XUV700 or a Safari (new one). Despite Jimny's lower height on paper, the ladder frame allows you to sit higher in the car as against sinking lower into the car as in a monocoque set-up. Again, I like it.
11. Coming from a diesel car, I really miss the turbo. This engine is enough but there's no excitement lower down. This is not a car to wring by its neck to extract performance. A turbo is needed desperately.
12. 5th gear engages comfortably over 40 kph. It means this engine will get strained by the time it is at triple-digit speeds.
13. Despite all its genuine efforts to make you believe otherwise, this is still very much a Gypsy underneath. The vibrating gear lever, the play in the hand brake and the slow steering give it away.
14. Impossible to take a U-turn in the city without reversing unless you start your turn from the middle lane (not advisable).
15. Rear seatbelt warning and auto engine start stop coming on each time you start the car are irritants.
16. Hill hold doesn't work when you just start the car and you're parked on an incline. So let's say you stall the car on an incline and start the car again, hill hold doesn't work. Also, the hill hold doesn't release the brakes fast enough when you pick up, making you drag with the brakes half released for a fraction of a second, adding strain on an already strained engine.
17. In the city, due to its lack of size, you cannot intimidate traffic around you. Also due to the lack of engine poke and steering speed, you cannot zip in and out of lanes quickly enough. You're stuck being a gentleman and obeying lane discipline thinking in your mind "Tu mil, mere ko off-road mil"
18. Not a very pleasant experience driving in crosswinds. This tall box is an easy target for notorious crosswinds.

Bottomline

Commendable job by Maruti providing all the off-road capabilities along with all the creature comforts at this price range. This is my only car and it meets all my needs perfectly well so far. For someone never intending to get adventurous in a car, he would be better suited with a pseudo SUV in this price range. Honestly, after driving the Innova for some time and now the Jimny, I look down upon (literally) these cars now. If you've driven monocoque chassis cars all your life, driving the Jimny will take some getting used to. Especially the MT. Once you get used to it, there's no going back. You may break some monocoques chassis into two trying to take potholes and speed breakers at the same speeds as you take them in the Jimny. Even your next car will have to be a ladder frame only. It's a long-term choice. You decide.

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Power for highway driving is barely adequate. I am not sure if the car can handle a more powerful engine even if there was a choice.

BHPian th2 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Got our White Alpha Jimny last week. A few quick observations.

1. Small on the outside, small on the inside. Strictly a four-seater. Very well doubles up as a city car for us.
2. Very limited storage options inside, need to buy a couple of storage-related accessories.
3. Ride quality beat expectations. But will definitely be more fatiguing for long-distance travel as compared to a regular car.
4. Wife finds the Jimny "cute" and loves it. She will be the primary driver for this vehicle anyway.
5. Switching from 2H to 4H and 4H to 4L needs a little bit of learning. A few dos and don'ts on when and how to switch modes. The poorly written driver's manual is of some help here, but also irritating at the same time. Digressing here - but the section on AllGrip Pro in the manual is a travesty. Grammatical errors, poorly worded sentences, etc. Maruti needs to be ashamed.
6. Power for highway driving is barely adequate. I am not sure though the vehicle can handle a more powerful engine even if there was a choice. For its build, highway stability, etc., the existing engine is probably the most it can manage. Does Suzuki sell a more powerful Jimny in any other market?
7. I found the seats a tad uncomfortable. Have to see what can be done about that for long-distance travel.
8. Solid build. Was pleasantly surprised by the weight of the bonnet.
9. Audio quality, wireless Airplay/Android Auto, screen size, screen resolution are good.
10. It is one of those cars that you will just love in spite of all its impractical traits. It actually is difficult to pinpoint what exactly is endearing about it, but endearing it is.

Is it overpriced? Yes. Is it impractical? Yes, in terms of space/storage and for day-long highway travel. Is it small? Yes, in a good way. Is it fun? Yes. Is it worth it? Yes, some things we do for the young lad in all of us, irrespective of our age.

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The Suzuki Jimny 3-door is also available in the South African market.

Suzuki recently showcased the Jimny 5-door at the Festival of Motoring 2023 in South Africa. The carmaker has also commenced registrations ahead of its launch.

The South Africa-spec Jimny could be offered in two variants - GL and GLX and is likely to get a new Military Green exterior colour that isn't available in India.

Inside, the Jimny comes equipped with a 9-inch SmartPlay Pro+ touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, automatic climate control, cruise control, and a rearview camera.

The off-roader will be powered by a 1.5-litre K15B petrol engine, just like the India-spec Jimny. This engine puts out 103 BHP and 134 Nm and is paired with either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic. The Jimny also gets Suzuki's AllGrip Pro 4x4 system as standard.

The 5-door Jimny got stuck in some slush but after being rocked 10-15 times, it eventually came out on its own.

BHPian Samba recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Independence day OTR with Kolkata Offroaders!

What can be a better way to celebrate Independence Day than unleashing the 4WDs to conquer the untamed terrain? Okay, of course, this is not the best way to celebrate Independence Day, but catchy captions like these are quite popular nowadays, so tried one.

D-Bhpian SS-Traveller was in Kolkata, and it coincided with the off-road day, so he also joined us.

We chose our old playground in Boinchi. Our plan was to start the OTR by 10 am. It's around 75 km from my place. SS-Traveller was generous enough to pick me up from my home and drop me back after the OTR.

We spent a good amount of time with a couple of Jimnys. And the rest of the time, I was driving this beautiful left-hand drive Willys.

The Jimnys were impressive. I have shared my views on the Jimny here.

Time for some action now

Bhpian Sadnabrina's Jimny in action

The Jimny was stuck here, but after rocking it for 10-15 times, it finally managed to come out of its own. One thing I felt was, that the steering needed more turning, so to find a better grip when I was rotating the steering while rocking the car, I had to turn the steering a bit more than other cars.

Bhpian Shourya_lahiri's Jimny in action with Bhpian 1100D behind the wheel.

Vidyun Singh did the spotting for Adhiraj Singh in this obstacle.

After an eventful 4 hours, we wrapped up by 2 pm.

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The service guys do not know how the 4WD system works or how to remedy the flashing error code.

BHPian chsai recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hi all,

I am in a fix; during the last 2 weeks of heavy rains in Hyderabad, my Jimny got me out through some situations of rain and slush, but it never was in deeper water than 30 cm. Post which the 4WD drive light started flashing when the car is idle but goes away when the car is moving, I immediately took it a Nexa service centre near my place, they said due to water splashes right upto intake duct this might be happening but will go away, this was on a Saturday. They were not ready to take it up, requested them to at least wash it. They were busy, so I took it back on Monday to them for wash and insisted they check all fluids, but they were reluctant, but I insisted, so they check the front and rear differentials; the rear differential oil was normal. However, the front differential oil was milky white; the SA said that was normal.

I insisted they change that and the engine oil to be on safe side, but they were not ready to and tried to convince me it is absolutely unnecessary, after persisting they just changed the engine oil which they said was unnecessary at 3100 km, I asked them to do that atleast, so they just changed the oil and oil filter, i asked them to put synthetic which they didn't have stock so put regular oil, the 4w light thing they had no clue and told me it will go away once i do a little bit of dry runs, tuesday i was busy and when i took it out wednesday morning again the light started coming, so went to them again and asked them diagnose the 4WD light issue and to change the diff oil as i thought water had entered the diff, dont know how though, they were not keen to look at it and they then directed to me another branch of theirs where they had better Techs, I was not confident of them anymore based on the experience and knowledge level, took it to another service center belonging to the group i took delivery from on the opposite side of town, they immediately checked everything and found the front diff oil to be white, i asked them to change that and the airfilter, surprisingly they dont have both and not available anywhere in hyderabad asked me to keep the vehicle at service center till these come after 4-5 days and also to investigate further, which is a surprising response from Maruti Nexa service.

My query to 4WD experts is:

1. Did the water get into the diff during these water and slush drives?
2. If so, how did it get there? Did any of you guys experience something similar after some slush or water wading?
3. Or my initial fear that something was wrong in the drive train from the day when I took delivery was that the vehicle had a very high NVH, which I mentioned in my previous posts too that NVH was too high for Japanese vehicles; it was not moving freely and was feeling strained all the time, and I got it checked by at least five tech persons at diff service centres, and they all said it might be because it's new and it will even out
4. Was it because they forgot to put oil in the differential at the factory, and the vehicle had been flushing oil throughout? And we discovered now, as you can see from the picture, that it is not having the consistency of gear oil but is more like water.
5. Is the 4wd drive light flashing at a standstill due to this, or is it a separate issue?

I appreciate your input. Thanks

Here's what BHPian Sankar had to say on the matter:

If the oil is milky white definitely water has definitely gotten into the differential, without a doubt. Change the differential oil pronto. Stock Jimny diff oil is 75w85 synthetic light golden yellow and smells good too. Don't ask how I know.

In the front axle there are two ways water could have seeped in 1) through the breather and 2) through the vacuum line. Since the 4WD logo is blinking and not lighting solid I suspect there could be a leak in the vacuum circuit. Without positive vacuum feedback light does not get solid, it should light up solid even at a standstill with the engine on once the front hubs are engaged. So get that thoroughly checked for loose/disconnected/torn vacuum tube/fitting. Water could have got in through there. A differential breather is another suspect, check if it's stuck open you can do it by hand it should move freely.

Since it's under warranty if there is any issue with the transfer case/front differential claim in and change it. With customer Jimnys being used for test drives one cannot expect random guys new to 4WD to use it properly.

Jimnys don't leave the Maruti plant without oil in the Tcase, differentials or engine, so you can rule that out.

BHPian chsai's update on the matter:

I am also genuinely shocked with the Nexa service experience; none of the Nexa service guys in any of the service centres in Hyderabad has any clue about Jimny's 4WD tech. Water entered my diff, and they have no clue how? When I asked them to change the oil, one guy said that's how the new milky white oil looks and refused to change it, I went to another they refused even to check saying that not even possible and will do it at the 10k check and asked me to drive on after I know fully well that it's contaminated. After I insisted on a change, they tell me they do not have the differential oil in stock and would take a week. They don't even have an air filter, even washing; they are clueless about how to do it properly. After a water and slush run, I went to a Nexa service, I think when they washed it from below, the water entered into the diff, also mud splashed at the intake was forced into the air filter while washing as there is no way water can enter it while wading through less than 30 cm water, now the air filter is dirty, and they don't have a replacement, the 4wd light flashes intermittently while driving and goes away on its own and none of the service tech's is unable to explain how water got into the diff, why the 4wd is flashing, why there is a random wobble that comes and goes on the tarmac at speeds? Why car is pulling to the left when braking? Why is there less oil in the transfer case? Why the car has a high NVH?

Their initial reaction is OMG you have taken it through rain and slush as the engine compartment looks dirty so water must have entered then and trying to convince me that the car got water logged and future warranty claims if any will not be applicable, i showed them the interior of the car and not a drop of water in the cabin or on the floor and that it is not water logged and insisted i get a proper explanation which they said they dont have and needs further investigation after keeping the car for two days, then i took eneos diff oil from out side and got it changed even when they were hinting that warranty will get voided if they do that, the standard reply post that is we have escalated to Maruti and awaiting their reply and after more than a week of followup, i gave up, no sign of when the airfilter or the diff oil will come, now the 4wd light flashing has reduced significantly, comes and goes randomly while driving and hope it will go away soon, i never expected this from Nexa!! Most service centres are good for routine checkups and oil changes, but for anything complex, they are not geared for it; they do not know how the 4wd system works or how to remedy the 4wd flashing error code, I wonder if Maruti has even done an orientation program on the Jimny for the mechanics? I have had other European cars for the last 20 years, and their service levels could have been better in India, but now I feel they are better in many ways, I hope to live with Jimny without ever revisiting a Nexa.

P.S: All fellow Jimnyists, a word of caution, please check all fluids after a water and slush run and wash it carefully, Jimny is not what we think it is :(

Here's what BHPian Turbanator had to say on the matter:

Most dealerships will have newer car washers ( water preservation), so the chances of water getting during the wash can be less. Remember, they are Maruti service stations, not Force motors so they will be washing most of the cars like Baleno/ Breeza.

Water depth can be deceptive, and on a moving vehicle, it can enter with a large force. So even if it's not deep, it might have gone if the car was at speed.

Look for any missing/ loose breather vent plug.

If you are 100% sure this is attributed to some manufacturing issue, escalate this to Maruti. Wait until they answer, as they will also like to understand this, and it's essential to keep things preserved for a Root cause analysis. However, if you feel this can be attributed to driving in water, you can change the Differential oil immediately. In either case, don't drive the car.

Try another test drive car. It might be similar in other vehicles too. If not, it will be tricky to find the reason. Alignment issues can be ignored probably if your car usually drives straight and goes on the left only under braking. On an old vehicle, there can be some issues of wear and tear of suspension/ rotors but on a new car? So, I will start with driving another test drive car first.

Here's what BHPian Jaggu had to say on the matter:

This is a serious issue, even if the whole car was submerged for a few minutes water should not enter the diff like this to make it white. I had seen earlier posts by others that pointed to water entry and that you were attending to it so did not bother much.

But if Nexa guys don't even understand water contamination in oil and how it can ruin bearings including diff, they should not be worthy of any workshop!

Get the details of the regional manager and escalate, also send a strong email with images to Maruti.

Check for Ignis height adjust unit, should be almost a direct fit to Jimny.

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