2009 suzuki grand vitara 2.4 petrol

[BrokenBiker]

going to look at one at some point in the week, fairly local and good price, mot history seems to suggest it had some rear chassis welding around 2 years ago, but was only advisory then wasnt listed on further tests so have to assume it was done then. not worried about welding in general, but dont want to buy a project as the jag is unlikely to last the rest of the week the way its going.

any common issues or areas to look at? its an 09 grand vitara, 2.4L 4cyl petrol, 5 speed manual.

obviously rust, oil leaks, clutch, brakes, 4x4 system and general wear items are a given, but any hidden knowledge to be had about them? never owned a suzuki apart from my mrs having a swift that has been absolutely faultless for 6 years now hence why im looking at a suzuki myself.

 

[Robotstar5]

I've had the auto version (SZ5) for over 10 years with nothing notable apart from service/wear items, not the most economical car but very comfortable to drive.

 

[BrokenBiker]

I've had the auto version (SZ5) for over 10 years with nothing notable apart from service/wear items, not the most economical car but very comfortable to drive.

thats what i like to hear...is yours the 2.4?

at this point reliability is the only requirement

 

[Guzrik]

IIrc there is an isue with the front diff leaking oil and if neglected turns into an expensive job.
If you can live with the fuel consumption it seems like a lovely car to own.

 

[BrokenBiker]

IIrc there is an isue with the front diff leaking oil and if neglected turns into an expensive job.
If you can live with the fuel consumption it seems like a lovely car to own.

my jag is currently averaging 22mpg so fuel consumption not an issue, ive had land rovers and other heavy 4x4s before that have done as low as 10mpg on a good day.

leaking front diff is definitely somehting i will look for. i do plan on replacing all diff breathers pretty early on as the floods will be starting soon so will be renewing them and routing them as high as i can, possibly into a snorkel if i can find a decent one or make one, been something i have done on every 4x4 ive had as i hate stripping diffs for avoidable issues.

sounding like a suzuki is going to be a decent choice for me

 

[Migmac]

Last vitara I had was older that that one. Check round the lower radiator mounts, that’s where mine went.

 

[Robotstar5]

thats what i like to hear...is yours the 2.4?

at this point reliability is the only requirement

Mines a 2.4 and I get 22 - 24 mpg locally and about 28 mpg on a run, I tend to check the 4wd engages every couple of months as it can stick if left too long.

 

[BrokenBiker]

Mines a 2.4 and I get 22 - 24 mpg locally and about 28 mpg on a run, I tend to check the 4wd engages every couple of months as it can stick if left too long.

Little bit worse than my current diesel but not by much so I can live with that. Its averaging about 22mpg to work (mix of motorway and country roads, 6ish miles each) but on a good run if im actively trying to be economical i can maybe get 32...but thats with a knackered dpf and a host of other issues...it used to hit 55-57mpg quite frequently, but then it remembered who made it

I will probably use the 4x4 quite frequently with work as well on muddy sites. Will be grabbing some all terrains for it at some point, snorkels are cheap and if last year was anything to go by, ill need one...floods last year had my son cut off at his grandparents house and a 26 mile round trip in the jag that should have only been about 4, trying to find a way I could get through to get them out til the water had gone down...

Be nice to have a 4x4 again, never should have sold the terracan but was fed up changing injectors like they were a service item. Was amazing for some of the fishing locations we go to and general larking about on pay/play sites

 

[Kayos]

Little bit worse than my current diesel but not by much so I can live with that. Its averaging about 22mpg to work (mix of motorway and country roads, 6ish miles each) but on a good run if im actively trying to be economical i can maybe get 32...but thats with a knackered dpf and a host of other issues...it used to hit 55-57mpg quite frequently, but then it remembered who made it

I will probably use the 4x4 quite frequently with work as well on muddy sites. Will be grabbing some all terrains for it at some point, snorkels are cheap and if last year was anything to go by, ill need one...floods last year had my son cut off at his grandparents house and a 26 mile round trip in the jag that should have only been about 4, trying to find a way I could get through to get them out til the water had gone down...

Be nice to have a 4x4 again, never should have sold the terracan but was fed up changing injectors like they were a service item. Was amazing for some of the fishing locations we go to and general larking about on pay/play sites

You seem to have gone a similar route to me, modern(ISH) diesel that when it works is superb, but generally doesn't work since looking at an older 4x4

I bought a Freelander 2, without any planning or research and I actually prefer driving it, in fact I'm taking it on a load of site visits then using it to go away in

 

[Rannsachair]

My brother ran a 2010 2.4 auto SZ5 for 6 years, I liked it, though it never felt very powerful for a 2.4 petrol, nothing much went wrong, Until 2 years ago when I checked the underside the rear chassis was starting to hole and paper thin on both sides around the rear radius arm mounts. It still had an MOT so he traded it in against an XC40 at the main Volvo dealers.

 

[Smallfry]

Had some Suzukis, two Balenos and an old SJ, and SWMBO has had two Jimnys. All uber reliable.

One observation with all of them, is ventilation. Through flow has been non existent on all of them. Windows steam up really easily. No leaks in footwells or boot. Have to run round with window/s open a bit. That is my only criticism and disappointment with them.

None of them have been road burners, so if you want neck snapping acceleration, then forget it, as none seem very powerful. Also fuel consumption is not great.

Biggest problem is rust.

 

[BrokenBiker]

You seem to have gone a similar route to me, modern(ISH) diesel that when it works is superb, but generally doesn't work since looking at an older 4x4

I bought a Freelander 2, without any planning or research and I actually prefer driving it, in fact I'm taking it on a load of site visits then using it to go away in

I was a bit daft and when my terracan needed its 4th set of injectors inside 18 months I saw this jag in mint condition at a bargain price and my inner magpie took control of my wallet...it was OK for the first year...but the 2nd year has been dreadful.


You all seem to be giving me a lot of confidence that a suzuki is a good reliable option and while 166bhp from a 2.4 isnt mind blowing, it'll do for me, ive got 9 points already so something a bit slower might be a good thing

As for the rust, I go into every 4x4 with rust as a concern, but never a worry...I'd be on the wrong forum if I couldn't tackle a bit of rust and one of the first jobs for it will be a good wire brush underneath and some good paint, maybe some waxoyl in the chassis and any other hole i can find to fill. (If it does rust its just an excuse to upgrade my mig )

 

[Robotstar5]

Little bit worse than my current diesel but not by much so I can live with that. Its averaging about 22mpg to work (mix of motorway and country roads, 6ish miles each) but on a good run if im actively trying to be economical i can maybe get 32...but thats with a knackered dpf and a host of other issues...it used to hit 55-57mpg quite frequently, but then it remembered who made it

Don't forget to factor in petrol is about 10p a litre cheaper than diesel.

 

[BrokenBiker]

Don't forget to factor in petrol is about 10p a litre cheaper than diesel.

Yes, thats a good point

 

[Migmac]

Theres the fun factor too, don’t forget.

 

[xstian]

I’ve been looking at a 2.4 Vitara for the mrs’s. She does gardening and uses a small box trailer. All her work is within 5-10min drive, so don’t want a modern diesel. It needs to tow 1.3 tons so it’s quite limiting to what’s available.

She currently uses a Forester, which had been 100% reliable, but it’s just starting to get a bit old now. I would get another Forester, but the new ones all look a bit nice to be carting around gardening tools etc.

Seems like rust and some optimistic pricing are the main things to look out for.

 

[Robotstar5]

From memory, the 2.4 auto can tow 1700kg, I've had a tonne of horse trailer on and I knew it was there, but generally I tow up to 500kg and it's fine.

 

[BrokenBiker]

From memory, the 2.4 auto can tow 1700kg, I've had a tonne of horse trailer on and I knew it was there, but generally I tow up to 500kg and it's fine.

View attachment 515298

Figure i found earlier was 1850kg from parkers based off the reg of the car im looking at, but realistically I only tow a small box trailer every now and then and once in a blue moon a 1580kg caravan but its only ever 1 way

 

[BrokenBiker]

so, all going well, im viewing it wednsday evening after work and if all goes really well, one of the lads in work is in the yard friday, as am i, so once we have finished he lives in the same area the car is in, so he is going to run me up to collect it if i buy it wednesday...if it turns out to be junk, i have another 2 worth looking at as well

 

[BrokenBiker]

Well, off to a great start...supposed to be viewing it tomorrow...now being ignored by the seller