EoTR: Jimmy jaunt in Jobbo's jewel of a Jimny
Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2024 12:12 pm
A very generous offer of the use of the Jimny while the 535d's autobox was in bits has come to an end. I'm actually quite gutted to give it back.
The Jimny reminds me of the Mk1 MX5. They're similarly mechanical, analogue and engaging. It's charming and fun at a licence friendly speed. I've previously driven it through fields and down green lanes and was also surprised at how capable it was there.
Fuel economy was a bit rubbish. Partly it's because it's an old engine and partly because with only 12 bhp, it needed to be caned a bit. It's also tiny! I found myself having to drive with the drivers window down to fit my shoulders in. Fortunately, the heater is bloody marvellous! Filling the car with my kids (a 6 foot 15 year old, an 18 year old built like the nightmare fuelled offspring of a racing snake and daddy longlegs and an average sized 11 year old) was like the old "How many people can you fit in a Mini" challenge. Fitting a few rucksacks in the boot was... well, it's not really a boot. More a place to put a couple of pairs of wellies.
NVH? YES! PLENTY, THANKS!
The biggest challenge was the fact that the indicators were on the wrong side. There was a touch of accidental wiper usage. Surprisingly going back to a manuel after a couple of years of auto boxes was quite easy. I imagine switching regularly between similar cars with different gearboxes would be much harder to adapt to but Luxobarge to tiny 4x4 wasn't too bad.
Conclusion? It's great and everyone should have one, perhaps with the engine from a Swift sport shoehorned in.
The Jimny reminds me of the Mk1 MX5. They're similarly mechanical, analogue and engaging. It's charming and fun at a licence friendly speed. I've previously driven it through fields and down green lanes and was also surprised at how capable it was there.
Fuel economy was a bit rubbish. Partly it's because it's an old engine and partly because with only 12 bhp, it needed to be caned a bit. It's also tiny! I found myself having to drive with the drivers window down to fit my shoulders in. Fortunately, the heater is bloody marvellous! Filling the car with my kids (a 6 foot 15 year old, an 18 year old built like the nightmare fuelled offspring of a racing snake and daddy longlegs and an average sized 11 year old) was like the old "How many people can you fit in a Mini" challenge. Fitting a few rucksacks in the boot was... well, it's not really a boot. More a place to put a couple of pairs of wellies.
NVH? YES! PLENTY, THANKS!
The biggest challenge was the fact that the indicators were on the wrong side. There was a touch of accidental wiper usage. Surprisingly going back to a manuel after a couple of years of auto boxes was quite easy. I imagine switching regularly between similar cars with different gearboxes would be much harder to adapt to but Luxobarge to tiny 4x4 wasn't too bad.
Conclusion? It's great and everyone should have one, perhaps with the engine from a Swift sport shoehorned in.
