Bye bye VW

[The Blue Merle]

So I’ve finally left the VW fold after over a decade of only VWs (apart from a work 110hardtop)
Golf’s, transporters, Calis, westy jokers, and finally a kombi.
VWs have just gone silly with prices (market demand so why not) and servicing costs.

So I finally jumped ship and bought the cheapest new 4x4 van you can get in the uk.
Found a great dealer in Inverness that was selling one at book price and even chucked in a few extras for free (pretty much every other dealer in uk selling way over book price).

Even rarer than a cali or joker and has better residuals (not that it mattered).

Last clue it looks and feels like a little Landy defender (hopefully without the frozen inside windscreen in winter!).

Im hoping to return to VWs grips in the future (not bashing as have loved owning VWs).

Will still be camping/stealth park ups in the little van.
Anyone who didn’t workout what I bought see pic.

Enjoy your adventures you jammy VW owners!

 

[scottk]

I really like the Suzuki but as you say the prices are high. Depreciation nearly as good as the Cali!

 

[Cali Phillip]

So I’ve finally left the VW fold after over a decade of only VWs (apart from a work 110hardtop)
Golf’s, transporters, Calis, westy jokers, and finally a kombi.
VWs have just gone silly with prices (market demand so why not) and servicing costs.

So I finally jumped ship and bought the cheapest new 4x4 van you can get in the uk.
Found a great dealer in Inverness that was selling one at book price and even chucked in a few extras for free (pretty much every other dealer in uk selling way over book price).

Even rarer than a cali or joker and has better residuals (not that it mattered).

Last clue it looks and feels like a little Landy defender (hopefully without the frozen inside windscreen in winter!).

Im hoping to return to VWs grips in the future (not bashing as have loved owning VWs).

Will still be camping/stealth park ups in the little van.
Anyone who didn’t workout what I bought see pic.

Enjoy your adventures you jammy VW owners!View attachment 110825View attachment 110826

Looks great and a good for wood trailers for logs. Nice stacking

 

[Vagophile]

Don't let it stop you posting pics of Zeb.

 

[soulstyledevon]

Congratulations great little things.
Get a James Baroud for the roof

 

[The Blue Merle]

Don't let it stop you posting pics of Zeb.

I’m hoping we can get a other vans section on the forum page,
I know it’s a Cali forum but lots of ex owners now with westys, hymer etc who are top posters on here.
If not then will keep posting on the dog section.
Great forum and don’t intend leaving, I may get another Cali or joker in the future.
Not sure Zeb is that pleased with losing the luxury of the whole back bench of the kombi/joker/cali set up!

Local bump, and a neighbour has a cool tour business with these!

 

[Alied]

I drove a few of these off of the ship the other day as they come through Portbury docks. This chap had a Jimny first https://www.youtube.com/@RoamOverlanding

 

[The Blue Merle]

Congratulations great little things.
Get a James Baroud for the roof

May get a roof tent but restricted on weight as it’s between 30kg-50kg on a jimny for stability issues.
Would have to be oex lightest I’ve seen at 37kg or Frontrunner 43kg there’s a great forum page thing for them, called bigjimny (geordie jimny camping ) he’s tried pretty much every set up for camping has youtube channel too.

 

[The Blue Merle]

Looks great and a good for wood trailers for logs. Nice stacking

Double sided store main section faces south to season quicker, made from plasterboard delivery pallets

 

[EuropeanVanderlust]

I love the look of the Jimmy (never driven one)- I joke with my husband that I should get rid of my Audi Q5 and get a Jimmy for going to town and such. Enjoy!

 

[andyinluton]

Love the Jimny, if they were available at a sensible price I would have one in a shot.

 

[Cwcltd]

Twisted are working on a Jimny.

Twisted Jimny

 

[andyinluton]

Twisted are working on a Jimny.

Twisted Jimny

£60k though, I know car prices have gone mad but that’s absolutely insane.

 

[66tim99]

So I’ve finally left the VW fold after over a decade of only VWs (apart from a work 110hardtop)
Golf’s, transporters, Calis, westy jokers, and finally a kombi.
VWs have just gone silly with prices (market demand so why not) and servicing costs.

So I finally jumped ship and bought the cheapest new 4x4 van you can get in the uk.
Found a great dealer in Inverness that was selling one at book price and even chucked in a few extras for free (pretty much every other dealer in uk selling way over book price).

Even rarer than a cali or joker and has better residuals (not that it mattered).

Last clue it looks and feels like a little Landy defender (hopefully without the frozen inside windscreen in winter!).

Im hoping to return to VWs grips in the future (not bashing as have loved owning VWs).

Will still be camping/stealth park ups in the little van.
Anyone who didn’t workout what I bought see pic.

Enjoy your adventures you jammy VW owners!View attachment 110825View attachment 110826

Love a Jimny but never driven one! I just know they are cheap, robust, lightweight and Gordon Murray drives one so they must be good…

 

[sidepod]

Last Suzook jeep I saw was currently being fitted with a Merc G wagon engine/tranny. Nice kit.

 

[Vagophile]

I’m hoping we can get a other vans section on the forum page,

Why would there be a problem when you are a lifetime V.I.P. member? Just put "looking to buy" for vehicle.
As an aside, Greece is full of Jimnys, a very popular hire vehicle.

 

[pjm-84]

I moved my business pool car away from VW to Volvo. It was becoming like Harry "I saw you coming" and Volvo Business sales were like a breath of fresh air.

 

[larrylamb]

Great motor and log store. Cottage looks smart.

 

[westfalia]

A mini G wagon, they look good

 

[The Blue Merle]

Love the Jimny, if they were available at a sensible price I would have one in a shot.

Just seen the Falkirk Suzuki dealer has dropped his white one to nearly book price.
With the vat included they are just under £21k maybe a touch more for metallic paint.

Dicksons Suzuki Inverness were great paid book price and had £250 of extra thrown in for free, and a full tank of fuel

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Just seen the Falkirk Suzuki dealer has dropped his white one to nearly book price.
With the vat included they are just under £21k maybe a touch more for metallic paint.

Dicksons Suzuki Inverness were great paid book price and had £250 of extra thrown in for free, and a full tank of fuel

Alot more expensive down South…

 

[The Blue Merle]

Why would there be a problem when you are a lifetime V.I.P. member? Just put "looking to buy" for vehicle.
As an aside, Greece is full of Jimnys, a very popular hire vehicle.

I like posting my parkup travel/adventures on here and not sure how a little jimny trips would go down on Cali forum.
Have asked kev if he can do other van section on here for all us ex cali owner

 

[The Blue Merle]

Alot more expensive down South…

View attachment 110876

Ah you are looking at the 4seater car version only made them for two years and they are crazy prices!
Suzuki had to stop making them due to high emissions and very few cars/models being sold in the uk (manufactures have emission targets).

They got round it by producing my little two seat LCV commercial vehicles have different rules.
Dealers are selling them for £24k-£27k pre reg instead of the book price of £21k (ish) including vat figures

 

[The Blue Merle]

£5k mark up on book price and pre reg!

 

[JaneJ]

May get a roof tent but restricted on weight as it’s between 30kg-50kg on a jimny for stability issues.
Would have to be oex lightest I’ve seen at 37kg or Frontrunner 43kg there’s a great forum page thing for them, called bigjimny (geordie jimny camping ) he’s tried pretty much every set up for camping has youtube channel too.

CInch have launched their new AirCruiser roof tent via Kickstarter. Info looks like weight is a little over 36kg.

Not cheap (or stealthy), but looks interesting.