Yes, I know it's not a Subaru but I have seen a couple of other non-Subie builds on this page before... At any rate it's not a 'cruiser!
This thread shall document the mods and adventures of my 2008 AUDM (yes it's a 2nd hand import) Suzuki Grand Vitara 2.4 JLX.
5-speed manual, 124 kW VVT DOHC IL4, ~1600 kg, 2:1 transfer case.
Crap ground clearance.
Now with snorkel.
Acquired this at the start of June to replace my smashed Forry. The Foz was a good car and I looked for an SH to replace it with, but I couldn't find one in my price range. This GV was brought over cheap by a mate of my father's and he offered it to me for a price I couldn't refuse (almost half what a manual SH with an EJ25 and similar kms would have cost - Suzuki's depreciate a lot faster than Subarus here!).
I jumped on this one because it was an AUDM model. This means it is identical to the NZ model - it has traction & stability control, the 4-mode 4wd system, cruise control and 6 airbags. The JDM 'Escudo' imports have two airbags, ABS only and no cruise control. As such they're crap offroad (no TC to limit diagonal wheelspin).
I suspect this vehicle was written off in a hailstorm in Aus, fixed and imported. It looks perfect until you see the sizeable dents in the roof... Doesn't bother me because I can't see the roof usually.
Eventual plans are to get the towbar tucked up, and fit a 45mm Ironman lift and skid plates. This probably won't happen for quite some time (finances).
The snorkel was the mod I made first (apart from 225/70r17 Dueler 697 AT tyres, slightly larger than the 225/65r17 OEM) as I plan to drive this thing around the easier 4wd tracks in Otago over the summer, including to Macetown.
Some pics below.
This afternoon up the peninsula, beautiful 25 degree day here (usual temp would be 15 degrees in Dunedin).
Overall I'm pretty happy with the snorkel, looks good and (hopefully) works well. Certainly sounds the business with the windows down and right foot planted! I have a vacuum leak somewhere though, rpm decreased but it didn't stall when I put my hand over the top. That's for a fortnight's time anyway, off hunting this weekend (= offroad video?).
This thread shall document the mods and adventures of my 2008 AUDM (yes it's a 2nd hand import) Suzuki Grand Vitara 2.4 JLX.
5-speed manual, 124 kW VVT DOHC IL4, ~1600 kg, 2:1 transfer case.
Crap ground clearance.
Now with snorkel.
Acquired this at the start of June to replace my smashed Forry. The Foz was a good car and I looked for an SH to replace it with, but I couldn't find one in my price range. This GV was brought over cheap by a mate of my father's and he offered it to me for a price I couldn't refuse (almost half what a manual SH with an EJ25 and similar kms would have cost - Suzuki's depreciate a lot faster than Subarus here!).
I jumped on this one because it was an AUDM model. This means it is identical to the NZ model - it has traction & stability control, the 4-mode 4wd system, cruise control and 6 airbags. The JDM 'Escudo' imports have two airbags, ABS only and no cruise control. As such they're crap offroad (no TC to limit diagonal wheelspin).
I suspect this vehicle was written off in a hailstorm in Aus, fixed and imported. It looks perfect until you see the sizeable dents in the roof... Doesn't bother me because I can't see the roof usually.
Eventual plans are to get the towbar tucked up, and fit a 45mm Ironman lift and skid plates. This probably won't happen for quite some time (finances).
The snorkel was the mod I made first (apart from 225/70r17 Dueler 697 AT tyres, slightly larger than the 225/65r17 OEM) as I plan to drive this thing around the easier 4wd tracks in Otago over the summer, including to Macetown.
Some pics below.
This afternoon up the peninsula, beautiful 25 degree day here (usual temp would be 15 degrees in Dunedin).
Overall I'm pretty happy with the snorkel, looks good and (hopefully) works well. Certainly sounds the business with the windows down and right foot planted! I have a vacuum leak somewhere though, rpm decreased but it didn't stall when I put my hand over the top. That's for a fortnight's time anyway, off hunting this weekend (= offroad video?).