Back in 2004, after working near the airport for about 6 months, i realized it was high time I get my own ride. Mandaluyong to Villamor is hellofa long way and the MRT gets really crowded during rush hour.
Back then, I was looking for something that was functional but reasonably priced. My first choice was actually the Chevy Aveo as I love hatches. I remember it was only 595k for the AT model. When I went to show it to my bro at GM Shaw (first saw the Aveo at GM Q.Ave), I glanced across this cute little 4x4 and instantly fell in love.
I couldnt take my mind off of it eventhough it was a bit off my budget. I eventually got to test drive this beauty and bang... I bought it 3 days later.
The jimny was probably one of the last things i wanted. i was more into cars. Having no more thrill with my mitsubishi lancer GSR...aka my mobile motel hahaha, was in search for another ride. I've always liked 2 door vehicles.
wanted to be different. (in short a poser)
it chanced upon me during an MRT ride to araneta to watch the DLSU-ADMU UAAP game back in 02. Upon passing Pilhino, i vaguely saw the jimny peeping out from the display window.
Curious, i went back there the next day and took a look at it.
Was love at first sight.
It was cramp yes, but then i was single that time.
Test rode it and was a believer...
sold the GSR in a few weeks time and the same day i sold it we got the beige jimny.
Twas a head turner. Tipong WTF??
Maybe too much of a head turner that on my 1st week, driving home to Alabang via SLEX, a huge rock was thrown at the windshield. The 3M tint prevented the tempered galss from splattering on my GF.
Took long changing that windshield since the jimny was new then.
But soon she was back to normal. Good thing no body damage.
First thing i changed was the pathetic horn. Then the slippery tyres w/c offered little traction in muddy backroads.
Saw the outlets for foglamps and scouted for taiwanese brands (much much cheaper) which fitted the bumper.
Added a roofrack (w/c i never seem to use anyway)....changed the clarion sound system...even tried changing the steering wheel but there was no BOSS kit or MOMO kit for this. The vitara kits would not work.
Installed a third rear light on the lower left of the rear bumper (gastado na)
The other mods i mentioned na.
But alas, nothing is perfect,..
the first problems i had came after a rigorous trail ride to Sagada ... one of the bolts i think of the front sway/stabilizer bar came off.....which was easily remedied of course.
Replacing the battery too was a hassle =)
Had someone punch the 3rd foor and kick it also (most probably from Rufino Tower)... (if only it had the same toughness as its SJ or samurai elders..)
But that is it. never had any (knock on wood) mechanical problem at all.
Things to watch out for?
Airconditioning unit. In the long run, the 02 model i got aint as powerful as i thought it would be, so ensure you have it cleaned maybe every 6 months at least, especially with the heat.
The automatic window driver side is starting to screw up.
I also had a broken oil dipstick of all things.
I also hate the absence of a low fuel indicator but then we shouldn't even depend on that.
and thats it!! now, my wife is convinving me to sell it because hindi naman talaga sya pang pamilya.
The jimny, in all its cuteness is a true 4x4 off roader capable of besting many other so-called 4x4 offroaders, pickups, SUVs, etc....even in its stock form.
SULIT NA SULIT TALAGA ANG SUZUKI JIMNY!!
PS - earlier last year, was on the verge of purchasing a 250k open top suzuki jimny circa 80s ...... a bright yellow one !!! Ended up with a street bike instead.
like eyesman i also ride a bike. many times, i like riding my motorcycle for fairly long distances solo. it's the closest thing to freedom for me...no roof, no doors, pavement literally just a step down. but it's a little crazy to ride really long distances without at least one buddy with you just in case the unforseen happens. the problem with bikes is that you can't leave them by the roadside if it conks out so you either have to call for help or push the damn thing for miles all by yourself or hail a jeepney and pay $$$ to load your bike and bring it back to manila.
but i'm not about to give up going solo on long trips just because of that. so what's the closest thing to a motorcycle that i can bring cross-country? it's this silver thingy i just bought recently. it's short like a motorcycle. it can pass through narrow rural roads with ease like a motorcycle. it can't carry much cargo like a motorcycle. but unlike a motorcycle, this silver thingy is air-conditioned! when i got it, the first thing i did was to drive from manila to subic for breakfast and then to san felipe zambales for lunch and dinner and then to manila for gas and then to cavite for a midnight snack.
i think i'm going to have lots of fun with my jimny.
Last July of 2004, my dad and i had a big fight. we didn't speak nor see each other for almost a month. one day, he texted me, asking me to fix the errands in our office. i texted back, and apologize for what happened, he said forget about it and admitted that it was somehow his fault. ahehehehe . . . . but, i didn't meet him right after that exchange of texts.
i bought a C! magazine, with a cover texts saying cars below 599k, for sale! I browsed the mag, and saw the honda jazz. but i figured out, i already have a car, i want something that i can park anywhere, drive thru the hustling and bustling roads of our beloved country, will not mind the potholes and floods, and voila, the suzuki jimny was featured too!
I know what you are thinking, but no. I did not see my dad first. ahehehe . . . i called up GM autoworld asked for the price of the jlx model, and financing schemes.
Now i am prepared.
Then i went to my dad's office. I was just there reading the magazine pretending nothing is on my mind. He approached me and asked what i was reading, being a car fanatic he is, i am sure he will not resist reading the mag. While browsing the mag, i told him about the cars for sale under 599k. Then he said, why don't you get a jimny, you are having trouble with the fuel consumption of your car di ba (a benz, 123, 280E)? I replied yes, but i have no means of getting a new one (naks!), and i won't sell my benz. Then he uttered the magic word, sige, call them up and inquire. "No need, i already have the terms for financing and for cash. I already talked to your bank about it and your credit is approved", i said.
September 7, 2004, i already have a brand new Suzuki Jimny JLX manual.
I really wanted the Jimny even before it was launched in the country. I saw the pictures in a singaporean 4x4 magazine. Then I saw one in Greenhills!! I loved it instantly.
went to the GM Autoworld dealership but ended up getting a CHEVROLET (OPEL) ZAFIRA instead since I had 2 small kids that time with 2 strollers!!
In 2006, The kids are now old and I do not need the car space, I sold that ZAFIRA and got myself a JIMNY!!!! at last!!!
When my dad bought the jimny back in 2003 I had just learned to drive and he wouldnt let me touch it
In 2004, at about this time while I was taking summer classes, he suggested that it was the perfect time to go solo. (usually, I drive to school but have somebody with me to drive the jimny back home, hehe) Up to now, the Jimny is my ride of choice, even though I get to use the Focus. Its just the right size for the Metro-roads that sometimes feel very off-road. (But sometimes I wish I can go faster)
Last year, on the Jimny's first maintainance check (yes, last year) my dad had secretly decided on having a couple of accessories installed: a spoiler, front and rear mud guards, a pair of step-boards and fog lamps. A few months later, I got hit at the foot of the makati-mandaluyong bridge by a jeepney in the outerlane turning left to JP Rizal. Apperently, his breaks died on him. The jeep sustained no damage, but I got a big dent on the rear corner of the passenger side. (Curious? See Attachment) When it hit, it sounded like someone stepping on an empty plastic bottle.
When it was sent for repairs, (not in Philhino, because it would cost too much) we had the bottom half painted a different color, so now the top part has the original gold/beige color and the lower half is silver. When the color choice was explained to me, I thought they'd use a darker, almost gray color, but it turned out to be almost like the silver jimny.
Anyway, I still like it and thats all that matters.
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