What puzzles me is why you feel "it's not that easy".

I've no experience with the roads in Joburg, but I am very familiar with "stealth potholes", I've owned a Swift, not the current Sport, but the OG Swift GTi, which was lowered, etc., etc., etc., so I'd say I have a good idea of the driving experience you're looking for.

I now drive a Jimny, we have both the three door (JB74) and the five door (JC74), assuming you don't need frequent rear seat access, go with the JB74 with the five speed manual transmission, and put some decent tyres on it, you'll find it quite zippy and manouveurable.

 

Thanks for your reply.

I know only English, and I’m probably not very good at it if I didn’t get across why I feel “it’s not that easy”. So I’m afraid I can’t really articulate my idea in a more easily understood manner.

I’ll take your point though. Maybe you can help me understand how much closer to tractability, handling, speed, and the highly subjective fun factor a change of tyres will get a Jimny to a Swift Sport.

Thanks again.

 

English is my native language, so there is no "language barrier" or mistranslation" here. The only reason why it could be "not that easy", is if you can't get a test drive, much less back to back test drives.

Call the nearest dealer, see if they have a three door Jimny, preferably with the five speed manual and if they do, book a test drive - I'm sure you'll find it quite enjoyable. You may find it's a little skittish on uneven surfaces, this is to be expected, it's live axled front & rear, this is where a better tyre comes in - I swapped out the OEM Dunlop highway terrains for an all terrain pattern in a 215/75R15 size and that was enough to make my wife & daughter happy.

The Jimny is not going to go around a corner like it's "on velcro", which is what my old GTi was like (picture going into an S bend half a car length behind an Evolution Lancer and coming out half a length ahead), but, it's also a lot easier on my back than the GTi was, and the important thing, the fun factor is very much there.

 

Thanks. You’ve actually made this really easy.

 

You're welcome.