2018 Suzuki Jimny SZ5 1.5 4x4 – as seen on The Late Brake Show
56
Winning bid
£27,000
2018 Suzuki Jimny SZ5 1.5 4x4 – as seen on The Late Brake Show
***Images supplied by vendor***
Highlights
The first privately registered new Jimny in the UK
Extensively featured on The Late Brake Show YouTube channel
Numerous tasteful modifications and accessories
Extensively anti-corrosion protected
The Appeal
Renowned for its off-road ability, reliability and funky styling, the Jimny has long been a trusted companion of the country set, with the new retro influenced 'JB74' model proving an immediate hit amongst urban motorists since its arrival in late 2018, early 2019.
With chunky styling and honest utilitarian design, there became an instant two year waiting list and cult appeal to the new Jimny. This example was the very first privately owned new Jimny in the UK, acquired after motoring journalist and TV presenter (ex Fifth Gear, now full time YouTuber) Jonny Smith badgered Suzuki into letting him order one as a surprise Christmas present for his wife. There is an accompanying letter from Suzuki PR manager Alun Parry explaining that this is one of the very first UK examples.
Familiar to any fans of successful YouTube channel The Late Brake Show, it’s been meticulously cared for and carefully modified to create what is, in our eyes, the ultimate modern Jimny.
The History and Paperwork
The first privately owned new Jimny in the UK (after the Suzuki press fleet)
First registered on 21 December 2018
One owner from new serviced solely by the Suzuki UK press vehicle department
MOT to December 2022
Highest specification SZ5 model
Numerous optional extras and modifications
All modifications are ‘bolt-on’ and easily reversed
Original parts included in the sale
Star of a number of YouTube episodes
Never taken off-road
The Interior
Extra stowage accessories and cup holders
Original branded rubber mats and carpet mats
Electric mirrors and door mirrors
Air conditioning
Front and rear screen demisters
Cruise control
Heated front seats
7” touchscreen system
Sat-nav, CD, Bluetooth connectivity, DAB Radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
Optional extra hinged boot box (not pictured)
With chunky controls, practical cloth upholstery and easily cleaned surfaces, this little 4x4’s cabin styling matches the promise of the exterior
But that’s not to say it’s in any way spartan, as the range-topping SZ5 it’s also replete with all the features and niceties you could want.
On top of this, Jonny and his wife have made a number of practical and stylish upgrades to the interior. These include:
Leather 'Geordie Jimny' interior door handle covers: British hand-crafted and embossed
Door handle grip storage pockets that use the existing holes, are foam lined and made from matching OEM plastic
Centre console storage tray, which includes a cup holder and rubber mats
Bolt-on drinks holder with 3 mounting positions and an OEM design
Accessory dash top tidy (above the instrument binnacle)
All of these additions are completely reversible, should the new owner wish to remove or change any of them.It should be noted that this Jimny has not been squirrelled away, it has been used as a daily driver and for the school run. As such there are one or two minor blemishes and scratches to some of the interior trim, but these are only very light and consistent with the car’s age and mileage.
All of the interior fabrics, the carpets and headlining are in excellent condition, with no evidence of tears or staining. Similarly, the driving controls, switchgear and instruments all present well, with no real signs of use and certainly no notable wear or damage.
American Racing ‘Baja AR172' polished 16 x 8J wheels with all-terrain General Grabber AT3 tyres
Original wheels and tyres included (and immaculate)
Optional factory-fit 'Suzuki script' honeycomb grille (unused standard grille included in sale)
Rear-mounted spare wheel
Factory-fitted privacy glass
Factory optional differential guards
Factory option removable tow bar kit
The new Jimny already benefits from chunky styling and smart detailing, but that has been augmented with a number of excellent styling and practical modifications to give the little Suzuki the look of a life-size Tamiya R/C model.
Alongside the factory options, such as the mudflaps and towbar kit, the exterior has been subject to all manner of styling tweaks that have been carried out on a rolling basis throughout Jonny’s ownership. These include:
Within hours of picking up the Jimny, the chassis was rust-protected using Bilt-Hamber products.
G-Wagen style L.E.D rear light units supplied by Jimny Style
Front Runner Slimline II tray roof rack with 2 x bicycle mounts and 1 x adveture hard box
4 x Rigid 360 Series spot lights (8,600 raw lumens aluminium housing, 4-inch, yellow backlit)
Misutonida 63mm front bull bar (replacing the OEM silver plastic bumper cladding that's included in the sale - hence the front bumper mounting holes)
Heavy Duty tubular sill Rock Sliders from Jimny Bits
Front Runner rear ladder made (powder coated 3CR12 steel, with slip-resistant rubber steps)
EGR bonnet wind/bug dark smoked bonnet deflector supplied by Truckman
LED clear side repeaters by Jimny Style, E-marked for European conformity (originals included in sale)
Heated rear-window protective guards
Magnetic door keyhole protectors
New wheels were fitted: American Racing 'Baja' AR172 in 16 x 8J (0mm offset)
Wheels are shod with General Grabber AT3 tyres in 215/70/16
The original wheels and tyres are included, and have covered approximately 15,000 miles
Full paint correction and detailing by Nuovo Detailing using Carbon Collective products - including a two-stage machine polish, ceramic coating, Molecule topped with Nero for up to 7 years durability, platinum treatments to the glass, wheels and trim Once the decision was made to sell the Jimny, it was sent back to Nuovo Detailing for a final detail, plus minor dent and scratch repair, to make it completely ready for sale. The work undertaken includes:
Full decontamination
Localised correction polishing
Paintwork topped with new Carbon Collective Molecule Light Coating
Wheels Polished and topped with Platinum Wheels
Minor scratch touch ups
Minor paintless dent removal on the rear pillar
Small scratch repair and new paintwork to the roof, which was topped with Molecule and Nero again
With all this work having been carried out, the paintwork, underside, trim and wheels are as close to flawless as possible.
There is no evidence of damage or corrosion to the paintwork. The Bluish Black Pearl paintwork has been treated to the best possible preservation, which is set off by those polished Baja wheels.
For in-depth details of the work carried out, please see the video links at the end of this listing.
The Mechanics
1,462cc 4-cylinder 16-valve
ALLGRIP selectable 4-wheel drive system
5-speed manual transmission
Benefitting from Suzuki’s 100bhp 1.5-litre petrol engine, combined with the factory 4-wheel drive system, the new Jimny is an eminently capable little car. Mechanically it remains completely stock and unmodified, and is all the better for it in our opinion.
This example has never been taken off-road, having been used as daily family transport. But should the new owner wish to take it into the rough stuff, the car has everything it needs to tackle whatever comes its way. With a selectable 4x4 system and low-ratio box, there’s not much that will stop it.
The Jimny has been exceptionally well cared for, as shown by the extremely clean engine bay and running gear. There are no mechanical malfunctions or signs of wear, and the Jimny has been subjected to the required manufacturer recalls.
The car drives just as you’d expect for a separate body/chassis 4x4, but has been reported to handle a little better since the addition of these wheel and tyre combination. The suspension remains factory.
SERVICE DETAILS: 12 month service @ 8,625 miles = 13/12/19 24 month service @ 13,394 miles = 26/01/21 36 month service @ 20,315 miles = 3/02/22 (recalls carried out at this time)
2 x keys and numerous documents and delivery tags/print outs retained for the service records.
Summary
If you’re a fan of Jonny or The Late Brake Show youtube channel, you’ll already know this car very well indeed.
Meticulously attended to, lavished with care and benefitting from some choice modifications inside and out, this must be one of the most sorted Jimny’s in the country. Add in the fact that it was the first ever new Jimny to be privately registered in the UK, and you have something truly unique.
Of course, you can no longer buy this spec of new Jimny in the UK, so if you want a sterling example of the breed, this could well be it.
For more detailed information on this car and the extensive work that has been carried out on it, watch The Late Brake Show episodes on the links below.
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