there is a high possibility that i will leave the zuki world cos i am gonna be most probbaly changing my little sidekick 5 door.
Reason is that it is currently doing 16mpg, and costing me about $50-$60 a week to run i sent it to the suzuki agents for my country for a full engine test, and they told me it is in perfect condition ohwell, another reason is the fact it is petrol, i would rather have a diesel, and also the fact that it skids waaaay too much on roads for me, infact last time i did 2 180 degree spins on a main road, very scary, and i am lucky id didn't crash and kil someone

another reason is cos it is now 11 years old, has a leaded engine, and no catilitic convertor, soooo how much longer it has on the road, i am not sure

will keep u guys updated on what happens, one thing forsure is if i do change it, i sure wuld miss it

Don't they have diesel fuel Vitaras in your country?  Also, what do you mean you are doing 180 degree spins?  What kind of roads are you driving on and under what conditions?

they have diesel zukis, but i don't like the look of the new ones, and if i get one it has to be 5 door, and the 5 door old style are rare over here.
As for the skids i was driving in 4 wheel drive at 45km/h, it had just drizzled,  and i took such a slight bend and before i knew it i did a 180 degree spin, tried to counter act it, and it just spun round completely, and i kept skidding into the pavement, at least no damage, the road i was on was a huge main road(about 8 lanes wide in all!!!!) The roads here are crap, they use limestone in the tarmac instad of granite, so it wars down quickly and becomes slippery when wet. But also in dry weather i have has some nasty skids. My tires still have plenty of grip, so i aint that.

another reason is cos it is now 11 years old, has a leaded engine, and no catilitic convertor,

Wow, we havn't had lead burning/non-convertor cars in over 30 years.

It's been like 20-25 years sence leaded gas went away.

You can run unleaded gas anyway.  The lead is only used as an additive to boost the octane.

Yes, I know in the olden days you needed leaded gas or your enging wouldn't last.  That was only because of the rough machined valve guides.  They didn't know the lead acted like a lub for the valves untill the lead went away.  So all they did was hone out the guides better/finer and got rid of the problem.

for the skidding dont run in 4wd on wet pavement   no reason to...lower ur tire pressure to about 25psi will help ALOT

as far as teh leaded gas my car is a 91 never seen leaded gas runs fine

the gas milage..not much u can do its a box on wheels so u really have to rev it to get it going drop in a k$n maybe an exh. setup might help because ull have more power lower in the power band ( helped mine)

if u really want to sell the car what do u plan to buy in its place??

This is just hard to believe!  My "5-door" gets 28 mpg all the time.  And that's pushing it HARD up and down the mountains, every day!

well i decided to keep it, lead is used in petrol to soften the fuel, and protect the valves and pistons, , if you use unleaded, then these parts would ware out quicker, unleaded engines hve tougher componants to deal with the lack of lead.

As for the wet driving, i alwas keep my tires at 20-25 PSi, the reason for the skidding is apparently the tires i am running, wrangler RT/S, they are crap on wet roads, if i don't use 4wd when it is raining, then the rear constantly slides out for me

u dont NEED leaded gas...just dont plain and simple dont let anyone tell u any different cali hassent run leaded in like 20 years lol

u need to check ur 02 sensor my 02 is bad and i have crappy gas milage

how do you check the O2 senser?  just wandering.

stu

i have no idea lol but i know u can...i had mine tested when it was in the shop before..plus it smells like it runs rich so that is kind of a give away..yes yes i know im getting it fixed

If your truck actally is Fuel Injected and you are burning leaded fuel the O2 sensor is likely fouled.
I am  guessing that Suzuki would likly just make one engine and just add the needed smog parts for the country
of destination.  So the non-lead issue could be a non-issue.

i sent it in to the suzuki importer for a full engine test, and they said it is all in perfect working order. As for the o2 sensor, that was a option in the engine, a option mine doesn't have. (it says option in the manual) i looked al over the manifold for one and there ain't one