'The Swamp Monster' Grand Vitara Site

In 2003 we purchased a Jeep Cherokee, our first ever 4x4 - and we swore as we had a 4x4 we had to at least take it off the beaten track once. Well that's just what we did and had so much fun, we were hooked - and it was then that we decided to look for a cheap Off-Roader to have some muddy fun with, as well as keeping the Cherokee as the family vehicle.

That cheap Off-Roader was a Suzuki SJ which we acquired in 2004 - it was a project vehicle that needed the final touches adding to make it roadworthy. The Suzuki boasted 31 inch Tyres and a Spring-over-Axle Suspension lift - making it one very Capable little 4x4, when it came to tackling the slippery stuff. The SJ was great fun on a number of Off-Road Fundays and Green Lane Trips - however after a series of problems, we decided that the time had come to upgrade to a new Off-Roader!

It was whilst at the 4X4 Magazine Show at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire that we noticed a modified Land Rover Discovery for sale -  and we just had to buy it of course! It would be this Land Rover Discovery that would be christened 'The Swamp Monster' - with a 2 inch Suspension Lift, roaring V8 and again 31 inch Tyres, another very capable Off-Road machine!

'The Swamp Monster' gave us never ending fun in the mud throughout the ten months that we owned her - but in July 2006, 'The Swamp Monster' met her unfortunate end - and was written off in a road accident!

The old Discovery was replaced with a standard Discovery - to act as family car and tow vehicle, meaning we were left with no 4x4 to use for off-roading. After a short break from the Off-Roading Scene, we acquired another Off-Roader in August 2006. A Mitsubishi Shogun, that was in a 'Project-State', having been standing for several years. As a Project, we transformed the tired Mitsubishi into a roadworthy Off-Roader - and once completed, we then resumed Off-Roading.

The next chapter in our Off-Road history was in June 2007, when as well as the Mitsubishi Shogun and Land Rover Discovery - we acquired another 4x4 to join our line-up. The little Suzuki Jimny acts as an economical runabout and also spare vehicle, should anything happen to one of the others!

Towards the end of 2007, things were moving on again. The Mitsubishi Shogun had failed it's MOT and we decided to look for a new off-road toy to replace it. Initially we were looking for either a lifted Jeep or a modified V8 Land Rover again, but after two months of searching (and a two month break from off-roading!) we eventually found a Suzuki Grand Vitara on Ebay. A Grand Vitara wasn't exactly a V8 Landy, but this particular Suzuki caught our eye - it was heavily modified, it was at a reasonable price and it was also local!

In April 2008, the (former) Land Rover Discovery was sold - leaving us with both the Suzuki Grand Vitara and the Suzuki Jimny, which we have decided to keep for the time-being. The Grand Vitara has performed well off the beaten track so far and will hopefully provide us with many more months content Off-Roading!

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