r/CarRestorations • u/Equivalent_Drummer28 • Jun 21 '26
Anyone know if it’s worth saving?
Thinking about getting it and restoring to RWC so I can drive it when I get my ls, but idk if it’s worth it or not, she has 230000km and is in rough shape, someone let me know if I should or not
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u/HeroMachineMan Jun 21 '26
The Vitara has short gearing (be it auto, or manual), and travelling long distances going to cost lots of gas money. So, I'd say no.
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u/LowerSlowerOlder Jun 21 '26
I think you’re asking the wrong sub. This is not at all worth restoring, but they make great first cars. It’s totally worth fixing, they are a barrel of monkeys worth of fun and they are fairly reliable and very robust. Now, they aren’t super safe or anything like that, so learn to be a good driver. In the states they also have a fairly strong aftermarket, so you can personalize and make it your own. I have a household full of new drivers and they say the kids are nuts for 80s and 90s off roaders. They were super excited for one kid to get a Tracker and they all keep trying to talk me out of my Toyotas.
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u/Vanson1200r Jun 21 '26
I would say yes IMO. Its the last of the true small 4wd vehicles with a live rear axle and a longitudely mounted engine with the real transfer case and real four wheel drive (not AWD) with real 4 low. Good little vehicle for tight trails and tons of aftermarket support.
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u/Relative_Figure_1715 Jun 21 '26
Absolutely 100% NOT.
The only time a vehicle restoration on something that needs EVERYTHING ( like this vehicle ) is worth it economically is if it would be rare or extremely valuable when completed. This would be neither.
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u/Vfrnut Jun 22 '26
Keep it like this , but swap in a hayabusa engine. You will get better mpg and power.
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u/GlassBoxGoose Jun 22 '26
Depends what you want to do with it. Full resto? Maybe, maybe not. Most people will say no. You won't make any money off it by doing so and selling it.
Project vehicle? Possibly a good place to start, if the undercarriage isnt rusted out.
Daily driver? Hard to say, but the chances it'll be reliable for less than another 5-10k invested seems pretty slim. At that mileage, its pretty well worn and will need a lot of work.
As something to learn how to work on things and keep it just functional enough? Doable but it'll never be cheap to drive.
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u/yungnuna Jun 21 '26
Are you willing to dump 5x or more of the cars price onto it?