When we purchased our Jimny as a content creation backup vehicle, we never understood what an amazing journey we had embarked on.
As bikers, we totally get people who are passionate about their rides. What we didn’t quite appreciate was that some cars elicit the same response from their owners. The Suzuki Jimny has attained cult car status in South Africa and elsewhere in the world. When we saw the response to our Jimny story both locally and internationally, it prompted us to start our Lifestyle section. It was clear to us that bikers enjoy wide open spaces, camping and adventure. The dirt bike boys invariably need to get their bikes to the ‘trailhead’, as the Yanks put it. Bakkies or vans then come into the equation.
ZA Bikers operates primarily out of Parkhurst in the Big Smoke. Yeah, we know the world is our beat, but even bikers need a base to operate from. Since owning the Jimny we tend to pay extra attention to other Jimnys. This is how we met Guy from Jimny Wild. Guy also lives in Parkhurst so little wonder that we regularly saw his pimped Jimny cruising the ‘burb. We hooked up with Guy to chat all things Jimny over a coffee.
When his wife Jemma (@jemmawildsafaristyled) got given a Jimny to do promo content creation for Suzuki SA, he too fell under the spell of this amazingly capable little 4×4.
When the time came to give Zazu back to Suzuki (Yes, they named the little Suzy), they found that they couldn’t bear the thought of doing life without Zazu, so a deal was made. Guy started thinking about how he could improve on an already good package. He started sourcing goodies for his Jimny and found that other Jimny owners wanted what he had. He saw a business opportunity and as a result, Jimny Wild was born.
“My first small consignment created quite a stir on the Jimny social media groups, before I knew it, I was ordering again. I knew that I was onto something. With the help of my very creative and artistic wife Jemma, the Jimny Wild brand was created and the first dedicated aftermarket Jimny accessories online store in South Africa was born.
“From that point forward, I was constantly looking for new products that I could offer to the Jimny community to make their vehicles that much more enjoyable. My Jimny became a mobile showroom and a place for me to install and test all the new products I was importing, to ensure that they performed the way that I advertised.
“It is very satisfying hearing how every customer is on their own journey with their Jimny and how they want to make it an extension of their own personality.
“From mall crawlers, and overlanders to extreme 4×4 enthusiasts who push their Jimnys to the limits, there are many different aftermarket parts that can be installed and I don’t believe there is a right or wrong way to style your own Jimny”, said Guy (Jimny Wild).
After researching Jimny Wild’s online shop, and seeing some very interesting products on display, we placed a few orders there and then.
First up, we got a fiendishly clever adjustable armrest that fits into the drink’s holder between the front seats. With the lid down, it functions as an armrest.
Open it up and you still have a place for drinks but also, you can wire up a multiple-socket USB port, which is neatly located inside the armrest.
Additionally, there is a compartment to store your phone, out of sight to passers-by. It is one of those things that makes you wonder why such a thing didn’t come standard. Should you want to keep it closed as an armrest, you’ll need alternative drink holders.
Jimny Wild have a solution for that too, with a drinks holder that attaches to existing Allen Key screw mounting points on the dash (available for both driver and passenger side), no drilling is required, and your drinks are now conveniently within reach.
The final piece of kit that we got from Guy has no function whatsoever but just looks off-the-charts cool. It is a bespoke aftermarket grill with a Suzuki logo in funky cursive writing, which reminds me of the grill that Ford used years ago on their Bronco. Fine-tuning the function and form of our Jimny is just plain fun.
We wanted to get these parts fitted before the Jimny Gathering in Clarens (from the 22nd to the 24th of September) so that we can enjoy the new practical additions during our road trip to and from Clarens.
It seems that everyone with a Jimny and those that cater to Jimny owner’s needs, are going to be there. Guy and Zazu will be there too, so if you want to see what Guy has to offer, then visit – www.jimnywild.co.za
Editor’s Note:
You can buy your official Jimny Gathering spare wheel covers from Jimny Wild HERE.
We will be there showcasing some never-before-seen Jimny goodies from Alu-Cab, and also some very interesting products from General Tires and Liqui Moly. So, if you are in Clarens over that weekend, then be sure to come and chat with us and check out our awesome little beasty—we look forward to meeting many more Jimny fanatics like us. 😁
See you guys there!
Here’s a thought. Why don’t you drop us an e-mail and suggest a name for our little Suzuki? It is way too cool and capable to not have a nickname ([email protected])…maybe Jim-Bob? 🤔
