Hey guys, I want to here the pros and cons of a sammi vs. kick....

Which is easier to lift, cheaper? More reliable engine? Better to run both solid axles? Which is better in your opinion? I have 2 sammi's I am looking at right now that have some mods... would I be making a mistake by buy a sammi over a kick?


Specs:
Ready for road or trail! 1990 Suzuki Samurai 4x4 soft top, Rancho 9000 shocks, 31 inch tires, heavy duty shackles, skid plate, tach. Runs well, little to certify. $2,500 as is, 140,000 km.


Specs:
5:13 axle gears, lower transfer, case gears. NEW shocks, front brake lines, shackles, new top, heavy steel bumpers, 2 new batteries, new wheels, NEW 32 x 11.50 super swampers SX. LOTS OF FUN. $2,900/OBO. Eileen or Lloyd

I am kinda leaning towards the first one because it's not so hardcore, I still would like a practical DD...

If a solid axle daily driver is your criteria I would say go with the sami. Id probabally have to do a 16 valve swap though.

Mike

All comes down to what your needs are. I've had several Sami's over the years and between my father and I about 6 track/kicks. Only the one I have now has been anything but stock.
  Sami's have a harsher ride, cruder interior, and are kinda a no thrills, super dependable little ride. (I loved them all).  The Track/Kicks with the IFS road down the road much better, more power, more room, in my opinion a bunch more refined interior and climate controls.
  Off road and wheeling, Track/Kicks suffered from lack of clearance in the sand that I grew up in, sami's faught to get on top of the really soft stuff.  However once you start modifing one. Just look around this form and you'll find a way to make either do anything, any where, any How.
Utah

hhmmmm well, after going for a ride in my neighbours sammi all doen up, i would probably get a sammi but id rather it with a tracker engine in it, as i was driving his and it was totally gutless

The big difference is the power, ride and
modability, Kicks ride smoother, both on
and off road, roll less than Sammies and
are more powerful with an increase of 15mm
stroke over the sammie engine and 1mm bigger
bore.

Sammies are easier to mod suspension on, most
Kicks will require a kit unless you are into fabrication
and welding

Wild

Sami. is the way to go..  UNLESS your huge.  lol.  The only reason I didnt buy a Sami is, Im slightly to large to fit into one for daily driving. For wheeling Samis are the way to go.. Way cheaper to lift, and way more aftermarket parts for fitting. I bought a Sidekick because I needed the room, and found it way more comfortable. Spare parts are common and if your missing something just steal if from the Senior Citizen that has one on the back of his RV.  (im kidding),  Just beware that aftermarket parts are avalible but not near to the extent as the Sami. And they will probably cost you double. 6" Suspension lift on bolt the kick and the sami..... sami wins due to the solid axle. better flex and a little smaller makes it hard to beat.  Im happy with my purchase, and dont regret it in the least.  For the type of wheeling I do. a 3" Suspension and 2" Body on 31s is perfect.. But to each his own.

i agree on the body size thing I like my kick and I don't really fit in a sammi comfortably and  I am only 6'1" and 210 lbs (athletic you know in ,a snotty accent) i am not fat but my shoulders hit the passenger side ..... but the suspension thing and the power difference really do make a big difference i thnk a sammi w/  4.3 GM vortec engine coils all round and toy acxles on 33" s would be really nice daily driver tho  

I would buy one of each,kicks make great parts rigs for sammys.  

Just turn your Sidekick into a YJ sprung Sammy and you get the best of both worlds!

Just turn your Sidekick into a YJ sprung Sammy and you get the best of both worlds!

if ya got like 10 large to drop into it  

Hey, thanks all... great advice so far, I am 5'11 155lbs. so I should probably really sit in the drivers seat to really see if I am comfortable. I like the idea that they are cheaper to lift, and overall I think they look cooler, (no offence to sidekicks) and they have solid axles which is a bonus I'd say.

there cheep to lift but saidekicks are as well, 2" coil spacer lift for probably bout 100 bucks but the sammis have a higher ground clearence which is a plus

im about 6'1" 200 lbs and i drove my neighbours sammi the other day and i didnt find it uncomfortable at all

i'm 6'3 and i don't really think the sammys are bad, if you don't mind your head rubbing on the targa bar or anything.  i fit in the tracker just fine.

stu

If it's a half and half mix of daily driver and trail rig, I'd definately go for a later Sidekick... being 7 or 8 years newer than the second Sammy you posted would probably help out in reliability... or you could just swap a 16v into the Sammy like Mike suggested

Before I bought my tracker, I was looking for a samurai, but I couldn't find one AT ALL, not even in a junk yard. So, I had to settle for a tracker/sidekick. I'd still rather a sammy(soft top), and I'm still searching. Just wanna do a home brew SPOA, Paint, and 31's. And Done. - well, that's never true.