ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum
ZUKIWORLD Model Specific Suzuki Forum => Suzuki Samurai (All SJ Platform) 1981-1998 => Topic started by: MuddyPenguin on January 07, 2012, 08:11:34 PM
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Hello everyone. I am considering buying a Samurai and selling my Xterra. I really love my Xterra, but I need better gas mileage and just overall lower maintenance costs. I have a few concerns that you all might be able to get rid of...
A) Reliability
B) Ability to climb steepish hills without loosing a lot of speed (mainly because my job has a steep driveway and is on top of a
mountain)
C) I know its small, but my wife and I love camping, and doing so with our dog.. so i guess is there enough room to pack gear
and our dog too.
General description of the Samurai I am looking at:
88 Suzuki Samurai
31 12/5 New Boggers
Spring Over
Weber Carb
Removable Hard Top
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I think the only valid concern that I see is the ability to go up hills without loosing speed. That is subjective. But with those size tires, you will have to regear and possibly do a engine upgrade depending on you need for power on hills. the stock motor only has sixty something HP. For me since I live in a mountain area, I did the gears and motor swap and it climbs hills great.
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A Samurai isn't going to get that great of mileage driving down the road, you might be better off with a Tracker/Sidekick. I would drive it around first and make sure that it is going to work for what you want to use it for. But I find my Tracker a much better drive for dirt roads and pretty much everything other then rocks. Normally I get 25-28 mpg, but I am pretty sure I have an exhaust leak at the moment that is throwing the 02 sensor off. Used to get 27 on the dot most of the time.
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In all fairness I don't know if the gearing has been changed or not. I am still shopping around but wanted to get professional opinion.
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In my novice opinion Samurai's are toys that have a lot of drawbacks. But they are a lot of fun, you just need to be willing to accept that they are rough riding, under-powered and don't have a lot of space inside. If you can accept that then they are golden. :)
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Think of the Samurai as the British sports car of the utility vehicle world. Small cool and underpowered...
The one your looking at sounds like a fair bet though.
SPOA'd rigs tend to feel a little less stable than a SPUA'd rigs . It' all in the way that the suspension works.
I doubt that the Sammy is going to get that much better millage.
As far as cargo space. I removed the rear seat from mine (at 52 I haul no kids) I do haul my dogs camping gear and occasionally groceries in the back of mine with no problems. Especially with the 1 piece hard top, tons of room.
As to maintenance cost . An 88 Samurai is 24 years old.
If you manage to find one that is in relay great condition .
Yes they can be low maintenance.
Most have been modified in some way though --- With varying degrees of competency ------ IT CAN BE EXPENSIVE TO GET ONE INTO THE CONDITION WHERE ONE CAN START TO SAY " this is now a low maintenance rig".....
I own and just finished the build on my 88 1/2 Samurai . It started as a low mile (55000) Rust free, fairly unmolested rig.
$5000 later its now low maintenance and a great all around Zuke.
I get around 28mpg , so I guess it can be considered an economical ride........Boxcar...
PS: I don't get the whole rugh riding comments I keep hearing from people though.
A properly SPOA'd Samurai Has a much more comfortable ride than most utilities and I might add sidekicks that I have driven.....
So I'll have to disagree with that comment.....