I'm considering a Samurai as a hunting/surf fishing vehicle. Off-road use will be light (beach, logging roads and a few mud holes) and I'm sure the stock vehicle can handle it. What I'm not sure about is whether the vehicle will give good fuel economy while doing 80 mph during the long drives to the areas I hunt and fish.
Any ideas on whether or not it is feasible to regear one for highway use? I'd rather avoid tall tires, etc. b/c I don't want to listen to them while driving.
Thank you for your time and expertise.

80mph?!

I'd say go for a stock late model Tracker if you are only going to do light offroading and want to go that fast on the highway.

The Samurai is shaped like a brick and won't do 80mph cruising without the engine screaming bloody murder at something around 5000rpm.  FYI, the stock engine only makes 64hp.  It was never really designed to go more than 65-70mph IMHO.  Plus at anything above 70, the handling gets a little scary.  It will get about 29mpg in the city and if you cruise at 60mph on the highway.  24mpg at 70mph and that's about as fast as you want to push it.  I've got over 200,000 miles logged driving Samurais so I do have some experience.

get a tracker ... I'd be white knucle in a sami at 80.

dunno bout stock trackers, but my built version is hardly tolerable at 65.

White knuckle heck he'll be lucky to get past 65 and at 80 a semi better not pass him the blow by wind sends ya off course at 50.
Sorry speaking from my own scary freeway Sammy.
course what size tires does the one your looking at getting have.
I would recommend a track/ kick.

Chalk another one up for a Track/Kick. If it's too "girly" looking whip out some krylon and camo it.



My stock 4 door with the 16 valve did 95 fine on the freeways here. (shhh) A 2 door, if you can find one with the 16 valve it would have more pep, but an 8 valve would probably do just fine as well. I'm sure 80-85 is obtainable. You're probably going to see 25-30mpg with a Track/Kick. It will also be quieter, so even if you upgraded the tire size on it, (which would help RPMs on the freeway in stock form) it would still be quieter than a samurai.

Good luck in your search.

hmm quiter than a sammy now why on earth would you say that just because you can hear the wind, the tires, the tires from everyone passing you the rattle from the philips screws coming loose, the whine of the engine as it try's to keep the same speed.

but get it on the trail and man do I love it. getting the jeeps in my club to follow me between trees and getting stuck.
the fact that the GVW is 2094 stock. Parts are cheap mods are cheap, sorry I'm rambling.

hmm quiter than a sammy now why on earth would you say that just because you can hear the wind, the tires, the tires from everyone passing you the rattle from the philips screws coming loose, the whine of the engine as it try's to keep the same speed.

but get it on the trail and man do I love it. getting the jeeps in my club to follow me between trees and getting stuck.
the fact that the GVW is 2094 stock. Parts are cheap mods are cheap, sorry I'm rambling.

Yeah.. they are pretty good on the trail...

IF i were gonna be going 80 i would get a trackkick i still can handle going 90 just fine with a 2.5 inch suspension and larger tires

My 8V can run 80 on flat ground but looses speed on the uphill sections. 33's & 5.83 axle gears held 70-80 all the way to and from Moab and Wisconsin (traveling from TN).

With the rear seat removed you can fit tree stands, guns and other misc hunting stuff in the back for two and ride confortably to the woods. Fishing is another story, if you dont like to break down your poles you will have to lay the poles from back to front with on end up between the front seats, but if you break them down they easily fit across the back.

Surf wise :-/ Beats me, not much surfin here in Tennessee. But I have straped LOTS of stuff to the Roll cage and it ride there just fine

I have thought about getting a Sami fir a hunting vehicle and I think they would do great, but the only down fall would be you wanting to hold 80MPH on the interstate.

Zig

i would have to completely agree with the aforementioned.    my sidekick 16v 1.6 can handle the interstate 100% no prob...    25-30 gas milage, and does 75-80mph all the way back to college just fine...  

ohh yeah , i was able to go where the jeeps go too,, and that is before my bodylift / wheel setup.

I use to drive a 89 crown vic on the freeway, and I got spoiled.  Now my 4dr sidekick will do 80 on the freeway, but the cruise control wont go past 75.  I am still trying to get use to it.  The comfort and handling just ain't there, but when I get to the mountains, that is where the fun begins, and its all worth the trade off. ;D  Even though I have a 16v 1.6, with the ac on and a little head wind, I can't do any kind of a hill in 5th.  
Jeff

I am now driveing an 89 with an 8v, and do 60 all the way to work in fith at only about 2600 rpm, the 95 tracker that i got rid of the the sidekick  had the 16 valve in it, and i drove it 75 -90 all the way from battle ground to salem , and only had to come out of 5th when i was going up the curves  for about 1 min caus the arse in front of me decided to go from 80 down to 50  and i hauled up the hill in fith at about 70 - 75 no problemb  Battle ground WA to Salem OR is a long ride, ask Jason. its lik 75 - 80 miles , and that trak used about an 1/8 of a tank on the ride.

FYI the 89 has a fresh motor

Oh but if a semi does pass you it will almost push you off the road, and with bald tires, it will pull you close to the trailer!
so driving beside them is sketchy at best.

but driveing with bald tires is sketchy at best on a dry road so iduno but a stock track kik will take you plent of places get a locker for ther rear, and event without the lift you can go virtualy anyware. " I have pased a few locked up jeeps in the mountains with a stock trak"  but i still plan on going locker in rear, and more agressive tires. maby 30inchers maby 29" and a body lift. oh and definatly a snorkle they are just cool

Chalk another one up for a Track/Kick. If it's too "girly" looking whip out some krylon and camo it.

You've been looking at my Tracker!