IF YOU LIVE OUT OF TOWN PLEASE DON'T EXPECT TO "FLY IN AND DRIVE ONE OF THE SAMURAIS BACK HOME"...I SELL MANY SAMURAIS ...SOME EVEN OVERSEAS....BUT NOT TO ANYONE WHO PLANS ON DOING THAT....IT'S JUST NOT WORTH THE RISK OF SOMETHING MINOR GOING WRONG  ON THE WAY BACK HOME AND THERE YOU SIT ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY MAD AT SUZUKIJOHN (WHICH CAN EASILY HAPPEN TO A 20+ YEAR OLD TRUCK WITH  80-100,000+ MILES ON IT).

This seems odd.  If he is putting a new drivetrain in the vehicle why not drive it across country.

I'd find a good used Samurai.  I'm sure that you can find a stock one in excellent condition for $5,000.  Learn about it from doing the routine maintenance yourself.  Samurais are extremely easy to work on.

I certainly can't speak for everyone here but I imagine you will find that most people on this board are DIYers and haven't had a lot of work done for them, especially a complete turn key build.  

that being said, I'd ask for specific references and past customers to contact and speak with in person about their experience.

These things are pretty simple and it would be easy to buy a truck load of new parts and just start replacing everything.  

You could build a hell of a trail rig for $12,000!!!

I see great rust free samis with under 50,000 miles sell for under $7000 all the time. You may have to travel to get one but I think I would at least consider that as a option.

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IF YOU LIVE OUT OF TOWN PLEASE DON'T EXPECT TO "FLY IN AND DRIVE ONE OF THE SAMURAIS BACK HOME"...I SELL MANY SAMURAIS ...SOME EVEN OVERSEAS....BUT NOT TO ANYONE WHO PLANS ON DOING THAT....IT'S JUST NOT WORTH THE RISK OF SOMETHING MINOR GOING WRONG  ON THE WAY BACK HOME AND THERE YOU SIT ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY MAD AT SUZUKIJOHN (WHICH CAN EASILY HAPPEN TO A 20+ YEAR OLD TRUCK WITH  80-100,000+ MILES ON IT).

This seems odd.  If he is putting a new drivetrain in the vehicle why not drive it across country.

I think he means, Driving a Fresh Engine Rebuild across the country without being Properly Broken In.

I've bought parts from him, he's always quick to ship them out or answer questions.

I bought my Sami from SuzukiJohn.  I like him.  Everything he touched has done pretty good and he responds quickly to any questions I have, and gets parts to me quickly as well.

I've had some issues that I did not expect due to the ad saying that it had been gone over and restored, but then again, I doubt many others take a Sami and put over 20,000 miles a year on it...  I've put about 40k on it so far and its never left me on the road.

Only major niggle for me is that I can't downshift into 1st and 2nd without double-clutching.  He did not catch this nor did I in the test drive.  There was also a loose ground behind the battery that gave me fits from the day after I bought it.

Basically, if he replaced/rebuilt a part or unit(rebuilt engine on mine), it's been fine for the most part.  If he just "went over" it, its like any other used vehicle...

I had wheel bearings, u-joints, fuel sending unit, window mechanism, go out quickly after I bought it.  The paint job (he had that done)is poor as well, and the 2" exhaust (that I had him do) rubs against the shock and the cat hangs lower than it should.

Considering I knew hardly anything about Samurais when I bought it, and LOVE my Sami, I consider it a sucessful transaction.

That said, if I had it to do over again, I'd of been more patient and found a lower mileage unrestored, but in good shape EFI Sami.

I bought my Sami from SuzukiJohn.  I like him.  Everything he touched has done pretty good and he responds quickly to any questions I have, and gets parts to me quickly as well.

I've had some issues that I did not expect due to the ad saying that it had been gone over and restored, but then again, I doubt many others take a Sami and put over 20,000 miles a year on it...  I've put about 40k on it so far and its never left me on the road.

Only major niggle for me is that I can't downshift into 1st and 2nd without double-clutching.  He did not catch this nor did I in the test drive.  There was also a loose ground behind the battery that gave me fits from the day after I bought it.

Basically, if he replaced/rebuilt a part or unit(rebuilt engine on mine), it's been fine for the most part.  If he just "went over" it, its like any other used vehicle...

I had wheel bearings, u-joints, fuel sending unit, window mechanism, go out quickly after I bought it.  The paint job (he had that done)is poor as well, and the 2" exhaust (that I had him do) rubs against the shock and the cat hangs lower than it should.

Considering I knew hardly anything about Samurais when I bought it, and LOVE my Sami, I consider it a sucessful transaction.

That said, if I had it to do over again, I'd of been more patient and found a lower mileage unrestored, but in good shape EFI Sami.

Not being able to downshift from 2nd into 1st is just how the samurai trannys are.  At least all I have ever been around.

Wheel bearings and ujoints shouldn't go out, if he would have checked them.  Sounds like he either overlooked them, or doesn't exactly do everything he says he does to them.
Wheel bearings are very easy to tell if they are good.  If the bearings are good, then they can be cleaned up, repacked and they should last practically forever.
The fuel sender and the window mech could be hard to tell that they are "about to go bad".  So I'll give him those 2 things.

1 post and returned 1 time.... (the next day) hmmmmn....


"Hey folks, how are you all doing?
I'm new here and I would like you to know how happy I am to find a place like this!
Can't wait to start learning from you guys."


Feels more like and advertisement.....

I've had several great transactions with SuzukiJohn.