Suzuki Samurai?

[PapaPerk]

I've been looking into buying an UTV. As you know they are pricey for what you get! So I've been considering other alternatives.

One alternative is a Suzuki Samurai. They are very small yet have 4wd and are street legal. Anyone have experience with them? My biggest concern is fitting into one. I'm 6'4" so I may have problems. Never have sat in one.

Thank you

 

[flashboiler]

I have one and I'm about 6'1". They fit tall people suprisingly well. My friend is taller than I am by 2" or so and fits in his no problem. With the seat fully back, there is still room to move the seat back a few inches before hitting the tire wheel well. I've thought of moving mine back but it's never been an issue.

They are great little rigs and with a rear locker can go about anywhere. With a spring over conversion and 31" tires they will embarass a lot of rigs much bigger.

 

[5030]

years ago, when the first came out, we had 2, a hardtop and a ragtop. Neat little (emphasis on little) vehicles. Not much ooomph.

They make great spray vehicles for crop spraying but are lousy on the e-way.

Basically a tin can with a lawnmower engine.

 

[Bartcephus]

Had one years ago. I don't know about embarassing others. They don't have much power. Certainly not speed demons. But it was one of the most fun vehicles I ever owned. They are skinnier than most jeeps but wider than most UTV's but I think they would work out well for that purpose.

 

[Bird]

We bought a new one in 1986, put a hardtop on it, even had a cruise control put on it. My wife drove it back and forth to work, and we made a couple of 400+ miles to the Texas coast in it. I used to tell people it was a sorry excuse for a car, but a really fun toy.:laughing: Three trouble free years; only had to replace the battery a month or so before we sold it. And the only reason we sold it was because I retired and we were taking off in a fifth-wheel RV with a one ton truck and just didn't need the Suzuki anymore.

 

[JoelD]

I had one, great little "truck", super reliable, fun to drive.

Only problem, super super super slow.

Would've been one heck of a race between the samurai and my old datsun 210

I think my JD 310C crawler would've had it from zero to 5 mph

I would buy another with no questions.

Joel

 

[cowski]

pulled them out before.they swap ends real fast on ice and snow.i use a little ford ranger which is just a little longer. i also have a couple of honda 4 wheelers. really like the ranger for going places.wished it got better mileage.

 

[Bartcephus]

Oh yes.... another thought.... Mine had Air conditioning and heat... something you won't get on the ATVs....

 

[Gator6x4]

I know several farmers that own one. That are well pleased with them. I heard one tell someone one time okay it will not do 100 MPH on the Expressway, but I didn't buy it for that, but I can put four or five bales of hay in the back and drive across the pasture. Stop by with your four wheeler and let me see how many bales of hay you can carry across the pasture. His point being, if you are looking for something to drive on the highway at high spped, purchase a Roush Mustang. If you are looking for a great utility vehicle with heat and A/C to get you to and from the hunt or camping location and for use around the home to haul yard debris or anyting else that needs moving can't be beat. They also are nice to set in when one is caught outside in a thunderstorm. Never enjoyed setting on a Four Wheeler in a Thunderstorm.

 

[mjarrels]

The short wheel base makes the ride horrible.

mark

 

[Egon]

I had several in the mid eighties. Slow, lots of engine vibration but a lot of fun to drive.

They were excellent off road and really terrific on ice and in snow. Winter town driving was an ego booster as this was before so many vehicles had four wheel drive.:thumbsup::thumbsup:

Good fuel milage also.

 

[Don87]

Couldn't ya make a few 'mods' to one and have a small tractor for cultivating, and such?

 

[PapaPerk]

Thanks for the info guys! Sounds like I can fit in one after all! Can't be any more cramped than a Kubota RTV 900! The Samurai is roughly the same size as a RTV900 and I can drive to town for a snack. Hahaha!

I'll have to watch the classifieds, etc for one in good shape. Many have been cut up and reconfigured for the "rock crawling" craze.

Thanks again for the information.

 

[Piston]

Many have been cut up and reconfigured for the "rock crawling" craze.

That should be something to look for, a lot of people sink a lot of money into these putting in bigger axles, different gearing etc. They still aren't worth much so you can get a tough modified machine for a good price, just as long as they did the work correctly

 

[PapaPerk]

That should be something to look for, a lot of people sink a lot of money into these putting in bigger axles, different gearing etc. They still aren't worth much so you can get a tough modified machine for a good price, just as long as they did the work correctly

Good point. I agree! And as you said... just make sure the work is done correctly!

 

[ultrarunner]

I bought mine for $1050 13 years ago... had to replace a $35 bearing in the trans when I bought it and changed the clutch since it was apart.

Never have had to do anything since other than a battery.

Super Dependable, runs diesel to my Dozer where ever it happens to be and used it like a truck to haul broken concrete a few times.

Don't have anything bad to say about it.

People often ask if I will sell it...

 

[crazyal]

The nice thing about them is unlike a utv you can get things like ring and pinion gears and change the gearing. I've had friends that had them in the past and they work well but a utv will go more places. I've always wondered how hard it would be to mount some UTV tires (ones that can handle more weight than ATV tires) on one and see how well it does.

I guess, to me, the difference is the ATV/ UTV has already been built for almost everything you will do. The Samurai is cheap and can be tailored to do a lot. If you're handy I bed you could even fab a dump bed for it.

 

[Bird]

The last Samurai I had anything to do with was when a neighbor took one for a job he did and it was a good one, but he just took it to sell. Anyway, he came by to ask me if I had any idea how to raise the hood.:laughing: For those who don't know already, the hood release is in the glove compartment.

 

[rtimgray]

I've had a Samurai (same one) since 1992 and I hope I don't ever get rid of it. I've had to do a number of repairs and upgrades to it over the years, but it has the advantage of being really easy to work on. In that sense, the Samurai reminds me of the 8N tractors in that there is all kinds of aftermarket support, parts, and accessories available. There are numerous salvage yards that cater to mail order as well (when I had to replace my transmission, it was able to come via US mail, as it only weighs about 70 lbs).

Your conundrum is the same reason I can't really ever see purchasing a UTV. For the price that they cost, I can buy a used truck that will have much more overall function - don't get me a wrong, I would love a UTV, but I just can justify the cost.

Good luck and take care.

 

[ovrszd]

We've had several wheel with our group. The blue one pictured is built, extended wheelbase, swapped out the engine for a bigger fuel injected, deep low gears in T-case. I've attached several pictures to give you an idea of their size. We wheel pretty hard and Thomas has had several problems with his blue one, but it does pretty good considering. You can buy a stock, running, licenseable one around here for $1000 or less. I gave $7500 for my Rhino used. One picture shows them side by side.