What Would You Build?

[Boone]

Car talk promotes safe vehicles like the Volvo. This is far from safe even though I never felt like the Samurai was tippy. The Samurai also is not happy or fun pushing down the highway at 65 mph.

The major reason this vehicle is going to be parted out is that the value of the parts is greater than the vehicle would sell for whole in good running condition.

After buying a new car in 2001, I was so turned off by the whole process that I decided to stop buying new vehicles. My new approach is to run out what I have and buy used for replacements.

 

[Boone]

Ive been thinking of using a small low geared truck like that to make a rotary trencher
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The Suzuki Samurai in factory gearing is geared to high in my opinion. I have a Gear Reduction transfer case and this is what made mine tolerable for highway and off-road driving. Also, the main reason to part the vehicle out.

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( never felt like the Samurai was tippy )</font>

After Consumer Reports killed them for being tippy, then they admitted that the Samurai wasn't as tippy as a Ford Bronco. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif We had an aftermarket cruise control put on ours when we bought it, then I added a hard top, and we made a few 400 mile trips in it. It wasn't too bad. People used to ask me what I thought of it and I'd tell them, "It isn't much of a car, but sure is a fun toy." /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif We only put 45k miles on it in 3 years before we sold it, but the only nickle I ever spent on it other than the fuel, oil, & filters was a new battery about a month before we sold it.

 

[slowrev]

Boone,
"After buying a new car in 2001, I was so turned off by the whole process that I decided to stop buying new vehicles. My new approach is to run out what I have and buy used for replacements."

I agree, it is the cheapest way to go. Let others pay lots of money for "image" I like to have the money to spend on other things like tractors. Which I also buy to keep, so trade in value means nothing to me.

 

[Boone]

After Consumer Reports killed them for being tippy, then they admitted that the Samurai wasn't as tippy as a Ford Bronco.
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Bird, I had a lot of fun driving the Samurai. Here is a picture for you, I just snapped.

They played a video at the trial showing Consumer reports after more than a couple of dozens of runs a boss ordered the drivers to get that to flip or else.

After changing the course and using a radical full lock turns rapidly from one direction to the other, they managed to flip the Samurai. Suzuki won the suit against Consumer Reports.

 

[Bird]

That's not a bad looking Samurai at all. Ours was red with a white top. At the time I bought it I was planning to retire in the near future, move into a motorhome, and tow it behind the motorhome, but then we decided on a 5th wheel trailer and one ton truck instead, so we sold the Samurai. About 3 years ago a neighbor bought a white Samurai that had some fancy wheels on it and had the axles and differentials painted red. He only bought it because it was real cheap and he got it to resell. He came by my place to show it to me, but said he hadn't been able to get the hood open to even look at the engine. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I showed him where the hood latch was. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif He said he'd never seen one in the glove box before and didn't think to look there. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[B7510]

With summer coming soon, I vote that you start with the wood chipper and add ice. Sounds like it would make one heck of sno-cone machine.

 

[MossRoad]

<font color="blue">After buying a new car in 2001, I was so turned off by the whole process that I decided to stop buying new vehicles. My new approach is to run out what I have and buy used for replacements. </font>

Last year we bought a 2000 Impala from the original owner for $12,500. He paid almost $26,000 for it new. Three year old car lost half its value. Let someone else eat the depreciation. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Bird]

I agree, David. Last year we bought a 2001 minivan with 27k miles on it for $14,599 when the dealer wanted over $24,000 for a new one without nearly as many options. I've bought a lot of new vehicles in my lifetime, but will probably never buy another new one. Slow learner, I guess; my Dad always said to let someone else take that first 2 or 3 years depreciation. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[bobodu]

I'd build some sort of flail to knock the winters worth of dog crap out into the field. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif