Opinions On Buying A Suzuki Samurai

[MastuhWaffles]

I'm thinking about buying a samurai for a wheeling vehicle, from what I can tell they are very popular, cheap to maintain, and they are cheap to buy. I've seen some decent ones for around 3 grand, I'm not asking for pretty, just functional.
I'm looking at ones like this, maybe a little high on the price but I think I can bargain.
http://dallas.craigslist.org/mdf/cto/4301690981.html
It also seems like something easy I could tow around on a trailer.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Depends on gearing and fab quality.

 

[MastuhWaffles]

I'm going to make sure I have a good look and run through of the vehicles I consider.

 

[Mark_88]

We have/had a guy on here who put a 2.3 into a Samari...not sure how it turned out but it looked like an interesting project...

Otherwise, yeah, take a real good look at it and find out what parts they put in if any...and also check out Samari forums to find out what is best/worst...

I've seen quite a few of them in my area for sale...mostly been lifted and various parts thrown into them...and mostly why they are for sale...

I've been looking for a Sidekick like the one I had...but haven't found any that haven't been messed with...they are good daily drivers...at least in the summer...not enough heat for me in the winter...

 

[MastuhWaffles]

I was looking at jeeps as well, but I like the little samurais, they seem like something that wouldn't be terribly difficult to work on.

 

[Mudhound]

go check out the first 2 sites that show up when you Google Suzuki Samurai....

 

[MastuhWaffles]

My other option was the ford bronco, there have been a few good ones but I haven't seen many in my price range. Something around like this.
http://abilene.craigslist.org/cto/4289919889.html

 

[96Indyram]

They do have some neat samurai's out there.

 

[Hagan]

My opinion;

Its a terrible vehicle. Slow, weak, and too short (wheel base sucks!)

 

[swynx]

Samurais are awesome. There is so much aftermarket support. Only thing is its nearly impossible to find out that's in decent shape without rust.

Found one on craigslist. It was lifted gears doubler 35s bead locks... even really shiny no rust but like 300k miles. Guy still wanted like 8k

 

[MastuhWaffles]

My goal is to stay around a 3 grand budget.

 

[MastuhWaffles]

I do dig the 80's Chevy K5 Blazers, its about finding a good one for the price.

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

I used to have a tin top samurai. It was a ok rig. Several of my buddies have owned them too. They're as gutless as can be unless you regear them super low. The carburetors are super finicky. Haven't found anyone who can successfully rebuild one to pass California smog emissions. A new one is over $500 and that's the best way to go.
To sum it up they're slow, gutless and kind of a pain to tune. But they do get over 20mpg lifted with 30" mud tires.

 

[BLOODBANE]

The only thing left Suzuki on that one is the frame and body. All the fab work has been done. Toy axles, 22r, transmission, more than likely the JEEP springs. In my opinion its a good buy, unless it 1) doesnt run...2) has lots of rust (look around the floor, wheel wells, especially where the fender flares are mounted... and 3) has a serious death wobble (this means the lift was done terribly and not safe). Bone stock they are tanks, and with a little work they are unstoppable (just have to get used to the short wheelbase, 87" or so)

I have 2 Samurai's and love them. I did a 6" SPOA on my 87 TinTop, added a 1.6 16v out of a 94 SideKick (Multiport Fuel injection), 6.5: T-case, new seats, bumpers and added 32's to it (I did all that in my garage, by myself). I love the thing. 9 gallon fuel tank (only 25.00 or so to fill, with premium, and that lasts almost a week). My 86 I have in pieces as I want to turn it into a full time buggy. I am going to try to add a 5.0, AOD, Atlas and a HP44 and 9" I have (looking for a wrecked Mustang for the engine right now). I want to run around 100" wheelbase and run 38"s on it. Here is my 87...

Worst part is the price on them just keeps going up. I only paid 1100.00 for mine back in 09 or so and with all the work thats been done to it, I would take no less than 6k now. Great little rigs, and like I have said that one looks to have been worked on already (the hard stuff).....

 

[MastuhWaffles]

Hopefully I can find a nice one for a decent price.