Lil4X

Well, this photo leaked to the press, appears to show either a new trim package or a whole new model.

SC400slide

iTrader: (11)

Never been a real fan of Suzuki...

mmarshall

THIS is what happened to many of the Samurais in the American market. It was notorious for instability.

IS350jet

It had the stiffest, most bone jarring ride I had ever experienced on 4 wheels.

GS3Tek

iTrader: (8)

I sure don't want that samurai sword in there when the samurai rolls over a pebble

rkyat

lmao that's the best 240sx mod I've seen

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

Haha that shifter

Lil4X

A good friend had a Samuri he purchased for fun. Fortunately it would only do 55 on the highway, because it tried to kill him several times. Not fun. At speeds over 35, the thing was the most evil-handling vehicle you could imagine - the result of a short wheelbase, narrow track, gigantic tires, NO power, and heavy springs. Extra-cheap construction meant that vital bits were consistently falling off of it. It is amazing that these things were once popular, low-cost alternatives to the Wrangler - that suffered from similar problems.

mmarshall

Remember the Daihatsu Rocky, which sold here in the U.S. around the same time as the Samurai? Daihatsu played it smart. Though it was ultimately unsuccessful here in the U.S., the Rocky at least didn't suffer from chronic rollovers and endless liability-suits like the Samurai. Daihatsu sold a narrow-track version like the Samurai in its home Japanese market, but the export-version here for the U.S. deliberately had a wider track for better stability. You can tell that by the American version's flared-out fenders to accompany the wider track.

A close friend of mine was ready to purchase a new Rocky. We were on our way to the dealership to go shopping when Daihatsu, that very afternoon, in the press, announced a pullout from the Amercan market. We turned around, somewhat saddened of course, and went right back home.



If you remember, Lil, on the Samurai, the two side doors (besides the hinges, of course), were held by a couple of cloth/fabric straps.

tmf2004

iTrader: (15)

Well I'm embarrassed to say lol that the Samurai was my first vehicle.. At the age of 17 i really just needed wheels to get back and forth to school. Surprisingly enough that 'Truck" lasted just over 2 years with zero issues.

mmarshall

I also take it that you were intelligent enough to be aware of its stability-issues and drive it sensibly enough not to flip it. Too many people didn't.

tmf2004

iTrader: (15)

i never took it over 60mph lol.. I was careful.. I knew one wrong turn and i would flip...