1987 Suzuki Samurai JX 1.3 from North America

Summary:

This car is great

Faults:

So far I've had to install the transmission shifter bushing, and randomly tighten things that rattle loose and drive me nuts while I'm sitting at an idle.

General Comments:

It's slow. It doesn't bother me much, because it is perfect for zipping around the city.

Interior is a bit spartan. This also makes any kind of tinkering very simple, as spartan equals easy to work on.

You feel every nook and cranny of the road. Strong suspension components, although they don't articulate very much.

No power steering. I love that.

Amazing gas mileage for a 4x4 that you can use as a material hauler if you have to. I play in a rock band, and have a large guitar rig. It all fits no problem, blizzard or not.

Aside from long distance highway travel, this little truck does everything. Groceries, commuting, cruising, off road. And it's easy on your wallet.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 6th March, 2011

1987 Suzuki Samurai JX Tin Top (hardtop) 1.3 from North America

Summary:

Piece of crap

Faults:

Everything.

Carb stopped working, trans grinds, t-case stuck in N, oil leaks from everything, seats tore, engine crankshaft broke in half destroying the motor.

General Comments:

Rolling disaster.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 10th June, 2010

30th Aug 2010, 21:12

Six words: Bad operator and/or horrible driver.

21st Dec 2010, 08:13

I have an 87 JX and a 88 JA; both have over 250,000 miles on them.

The 87 has never gave me any problems. I just changed the starter at 247,000 miles. Never changed anything else!

Also running the original clutch to this day, no slip, no problems.

Crawls around every other 4WD made in the snow, even the big boy's diesel trucks. I laugh at them.

I bought the truck in 1987 for $2,500 cash in a Pizza Hut parking lot, and it's been the BEST car/truck I have ever owned, and I've owned them all as my father owned a garage.

I will say the O RING at the distributor leaks oil, but an aftermarket O RING can fix that.

Rust in the body... Yes, have never had to line the front end at all.

No big tires, all season radials get me anyplace I have to go, and I have a farm here.

Have drove the dog out of this little truck, and it still keeps going. The sad thing is, I have blown a head gasket between the numbers

3 & 4, but that's no biggie, and I plan on selling one of them this week for $600 cash, to fix up the other on I have here in the yard.

All and all, I'll miss the little truck that NEVER let me down... but I have another to take its place. Again, between the 2 of them, they have ran great with over $500,000 miles on them. Too bad some folks had trouble with them. I did not... But I take care of my stuff. Could be the driver and not the truck. I can't call that one. I can say this thing goes anyplace, and has cost me very little to keep, going all the way to 12-20-2010.

Good luck to you all, and keep the Zuks going. They are an ICON of 4WD trucks. Mine has been great, great, great, and never let me down, and always got me there. They do suck for interstate driving, since the speed limit here in TN is 70mph. I have a hard time keeping up at those speeds, and the wind off a semi can be tricky. but for all our country mountain roads and trails... can't beat my little Zukis.

Be safe and have fun... later Y'all...

"mo"

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1987 Suzuki Samurai from North America

Summary:

Get a Wrangler!

Faults:

Catalytic converter went out at 20,000 miles. The dealer replaced it at no cost.

It threw a connecting rod at about 100,000. Because the ex-wife didn't check the oil.

Developed a bad oil leak at about 70,000, and I could never find it. May have been a cracked block near the water pump.

General Comments:

It was a fun little thing to drive.

Great in the Wisconsin winter. I bought it new in California, then moved back.

Got tired of looking for the oil leak, it wasn't burning oil, but left tracks everyplace. Just when I thought it was fixed, it started again.

Gutless, even for a small 4 cyl, it lacked power. My Schwinn was faster.

But in the winter, I could climb over snow that was hanging up snow plows. Because it was so light.

All in all, I would never get another. Have a Grand Cherokee now. Same gas mileage, lots more power and room.

I called it my "Japanese Jeep". Sorry Jeep. I realize now that it was a disgrace.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 3rd December, 2009

20th Nov 2010, 13:45

Grand Cherokee's don't get 30 mpg...

3rd Aug 2011, 20:22

I ran my Samurai out of oil, added oil, and it's been running for 25,000 more strong..

In reply to 20th Nov 2010, 13:45

3rd Apr 2018, 22:31

You that said Jeep Grand Cherokees don't get 30 miles to a gallon. That is right, but what I think they mean is after filling their 22 or 24 gallon tank, they can go the same distance as they did when they filled their 10 gallon tank on the Sammy.

Take care.