4runner is 2 wheel drive and no matter what i do its not gonna be able to run 4wd trails... financially i probably cant afford to sell this one and get a 4wd 4runner just to spend more money to lift it and tires. so this leaves me with getting a cheaper, older, smaller 4wd with less expensive parts and should do great offroad. might not be the best daily driver but dont think i would mind. what do you guys think? i know im asking the wrong people because obviously your biased to 4runners (as am i) but whats your honest opinion? or is there something better than a samurai? ive found a few between 2k and 3.5k that i would consider
sell 4runner for suzuki samurai...?
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shadow247
New member
Just hold out man. Parts support for the Samurai is almost non-existent compared to the 4-Runner. I would just keep driving the Runner until you can save up enough cash to pick up a 4wd 3rd Gen. Either that or go for a 2nd Gen Runner, as there is still good parts support out there. I see them all the time on Craigslist for around 3500 bucks.
My Buddie had one with 33s, and i think i could honestly run faster than that thing. however they are very capable off-road because of the short wheel base... I once went with him to the mountain for a trail run, and i think on the 20 minute drive he up shifted/ down shifted somewhere around 200 times haha. That's something i could not deal with, they are incredibly week motors. But once we got to the mountain there was a trail with what normally in the summer is a deep water crossing and he drove right over it (hence the weight) next guy behind us in a nissan frontier broke through and was stuck for hours before getting him out. What I am getting at is they are not bad and are defiantly cheaper to build, if no power is something your willing to deal with go with it.. But there are other things that are effected with no power. My old tj wrangler with the 2.5 geared with 35s i still was around 8-9 mpg, and i imagine it wouldn't be far off in a sameri
Whitson Metalworks
New member
They are tiiiiiiiiiny, with tiiiiiiiiny motors lol. My friend has one and I've helped him lift it, lock it, and regear the transfer case so the little motor could muster 5th gear again. It's a cool toy but a horrible thing to have to drive evrrywhere. He has 33's I believe. It's great offroad though and easier to push around by hand than most 4wheelers lol.
PitbullRescuer
New member
There are cheap 3rd Gens out there too. Look around, I've bought a few 4x4 3rd gens for next to nothing. I'd rather have a high mileage 3rd gen over the Sami anyday. I actually like the Sami's but you couldn't pay me to DD one.
Where are you located?
Where are you located?
Doc2012
Senior Member
Dude, get another 4runner.
Either that, or get on Craigslist, and look for people parting out these things, or selling wrecked ones.
Mine was a 2WD, bought a 4WD from a yard for $1500, converted mine to 4WD, and still have some parts left over.
Took the doors, made half doors out if them, have a spare set of back seats, a 4.10 front diff, all the interior door panels and cargo panels.
If I had more time, I could've parted out the rest and sold it, but I had to get rid of it.
Whatever you do, don't get the Samari.
Either that, or get on Craigslist, and look for people parting out these things, or selling wrecked ones.
Mine was a 2WD, bought a 4WD from a yard for $1500, converted mine to 4WD, and still have some parts left over.
Took the doors, made half doors out if them, have a spare set of back seats, a 4.10 front diff, all the interior door panels and cargo panels.
If I had more time, I could've parted out the rest and sold it, but I had to get rid of it.
Whatever you do, don't get the Samari.
KidVermicious
New member
A built Sami is awesomely capable, but I don't know very many people that daily drive theirs. They're impossibly small and gutless, and that's coming from a guy who likes his 22re 
.
What'd be wrong with a second or first gen 4Runner though? Perfectly DD-able, one of the best offroad platforms out there, aftermarket support for years, and decent trucks can be had for well under 4k.
.What'd be wrong with a second or first gen 4Runner though? Perfectly DD-able, one of the best offroad platforms out there, aftermarket support for years, and decent trucks can be had for well under 4k.
white_n_slow
Senior Member
A well prepared sami can be a beast off road, no doubt about that. You will be punching yourself in the face every time you take a highway on-ramp or climb a hill though. They have like 15 squirrelpower. Not an issue off road (with proper gearing), but you will never enjoy driving one on the highway.
A 1st gen runner with the 22re would be a reasonable substitute, and although no powerhouse, much more liveable on the highway. Just steer clear of the 22r carbureted motor (stalls when pointed uphill, and about the same power as a samurai). If you can find an '85 with a solid front axle and fuel injection, you're set! Just be prepared to chop out some rust.
A 1st gen runner with the 22re would be a reasonable substitute, and although no powerhouse, much more liveable on the highway. Just steer clear of the 22r carbureted motor (stalls when pointed uphill, and about the same power as a samurai). If you can find an '85 with a solid front axle and fuel injection, you're set! Just be prepared to chop out some rust.
I'm with PBR on this one. I haven't had a Sami myself, but I've wheeled with enough peeps who had them to know they're plenty capable of fun off road, but I followed em around with a stock 1984 that I had sawed off a lot of sheet metal to fit some 34" tall tractor tires without a lift. Rubbed like mad. Between the truck and tires and saw blades, I didn't have $1000 into that truck though.
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located in san diego
i guess i didnt realize how undriveable these are on the freeway but i believe everyone... ill look into older 4runners with the 22re and maybe even an old toy pickup. other than avoiding the carb is there anything else to look out for? ideally i could trade my 4runner for a 4wd 3rd gen but i have no idea what mine is even worth. another option is keeping the 4runner and getting the sami but im starting to think that unless you are towing it to the trails its not worth it? thanks for all the opinions
i guess i didnt realize how undriveable these are on the freeway but i believe everyone... ill look into older 4runners with the 22re and maybe even an old toy pickup. other than avoiding the carb is there anything else to look out for? ideally i could trade my 4runner for a 4wd 3rd gen but i have no idea what mine is even worth. another option is keeping the 4runner and getting the sami but im starting to think that unless you are towing it to the trails its not worth it? thanks for all the opinions
KidVermicious
New member
You'll find the 22RE from '85 to '95. The 3.0 v6 came out in '88 and is the more common engine in '88 to '95 rigs. It's got more power than the 22RE, but it's also more prone to head gasket failure. I prefer the 22RE for it's reliability, but whichever way you go stay with the manual - the early a340 autos are dogs.
You just missed CoB's Turbo 1st gen, that would have been a sweet score for you.
downpour11
New member
I've seen sami's offroad and they are very capable... just as pretty much anything is when you put a good $5k into the suspension, axles, gearing, etc. If I owned one, I'd build it and tow it. I honestly don't understand why people put money into those things without swapping the engine and tranny. I vote you go find a 1st or 2nd gen 4runner/or pickup and put a couple bucks into it and you'll be way happier. Or just go buy a rhino or a RAZR and put a license plate on it haha. Best of luck
T4Rex.
New member
Keep the 3rd gen or sale it and buy a 4x4 one. Then go to flea market and buy a Samari...sword, it will be faster than the vehicle and probably more fun to own! Lol!! Suzuki Samaris are pretty cool of u drop a ton of cash into them and throw another motor in it. But I don't have a Extreme 4x4 garage and Ian to build it haha!
heavysquad
New member
Remember you are posting on a Toyota forum, if these guys liked Samurais, they probably wouldn't be on here. You can DD a Samurai ask someone who drives one. I have driven well over in mine. Zukikrawlers you would probably find someone in southern cali that would show you theirs. A far as parts go, there is a ton of parts for these.
thatoneguy
New member
I view a Samurai as the least-daily-driveable vehicle out there. They don't rank high on my list. Some people worship them. I drove one, couldn't have cared less about it.
If i were you, I'd either try to swap over to a 4wd third gen, which could be done without spending much cash... Or buy a 1st or 2nd gen 4runner, 4cyl manual only. At least in this part of the country, they're getting pretty cheap.
Happy hunting!
If i were you, I'd either try to swap over to a 4wd third gen, which could be done without spending much cash... Or buy a 1st or 2nd gen 4runner, 4cyl manual only. At least in this part of the country, they're getting pretty cheap.
Happy hunting!
thebrandon
New member
Samurais are frikin awesome. For off road. And that's it. Daily driving sucks, freeway driving is a joke.
