Buy a Jimny over a Samurai?

So clean samurais are getting expensive but clean imported jimny's are cheaper. and all are tin-tops which i like. HP output is the same but since they are turbo turning up the boost shouldn't be bad. Thoughts.

They're better as street-driven vehicles. For offroading, they have a few downsides, most prominently the chain-driven TC, higher weight and greater amount of low-hanging bodywork. Still pretty good offroad vehicles though.

In reply to GameboyRMH:

the jimny's of the importable age(late 91) are the same as the tintop samurais that we got just with the turbo 3's instead of the G13a's

should be the turbo 3's and maybe the non turbo 3s as well Also the same price or cheaper.

The Samurai by then had wider axles (3"?) for rollover stability, and the flares that matched. I don't think the Jimny got those because of the Kei car dimension limitations. That might be a plus, minus, or never mind depending on what you wanted to do with the vehicle.

If someone gets one and swaps out for Toyota axles or the bigger 1.6 motor let me know, I'd like a set of both the narrower axles and the turbo-3 for another project.

I wouldn't really consider a chain driven t-case a problem unless it's known for being a weak unit. The majority of Jeep and full size truck t-cases have been chain drive for years and they hold up just fine.

In reply to rslifkin:

its also not like a reman sami tcase with 6.5:1 gears is too expensive anyway. The other option is the Mitsubishi J54 aka a CJ-3B with a 2.7L turbo diesel.

Turbo 3 being a g10 or k6?

In reply to Zomby Woof:

i think they are either f6a or k6a, g10's never came in Jimny's the 1.0's were F10a 4cyls

And how much are the jimnys? Asking for a...friend?

Are these the Jimny's at Duncan Classics/Imports? Aren't most of these Kei size displacement (turbo 660 cc motors?) When I was browsing those I was wondering to the top speed of a Kei class Jimny (lot of interstate miles between VA and GA for me...)

Blaise wrote: And how much are the jimnys? Asking for a...friend?

Looks like the cheapest right now is a bit under 5K: Duncan Imports

I was actually thinking the exact same thing while browsing their website with regard to them being a better deal than a (likely) rusted out Samurai. I just don't have a use for one of them right now. The Honda Beats and Suzuki Cappuccinos, however...

eastsidemav wrote: I was actually thinking the exact same thing while browsing their website with regard to them being a better deal than a (likely) rusted out Samurai. I just don't have a use for one of them right now. The Honda Beats and Suzuki Cappuccinos, however...

If a Samurai isn't rusted, it's either been restored (which would be reflected in the price) or witchcraft is involved

rslifkin wrote: I wouldn't really consider a chain driven t-case a problem unless it's known for being a weak unit. The majority of Jeep and full size truck t-cases have been chain drive for years and they hold up just fine.

Land rovers have used Chain Driven Transfer cases forever (all the power to all the wheels goes through it too) and it is one of the few parts not to break

I'd get a Mitsubishi Jeep if I were in the market. The diesel engines in them are damn near indestructible, and the axles are very strong I hear as well.

I like the idea, but what is buying from these places like? Specifically, has anyone here purchased a car for Duncan Imports? Their online inventory is a virtual cornucopia of forbidden fruits. I'd love to take a look at a Honda Beat, but VA is a long way from MI.

I can't speak to Duncan Imports, but I imported my Delica 3+ years ago with the help of a dealer in Ontario Canada. That's a whole lot closer to MI. Look up Bonsai Rides in London, Ontario Canada. Craig can help you out, and he's super easy to deal with.

Chris

mad_machine wrote:

rslifkin wrote: I wouldn't really consider a chain driven t-case a problem unless it's known for being a weak unit. The majority of Jeep and full size truck t-cases have been chain drive for years and they hold up just fine.

Land rovers have used Chain Driven Transfer cases forever (all the power to all the wheels goes through it too) and it is one of the few parts not to break

I have a theory on how this got started:

1. Buy used truck/SUV that Sally Soccer Mom frequently left in 4HI regardless of road conditions every winter for 10 years.

2. When seriously tested after purchase it is noticed that the previously abused and worn out chain is slipping.

3. "Chain drive transfer cases suck!"

Most trucks that get a big beefy gear drive case are 3/4 or 1 ton models that are more often driven by people with enough competency to work a 4x4 shifter correctly, or half of those would be worn out whining messes too.

In reply to DocV:

I mean they make in the neighborhood of what a stock samurai makes with a lighter engine. iirc 54hp vs 62hp but the boost can likely be turned up fairly easily.

I was also looking at Mitsubishi J54's but good ones of those are like $10k