The Suzuki Jimny (aka Samurai) Story

Erratum: When I said Suzuki exited the North American market in 1995, it wasn't clear that I meant the Samurai had exited, not all Suzuki cars.

I had a 91 Samurii lifted on 33s. I miss that thing. It would go anywhere.

Journalists and accurate reporting are long dead my friend.

Can some one share their present experience on new jimny 2023 model.. Also any suggestions to buy or not..

just about everytime an american company is overselled by a foreign product from a foreign manufacturer they start a bashing-campaign. In which they manufacture lies and overexagurate the facts in order to make their product seem better.
Just kill the competition ........ that's where americans are good in.
It would rather be better if they woulkd actualy improve their own products instead of lying about the competition.

What we’re the cost of the parts total? Awesome project!

I’d love to see the current generation of Jimney here in America. Especially since Jeep Wranglers are becoming overly expensive and less utility.

Only in the USA do they ruthlessly attack Suzuki. If you take a tour of Latin America, Africa and India you will see that this brand is one of the most popular and sold and the Suzuki Samurai/Jimmy is one of the best valued cars for off road versatility.

The best way to buy a new 60's car today, buying a Jimny!


Suzuki and StarHope did the best job ever to make a Kei Car for 53 years on the same basis, contrary to what Volkswagen did with the New Beetle, even though the Beetle is not a Kei Car. Some mechanical components have changed, but you can see that it's still the same car, and of course, it has the same base, including some mechanical components from the 1st generation Jimny.

Sometimes i see some of they here on Brazil, they are so cute.

The gypsy was not a failure India, still it has a cult following,
This car car was a failure in Indiabcs people disnt know to disengage th 4 wd optn?no, never, its a wrong informatn,

In India, even though it wasn't a hit in the 80's among civilians, the Jimny(orGypsy) became the standard issue vehicle for many police departments, paramilitary forces and the Indian army. Later it also created a cult following among civilians. The second-gen Jimny(orGypsy) was discontinued for civilians only in 2020 as the Euro-VI or BS-6 norms were introduced.

Had an '88 for many years. The 1.4L engine had weak crank bearings and poor oil pressure.

This is a shame we don't have those anymore in Canada.

I’m in the United States and am old enough to remember the Suzuki Samurai in the 1980s. I remember the Consumer Reports article, but in Los Angles, many Samurais were being lowered due to the mini truck phase. I was sad to see it go. But, being so close to Mexico, I see a Jimny with Mexican license plates every now and then. I love those little things.

buying the new 5 door Jimny soon.

Wheel locking hubs were pretty standard in the US on trucks as well until the early 2000s or so depending on how much you wanted to spend on options.

They say they “didn’t know how to put it back into 2wd mode”, yet they had to apply the brakes, set the park brake, then put it in neutral then get out and lock the hubs to get in 4wd in the first place. Did they seriously forget they did that? 🤣

I'm assuming you said "Jymni failed to sell in Indian market" because of low sales numbers. But from 1980 to 2018 when it was sold, everyone wanted one and loved it. It was and is a hot commodity even today! In my immediate 100 metres, there are more than 10 soft top Gypsys and a couple Willys Jeep models too.
One can get a Gypsy for around $2000 and a Willy's CJ for $3000 here.

I wish they would sell this back in the USA! Back in The Mid to late 80's I wAs in a few of these being the passenger or driver. I was in the Military and at that time, These were very Economic 4x4's! A He'll of a Lot Of Fun! It Went sideways in a Bad situationOFF Road?! 6-8 of us would Just Grab Hold and Get Her Back in Her Feet! The Current Jeeps Need To go Back to Their History! They are Way Over Weight, Way to Long,Way to Wide , Not Weather Proofed enough Without a Roof,and No Longer Considered an actual SUV ( Sport Utility Vehicle!!??). They are Just a STATUS Symbol for 80% That Buy Them! Never Driven Off Road, 4 Wheel Drive when the slightest hint of Snow! Then Driven Like Idiots Because, They Have a Jeep! Wreck, Wreck, Etc! This is from Southwest Pennsylvania! I Still Have regrets about NOT Buying one in 1985! Thank You for sharing

We owned an 86 Jimny (Samurai...I'm in USA.) and it was a great vehicle. We even towed a small outboard boat with it. Consumer Reports is a rag not worthy of reading. The same people test and rate vehicles who test and rate gas grills and television sets. It scares me how many people regard it as gospel.I wish that current Jimny would come back to the U.S. I'd be in line waiting to buy one.

Second generation is more beautiful and some india movies it will be found

It was called Gypsy in India, Now Jimny 5door is launching in India

I own a 1995 Geo Tracker 4x4. It's the Samari's bigger brother I think. Pretty much the same size except wider and it has a 1.6 liter 16 valve fuel injected with a 5 speed. It comes stock with 5.13 gears and is pretty zippy and fun to drive. It turns heads and is a great conversation peice and goes anywhere at the ORV park all stock except bigger Tires. Mine is Tropical Green. It does not have the solid front axle like the Samari. They are increasing in value with age if taken care of. And mine is not tippy at all.

I wish they would sell the Suzuki Jimny in America!

A friend of mine died in 1992 in a rollover standing in the back of a samurai. To be fair, it was on a curve that was notorious for rollover accidents.

Are you a Hawaii scumbag? Do you chug energy drinks in Arizona? Suzuki Samurai: Ninja Name, Garbage Car.

Its so cool to here the end of this video. "even though you may think this jeep doesn't exist if you are from the U.S. or Europe, it sells well everywhere else." Its a lot bigger world than Europe and the U.S. and if i ever make it to the rest of the world i'll be looking for a Jimny.

with my dad we had a susuki samurai and it was so much fun to drive, i miss it

Leave it to the Media to Make up whatever bollocks they want want to destroy perfectly good products and reputations.

The Jimny not being in the US market is so incredibly frustrating. With how expensive new 4x4s are now -- it's truly a travesty that we don't get this option.

Yeah, rolls over easily, just like all the American SUVs do too. But nobody give a hoot about that.

赤ジムニーは本当にかわいい

I had the Chevy version and it was great at off-roading. Lasted forever.

Jimny was also remarkably succesfull in various trial and offroad races.

oh and they are sellign some SUV garbage as Jimny in Europe. SHAME

A few years ago my wife and I were sitting at home when I heard a fast approaching car. A few tyre blips and crash and scraping sounds later it went quiet. Upon walking outside I saw a dude climbing out the driver's side window of a yep Suzuki Jimny. 20 minutes later 5 guys show up, tip it back onto its wheels and drove off 😆😁😁😆🇦🇺

The Samurai was my first 'new car' purchase back in late 1988. It was perfect. I still love it so much that I recently bought a replacement 34 years later! It went anywhere. No issues of rolling over and I even turned around on an approximately 75 percent grade off road.

I've owned 2 CJ 7's and 2002 Wrangler X. I'm in the Philippines now and I see the new Jimny here. Fighting the urge to get one. That new Defender is parody of the original. Maybe they should have contracted with Suzuki to make the new Defender.

We had a Samurai in when they first hit the shores in the USA and I went to own a Tracker in the late nineties and again in the mid 2000's. Great vehicles for the purpose of their design. CR is the poster child for why we should not believe the media. Sad that we cannot have these vehicles here because I would love another one.

As an American, it's rare to see any vehicle with a Suzuki emblem. It's a shame Consumer Reports made that biased and untrue article. Cause I really like the Samurai/Jimny of the 80's.

In Canada, we had the LJ80 then the SJ410 which evolved into the Samurai. All of them were fantastic off-road. Lovely machines.

Jimny and samurai are not 2 different models!?

I purchased a Samurai a few months ago instead of a UTV/side by side off-road machine and I definitely made the right choice. My little Samurai has become my daily driver and off-road, this little thing is like a mountain goat and I have a heater (nice to have here in the rockies of southwest Colorado) and I don't have to trailer. Turns out the Samurai has incredible off-road capability and I rarely truly need 4-wheel drive. In addition to it's off-raod ability, I think it's the spartan, no-frills design that I like. The gearbox has a definite mechanical sound to it as you go thru the gears, and it's extremely economical to drive. She's happiest on back country roads and or speed at about 50-60 mph but mine will easily cruise at 65-70 but she's turning a lot of rpm and her highway manners are not the best with minimal soundproofing.
I filled up today on the way home from work taking 6.8 gallons of gasoline after traveling 183 miles which is 26.9 gal per mile. Not bad for a 1.6L 8 valve engine (mine has a transplanted engine from a '91 Tracker. I'm looking forward to driving it this winter in the snow !

I had a SUZUKI Samourai long wheel base in 2007 (model 2003) with a Renault Diesel engine atmo 1.9L. A really reliable car!!

The more they changed the Samurai the more they ruined it,I have a 1987 model and its perfect for what its intended and its ability is off the charts plus its so simple!

Thank you for a great video. So much great info! Recently restored a 1985 ... Jimny. Sure not easy to know what to call them, a bit typical of Japanese cars from the old days.
Anyways, if i where fo buy a brand new car, a new Jimny would be it. Cars should be fun and cheep.

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I loved my 413 samurai. Pulled way above its weight and even dragged a boat out that series 3 landy had failed to pull after its owner had poured scorn on it. Just a pity it rusted away .