A few years ago, it seemed like if you found a JDM vehicle online – that is, a car imported from Japan that was not sold in the U.S. – you were looking at a very pricey purchase. It was mainly bolstered by the exclusivity factor and the hassle of importing a vehicle from overseas, which only a handful of connoisseurs had experience managing. These days, that’s all a little bit different, as both businesses and private individuals can manage the importation process, and it’s not nearly as challenging to find a JDM vehicle already sitting stateside. Check out this 1999 Suzuki Jimny listed here on eBay with bids sitting at $4,650 and no reserve.
The Jimny is what we would find at our local Suzuki dealer if a.) the Samurai was still offered for sale in the U.S., and b.) if Suzuki hadn’t folded up its consumer business years ago. These days, the Jimny only appears as an imported model like this one, or if you go on vacation in a tiny island community. Like the Samurai, the Jimny is highly regarded for its off-road prowess in a compact and affordable package, not to mention its impressive durability and reliability. However, after negative press surrounding the original Samurai’s short wheelbase and a perceived predisposition to rolling over, it was hardly a surprise that Suzuki didn’t continue marketing the truck in the U.S.
The 660cc inline-three is a turbocharged unit making an uproarious 64 horsepower. Torque isn’t much better, rated at around 80 lb.-ft. Still, consider the surrounding structure and how easy it is to move something this light. I drove one of these on vacation many years ago and it moved out just fine; it was even borderline punchy. Of course, you’re grinning the whole time at how chipper the thing is, like a puppy tugging on a leash. The seller notes this Suzuki has just 72K miles on the clock and runs well, with cold A/C and a supposedly rust-free chassis underneath.
I have a feeling one of the biggest reasons JDM imports are so popular is because they are relatively easy to recondition and post for sale shortly after arrival on a cargo ship. The interiors are durable and easy to clean, and like most Japanese switchgear, it rarely breaks. Curiously, a significant portion of the population is put off by the thought of right-hand drive steering, which instantly limits the potential market for a vehicle like this; however, there are also plenty of fans of this forbidden fruit from the far east that ensures this punchy off-roader will find a new owner by the end of the auction.
I’m not sure if it’s still true,but it used to be that to own a
vehicle like this in Japan,the government made it very difficult to
keep an a vehicle & you could only use new parts on it.
That is a long and often used wives tale that dates back to late eighty’s Japan when vehicles over 10 years old had to be inspected annually vice every two years. While the required vehicle inspection is pretty strict (think German TUV) it is not insurmountable. Though those of us here who like to drive old and or unusual vehicles do find ways to ensure we can pass.
It’s a little known fact, the “Jimny” has no connection to the Disney cricket with that name, it’s the Asian version of Gemini. Not sure what Disney was thinking. Off road prowess? Not on any of the off roads in my area. May I remind you the Samari was the poster child for rollovers, and I suspect this is no different. I’d consider this a punishment to have to be relegated to drive these types of vehicles.
Saw alot of these in Costa Rica 🇨🇷
This one looks clean, tires are pretty much done though. Sure seems alot more luxurious than the samurai, with the carpet, a/c power windows, automatic etc.
There’s literally hundreds of thousands of these on the road here in Japan all the way from the old two stroke models to the latest 4 door model and in my 30+ years here the only ones if seen flipped have been in pretty extreme off road adventures. Now other more common “Kei” class vehicles do seem to find themselves on their side in pretty pedestrian situations and that phenomenon remains to be solved.
Plus I think someone pointed out last time that the now infamous road test had some pretty heavy beams bolted to the Samurai to induce roll over.
Know 2 guys that owned Samurais. Both loved them, no rollovers.
I owned two Samuraii in the 1980s, and drove both “vigorously.” Lived in a large city and never went offroading, though. Never felt unsafe or tippy. IIRC, the CR report test was later found to have been rigged (seems like they got caught doing this more than once).
They are one of the few cars I’ve owned that I’d love to have another one “new.”
Disney didn’t need to be thinking about any of that because the Jiminy Cricket character was introduced in 1940. And, the euphemism “jiminy” dates back to the early 19th Century.
Imagine meeting a Ram 3500 dually, head on, in this little Zuke. No thanks. But they are cute.
With that comparison Big C we’d all drive Peterbilts. 💁♂️
I’ve been driving a tin top Samurai for at least the last twelve years, almost daily, in a very non-urban setting. No fast highways, two lane roads when paved, many of them dirt, many of them rather steep and narrow. The Suzuki is about thirty years old, and seems to be holding up as well as any Toyota from the same decade. Good build quality, well engineered for the original intention, nothing wrong with this rig if you accept the original concept. Small, capable, reliable, good on gas, go anywhere any other vehicle with four wheels could possibly consider. I imagine this little Jimny is following in the path of the Samurai.
Gerry and Ed,
The beams were there to keep the test driver safe and prevent a full roll-over in the test. Since they were on both sides, they canceled each other out and made the vehicle no more or less likely to roll — basic physics.
You are likely remembering the 60 Minutes report on Audis that suddenly accelerated in reverse.
I test drove a Samurai once when they were still sold new, and nearly flipped it. I bought a Geo Tracker (Suzuki Sidekick) instead, and never had a worry in 140,000 miles, even when in once spun out on a down-slope dirt road.
Yeah I remember those Audis. Much like the better cassette players back then. They came with auto-reverse.
The consumer reports that stated in 1988 that a Samurai was too easy to roll over has been disproved but remains in the lore. Suzuki sued CR and a jury found that the statement was misconstrued. There is a nice documentary about it and this Youtube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3sGkP8HeBY That silly unacceptable rating for the Samurai just cramped the sales of the vehicle. I had soft top version and never ever felt close to feeling unsafe. The fact that Consumer Reports did everything they could to try and roll the vehicle. Sad treatment for a low cost, highly reliable vehicle. I ultimately sold mine because there were no airbags and my wife was worried our kids might get hit while driving it. I agree with Covelo. I bet the Jimny is a solid vehicle.
SOLD for $8,900.