Japanese Mini Trucks... Anybody know much?

[Old Ironsights]

What would a mid 90s Suzuki Carry with 86000km on it be worth? I can't find a decent answer anywhere. Want to make a reasonable offer and use it as a runabout/commuter/100mi radius hunting truck.



It's been sitting for over a year. Runs but needs a tune and detail. Cowling is in the cab.

[Ji in Hawaii]

Is it even street legal there? Here in Hawai'i it's not except on the island of Lana'i but that's privately owned. It has a 660cc engine and barely makes freeway speed. If used on unimproved roads then no problem. No Kelly Bluebook for these "Kei" trucks. I'd offer $850 at most.
Check this website out: http://www.japancarline.com/mini.html

[Old Ironsights]

Yeah, you can drive them anywhere here in WY except on the Interstate, and even that has exceptions (point A to B if no other road...) At 35-40 mpg it seems like a decent option.

Thanks for the link. It appears that $850 is the cost for a low end unit PRE-shipping. That link would suggest that a total cost per unit would be about $1800 (plus import duties) ea when ordering 6 to a container and having the container delivered to LA...

[6pt-sika]

I've ridden in a bunch of them in the Philippines !

The guy that owns the nearest Sporting Clays range to me has one as his utility vehicle although they cannot be licensed in the state of Virginia .



I think he told me he got this one new and it cost him about 6G's .

[6pt-sika]

These things can be had in 4x4 the one my buddy has at his Sporting Clays course is 4x4 . Most of those I rode in the Philippines are 2x4 . In 4x4 these things could be viewed as a viable and cheaper alternative to a UTV !

[Old Ironsights]

The one pictured is a 4x4.

I really don't like the idea of only having one vehicle in the winter and 2 people needing to drive to work...

[6pt-sika]

I could be mistaken but I seem to remember some of these in the Philippines that were crew cab or 4 doors .

[Old Ironsights]

In the end, if I can get it, I'd like to do something like this with it:



That or find a '70s CJ...

[claybob86]

Those look pretty handy, but is there any parts support in this part of the world?

[6pt-sika]

Those look pretty handy, but is there any parts support in this part of the world?

The link above claims they're readily available , but that's getting them direct from Japan so price and time could be a definite factor !

[Old Ironsights]

Pretty much any Suzuki/Honda/Mitsu/Subaru crank can get the parts.

[6pt-sika]

I like them so don't get me wrong . After riding in the cab of a few of them , they aren't exactly made with the average size American male in mind . They also don't have the smoothest ride . Kinda put me in mind of a 71 Power Wagon I had with blown shocks !

[Old Ironsights]

I've read ridden in the too. I'm not really concerned with that. My commute is 10 miles and I really ride the motorcycle most of the summer, so this would be a winter commute/Hunting MPV rig.

But my question really revolves around offer price vs. Dropping 3-5k on a 40+ y/o CJ...

[Ji in Hawaii]

86000km = 53437.92 miles. Not low, not high. Offer $1000.00 and let him counter-offer. How difficult to find all terrain tire that'll fit? I think I recall seeing these fitted with ATV tires.

Here's one in Japan FOB $2700.00 http://www.japan-partner.com/Auto/4921/ ... -sale.html


Here's one in California with similar specs to your's but in good working condition going for $3500.00
http://www.minitruckdealer.com/stock_de ... ck_no=4005

[Tycer]

An engine that size might not produce any cab heat in winter.

[Old Ironsights]

An engine that size might not produce any cab heat in winter.

For 1/3 the fuel cost I think I can fix that. I used to have a '68 Beetle, so I grok.

[octagon]

There was one for sale down the road from the ranch a few months ago. If I make it out there this weekend for doves I'll stop acheck on the price.

[wolfdog]

We have one at work, cannot be licensed in Florida but handy and dependable vehicle. They were also rebranded and sold as John Deers in the states.

[Grizz]

I think it's a good idea. Probably the biggest factor would be serviceability. It looks like the kind of thing any wrench-bender could keep running, unless it was engineered by chevy-ford-criesler kids.

[Blaine]

Those seem to be popular everyplace in the world except here in USA.....It's all you would see in ROK. They were diesel...is this one diesel?

[Old Ironsights]

No. Petrol only.

[Ji in Hawaii]

Awesome Kei Trucks





https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ti1MHUS62v0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKspNAx6yUY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iq84-kW0MLU

[Old Ironsights]

That yellow extended cab is great.

[hartman]

I know several people up here who bought them to use as irrigation trucks. They don't use them any longer because they used more fuel than their 4-wheelers/side by sides. Who'd a thunk it?? I was going to buy one for the same reason, just to get around the place and go to town instead of firing up the 460ci. I let them talk me out of it. bought a 92 Plymouth acclaim and had the kid build me a trunk rack for my shovels.
FYI

[stretch]

How could you go wrong offering a grand for it?

I'm 6'3", and when I was on Okinawa I rode in stuff like
that all the time. Mind you, I was 35 years more flexible then, too!
(Has it been 35 years?!? )

-Stretch

[6pt-sika]

How could you go wrong offering a grand for it?

I'm 6'3", and when I was on Okinawa I rode in stuff like
that all the time. Mind you, I was 35 years more flexible then, too!
(Has it been 35 years?!? )

-Stretch

This past April while I was visiting the wife in the Philippines we took some of the family to a small adjacent island for a mini vacation . While there we did a tour of the island and a guy drove us around in one of these little trucks . He had the back setup with a cover thingy for hauling passengers . Anyway I rode in the cab with him because there was a skoosh more room . Anyway at 53 years of age getting in and out that little truck was work for me .

[6pt-sika]

In the PI the big thing for the more well healed is a Toyota HiLux or a Chevy Colorado both are diesel and cost about $35,000 in the Philippines . Once we get a house over there I wanna get a Colorado to keep there and maybe a Suzuki mini truck as a second vehicle in case my brother in law wants to borrow a vehicle .

[JReed]

We had one in Afghanistan 2wheel drive diesel with a 5 speed. Thing was a tank it had been driven by Marines for years before my rotation and it was still going strong. I would drop a grand on one in a heartbeat. It was a bit tricky for me to get in and out of being 6'2" but it did the job.

[Old Ironsights]

Diesel would be really cool, have t the EPA won't allow it. The DFA system would as the more than the engine.

[Ji in Hawaii]

And on that rare occasion they should break down...


Here's a few more cool Kei trucks

[92&94]

Yeah, you can drive them anywhere here in WY except on the Interstate, and even that has exceptions (point A to B if no other road...)

More or less the same here and in AZ. Road legal side by sides were also pretty popular in AZ last time I was over there often. Gotta love the rural west.

[Old Ironsights]

Yeah, you can drive them anywhere here in WY except on the Interstate, and even that has exceptions (point A to B if no other road...)

More or less the same here and in AZ. Road legal side by sides were also pretty popular in AZ last time I was over there often. Gotta love the rural west.

Lots of people drive side-by-sides (Razr's etc) up here. Not so fun for commuting in the winter tho.

[92&94]

Yeah, you can drive them anywhere here in WY except on the Interstate, and even that has exceptions (point A to B if no other road...)

More or less the same here and in AZ. Road legal side by sides were also pretty popular in AZ last time I was over there often. Gotta love the rural west.

Lots of people drive side-by-sides (Razr's etc) up here. Not so fun for commuting in the winter tho.

Yeah, no doubt --> How to make your Wyoming commute even more windy!

I wonder how those little trucks do on slick roads come to think of it? Not a lot of weight there for traction.