We Bought a Suzuki Jimny Wide!

 

Our 1998 Suzuki Jimny Wide

We have wanted a third-generation Suzuki Jimny for years. In 2023, they would become legal to import into the USA, and I was counting down the years. I literally told myself that when we could import one, we would. That year came and went, but two years later, we finally pulled the trigger and bought ourselves a Suzuki Jimny, specifically a 1998 Suzuki Jimny Wide.

Our Old Suzuki Sidekick, The Teal Terror, is Still Alive in Eastern Oregon

 

This is our old Suzuki Sidekick, The Teal Terror. We sold our trusty Sidekick in 2016 and I hadn't seen it since until now. 

Suzuki Announces Plan to Return to North American Market - AGAIN

Suzuki announced today that it is making plans to return to the North American automotive market in 2023. The Japanese automaker pulled out of the U.S. and Canada in 2013, after only having its subcompact SX4, compact Grand Vitara SUV, and mid-sized Kizashi sedan as offerings.

The company, according to a moderately anonymous source maybe, has said it reevaluated the U.S. market and decided to focus on its strength of small crossovers and hatchbacks. It is expected the company will initially offer the latest variant of the SX4 S-Cross pictured above. However, this will be its largest vehicle offering. New dealers might open as soon as Feb. 29, 2023.

Wrecked: Awesome Lifted Suzuki SX4

Photo via C.Y. Lee

Over eight years ago, I ran into one of the most badass Suzuki SX4s I'd ever seen. This lifted Suzuki SX4 had big knobby tires, a flat-black paint job, and a custom front bumper among other things. I actually got to know the owner, C.Y. Lee, a bit because of it. Ironically, I had just been talking to C.Y. about this car on October 15, 2021, and then, next thing we knew it, it was totaled by someone who went on a rampage in stolen school bus. Yes, you read that right.

Yes, You Can Buy a New Suzuki Hustler in the USA

I was having lunch with a good friend yesterday and we got talking about Suzuki cars. He told me how much he liked the new Ignis which he saw in Mexico. I told him I saw them in Iceland last summer. I then told him I am in love with the Suzuki Hustler, a small, tall kei car. He said, you know you can buy one in the U.S. right? Wait, what?

Yes, We Drove the 2019 Suzuki Jimny

We went to Iceland several weeks ago and were able to rent what is pretty my our semi-realistic dream car, a new Suzuki Jimny. I say semi-realistic because we, as residents of the U.S., cannot buy one here because Suzuki no longer sells cars here.

What it's Like to Buy and Own a Kei Truck

Do you own a kei truck? Probably not. But you want to own a kei truck.

These little pickups are gaining popularity and are even road-legal in places, such as Washington state. Not only are they fun, but they can be great little work horses, too. The one pictured above is a Suzuki Carry belonging to our good friend, Tuan. He calls it ... are you ready for this? ... Carry Potter. 

Tuan wrote a great article all about the buying and owning experience on our sister site, Crankshaft Culture. It's a really fun and insightful read for anyone thinking of buying one of these.

You can also follow Crankshaft Culture on Instagram @crankshaftculture.

Spy Photos of the 2018 Suzuki Jimny

The folks over at Motor1.com have posted photos of what appears to be the 2018 Suzuki Jimny. As you can see, it's boxy, tiny, and looks a little like a tiny G-Wagen, Defender, or even maybe Ford's old Bronco concept! Where do we sign up?

DIY Metro-Drop Camp Trailer

I recently went camping with family and friends at the Oregon coast. Our friends had arrived and set up a little earlier in the day. Once our tent was up and our camp set up, my friend Jeremy and I went out on a supply run. As we set off he said, "There's something you've got to see on the way out." Boy was he right!

#BuyMyVitara Is The Best Used Car Ad Ever.

Without a doubt, this is the absolute best for-sale video ever made. Plus, it's for a '96 Suzuki Vitara, so it's even better. The amount of work that went into this must've been staggering.

Latest Article in OutdoorX4 Magazine: Trailer Supported Adventuring

The Teal Terror and our Dinoot J Series trailer are the focus of the latest installation of the Trailer Supported Adventuring series in OutdoorX4 magazine. Despite the fact the Suzuki is gone, it lives on in print. The Dinoot, however, is still safely parked under our carport.

You can check out the magazine at OutdoorX4.com and read the PDF there, too (starts on P. 60).

The Teal Terror is Gone. Long Live the Teal Terror

Well, it's the end of an era. Last Friday night we sold the Teal Terror.

For Sale: The Teal Terror

Well, the time has come. It's time to sell the Teal Terror. It's been an awesome little vehicle for us and for this website, but it's time to move on.

Respecting People's Automotive Passions

Some self-professed "car people" turn their nose up at our modified Toyota Yaris. Some 4x4 people think our mildly lifted Suzuki Sidekick is a joke.

We're all entitled to our opinions, but remember: We're all gearheads.

No matter what you drive, if you have a passion for automobiles, congrats: we are one in the same. You should respect people's automotive enthusiasm, regardless of make/model.

Read more ...

Project SJK: Restoring a Classic Suzuki SJ410k Pickup

Have you ever wanted to do an automotive restoration but simply didn't think you had the skills to do it? Well there's only one way to get experience, and that's by diving in and doing it. That's exactly what Omri Ginzburg did with his Suzuki SJ410k restoration project.

Resuscitating the Teal Terror

As you may remember, the Teal Terror's crankshaft is buggered up. Consequently, it's been sitting since its fateful flatbed ride back to Portland in June. Since determining the problem, I've been getting the necessary parts to attempt to resuscitate the trucklet. In fact, I just got off the phone with the local Mitsubishi dealer (and former Suzuki dealer) and ordered the final piece: a new center crankshaft bolt.

So what's the plan?

I'll clean up the crank snout with a file and some carb cleaner; get it as close to "OK" as possible. After some serious research and consulting with others who have had this issue, I purchased a product from Loctite called Hysol 1C. This is an industrial epoxy that bonds to metal. I called Loctite and described the situation, and it appears this will be the best product since I actually need to fill in a small area, and the product needs to be chemical and heat resistant.

Next, I'll take the new woodruff key I bought, mix up some Hysol 1C, and set the key in the slot. I'll then let it cure for the appropriate amount of time, and hope it sets correctly.

Next up, I'll take the bolt I ordered from Suzuki, install it into the crank snout, torque it to the appropriate number, and then attempt to reinstall everything. Lord, I hope I remembered to put all the parts back in the right area.

The bottom line is this: Many people have fixed their crankshafts this way. Hopefully, this fix—which has coast less than $50—will solve the problem, and we can get the Teal Terror running again. Previous people who have done similar things have gone as many as 80,000 miles with this fix. It's certainly cheaper than a new engine. And if it fails? Well, it'll probably fail badly since this is an interference engine. However, the engine would've needed to be replaced anyhow, so we wouldn't really be out anything other than $50. And, frankly, we will likely part ways with the 4x4 after it's fixed (or, God help us, the fix doesn't hold).

We're now +1 with our Jeep Cherokee project over at Crankshaft Culture, and something's got to go. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. We first need to get this to work.

Wish us luck!

So what's going on with the Teal Terror?

Back in June, we told you that our 1995 Suzuki Sidekick, aka the Teal Terror, was having engine issues. Well, I tore into the engine a little and found the culprit. As suspected and as was suggested by many a Suzukiphile, the keyway on the end of the crankshaft has fouled.

Engine Issues for the Teal Terror

Yes, that's the Teal Terror and trailer on a trailer. We had some engine problems on the way up to the 2016 NW Overland Rally, and it turns out, it wasn't able to make the return trip back to Portland under its own power. Thank God for good friends who have 30-ft trailers and are willing to drive 12 hours to get your broke-down ass. 

So what happened?

Low Compression Depression: Time for a Rebuild?

For months, the Teal Terror, aka Project 1995 Suzuki Sidekick, has felt down on power. Despite replacing the busted up catalytic converter a couple weeks ago, checking to see if the muffler is plugged, and about 100 other potential things, the power is still down. It was very evident after last weekend's trip to the Oregon coast for camping: Lots of third-gear sessions and terrible fuel economy while ascending the hills of Highway 26. Something is up.

2016 Overland Expo West: The Essential Overlanding Show

Photos and Words By Mercedes Lilienthal
 
How would one sum up this year’s Overland Expo West? Windy? Fun? Exciting? Informative? Well, yes, we say all of the above. What was my first time attending and covering this show will surely not be the last. The 2016 Overland Expo West was an awesomely windy, thrilling, fast-paced, and exciting event.