Faults:

Replaced the clutch at 118,000 miles.

Replaced U-joints at 118,000 miles.

Starter relay replaced at 149,000.

Front brakes replaced at 92,000.

Rear brakes replaced at 151,000.

Hoses and belt replaced at 92,000.

Driver's seat is worn out.

General Comments:

This vehicle has been extremely reliable. I have added a lift kit, larger tires, rear locker, gear reduction transfer case, and various other accessories.

The ride is terrible. The interior is small. Yet this vehicle has been through some incredibly tough trails. It is great in the snow when in 4wd, if in 2wd you won't go far.

When new (with stock tires, gearing, etc.) the vehicle averaged 32 mpg. With the modifications (tires, gearing) and over 151,000 miles, it now averages 25 mpg.

The engine is still completely stock and the head has never been off. It just passed the CA emissions test with ease. Until about 100,000 miles, the engine never used any oil between changes (every 5000). Now it uses about a quart every 3000 miles.

This is one tough little vehicle. I paid about $7000 US for this car in 1988 and I still take it out four-wheeling regularly. With gas prices on the rise I drive it more often than my 1993 Ford Bronco (4wd, 351 V8).

Faults:

A pin in the shifter broke three times. The third time, I found that Suzuki had designed a heavied-up pin and housing to replace it, and it hasn't broken again. That was over 100K miles ago. Obviously a design flaw that they corrected.

In 192,000 miles, it has also needed two clutch replacements and I've been down to the valves and rings once, probably at about 100K miles. I think that's acceptable. The clutch, though, is absurdly small. It should be on a child's toy. I've bought an aftermarket clutch to install the next time the clutch goes bad, which I believe is coming up soon. It is said to have an improved grip without changing the requisite pedal pressure. We shall see.

I've had to replace the seats with readily available aftermarket items. Had a problem burning up alternators, but that hasn't recurred in a few years. An impossible to diagnose starting problem was solved by pirating a relay off of another car.

General Comments:

That's about it. I hated this car the moment I saw it. I bought it for my girlfriend, because it was the cheapest 4x4 available. She has now been my wife for over a decade. I have hated to see the Sammy in my driveway for the last eight years or more, but it keeps running like a top just to tick me off.

For the last 3/4 of its life, it has had even worse performance than when it was new, and the mileage has fallen from 30 mpg to 24. I guess I've had worse car problems, though.