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This was a car that I did not particularly like at all. I test-drove one, and it had a boring, blah, somewhat unpleasant feel to its interior, design, steering, and general road manners....completely without any personality.
Hint: I know in the side view it looks like a Renault 9/Alliance, but it is NOT an Alliance.
Another Blast from the Past, who remembers this one.
What am I???
80s-vintage Suzuki Samurai...the notorious Flip-Over special. It was famous for an unstable, ultra-narrow track between the wheels, a high center of gravity, and led the U.S. market in the number of roll-over lawsuits during the time it was imported here. Some of the suits, however, were probably overdone, as some inexperienced young and careless people tried to drive the Samurai like a sports car, and exceeded the vehicle's rather low safe cornering-limits.
Yep.....mid-70s Maverick. The large bumpers indicate it is a 1973 or newer, when the first bumper-strength law went into effect. (Yeah, I know they look awkward, but virtually all domestic cars had them back then)
I never owned one, but I have some driving time in a 1975 Maverick of that vintage....drove one belonging to a friend of mine from Skyline Drive in the mountains all the way back to D.C. Nice little car....I liked it.
Yep.....mid-70s Maverick. The large bumpers indicate it is a 1973 or newer, when the first bumper-strength law went into effect. (Yeah, I know they look awkward, but virtually all domestic cars had them back then)
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Ya'll got it!
Only had it a month when it died on the road and wouldn't start.
Had it towed to the used car dealer I bought it from and even tho I bought it "as is" he felt bad so he had his mechanic look at it and said it needed a timing chain and sprockets.
So they let me order the parts from local supply and I did the timing chain job in the back parking lot.
Would you believe the original oem timing sprocket on these was made of plastic?
I never saw that coming but the mechanic knew it when he saw the mileage since they fail at approx 90k miles like clock work.
Ps- I really like that car, V8, strong AC, roomy, cheap to work on, and inexpensive to own.
Only had it a month when it died on the road and wouldn't start.
Had it towed to the used car dealer I bought it from and even tho I bought it "as is" he felt bad so he had his mechanic look at it and said it needed a timing chain and sprockets
That timing-chain failure probably came from oil-change neglect. The metal chains run in an oil-bath to keep them lubed....and a low oil level (or excessively-dirty oil) will pay a price.
Would you believe the original oem timing sprocket on these was made of plastic?
Yes, I would. That was around the time that Detroit started cutting corners on the quality and durability of some auto parts to save money. They were being forced to spend so much of their budgets on emission laws, CAFE laws, and new safety-regulations that not much was left over for other uses.
11-13-22, 08:53 AM
