Honda Acty Street HH4 vs Subaru Sambar Dias Kei AWD Microvans Seat of The Pants Test Review Video

[SUBSCRIBE, LIKE and COMMENT] In this Seat of The Pants Video, The Collector Car Guru answers the question: "do you want to be a Sambarer or Streeter" with this head-to-head matchup of popular AWD JDM Kei microvans pinning the 1992 Honda Acty Street HH4 against the 1994 Subaru Sambar Dias Kei AWD.

[@shane6961]

Love your videos! I have a 1997 Acty truck and Its wonderful. Keeps up with city traffic just fine. Maybe a little slow off the line but it catches up quick. Plus everyone loves it!

[@DPShopTalk]

Great video👍 I enjoyed seeing the comparison between the Honda and Subaru. I bought a Honda Vamos Hobio kei van earlier this year that had been imported to Canada. I converted it to a work van and use it as a self employed finish carpenter to haul all of my tools and gear. It works great for me and is so much more interesting and fun than a typical North American style van.

[@glennoc8585]

I had a Subaru Sambar truck for a few years when I was building. The rear engine was easy to get to. I think mine was 550cc carburettor. It used to handle surprisingly well. It would go pretty well over fields in 4wd. I would've preferred the new model as they had injection power steering, air con and the 5 spd.

[@alphacampbell21]

SAM! Aaron Campbell here from Rainier AZA days, just browsing for Kei Car vans for my handyman business work truck, and lo and behold its you! Last time I saw you drive it was doing that Martin Perlin classic Twilight Zone movie in your Chrysler rag top. Huzzah and hello!

[@CollectorCarGuru]

Hello Aaron! Great to hear from you. You can drop me a line via the Classwinners.com page or the Class Winners Facebook page. I remember that failed movie with Martin in his dad's Mustang Fastback. And I still have my dad's Dodge 600ES Turbo convertible!

[@ronkemp9528]

You look like the Hulk in that little van.

[@CollectorCarGuru]

It's not easy being green! ;)

[@907AKUSA]

Sam! Love the videos and the information! Keep up the good work:)

[@oops541]

Subaru Sambar is the winner because it run smooth, quiet and reliability. Also, I hate noisy cars.

[@Thirteenwindows]

'93 Honda ACTY Street G right here and i wouodnt trade it for anything. Its perfect 💪🏼🏆😁

[@null_state]

This was highly entertaining. Sweet vans. If only I could afford!

[@wbwills2]

3 video s back..?.dk.?..th a i you find one??saw the word AUCTION I I'm in NC.rural Sandhills.would be good I think.how much & where do yo

[@wbwills2]

Sorry.tablet prints backwards occasionally.?.dk.about that either....dk much right now.

[@greathornedowl3644]

Thank you, these look like so much fun. Think these, small/versatile would make great cabs (inner-city). Thinking some with 4x4 would be great for woods/cabin, as opposed to UTV how nice to have a heated cab when climbing out of 20°F tree stand. Would be great if you could get a 4x8 sheet of plywood behind the front seats.

[@CollectorCarGuru]

The Kei trucks and vans are VERY popular with hunters and fishermen. In the vans, one would have to put the tailgate up for a 4X8, or down on the trucks. Very common to haul 4X8 sheets in trucks in Japan.

[@dimitriwaardenburg4631]

Great video 🤙

[@Emppu_T.]

They used to make Electric versions of the Subarus over here called the ELCAT.

[@MrLink129]

I just bought a 1994 street and when I went to pick it up the valve cover gasket blew.... They are fixing it now and I probably wont get it for 2 more weeks ughhh I want to drive it already

[@scrapbongo786]

Really enjoyed your video and comments. New Sub /cheers ScrapBongo

[@badscrew4023]

Crumpling zone? You are the crumpling zone :)))

[@04dram04]

TO me, these are the modern equivalent of aircooled VW bus.

[@Friedermanns]

Perhaps "micro"equivalent of aircooled VW bus.

[@user-sj8oy8oi4r]

I have a vw bus, I want one of these

[@bradcrouch7575]

Looking for a Acty Street 4wd, where can I fine them?

[@judyutah]

Love this video!!! Where can I buy one of these? I live in Santa Barbara, CA. thx.

[@CollectorCarGuru]

Judy, unfortunately, California has very strict and costly rules for vehicle registration. Any vehicle not originally certified for CA sale requires a CARB certification of compliance/non-compliance, which can run nearly $5,000. Your best option is to find one already titled and licensed in CA that is for sale (like on Craigslist) if price is an option. If cost is no option, we have a Supercharged Sambar coming in soon, and you can get the certification done in CA for the insane shakedown fee.

[@markreams6834]

Which of those two vans has more legroom?

[@jeffreykennedy5956]

Do they finance kie trucks and vans?

[@emilis8035]

Was there any of that class, Microvans, made with automatic gear and with the driving wheal to the left ?

[@CollectorCarGuru]

All of the Kei microvans were available with an automatic transmission, but the AT vehicles are significantly slower. All of the vehicles were right hand drive for the Japanese Domestic Market, but some were created in left hand drive variants for markets such as Italy (Daihatsu HiJet aka Piaggio Porter). Usually export models had larger 1.0-liter-class engines.

[@project5783]

Nice SAMBAR!

[@NewEarthAwakening]

Is it true that it gets 43-48 mpg?? I saw one listed at an import place with those specs, and if this is accurate it seems like an amazing vehicle for camping trips. I used to have a 82diesel vanagon, “the greasy turtle” (ran on veggie oil) so I don’t mind strolling down highway.

[@CollectorCarGuru]

As the old saying goes "your mileage may vary". If you live in the midwest where it is flat and you're tooling around at 45 mph in a well-tuned vehicle, then yes -- and maybe even well into the 50 mpg range. If you live in the Pacific Northwest and are constantly flooring it to keep up with traffic up hills, then you'll likely see somewhere in the 30s.

[@04dram04]

@@CollectorCarGuru Im surprised to see you write this, because many of the owners reviews i have seen, say these get pretty poor fuel economy, at highway speeds, becasue the gearing and the engine working so hard. Bu the Subaru Domingo on the other hand, is supposed to be great on the highway.

[@CollectorCarGuru]

@@04dram04 45 mph is far from highway speed. Again, it really depends on the elevation changes, speed, the specific vehicle (Suzuki Carry vs. Honda Acty vs. Subaru Sambar vs Mits Minicab and 2wd vs 4wd and 4/5/AT trans). It is indeed true at highway speeds with hills with 4wd engaged the mpg plummets, especially when people fit offroad or snow tires.

[@trevorgarrett7602]

@@CollectorCarGuruawe thanks for the PNW input. Looking at a 92’ Honda Town and live just south of Seattle. (Haven’t had a carburetor vehicle in like 30yrs) 🤔

[@hardcorehooksets5825]

are there any kei vans like this that have enough power/gear to travel on texas highways?

[@CollectorCarGuru]

Indeed there are. The Subaru Sambar Supercharger can do 85mph. See our test of it on the Seat of The Pants Video playlist

[@ljherrmann]

Always wondered how difficult it is to get used to left handed shifting?

[@CollectorCarGuru]

Larry, our standard line is "it's like sleeping on the other side of the bed". It takes about 30 minutes to get used to it at which point your brain realizes it's doing the exact same thing, just with the other hand. The hardest part is remembering the turn signal is with your right hand. (Whichever hand does the shifting, the other does the turn signal.)

[@ljherrmann]

@@CollectorCarGuru Thanks for the quick reply. Now to find a nice Sambar van. I have a Subie independent nearby, he drives a Sambar truck, so trying to keep to Suby for one of these.

[@CollectorCarGuru]

@@ljherrmann we have a Sambar truck coming in in about a month with around 6,000 original miles. (We have some photos up at www.classwinners.com.) We love the Sambar Dias vans, but they are hard to find in rust-free/damage-free condition, especially due to the rear bumper/engine cover being made of sheet metal.

[@ljherrmann]

@@CollectorCarGuru Didn't find the pics, but you're just up the road. I'm in Bend, OR, so I will bookmark your site and send a "Contact Us" message too.

[@asherwoodman8821]

how reliable are the 660cc honda engines? I'm buying one locally tomorrow with 80k miles

[@CollectorCarGuru]

All of the 660 engines from the various JDM manufacturers are "reliable" with appropriate maintenance. With 80K miles it should have a documented timing belt replacement within the last decade. Honda's 660 engine, like all the others except Subaru's, is an interference engine,

[@asherwoodman8821]

@@CollectorCarGuru thanks! Seller is asking 5k and it was a "mechanics" car that did all of the work and timing belt stuff interior and exterior is very clean I think I'll pull the trigger

[@HalfBit360]

@@asherwoodman8821 how did it go???

[@asherwoodman8821]

@@HalfBit360 good! Timing belt was changed 30k km ago. Loving the van so far :)

[@edgarmondejar3102]

I am interest in Subaru Sambar can refer how importing process and the one you use to bring them over. ?

[@CollectorCarGuru]

Edgar, contact us at [e-mail] and we'll send you an electronic version of our new book SO YOU THINK YOU WANT A JAPANESE DOMESTIC MARKET IMPORT?: A primer for the interested collector, hobbyist, enthusiast and anyone else who believes life’s too short for ordinary cars. It is also available on Amazon.com at www.amazon.com/dp/B08JDTN2HB

[@SP00TNIC]

Here in NYC highway speed is 55 at 65 you get a ticket so its perfect 👍..city speed limit 30 to 35 perfect as well

[@pedropeguero84]

How tall are you? I’m 6’2”. Would fit somewhat comfortably?

[@CollectorCarGuru]

As it mentions in the video, Sam is 6'4" and about 235lb.

[@pedropeguero84]

@@CollectorCarGuru my fault honestly, I was too ignorant to go thru the entire video. Shame on me… thank you very much 🙏🏼

[@robinwilson8435]

Where are you located?

[@CollectorCarGuru]

Class Winners is located in Olympia, WA

[@rolandtiu9934]

is this right hand drive?

[@CollectorCarGuru]

Yes. All Japanese Domestic Market Kei trucks and vans are right hand drive.

[@rolandtiu9934]

@@CollectorCarGuru I like the Japanese Mini Vans since before. I am happy that it is now being imported the vans from Japan. If you do not mind, how much is the retail price for a Honda or Subaru Mini? Thank you.

[@Friedermanns]

I love these micro-vans specially the SUBARU Sambar AWD. And moreover, that red VW T3 at 9:58. ( ͡⊙ ͜ʖ ͡⊙) BUT there are 3 main problems: 1) They are made for japanese body size, so it looks downsized for your height. How tall are you ? 2) Driving it in a curvy road could be quite dangerous. Too high and narrow platform, and with such narrow tyres. Excepting AWD ? not really sure..Maybe. 3) At high speed a "little" crash could easily become a serious one. Watch out that strong wind on your side ! So, I conclude the next: Drive them easily, quite slow in a city and evade highways as a regular basis. The best? they are very useful cars and quite cheap about consumption. Not too expensive to repare or spare parts.

[@user-xd9gy5zn3n]

เอามาขายในไทยบ้างสิ

[@CollectorCarGuru]

We are not familiar with Thailand's import/export regulations. You should check locally for laws. These vehicles, unfortunately, have already been sold.

[@sandiville100]

Doesn't look safe😟

[@Friedermanns]

I love these micro-vans specially the SUBARU Sambar AWD. And moreover, that red VW T3 (out of contest) at 9:58. ( ͡⊙ ͜ʖ ͡⊙) BUT, I agree with you because there are 3 main problems: 1) They are made for japanese body size, so it looks downsized for our height. 2) Driving it empty in a curvy road could be quite dangerous. Too high and narrow platform, and with such narrow tyres. Excepting AWD versions ? not really sure..Maybe. 3) At high speed a "little" crash could easily become a serious one. Watch out that strong wind on your side ! So, I conclude the next: Drive them easily, quite slow in a city and evade highways as a regular basis. The best? they are very useful cars and quite cheap about consumption. Not too expensive to repare or spare parts.

[@user-et5xt6re5k]

키16x cm일본 남성 평균신장에선 휼륭한 차다