I wish I knew this before buying a Kei Van (a brutally honest 1 year review)

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I bought a 1996 Japanese Suzuki Every which resembles a Honda Acty, Racoon, or Subaru Kei Van, about a year ago from Facebook Marketplace for $7200. This Kei Van will drive identical to its Kei Truck counterpart. The Kei Van would also make a good platform for a Kei Camper. There are some major Pros and Cons of these vans. In this video I go over engine and performance, driving test, interior and exterior features. I believe this to be one of the best jdm kei vans on the market. If you are wanting to buy a mini truck but need more space for passengers this is a great alternative.

[@lesklower7281]

In Australia these vans were sold through Suzuki dealers and they were known as the Suzuki Carry and they were purely a commercial vehicle but now Suzuki have the APV which is a bit bigger would not be considered a Kei vehicle because it has a bigger four cylinder engine and its the only Suzuki commercial vehicle available in Australia there maybe a Suzuki Jimny ute coming

[@SamandKadenGoPlaces]

I would love to get my hands on a new Jimny in the states.

[@lesklower7281]

@@SamandKadenGoPlaces My son has one in Australia and we do have Suzuki's in Australia and we own a Suzuki Baleno also l saw a Jimny 5 door the other day well the USA shot themselves in the foot because of the test were they had really tried hard to roll a Suzuki Sierra and they did eventually get it to roll so Suzuki stuff you and stopped sending Suzuki's to the USA but the rest of the world gets them and in Australia latest sales figures Suzuki increased in sales by 19%

[@myrandom603]

Excellent video and great list of realistic pros and cons.

[@SamandKadenGoPlaces]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@robertkane2251]

What a cool little van!

[@SamandKadenGoPlaces]

Bet you wish you had one!

[@Cloudwanderervanlife]

Wow! I really wanted one of these but went with an '07 Chevy Van I got for cheap so building that out now. Great video!

[@SamandKadenGoPlaces]

Awesome! Should have a little more room! Where are you based?

[@jeretso]

Great for bikes! THe only problems is price should be lower for an old car.

[@SamandKadenGoPlaces]

Agree but when does it start to become a classic 😂

[@corinful]

Cool little van. Awesome thank you for the video. I just bought a 2005 Suzuki Every Joypop Turbo with only 9300 miles. It's on its way from Japan at the moment.

[@SamandKadenGoPlaces]

I wish I had a turbo!

[@dlmurray55]

You can do UV window tint that isn't super dark which should help with the heat from the sun coming though the windows

[@SamandKadenGoPlaces]

That's the plan soon! Any estimate on what that costs?

[@dlmurray55]

@@SamandKadenGoPlaces nope sorry but maybe 500 max I would think and hope. I plan to look into it myself for my Suzuki carry 1995

[@myrandom603]

@@SamandKadenGoPlaces Here in NH it's $250-300 to have all the windows done at a reputable shop. If you buy good film and a tool kit you can do it yourself for about $150 but take your time, do it in the shade, and watch plenty of tutorials before you jump in and try.

[@coletrickle-km7cl]

You want parts for your kei van, your best bet is to find another van exactly like it and buy it and use that one for parts. Its waaaay less headache than hunting online for individual parts. It will make having flat tires way less of a proplem. Just grab it off the parts van.

[@SamandKadenGoPlaces]

Not too many parts vans here in Hawaii. I'm always on the lookout. My problem is whenever I get something for part it becomes its own project.

[@Dalesoil1]

Do you plan on getting any other Kei vehicles? I've got 2. A 1993 Daihatsu Mira Walk-Through and a 1993 Daihatsu Mira TR-XX Avanzato. Love em both‼️ From NC🇺🇲🙂

[@SamandKadenGoPlaces]

I want to get a Suzuki Jimny! What is your favorite?

[@Dalesoil1]

@SamandKadenGoPlaces I like my Daihatsu Mira Walk-Through the most! Jimny's are cool, too, especially if it 4 WD. The TR XX is fun as well, as it will easily do highway speeds of 75 mph+.

[@dontcare3430]

Ive been looking for one of those vans to put in my sprinter van as a spare.

[@SamandKadenGoPlaces]

Lol that would be so bad ass

[@mccrackenphillip]

U might want to see about getting a slightly taller Transaxle for it or a taller 4 gear. But i hear they offer a 5 software trans for them

[@SamandKadenGoPlaces]

I will look into that thanks!

[@JimsEquipmentShed]

Just out of curiosity, have you ever tried out a super carry? At 6’ 3” I was curious is the fixed seating made that impossible. I have one, but I’m only 5’ 8”. I also appreciate how you gave true mileage. Most people say 40-50 mpg.

[@myrandom603]

None of them get 40-50mpg. Typically you can expect 25-30mpg from any of the Kei Trucks. Some of the smaller Kei cars like my Suzuki Alto push about 38mpg around town but the minute you get into the higher RPM range, the fuel economy plummets like a rock. Stay in those high revs all the time and you can almost expect to be replacing a motor. Just my .02 but I have also owned about a dozen Kei cars/trucks at this point.

[@SamandKadenGoPlaces]

Thanks for the heads up! How much did a new motor cost you?

[@SamandKadenGoPlaces]

Glad it's not just me!

[@SamandKadenGoPlaces]

I did a test drive in one. Definitely tighter. I could not operate the right turn signal because it hit my knee. I couldn't get my knee out of the way either. Maybe if you modify the turn signal.

[@JimsEquipmentShed]

@@SamandKadenGoPlaces Yea, I’d love to see if a 90’s Suzuki samurai blinker would work. (Just to get the gear on the correct sides.)

[@stevekenilworth]

depends what spec you get, ive seen pretty basic spec have all the vents and speakers in the doors. but uk they cost a bit more that usa the one im looking at is around $8500 mark but only 40k miles and like new condition. depends on how basic the basic the first owner wanted as you can get few with center light too but they do tend to be pretty basic but i feel that is the charm of them too, just less to go wrong. and now uk becoming country with lower limits popping up everywhere and cameras a slow van i feel not an issue and rarely go on to bigger roads so speed it won't effect me much as where i am its a fast less than 30 min drive on 70 mph before on to 50 and 60 country roads so ideal cruising speed for one these. one these but slightly newer as we have clean air zones what charge to enter so buy the right age its free if not its £8-12 a day that adds up. my next car/van buy its one these but slightly newer or a modern euro 6 engine i20 what should be free to enter these fraud zones for a lot longer that only cars on top my list to by next, nothing else caught my eye and boring

[@stevekenilworth]

think all Japanese cars the signals and wipers on the other way

[@stevekenilworth]

you can get 5 speed manual also or an auto , a 5 speed manual seems better way to go, 1998 that what on offer

[@SamandKadenGoPlaces]

I think I am going to upgrade to a 5 speed. Mine does have the dome light!

[@stevekenilworth]

@@SamandKadenGoPlaces tricky when buying is so many variations, depending on first buyer on how basic and some basic can have a lot more some don't even have a 2nd air vent so very basic so really the best option get one great condition and upgrade yourself over time, i bet you struggle to find two the same config unless from same company

[@mundylunes7755]

For 7k? That's a deal. Now that they're selling like hotcakes, you'd be lucky to find any Kei vehicles less than 9.5k

[@SamandKadenGoPlaces]

In Hawaii?

[@mundylunes7755]

@@SamandKadenGoPlaces Guam

[@siamiam]

@@SamandKadenGoPlaces 10k in alaska

[@winandd8649]

30 mpg after the carburetor change that is I guess ?

[@SamandKadenGoPlaces]

That's correct. Mileage did not change with new carb.

[@winandd8649]

@@SamandKadenGoPlaces O, I thought that it would consume less with the original carburetor . Nice to know!

[@MarcKloos]

Had you bought it from Europe, then the steering wheel would be on the left side. It's a pity that YT doesn't allow links in the comments.

[@SamandKadenGoPlaces]

I think I am starting to like driving on the right side better anyways! Not sure if I could handle driving on the left side of the road. Just came back from the cook islands and it took my mind a little to wrap around it.

[@geirtorgersen6002]

It is only the American who doesn't understand the metric system.

[@SamandKadenGoPlaces]

🚀 🌝

[@officialguitar3667]

No way you have a girlfriend.

[@SamandKadenGoPlaces]

I am taken sorry.

[@beguiledfoil]

You can probably get one cheaper if you import yourself from a reputable dealer like japancardirect.

[@SamandKadenGoPlaces]

I'm sure! I bought this one before I even moved to Hawaii and it fit the mission. Next time when I can afford to wait I'm planning on flying to Japan to find one myself

[@MarcKloos]

Try mainland Europe instead!