The Tiny Subaru Sambar is a CONVERTIBLE 4x4 Van That Is CHEAP (& Legal) In The USA!

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This is the craziest van I have ever seen! This is a supercharged, 4x4, convertible van that will let you experience the van life craze for cheap! Let's check it out.
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#Subaru #VanLife

[@kevinblock2307]

Love these quirky reviews and that guy was very knowledgeable..he’s got a cool van 🚐

[@A1shio]

日本の小さいサンバーが海外でも元気に活躍していて嬉しい😊

[@pepper508]

get this man a 10 year contract, he will be a great addition to TFL

[@RoyalDudeness]

You should hire this guy! He's very pleasant and enthusiastic

[@3leventars]

Second this.

[@overlandpup4507]

Way better on camera than Roman.

[@tealchief]

@@overlandpup4507 blasphemy

[@FishplateFilms]

Watching from Australia and such a happy guy and great on camera !

[@georgejulien3286]

No.

[@phild9813]

We need more rigs like this in the US. Small, reliable, capable. Wish there was an importer for the Jimny here, new or used.

[@SoteroMurguia]

I’m praying that Chevy licenses it as a new Tracker.

[@Globbs]

@@SoteroMurguia that would be awesome.

[@Nonamenever557]

@@SoteroMurguia that would be an instant hit for Chevy!

[@VARITHMS]

There is. There is a few companies in Dallas that imports these.

[@SoteroMurguia]

@@VARITHMS I’m gonna need the name of these companies sir. Cause they’re getting my monies.

[@gaivoron]

He is a really nice guy! Why can't I have neighbors like him.

[@blautens]

I know, right? Within 60 seconds I'm thinking "wow, I wish I could hang with Larry".

[@ikbelmezroua5500]

I want to have it as a father of my wife 😅😅

[@TheFalseShepphard]

Cuz you've been doomed ever since you ate that kid's lunch in middle schools

[@danmccarthy4700]

If I had one of these I'd probably be smiling all the time just like Larry is.

[@philisiano]

90s is the best decade ever! Specially for cars .. NO QUESTIONS ! 😇

[@alcopower5710]

I have to agree with you

[@Lookout4the3rdrail]

Japanese Sport bikes too 😜

[@steveh545]

We need more Larry. And more cowbell. But more Larry for sure!

[@danhoang6335]

Can't wipe the smile from my face seeing this tiny van. More interviews of these unique cars/vans like these, please.

[@travisp11]

To be honest with you, Colorado IS the first place I would expect to see an open top, convertible van. Awesome review, Tommy!

[@beratsamil]

im no car guy and for some reason I REALLY LIKE these little cute trucks

[@FrankeeD]

Great video - so nice to have someone who knows what he's talking about and has actually lived in Japan. Very nostalgic as well. I lived in Japan for 17 years and had a 1989 Suzuki Joy Pop for a few years. It was a great little van, although I don't think I ever got it up to more than 70 kph and was glad I was never in an accident as there was almost no crumple zone. My parents came to visit when my son was still in his car seat, so we got an extra seat belt installed in the middle of the back seat and squeezed 2 adults and a baby in the second row.

[@adogandasubaru1964]

I have a daihatsu Atrai with same glass layout as daily driver, turbo , with 3 cylinder. So easy to get around town in these things. Great in the snow too!

[@imjco1927]

That guy knows a lot, that's great for any JDM car owner.

[@Fix3rJ0e]

Larry's a cool guy. Very knowledgeable and friendly. And I love that van.

[@lfredo1985]

Wish there were more people like this guy in the world! He seems so nice talks with a lot of respect!

[@NaturalMystic69]

Growing up my best friend's parents had one of the Suzuki Carry versions. We used to take it to an abandoned race track and drive around in it before we had our drivers licences. It was a blast to drive!

[@hippiebits2071]

Very interesting review and like everyone has mentioned the owner seems like a genuinely great guy. What a cool little van! I LOVE how much respect Tommy has for other people's property and how careful he is. I personally wouldn't let Doug near this vehicle...may as well release an unsupervised troupe of toddlers loose in it and film that...smh.

[@TheAthavanleon]

We get similar ones in Sri Lanka - they are well built like a train. I have seen some of the 660CC cars with 300K on the clock.

[@veganpotterthevegan]

Same in the Philippines. But only with the units that never have to hold highway speeds. Kinda the opposite of "regular cars"

[@gadgetsage]

@@veganpotterthevegan yes, thank you for that info

[@jf4872]

@@veganpotterthevegan They're built to rev. They don't red line until 8K+ rpms.

[@veganpotterthevegan]

@J F sure, with very little power at every RPM so like I said, they don't hold highway speeds well while a motorcycle with the same engine can easily hold highway speeds well

[@jf4872]

@@veganpotterthevegan I own a 1990 Sambar Try XS Supercharged and it does hold highway speed well. I'm in Seattle, WA.

[@norsefalconer]

Ha! I just saw one of these camping in the NC mountains about a month ago. Dude had a hatch tent. Super cool, and so small. After that and this, I REALLY want one now!

[@chrisdemas8246]

What a cool van! Thank you for reviewing these type vehicles! Owner knows a lot about these obscure vans.

[@ExpeditionNomadicAdventures]

I love the cool quirky vehicle content Tommy brings to the channel.

[@abelq8008]

I like watching these two fellas yukking it up.

[@freedom_foz_6337]

Love the owners passion for his classic van! Btw Gorilla makes some sick coil-overs for the Sambar.

[@Xergthes]

This and the Delica reviews are some of the best content I have seen in a while. I want one lmao

[@Michael-lg4wz]

People are realising how great kei cars are see Jimmy oakes 4wd

[@aharquail]

Can’t wait for that Delica/Sambar video. My wife and I ultimately bought a Delica, but was inspired by the Sambar. The 55 hp wasn’t enough, we needed 90 hp 🤣

[@fl350r]

How does the Delica do on the highway?

[@veganpotterthevegan]

Pretty cheap to turbocharge these things. You need a very dinky turbo and the manifold will be remarkably simple to fabricate

[@aharquail]

@@veganpotterthevegan the Delica is already turbocharged. It’s a 4D56 turbo diesel.

[@timfagan816]

How does someone know they need 90hp, no more no less? How did you come to 90hp being the be all and end all! Pray tell!

[@crujones4046]

Run down and screw one or walk down and screw them all.

[@davidnorbertpenn]

I had a N/A version of this van. Got it in 2018 and just sold it last week I also had a Toyota Corolla2 AWD and a Nissan Pao. Currently have a Pajero Mini VR-2. Love these vehicles!

[@StewsChannel]

Love the Kei vehicles, so compact and efficient! Massive departure from the lifted monster diesel trucks that populate the highways around here.

[@04dram04]

I have been obsessed with these kie vans lately. Its so cool to see you get one

[@WestUCoog]

Tommy, its not weird. Carwise this is what Japan was back in the 60s-90's ish. They were very innovative and creative. But when the 2K hit, they became very conservative.

[@metricstormtrooper]

Have you NOT seen any of the Kei cars? A Honda N Box or a Daihatsu canbus? Try looking them up, what about a Honda s660?

[@connory6741]

@@metricstormtrooper I like the Honda N One RS in yellow.

[@AbrahamArthemius]

@@metricstormtrooper True, the Honda N-One RS, Honda S660 (sadly has been discontinued), Suzuki Alto Works, and Daihatsu/Toyota Copen are still giving people a sporty feeling Kei Cars. The market is still very much alive in Japan.

[@junkhunterkosi]

これは日本でもものすごくレア車両。赤帽仕様の赤いエンジンヘッドカバーとガラスルーフの組み合わせは珍しい。

[@georgekerr8804]

One of my friends had a 1965 VW bus. It had a large canvas sun roof and lots of windows. Probably 55 horsepower also. Love K Vans and Trucks from Japan.

[@crujones4046]

Check out a vw conversion kit for the sambar.

[@sharonbraselton4302]

buy ñew vw bus solar eltrc oy ¹2000⁰ 100 mioe rsñgfe bmw bsters 1¹6 mioe rsñge

[@Zcypot]

these cars make a lot of sense when you see the streets of japan. These things were parked all over the little streets and alleys when i visited japan. I tried to find every variant of the Sambar lol.

[@thomasignacioceballos9274]

Great van and cool guy! In Chile we have those vans, but for cargo only... The Hi Jet, Suzuki Carry, Subaru 600, but not the Honda.

[@tbag-2224]

This guy is so genuine

[@islanddrives2355]

This dude is epic man! does he have any other vehicles? He's very passionate about these Kei cars, and they're cool little cars. Nice video

[@Gilliatt83]

Thank you Lary, really fun. 👍

[@jorgeosorio1880]

I love the way and passion on the way that he describe his vehicle

[@CabezaDePistacho]

i have a the mini truck version of this... its awesome. its super reliable and surprisingly super easy to do maintence on. i gotta give it to Japan on this one!!

[@metricstormtrooper]

Got a love a guy that loves Kei vans, I had an 84 Honda Acty 550cc which I drove from Sydney to Adelaide, all over new and Victoria, to Tasmania and currently have a Mitsubishi Minicab Miev EV. Also had a Daihatsu move too.

[@koskkon3770]

Love it! Keep em coming!

[@cintocrunch]

This guy is exactly how giddy and nerdy I get about cars I love. Refreshing to see.

[@JK-xz1lt]

Can we get Jon Favreau to play this guy when they make the official movie? 😎

[@aaronbehindbars]

I love these little Kei Vans. I wouldn't personally want one, but I very much appreciate the enthisiasm behind them. Always enjoy seeing features like this. I hope TFL keeps finding weird stuff to shoot.

[@kdrapertrucker]

Just bought a sambar pickup, can't wait to get it home.

[@snesguy9176]

I'd love to own a kei truck or van, but I'm 6'4 with chronic nerve pain 😂. I'd probably need to make heavy modifications to make it viable

[@greathornedowl3644]

Thanks Tommy, love the JDM and KEI Cars, very quickly. Amazing the Japanese car companies can make something so small and simple, where the behemoth American car companies can not make anything compact or sub compact.

[@mhassouneh]

That's radical 😎 I like how engaged the owner was in the video 👍

[@clooperman3745]

Plenty of videos on KZbin showing these little trucks offroading including some with portal axle conversions, very capable.

[@douglasvieira9338]

Thanks Tommy for bringing this to us

[@HoosierDaddy_]

Yes yes yes! These are great reviews of strange 4wd vehicles!

[@Randyofthe42]

Love the van and this guy seems like real people.

[@martykong3592]

Just WOW! Now that youhave hown it, I want one! Great concept and certainly practical, and economical! WIll have to consider, and it IS too cool to have sliding glass roof! Beats the heck out of my minvan! THanks MUCH again! Cheers :)

[@lffit]

Great upload!

[@scottroberts3705]

Great video Tommy!!

[@paintup46]

I get similar vibes in our 2001 Suzuki XL7. Everything is rock solid and incredibly tight. Small but drives like an actual truck, very well built and everything still works including heated seats and sunroof. We can actually all fit if we need to, 6 of us, youngest is 10. Though me n wife are are not tall people lol. We use it when we need the ground clearance for when we go camping, exploring or to the beach because it has leather seats. Our other vehicle is a 2015 Sienna, also a great car but honestly doesn’t feel as tight and as well built as the Suzuki.

[@benjaminrush4443]

These Autos could be the Future. Great Video. Thanks.

[@tactlcal_bacon_bits4773]

It’s awesome when someone just loves their car

[@someonewhousesthis]

Ain’t even close to owning one of these but I already want one. Nice little van which should be pretty efficient, thumbs up 👍

[@coreywatkins593]

That's an awesome quirky little van, love it

[@lrajek3389]

Love these Subies. The scenery was incredible, too. This would be perfect for us oldies who have outgrown the "dig me" cars of our youth (the 1990s were a joke to us born in the 50s and 60s. We had the 1960s and 70s muscle cars and awesome paint....sigh.) Would love to know what's up with an old CVT. Anything's fixable on a Subie. Thanks so much for the great ride through the mountains!

[@briananthony4044]

Amazing features, even the windows in the rear doors are wind down,

[@wh33lhousediecast]

Doug gotta see THIIIISSSSS!

[@joshuakurian5994]

Ya. The quirks are CRAZY!

[@Styrkur13]

This man seems like the kindest person to ever live. I don’t like vans and I desperately want one of these now lol

[@bmartin7828]

Yep. I need one of these. Too cool.

[@nrs91]

Great interview, owner really enthusiastic and presents well! We have a Sambar Fire Engine :)

[@Jardker]

I want a new Suzuki Jimny! Bring it back to US.

[@RKmndo]

Yeah. My '95 Wrangler was $12.9K OTD. Base MSRP was around $9K. The Samurai was even cheaper.

[@richarda996]

Motor Trend and Consumer’s Reports hated this type of vehicle. One of the reasons I don’t support them anymore.

[@TheGlobalOffensive]

Nice report dude awesome 👍

[@DARKCLOUDXERO]

It's crazy, I saw this same van yesterday at my local post office. Then this video popped up in my feed. To think I would see the video of the actual owner.

[@beckygundelfinger7859]

Did you see it in co springs? Man, I can seen you catch a glimpse of one to save my life lol

[@DARKCLOUDXERO]

@@beckygundelfinger7859 Nah, saw it in Denver. It really stands out and looks even cooler in person.

[@eprofessio]

Thank you Larry!

[@pablomoreno1999]

Such a fun car, this review has kind of a doug demuro feel to it. Awesome!!

[@pinut187]

Completely different than how Doug would review it. Its a quirky car that Doug would love.

[@joshuakurian5994]

Dougs mouth would explode because of how many quirks are in this van.

[@andxx0r_the_second671]

14:42 - Fuso cabover saying ohayo! with an American accent to his little Delica cabover cousin.

[@kinyerainnoarnolds7281]

Larry is the coolest guy out there. Nice Van...

[@mikuelable]

Smiling the whole time watching this

[@GeoZeppelin1979]

a friend of mine had this,took the tiny engine out and put a bmw 3 series 1.8.............man that thing could fly

[@warummussmeinnameangegeben6502]

They sold these in germany aswell - my brother economically totaled one by backing out the drive way in my moms Volvo 850. The good Vo had barely a scratch

[@jerroldshelton9367]

That's a cool van!

[@sorrowsterben7841]

See I would absolutely love this or something similar just to have and tinker with but I always have the hardest to finding anything legal or easy to attain. It looks like a blast.

[@MarkWatsonSMTX]

There is a dealer in San Marcos, Texas that imports them (trucks mainly). There are several on his lot right now. now.

[@keithplucker4779]

TFL really NEEDS to do a series of videos going through the entire process of buying one in Japan and importing into the US!

[@pinut187]

Just look for a company do that for you or do some research online.

[@alcopower5710]

For sure

[@spdrcerjt]

I really like that van!

[@williampresley3000]

Delica in the background awesome too.

[@Martin1519]

This little thing is so cool. I want one

[@LaPulgaM]

I'm definitely importing one of these in the near future

[@averageeverydayfishermansh4501]

Larry is a cool dude and that is an awesome toy!!!

[@pinut187]

The owner is as cool as the car, nice video!

[@kerrywilliams6596]

Mighty Car Mods bought a Daihatsu pick up with the dump box. Rad little truck. I’d rather have this van though. Really cool.

[@jassihra8566]

He's really a nice guy !

[@marwanmansur8633]

very nice van and very nice guy :) thanx for the presentation. I own a Daihatsu Move. Its a very well made car.

[@williamconrad1087]

I need one of these.

[@jonzaremba]

Honda needs to understand the popularity of quirky little vans like this and bring us an updated Element.

[@damilolaakanni]

The element was technically a crossover, it was based on the CR-V (second generation) and even had the same engine/transmission as the CR-V. Plus, it was much bigger than this.

[@aharquail]

The Stepwagon is available for import.

[@jonzaremba]

@@damilolaakanni yes of course it was bigger. But still small for a van. Everything is a crossover now. I loved my Element and would still have it if not for the rust. The market is ripe for a smaller AWD van with modular interior. The Element is the closest thing we've had here and the most likely model to be marketable again.

[@fuxluck1]

You guys are at Gold Hill. Cool little spot.

[@Kevintherubiconjeep]

That's pretty cool. Stay off the interstates lol. Good fellow to interview aswell.

[@esmelinroperto304]

If you can more vids like this. Love these.

[@bigt4135]

Awesome van. I want one.

[@michaelb.42112]

This is the coolest van, ever !

[@ImYoutubing247]

Larry is a cool guy

[@joshuakurian5994]

Body on frame van??? That is cool and something I like.

[@drduplessie]

The "town" you drove through with dirt roads and a pedestrian crossing sign....interesting. The Kai van - awesome!

[@casper19651983]

The “town” is Gold Hill, a truly funky western Boulder county town.

[@drduplessie]

@@casper19651983 thanks! I really was wondering.

[@markstafford6357]

Love it !!!

[@Jopino594]

Sounds like a crazy engineer's car! I only own Toyota but I love the vibe Subaru had in the 90s. Nowadays, Subaru is very lackluster, at least on the North American market...