Which is better for a novice off roader just looking for a trial rig? A  Suzuki Samurai or a Jeep Wrangler. I'm looking for a dependable rig, but also fun in the mud, and some rocks, and trees. Another question I have is how hard it would be or if it was even possiable to put a honda v-tec in a Samurai?

Thanks for all he help

Both have awesome aftermarket support, and are cheap to build up. The only downfall is the sammy's engine, but its so light you wont feel the difference. I'd say whichever you can find cheaper, since its an intro rig.  

Thanks man, I don't know anything about this stuff, I've gone a couple times so I know I want a short wheel base. I dont really know down falls of them, but what you said makes sense so I'm just gonna keep my eye out for both.  

you should go with the jeep wrangler they are really light and they are awsome to go offroadin with they are comfortable and more dependable than a suzuki

I am not real up on the Samurai but I don't see many stock ones out 4 wheeling.  They are all modified. 

I would go with the Jeep because it is more than capable right out of the box and you can slowly build it up over time.  Parts are more available and there are more after market items available because everyone has a Jeep. 

If you are the type that likes to be different then go with a Samurai or a FJ40 Land Cruiser.  Cruisers are expensive to fix and modify but they are bullet proof and they run like a scolded dog.

Remember, everyone has a Jeep because they are that damn good.

Samurai.

I've had mine since 1994.  Modified over the years, but has been super reliable--I'm skeptical of the claim that a Jeep is more reliable.

Want to see some stock Samurai's wheeling--check out Izook.com's "Zuki Melt" pages.  Stock Samurai's are (like many 4x4s/SUVs) are more capable than they get credit for (Bronco II, Raider, Trooper II, Montero). Check some specifications, you'll see that the Samurai has almost identical wheelbase, ground clearance, power/torque, and gearing as an early (Willys) Jeep.  Has anyone ever said that a Willys couldn't wheel?!!!

The driver has much to do with the capability equation, if you judge based on the platform alone (in stock form), each has pros and cons. 

Pick whatcha love and reflects "you".

I myself would go with the Jeep Wrangler since to me there the only 4x4 that you can buy off of the showroom floor and will wheel the best out of anything else that you can buy.

I'm not really bad talking the Suzuki, but as you know they don't make them any more and you would also have a hard time finding one at least where I live in Md.

This is just my opinion on the Jeep Wrangler!

Samuaris have a huge amount of aftermarket support, and its all about wheelin wiht them, no cosmetic garbage. As for not being reliable, that statement must have come from someone who doesn't know their stuff. THey are underpowered, but they are also incredibly light(er than a wrangler). Samurias are also really cheap and easy to find if you know where to look, really, who buys a NEW vehicle to go out and thrash on the trail. I bought a samurai for the ranch I work at for $400 all it had was a little engine trouble which I fixed for less than $200  

id have to say a wrangler mainly picked out of opinion...as far as parts are concerned you can find a huge selection for each....but for ease of selection...most jeep parts just bolt right on....and there are so many to choose from.....any rig can be made to look good and perform well...but in stock form the samurai is not nearly as capable as the jeep.....powerwise the jeep outperforms it....styling wise i would pick the jeep....jeeps are extremely dependable and easy to fix...and from what ive heard so are samurais its just they are older models so it can be hard to find one in pristine condition....but in the end it comes down to which one appeals more to you  

im a Jeep guy my self, but i would get the sammy, just cause i would like haveing some thing thats is cheep and ez to rebuild.  plus, their are uncommen, every body likes a cool rig, so, what ever is cool to you, buy!  

GO WITH THE SUZUKI SAMURAI!!!! i had a 87' jeep yj wrangler and it sucked. i have a friend and him and his dad have yj wranglers.between theirs and mine they keeped falling a part.if you can find a samurai that has been towed it whole life you will get a better rig than a jeep. besides; my friend beet me at a hill climb with his stock samurai. and my jeep had a 3" lift and 30" tires and a lot of power!

                        don't lisen to anybody about the wranglers ... they suck!  

For the money I would go with the Samurai. Initial cost is much less. 4:1 transfer case for the Samurai is about $800. A 4.3:1 Atlas II transfer case for a Jeep is $2300. Other build-up parts are similiar in price comparison. Add lockers for under $200 each and some agressive 29" Super Swampers and you will have a rig that will go anywhere you have the guts to go. The Samurai is lighter by over a thousand pounds. Mine weighs about 2500 lbs with all my recovery gear and me in it. I get about 20 mpg on an average trail run. The Wrangler won't come even close to that. The only place I would fault the Samurai is as a daily driver. You don't want to go head to head with a Hummer at 70 mph in traffic with it. To check them out go to izook.com and rocky-road.com to see what others have done with and to them.  

Ah, this is what wheelin is really all about. Trying to convince everybody else that yours is the best. I love it! If I can throw my opinion in, I would go with the Wrangler. But that is mostly because I like my rigs to be daily drivers. You can modify a wrangler to do just about anything you want and still maintain some streetability, where even stock Slammys ride like tanks, are underpowered, and dance all over the road with every passing truck. And on the reliability issue, Neither vehicle is known for amazing reliability but I've never met a samurai that wasn't in constant need of repair, however they are very cheap and easy to build and repair. In the zukes defense though, anybody that believes them to be incapable has never wheeled one. I can't say anything for how a stock one wheels but they can be made to be a very capable vehicle without a lot of work as long as you don't mind having your teeth rattled out.  

i think they are great off road i like jeeps because you can pull the top and bounce the roll bar off trees i like the big engine space and avabilty of used parts their is a lot more jeep guys willing ot come off of parts cheep you also have more swaps avabile on jeeps for less money but i think they both need work out of the box i think sammy axles are less likely to break and i like the divorced transfer case and the drive line e brake i have cj5 with 4in lift dana 30 front dana 44 rear and stock runing gear t150 lame and dana20 lame 258 il6 good my final ratio is 21 to 1 lame by freind has a sammy with stock runing gears with 45 to 1 ratio good deal and he put a voltswaggon diesel engine in it and a soa conversion he gets 38mpg on the way to the trail and beats the crap out of my jeep when we get their but i also have a freind with a 05 jeep and his final ratio is 66 to 1 with just a gear swap so it could go either way just depends if you do your research and dont just run out and buy the first deal you come across or you could be like me and end up spending countless hours and dollars trying to figure out a way to get your as good as some stock setup have i would suggest looking real close at the compents put in the make and year in what you want to buy they are both good and bad  

i had a cherokee and i loved it, but most of my friends jeeps see more downtime then trailtime.  i would go with a sammy, because they are small, common enough to get parts, but unique enough to be different, for now.  plus, being a toyota guy, you can slap a couple of yota axles under it to get some stance and strength(for the power you will be working with)  that being said, ive never driven one.  being your first experience, i think get whatever the best deal you can find, because its all about driving stuff and forming your own opinion of what you like.