Function, Sacrificed

What causes a man to daily drive a 30 year old car with barely 60 horsepower? She can’t maintain safe highway speeds, won’t pass an emissions test, and you have to yell over the grinding roar of an inline four to have a conversation in her. The best part, if you crash, you’re probably dead. All this being said, she’s a nearly all original Suzuki Samurai. The legendary, ultralight four by fours are known for ridiculously good low range torque, timeless styling and reliability. They’ll smoke almost any other car on any trail, but these pros don’t nearly outweigh the cons, especially for regular use. The infatuation with this icon from the past can’t be logically explained. Constant use can be downright inconvenient, and oftentimes enraging, but one thing is certain, every time you get behind the wheel, smell the fumes and row through the 5, short gears, it’s a visceral experience that will remind you…you’re alive.