New guy questions...

[BLES]

I'm looking for a mini to license and drive on road here in Saskatchewan. I'm not trying to stir the debates here again, but I understand this is legal here.

I have read about having to change the lights to meet standards.? Can anyone enlighten me (no pun intended!) on this? Can I just buy one and drive it or are there other changes needed to make it street legal?

Is it crazy to expect to drive one everyday on the road? I've heard they can go about 60mph, but can they be driven that speed for any distance or are they only suitable for slow city driving? I don't plan to use it as an off-road/hunting vehicle like many are used for.

I notice at least one member from Winnipeg.... how's the heater?

Did you buy from a dealer or import your own?

I'm sure I'll have many more questions...

I really just want to replace my Geo Metro parts chaser car for the shop. I thought one of these little rigs would work well, run cheap, and be a unique rolling advertisement for our shop simultaneously!? Whadya think?

BLES

[Youngauto]

Hi, I live in Japan and people use these for everyday use as well as their agricultural or transpot needs.
They are fine to drive on the highways and can cruise at 80-100Km no problem. (depending on the condition of the truck of course)
They are not the best option for going around the country in, because of space issues, but the speed and reliability are fine.
I own a Daihatsu Mira 660cc kei class runabout and thats drives like a regular car.
In Canada they must be imported under the 15 years or older scheme.:)

[Colin]

You'll be turning some relatively high RPMs on the highway, but if your truck is well maintained there shouldn't be anything to worry about. I've driven my Sambar about 70 miles south of here to Minneapolis via a 60-mph highway. I just hung out in the right lane and did 100 km/h (62 MPH.) Mine is capable of ~75 mph, but it's absolutely screaming at that speed and the smallest incline or headwind will drop you to the mid-60s. Realistically, your top speed will be 60-65 MPH.

Last night I fired up the truck and turned on the heater about 15 minutes before I left work. When I got in, I just about got baked out of the cab - it was like stepping into a sauna. Granted, the outside temperature was only in the low 40s. As long as your weatherstripping is in good shape around the doors and windows, it should be fine in cold weather. We'll have to wait and see how it does in January, when it gets to be -20°F around here. :D

Colin

[Acerguy]

You may want to contact japanoid here on the forum. They run www.japanoid.com in B.C. and should be familiar with the issues you're wondering about. I would suggest using email rather than IM as he/she has only posted once so I'm not sure how often he/she is on line here. :)

[BLES]

Thanks for the input guys. I'm about 10 miles from my 2 closest towns and also do lots of running around within a 5 mile radius. Mostly about 80km/h (50mph) on these roads so sounds like I'd be fine. I was just hoping that wasn't absolute max speed.

BLES

[Wolfman]

Nope. I keep to a top speed of 55mph on mine. It has more to go, but I like to be easy on my equipment.

[Colin]

I like the destroy the hell out of my equipment, then bolster the strength of the parts I replace so they won't break again. :D

[BLES]

Hey Colin! We stayed overnight in St. Cloud while passing through MN. this summer. I shoulda looked you up for a test drive and helped you find some weak parts!! :D Can I ask where you bought from? Did you import?
BLES

[unclejemima]

Nope. I keep to a top speed of 55mph on mine. It has more to go, but I like to be easy on my equipment.

Me too, it helps with fuel mileage too!
-mark

[Colin]

Hey Colin! We stayed overnight in St. Cloud while passing through MN. this summer. I shoulda looked you up for a test drive and helped you find some weak parts!! :D Can I ask where you bought from? Did you import?
BLES

Yeah, you should've! :)

I found the Sambar on Craigslist this past spring - I was looking for a Japanese truck (preferably a Toyota with a 22R) to blow my tax return on. My dad owns a mushroom farm up here, so I ended up driving down to Mankato, MN in our 26' refrigerated truck on a Sunday afternoon after deliveries in Minneapolis/St. Paul... I pulled the Sambar in behind six pallets of Portobellos and Shiitake, pulled the handbrake, and hit the road. :D

Colin

[d rock]

have to agree on the heat, with a cab this size it don't take much!