The Subaru Sambar Is a Cute, Surprisingly Practical Tiny Van
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Date: 2022-04-25
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Comments and reviews: 10
metamorphicorder
They probably had to have ac in that van with all that glass, it wouldn't take long for it to heat up. I mean you could open the windows and the sun roof and the sunsun roof and that would cool it off but it would be an awful ride with regards to road noise. That van has more glass surface area that non glass surface area if you dont count the undercarriage.
Pretty cool though.
The main reason i think this would work better in japan than in most areas of the US is the wheels and tires.
I am an ebike commuter and have an ebike that has more rubber and steel in the 2 wheels and tires than that thing does in all four, (maybe not, but its pretty close in any event) and i cant imagine driving that over the roads i ride on. Ironically, i think that would actually nearly fit in one lane of the bike path i regularly use. And thats actually a pretty smooth path.
But for most areas i think you would be really stressed trying to avoid potholes, debris and bumps in general.
From what i hear Japan takes their road quakity pretty seriously. I mean they can for. reasons. But i hear the roads are nice.
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They probably had to have ac in that van with all that glass, it wouldn't take long for it to heat up. I mean you could open the windows and the sun roof and the sunsun roof and that would cool it off but it would be an awful ride with regards to road noise. That van has more glass surface area that non glass surface area if you dont count the undercarriage.
Pretty cool though.
The main reason i think this would work better in japan than in most areas of the US is the wheels and tires.
I am an ebike commuter and have an ebike that has more rubber and steel in the 2 wheels and tires than that thing does in all four, (maybe not, but its pretty close in any event) and i cant imagine driving that over the roads i ride on. Ironically, i think that would actually nearly fit in one lane of the bike path i regularly use. And thats actually a pretty smooth path.
But for most areas i think you would be really stressed trying to avoid potholes, debris and bumps in general.
From what i hear Japan takes their road quakity pretty seriously. I mean they can for. reasons. But i hear the roads are nice.
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TheBabyDerp
Great video. Always wanted me one of these kei vans. I do have a recommendation though. If you can find someone with a stock first generation CRV, review it. I recommend finding one with awd and stick shift. Seats fold into a bed as well. Table built in to the rear. Took mine up to the smokie mountains last year. I really wish auto-manufacturers would still include features such as seats folding into a bed into crossovers or suv's. Such an extremely useful creature of us people who love to travel or camp. The table is also an amazing feature. Probably 50 worth of plastic and 15 of metal but damn is it amazing. Used it to grill meals in the mountains.
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Great video. Always wanted me one of these kei vans. I do have a recommendation though. If you can find someone with a stock first generation CRV, review it. I recommend finding one with awd and stick shift. Seats fold into a bed as well. Table built in to the rear. Took mine up to the smokie mountains last year. I really wish auto-manufacturers would still include features such as seats folding into a bed into crossovers or suv's. Such an extremely useful creature of us people who love to travel or camp. The table is also an amazing feature. Probably 50 worth of plastic and 15 of metal but damn is it amazing. Used it to grill meals in the mountains.
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ByGediZZ
The euro version of this van, the Libero, has even more quirks and features, when it comes to the interior:
First of all - it has three rows of seats, which makes it a 6 seater. The middle row flips flat to make a table, and the front seats can turn around, so in just couple of minutes - you can have a picnic table with seating for four.
The other cool thing about it - all three rows of seats also can be folded into even bigger sleeping area.
Had one of these, loved it as a experience, but as it usually goes in northern Europe - it was rusted to hell.
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The euro version of this van, the Libero, has even more quirks and features, when it comes to the interior:
First of all - it has three rows of seats, which makes it a 6 seater. The middle row flips flat to make a table, and the front seats can turn around, so in just couple of minutes - you can have a picnic table with seating for four.
The other cool thing about it - all three rows of seats also can be folded into even bigger sleeping area.
Had one of these, loved it as a experience, but as it usually goes in northern Europe - it was rusted to hell.
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Scott
Adding to the this is only a city van I was actually going to comment that the 4WD and the EL gear are not so much to get out of difficult terrain, but more likely to utilize the most out of the tiny engine so you could get up steeper roads that are common in some towns/cities in Japan, since many of them are quite close to mountains, and even extend into them. You'd need this extra oomf in order to drive up them with a van full of people or heavier cargo, and the 4WD could help when there's water or snow in said hilly roads.
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Adding to the this is only a city van I was actually going to comment that the 4WD and the EL gear are not so much to get out of difficult terrain, but more likely to utilize the most out of the tiny engine so you could get up steeper roads that are common in some towns/cities in Japan, since many of them are quite close to mountains, and even extend into them. You'd need this extra oomf in order to drive up them with a van full of people or heavier cargo, and the 4WD could help when there's water or snow in said hilly roads.
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John
Actually, I can see this being useful as an overnighter fishing buggy for one person. Maybe put on a bit more aggressive tires, plumb in some air to the radiator instead of sucking dust on back roads. A pull out drawer kitchen facing outward from behind the driver's seat, with a nice awning over the cooking area. Adding a outdoor storage box forward of the front bumper would give more space, and increase the crumple zone pretty good at 40 mph. Add solar for your camping, and you could have the Prince of Backroads.
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Actually, I can see this being useful as an overnighter fishing buggy for one person. Maybe put on a bit more aggressive tires, plumb in some air to the radiator instead of sucking dust on back roads. A pull out drawer kitchen facing outward from behind the driver's seat, with a nice awning over the cooking area. Adding a outdoor storage box forward of the front bumper would give more space, and increase the crumple zone pretty good at 40 mph. Add solar for your camping, and you could have the Prince of Backroads.
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Martin
Tell me Doug-a-Rino from the back of the drivers seat to the rear window is HOW MANY FEET. I had a 71 VW Bus for 12 yrs. Loved it! Put a reliable 1776cc dual carbs Put a 9qt oil cooling system with electric fan radiator How good was the motor? Well I often ripped up to Rino, NV in 4th gear 80+mph. If you ever drove a bus you know they don t go up 30% grades at 80mph. Japanese make good stuff so how powerful is the motor? The AC control looks exactly like a Toyota. The AC is useless
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Tell me Doug-a-Rino from the back of the drivers seat to the rear window is HOW MANY FEET. I had a 71 VW Bus for 12 yrs. Loved it! Put a reliable 1776cc dual carbs Put a 9qt oil cooling system with electric fan radiator How good was the motor? Well I often ripped up to Rino, NV in 4th gear 80+mph. If you ever drove a bus you know they don t go up 30% grades at 80mph. Japanese make good stuff so how powerful is the motor? The AC control looks exactly like a Toyota. The AC is useless
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huepix
I drove one of these for work when I was a photographer.
Absolutely the worst vehicle I've ever driven. Just awful. And lethal.
If one slowed down on a corner, it would tip up onto the front outside wheel. That is, the other three wheels would leave the ground!
And that was if the driving was slow. At speed, it would just fall over.
And hard braking, would produce a forward roll if the speed was right.
Worst vehicle ever!
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I drove one of these for work when I was a photographer.
Absolutely the worst vehicle I've ever driven. Just awful. And lethal.
If one slowed down on a corner, it would tip up onto the front outside wheel. That is, the other three wheels would leave the ground!
And that was if the driving was slow. At speed, it would just fall over.
And hard braking, would produce a forward roll if the speed was right.
Worst vehicle ever!
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Jan-Willem
Nice! My first car was one of these, although, mine had a 1. 2L engine(the european models came with either a 1. 0 or 1. 2L, 3 cylinder engine, and it came with 2 rear benches, for 7 seats. But no AC. It would run at 120kph pretty well actually, it did take a minute or two to get there. Being stuck in traffic, on a hot summer day, however was not fun, the engine would easily overheat.
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Nice! My first car was one of these, although, mine had a 1. 2L engine(the european models came with either a 1. 0 or 1. 2L, 3 cylinder engine, and it came with 2 rear benches, for 7 seats. But no AC. It would run at 120kph pretty well actually, it did take a minute or two to get there. Being stuck in traffic, on a hot summer day, however was not fun, the engine would easily overheat.
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Madman
I want to see a Sambar vs Carry vs Acty vs Hijet video
Or maybe a Jimny, vs 3 door Grand Vitara video
Kei cars/vans are fun af, especially in markets where they're exported to with bigger engines and body flares that make them bigger than the kei restriction size
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I want to see a Sambar vs Carry vs Acty vs Hijet video
Or maybe a Jimny, vs 3 door Grand Vitara video
Kei cars/vans are fun af, especially in markets where they're exported to with bigger engines and body flares that make them bigger than the kei restriction size
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All
It's not illegal to not wear seatbelts for rear seat passengers. Also, accidents are very rare. Most taxis don't have rear seatbelts in Japan. Speed limit in Japan is 100km/hr. in highways. In the city you're lucky to reach 50km/hr as there's so many traffic lights.
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It's not illegal to not wear seatbelts for rear seat passengers. Also, accidents are very rare. Most taxis don't have rear seatbelts in Japan. Speed limit in Japan is 100km/hr. in highways. In the city you're lucky to reach 50km/hr as there's so many traffic lights.
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