Buying a Mini Truck for My New Daily Driver [Subaru Sambar]

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I’ve been looking at kei trucks for the better part of 7 years and only recently realized they’re street legal in North Carolina. In my research, I discovered Mayberry Mini Trucks, who petitioned to get them legalized in the state. I visited their location, drove all the different mini trucks, and eventually settled on a Subaru Sambar to be my new daily driver.

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[pearlssbu]

I bought a mini truck in 2016. My first ever car along with a mazda miata. Instantly all of my friends were hooked on minitrucks. We have a whole 4 person squad with street legal minitrucks lol. Welcome to the community brither!

[gregoryhoard]

I own a 1996 Daihatsu Hijet and currently am stationed in Japan. I use a small collapsible milk crate type box to hold my things and drinks and such in either the passenger seat or back since mine is a JUMBO. If your looking for any parts or anything, hit me up and I'll head to UP Garage or Yellow hat and see if they got it and send it your way. Nice looking tuck. I'm bringing mine back to the states in a few months when the Navy relocates me and the family.

[geraldgrass]

Ha ha! I noticed you walked over to the left door to get in. I've owned my Sambar for about 8 months now. I still go to the left door from time to time. You will also find yourself using the wiper switch to turn on the turn signals and the turn signal switch/headlamp switch to turn on the wipers from time to time. I laugh at myself all the time. I bought a (rare) Subaru Sambar Super Deluxe High Cab with air from Tony. I had driven up to a Mini Dealer up in Christiansburg VA and was headed home. I was going back the next weekend to buy a Suzuki Carry. On the way home, near Burlington, I called Mayberry Mini and asked if they might have a Subaru Sambar with air conditioning. Tony's wife answered the phone and brought Tony on via conference connection. He said he had (just) had a delivery of a Sambar with A/C and that it was a High Cab. I headed up to Mount Airy the next day, drove it and bought it. Tony Delivered it to me 3 days later. And as a side note, Tony delivers these trucks wherever you may need. When I spoke to him the first time, he was making deliveries up in Maine! Tony and his family are great and made purchasing my Mini trouble free. Even getting the license was a breeze because they had everything together. After adding my proof of insurance, it took only 15 minutes to get the license. This little truck is a riot to drive. I usually take it everywhere. There are a lot of local roads around me so getting on an interstate highway isn't necessary, but on occasion, I will take it onto 85/40 between exits. At 50 MPH, it's fine. You will find that you get a lot of attention from people. I can't go anywhere without someone asking about my mini. Anyone with engine knowledge and whom are into trucks are amazed at the rear engine placement. I find it gives a really stable ride with the weight distribution. I haul full sheets of plywood with the tailgate down as well as 10 foot 2x4 lumber. There are lots of strap down hooks. The engine service is a breeze. Battery access is easy. I cannot say enough about these tiny trucks. I had been in the market for a John Deere Gator or similar ATV. Prices, even on used were high. I stumbled across these mini's. Tony had put up a comparison with ATV's. The mini won out in every category. Plus, you have an enclosed cab, heat, solid doors with roll up windows, great visibility, 4x4 at will, a granny low 1st gear if you want it and, in the case of my Sambar, A/C as well. But the attention you get, just unbelievable. I went to the fast food joint the other day. One of the order takers in the driveway asked if I would take her for a ride! I can take this little rig to the grocery store and when arriving back home, drive it through a muddy field. It's just an unbelievable vehicle. I wish I had bought one many years ago. This little rig outshines an ATV any day and anywhere! I'm glad you put your post up. Enjoy your (toy of a truck)!

[mrapollo]

We had two of these trucks at a fishing resort I worked as a maintenance person at over summers while in school and I fell in love with them. The size, maneuverability and dump box on them are unmatched for doing yard work or small construction projects. Fantastic vehicles

[ting]

Tony's face when he was whipping it around is what sold it for me. and the rear engine because the forward tilt upon stopping was sketching me out

[USSRDragon]

Been daily driving a Sambar since 2019 (Winter exempt due to road salting) and honestly as long as you don't mind driving 60-80km/h every where it's a great vehicle. Got a tow hitch and off-road 165/60R14 JDM direct mud tires for going on trails and 185/70R12 for street use (aka fuel economy). Aside from having to do some crazy cross referencing for parts like the fan switch, or a lower temp thermostat, or having to custom make brake line adapters maintenance is pretty easy, albeit rather expensive (Pro tip buy TRW pads GDB3136 and CiFam rotors 800-1717C from Europe for best braking). It's great for turning heads and since I started driving around a ton more have appeared in the towns around me.

[jimbouchard]

Bought my Sambar for Tony over a year and a half ago. Best damned utility truck I have ever owned.

[entropynme]

As I was growing up through high school and college I would work on the family almond orchard in the summers and we had one of these; specifically a little blue honda acty. I always loved when we had to take it into the rows to go cut down trees or collect wood because it was so fun to drive. 5 speed manual with 4wd that could actually get up to highway speeds surprisingly quickly as I recall. We beat on that thing so damn hard and it just kept chuggin like a good honda. Occasionally we'd use it to pull other tractors through the mud, chain up and drag out the trees we cut down, and drive into town to buy beer at lunch. Super fun to just bomb around in and very capable. I miss the thing so damn much I've actually been scouring the internet for one in my area

[randyb]

I just ordered a 2000 Honda ACTY from Japan. I paid a total of $3, 118 for the truck and shipping combined. I paid $1, 403 for the truck. The rest was shipping. I use a Customs Broker in the US. I don’t know what the total will be after Customs but I think it won’t be too bad. The truck is arrive in Newport News, Virginia in a few months. I’m paying a transport company $575 to deliver it to my house.

[akuadalahaku]

small businesses should have these. it is affordable, it has great fuel economy, it has low maintenance cost, it performs great

[thepab]

I just asked my local importer to look into getting me a Sambar supercharged 4wd 😂
I didn't know they made a supercharged version until today.
After watching lot's of videos the Subaru is the best one out there for sure 😃

[engineeredlifeform]

Love it, I nearly bought a Suzuki Carry to go camping in last Summer, and I still plan to pick one up and turn it into a one man camper. We got the rear of our Ford Transit covered in 3D stretch lining and it really cut out the road noise, so I reckon you can make that cab plush and quiet easily.

[Blackcloak]

Dude! Congrats! I've have daily driven my honda acty van for 2 years! Best decision I've ever made! Enjoy telling EVERYONE about your car every day!

[rcampbell]

It's awesome to see you giddy and enthusiastic about your purchase, life is short.
If it makes you happy then do it!
If I were able to drive (legally blind) I'd be getting one of these for sure.
Honestly coolest shit I've seen since the old school Ford ramp side pickup!
Congratulations, I hope you have continued success in all you do brother 👊

[donvandenberg]

We used to use these as a yard vehicle at a place I worked at. Loved them and now i want to own one.

[vacountryboylifestyle]

My first mini truck was a 92 mitsubishi. Now I have a 95 honda acty. The rear engine rides so much better. Love both of them. Way on board with a mini truck! Nice subaru!!

[Destin_Partain_]

Love seeing you do all this different stuff it’s awesome! Keep it going!

[jerryrodgers]

Just picked up my blue Acty from the port in TX! Love these things and I gotta stop by Mayberry Mini Truck next trip out East. Too much fun!

[mcajah]

This is so cool. I had NO idea the KEI trucks were street legal here in NC! I’m in the Inner Banks area and have a farm with small paths all through the woods that my Tahoe can’t get through. A street-legal mini 4x4 truck would be just the ticket for deer and bear seasons!

[wereeves]

I had one of the Honda vans like this when I was stationed in Japan in the mid '90's. It was an awesome little runner.!