Hi everybody. This is my first post here. I have been poking around for a bit today as I think I just got bitten by the mini-truck bug. I have not narrowed it down just yet to the exact model that I want although I am leaning to the Subaru Sambar as there seem to be a few available in my area. (I am lucky enough to live somewhere that these things are street legal) But enough about that. My question is.... What is the difference between the 4 and 5 speeds? Is one geared taller or lower? Just seemed like something I wanted to know, even though what I really want is a CVT model... Those seem harder to find though. Unless you want a van.
so you got the bug from cgn? lol if you can find a 5 speed jump on it. mine is a 4 speed and i wish i had one more gear!
Hijet & Carry 5spd trans usually with 4 high Only 4spd trans with 4wd High & Low Gear It is rare to find a 5spd with a High & Low Gear transfer case. These ones essentially have 6 gears.
Cool, thanks for the info. I dont think I got the bug from CGN, but its plain to see that good taste brings a person here and there. Starpuss, you are the 10mm guy arent you?
Well, I took a test drive today in a pretty suped up Suzuki Carry. It had a lift, a really fancy two tone interior, a left hand drive conversion, huge bumpers, and this enormous monstrosity of a roll bar with a spare time mount at the front of the box. It was a five speed. My first impression was that the first couple gears were useless because I was out of them so quick. Then I tried starting off in 3rd, and 2nd gear with poor results. I guess those gears are there for a reason. Its kind of fun to go through the gears so quick though. It feels like a sports car!!! LOL I guess with a 4 speed you just get a bit more of a delay between gears. I think I had an unrealistic expectation of the gearing. I can not imagine this 5 speed having more range than the 4 speed as these things are torque rich and hp poor. As I got to driving around a bit I found it surprisingly comfortable. I figured it would be cramped and awkward. I only had a hard time with the turn signals being on the wrong side. I guess it will come with time. I have decided that I deifnately want one. But I think I will go with a RHD, plain-jain version. The ones at the place I visited today were neat looking, but I dont want to pay $15,000.00 for one.
I've driven both 5 and 4 speed... I prefer the 5 speed. Word of caution... ANTICIPATE those hills on the roadway, they call for rpm and planing z
first of all stay away from LHD conversions. they may look nice inside, but get underneath and you will TYPICALLY see a lot of poor workmanship. secondly, i had a 99 daihatsu with a 5 speed, 4lo & 4hi, it ran easily at 70mph on the freeway. before i bought my daihatsu i test drove a mits with a 4 speed and it seemed like it was screaming at 50mph
My mitsi is a 4 spd. I wish I had a 5spd, but have never driven one with 5, so I can't say if it would make much difference. Mitsi feels most comfortable travelling at about 70K (40mph). Beyond that she starts to scream although I've had her up to 120k on the highway (flat out baby!). I always use 2nd to pull away unless on a hill or with a load. My clutch has about 1/2" of engagement, so that took some getting used to! Your comment about rowing through the gears like a sportscar gave me a chuckle. One of the things I luv about about my Miata is exactly that - rowing through the gears, redlining at every shift. The difference between the Miata & Mitsi is the complete absence of speed progression in Mitsi! But there's an undeniable fun factor in both vehicles! Good luck with your new toy. Welcome to the club.
depends i was told it all depends on what you want to use the truck for. For me i wasn't planning on using it on the street.....more for plowing snow and work around the acreage so it was recommend that a 4 spd be a better choice for me. Thats my 2 cents for what its worth.
Yes for just snow plowing you want diff lock(s) and a low range. The Diahatsu's have a diff gearing of about 5.88 to 6.4 or so to 1 that makes little to no difference. The difference lies in the 5 the gear or overdrive. 4th being 1 to 1, and overdrive being about 0.86:1.
my Midget came with a 4 speed , it was geared like a riding mower! the 5 speed i got is about the same with an overdrive 5'th. will keep up with traffic now. IF I ever "some how" found myself on the hi way!?
mine (4speed_ keeps of with traffic fine. in the city. lots of power (for what it is) but on the hiway at 100kph it is running at 5000rpm +- so i keep it at 80 on the hiway and it is fine.
5000 rpm is not bad it has to rev like that to make hp the motor is so small, plus the engine is working. It would be around the same rpms with a small 4 cylinder motorcycle. You can shift the mini trucks somewhere around the 8000 rpm mark.
What you are saying has the ring of truth IMHO. The 5 spd I test drive would not have made it over some of those hills if I didnt take the rpms up. I do believe that they are meant to run high. The videos on you tube show these kie trucks and vans doing highway speeds. You can hear the engines running. But there doesnt seem to be any problems. Even when one guy is doing over 130kph in his Sambar.
