Our Suzuki Samurai is now 21 years old, but certainly belies its age. Or course, also the boxy shape of a 4 x 4 does not go out of fashion, even after 2 decades...

Every car enthusiast wants to travel back in time, now and then. Preferably of course behind the wheel of an oldtimer, or at least a car which comes close to it. We will make the trek to the French Midi this summer driving our very own faithful Suzuki Samurai, which we bought used some 15 years ago. We kept the car over the years because it gives you a genuine ‘oldtimer’ feeling, with it short wheelbase, its very firm suspension, its minimal creature comfort, its rather vague road manners. But then again, we cannot be counted among the bravest, and we like the reliability, good heating, dry and draft free top and genuine go-anywhere capabilities for which the Samurai is very famous for.

In preparation for the trip we took the car from its Knokke apartment garage to the Suzuki dealer ‘Damme Motors’ in, as you could guess, beautiful Flemish medieval Damme. An oil change of engine, transmission and both differentials was due.

The water pump was getting a  bit noisy so we replaced it. We were impressed by the beautiful and workmanlike finsih of the old pump... 
Over the last few months, the engine water pump was getting a bit noisy, so that item was replaced too. Inspecting the old pump, I was surprised to see how beautifully machined this water pump really is, as the accompanying photo shows. By the way, this photo - and all the others on this page - was taken with the latest acquisition in our camera stable, a Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-W 170. A report on this camera will follow soon. Suffice to say here that it boasts 10.1 mega pixels and that it has a beautiful Carl Zeiss Vario Tessar lens of average luminosity (f 3.3 to 5.2), but with a useful 5 x optical zoom range starting at 28 mm wide angle (equivalent for 36 mm.). We like the utter compactness of this camera, and this was the main reason for buying it.

The dealer also discovered a leaking master brake reservoir, and so this too was changed. The belt driving the water pump was also replaced, as was the timing distribution belt, which had been sitting there for as long as we can remember, shame on us (!)

The distribution belt had been sitting there for quite a few years, and was in need of replacement...

Some electronic assistance…

We plan to drive along the French Routes Nationales, and we decided to plunge for the GPS TomTom ONE IQRoutes EU, albeit the small screen version (for 188 Euro incl. VAT) as the window screen of the Samurai is not among the largest .

The TomTom ONE IQ Routes EU sits snugly against the windscreen of the Samurai, guiding us through the Flemish Ardennes...

The advanced technologies of the bigger and more expensive TomTom GO models are incorporated in this little gem, with travel times adapted to the actual traffic situation corresponding with very date and time of your journey, and with road lane choosing advice. The one we bought surprised us even with radar warning function and speed limit indication (and beep!) warning when you drive over the speed limit.

… through the “Zwalm” region…

One still finds authentic,working farms in the Flemish Ardennes, this one has proudly on its plaque on the wall "Hof van Vlaanderen" or "Court of Flanders"...  

We took the car from our journey from Damme to Roosdaal (near Brussels) through the Flemish Ardennes and the Zwalm region, with flowing hills where the classic bicycle race “Ronde van Vlaanderen” is held. The car (and TomTom) behaved faultlessly, and we just want you to enjoy the photos on the trip.

A few kilometers after Brakel on the way to Ninove one finds this beautiful chapel of St. Mary on a side country road...

In July we start our journey to France. More soon about that trip on these pages!

 

Hans Knol ten Bensel