Samurais are great vehicles, and remain my favorite 4x4. There are a few things to watch for when purchasing a used Samurai.

• Walk around the vehicle checking for rust. The usual places to find it are behind the fender flares and behind the goofy plastic rocker panel cover. This cover serves no purpose other than to catch mud and breed Iron Moths.
• Lay under the vehicle to the rear, and grab the rear drive shaft flange. Give it a yank in all directions. There should be no movement. Try turning the drive shaft (vehicle should be in neutral with parking brake on) The drive shaft should have little rotational movement. Visually check the rear differential housing for leaking oil. All of this will ensure that the rear diff is in good condition. Bad bearings and seals are somewhat common on older Samurais.
• Check front axle for all of the above. Also check manual hubs for easy movement. Difficulty locking the hubs means its time for a rebuild. Not a hard job, but be prepared anyway.
• Get in the vehicle. Put the transmission in neutral and check for slop in the shift lever. Slop usually just means that the locating bolt needs replacing, which is an easy job. Again, this is just so you will be prepared.
• Start the vehicle. Listen for any unusual sounds. Drive the Samurai. If there is a whining coming from below the floor, it usually means the transfer case bearings are starting to go bad. This can be an expensive repair unless you are lucky enough to find a used transfer case.

This list is just a guideline, specifically for Samurais. It will change from time to time as I think of things to add.