Sales Pitch: Buy a Samurai, Get Free Life Insurance

Ohio Suzuki dealers, in an attempt to restore confidence in the Samurai, are offering a $1-million life insurance policy free to people who buy or lease the vehicle deemed dangerous by Consumer Reports.

“You can’t run enough ads to erase the cloud that all of this has put over the car,” Robert Reichert, president of the Kenwood Dealer Group, said.

Reichert said he worked with other Ohio Suzuki dealers on the plan. “We decided that we needed something emphatic,” he said.

“It’s a typical accident policy,” said Reichert. “If a person is killed when a Samurai turns over or tips over, the policy will pay $1 million.”

“But we’re going to tell them that these things are not built to turn corners at 80 m.p.h. Like any other car, these things can turn over.”

In a separate move, American Suzuki on Wednesday disclosed to dealers plans to offer a $2,000 discount off the Samurai’s regular price for a limited time.