Ignoring a Consumer Reports warning, he flipped over his Samurai.

Some people think J. R. Krech is in danger each time he hits the road in his little red car. But he doesn’t think so; and he has even made a joke out of it.

The license plates on the Torrance resident’s 1988 Suzuki Samurai--the only vehicle to receive a “not acceptable” rating from Consumer Reports magazine because it rolled over during their tests--read “FLIP OVR.”

And the front plate is attached upside down just in case it does, said Krech.

Torrance Police Officer Edward Webb said, however, that Krech’s front plate is displayed illegally. “It has to be right-side-up so (police officers) can read it,” Webb said.

Krech, 28, considers himself a “safe driver” and is unconcerned about the consumer group’s warning that the Samurai’s high center of gravity and light weight make it susceptible to rolling over.

“When I bought the car, the dealers could hardly get rid of them,” said Krech, adding that he had always wanted a Samurai and just couldn’t resist the low price. Krech was one of the brave buyers during a period this summer when Suzuki gave dealers $2,000 discounts to combat negative publicity.

Krech said reaction to his plates have been anything but negative. Two people even got out of their cars at red lights to share a laugh with him.

“I’ve had (personalized) plates before, but this one really gets people going,” he said.

Although he gets the laughs, Krech credits his girlfriend for having the idea for the joke.

Girlfriend Kimberly Kreis says she brainstormed with co-workers to come up with the daring plates, which poke fun at what she and Krech see as an exaggeration of the danger involved.

“It all depends on how you drive,” she said. “To make it flip over, you’d have to go pretty fast.”

Consumer Reports said otherwise.

According to Consumer Union, the nonprofit group that publishes and tests products for the magazine, its road tests this year show the Samurai tended to roll over when the driver swerved back and forth at speeds between 38 and 45 m.p.h.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration declined to recall the Samurai in September, saying at least 50% of reported roll-overs involved young, inexperienced drivers or alcohol. The decision is being appealed by the nonprofit group, the Center for Traffic Safety.

Lynne Doll, a spokeswoman for Suzuki’s public relations firm, said she believes that consumer faith in the Samurai has been restored since the drop in sales that followed the magazine report. The incentives helped the Samurai sell an all-time monthly high of 12,208 vehicles in August.

However, sales last month were 1,672, which she said is partly due to the firm’s introducing three new vehicles that are cutting into the Samurai’s market.

Regarding the Center for Traffic Safety’s appeal, Doll said she believes that the government won’t change its mind and order a recall.

Krech remains unconcerned.

“I don’t care what they (consumer groups) say, I’d keep my car,” he said. “If they don’t like it, they don’t have to buy one.”