Ok..I'll ring in with my two cents worth. I've owned 3 jeeps...bought the first when I was in high school. I built it up, and enjoyed it. Then I bought a boat and the little four banger with oversize tires was just not happy pulling. I even regeared. I came across another with a 4.0 and a hard top, so I jumped on it, and further built the first one into a *great* trail rig. I enjoyed the daylights out of my second jeep, but then I got a professional job and didn't have as much time to be offroading as I once did. I was about 23 when I came across a young guy who had the same infatuation with jeeps that I did, and he REALLY wanted my original wrangler, so I sold it to him and paid off the second one. After I had my job for awhile I decided I needed something more grown up and practical, so I traded the second one in on a ram air Trans Am. After awhile I greatly missed camping and stuff so I purchased my last jeep, a 2000 Wrangler that was once upon a time my dream ride. I built it slightly, but in two years I only put just over 8000 miles on it because by this time I was traveling for work. I was traveling so much, that I hated racking up the miles on my trans am, so I bought the Geo Metro which I still have for $500 bux. It was a one owner car when I got it, and it ran out great. Coming from a modified 400hp T/A it was a drastic change, but the little geo is a FUN car..and you certainly can't gripe about the mileage. I found myself driving it MOST of the time, so I finally sold my last jeep, and just kept the two cars. That was 5 years ago.
Six months ago I bought a new house, but the area that I bought it in is straight up the side of a mountain. It's a beautiful area, but my first thought was that there was no way the little geo was going to claw its way up the hill then the snow/ice hit, so a 4wd was in order. I immediately started looking at wranglers again, but I couldn't find one that I wanted for the price I wanted to pay. I was talking to someone when i mentioned I needed a 4wd just to be on the safe side of getting in and out, and tow my jetski....he mentioned that he happened to have a 1990 Tracker that he wanted to part with...for 1500. I told him as long as the 4wd worked well, I would take it, sight unseen. I figured the metro had been good to me, so another geo just to get through the winter would be fine. Since I bought it in december, I have put in an exhaust manifold, fixed the back door latch, replaced a headlight assembly, put a stereo in it, some floor mats, some new tires, and just CLEANED the thing. I must admit it's a sharp little ride now, and I've been very impressed with it. It handled fantastic in the snow and had no trouble going anywhere. The mid 20's MPG has simply been delightful, especially with the price of gas. I can park it ANYWHERE. Running around town is simple and fun in this little truck.
If you've stuck with me this long, kudos to you! LOL Seriously though, i feel like I'm well qualified to answer on this subject. It COMPLETELY depends on your frame of reference. The Tracker has impressed me because I really had no expectations of it whatsoever. The gas mileage is great, it will tow my jet ski, and it runs like a champ now. The motor is sufficient, but we all know that the little 1.6 8v is not exactly a powerplant...but that doesn't bother me. Being a Geo, I didn't EXPECT it to be anything more than that. They are different animals! The Jeep is *much* easier to lift/modify/offroad in. I'm not saying it can't be done in a tracker, as it certainly can, I'm just saying a jeep is a more capable offroader straight out of the box and more capable of being modified easily, quickly, and cheaply.
I won't deny that I use to refer to trackers/sammis/kicks as "Jeep Trainers" and i honestly still stick to that. If you want a personal SUV to kick around in that is a jack of all trades and ace of none, by all means go suzuki and enjoy the great mileage and the ease of repair. If you want to go all out offroading or if you want to turn peoples heads, grab a jeep and build it up.
Both are excellent vehicles in there own right, and I'm glad I've enjoyed both.
Ok...That's more like about $10.02
sorry gang!
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