I just love my Tracker

[Khodabear]

In a previous thread I made the comment that most all new posts are about problems. That makes sense as there are good people here who have both experience and the willingness/patience to help. In that thread I observed that there are few if any general posts from people who are just plain happy with their TracKicks. So I thought I'd start one.

My '97 Tracker is a joy to drive. It gets terrific gas mileage (30 combined City/Hwy.). It has way more room inside than I ever imagined. It's like that Popeye cartoon where he can bend himself all the way around a tent but inside it's as big as the Taj Mahal. It handles very well for the short wheel base and higher center of gravity. I'm stunned at the parts availability from Suzuki- sure they're not cheap but they're available!

I just love it. I'm so enamored that I got an X90 and have another on the way.

So there. A thread from a totally satisfied customer!

YMMV

[littlebigman]

You know what I will have to add to this!
This is one of the best rigs I have ever owned.
I switched to this from my 98 dodge durango that got 12 combined no matter how I drove it.
This thing is a tiny beast! Gets great mpg! And I get alot of comments on it. Plus Ive had a dozen people ask me if she is for sale. One guy offered me $3K right there. I said sorry I cant sell her, I have big plans for this rig and cant wait to get this thing going strong.

[The Goat]

I hear ya, I was offered 6k while at a local meet shop. Guy wanted something to haul dogs through woods to rabbit hunt. Explained it wasn't for sale, and a kick that isn't rust free with good interior would be better to destroy.

Rig: 2000
Tires and wheels: 1000
Lift: 1100
New radiator, water pump, PCV, fuel pump, belts, timing belt, air filter, and fuel filter: 400.
New 2.5 inch exhaust: 350
Navigation with Infinity Kappa speakers: 800.
Bumpers: 325
Adding cup holders out of jlx tracker: 20
Bedlining the top: 400
Being 35k less than the Jeep I wanted..... -35k.

Not seeing a mirror image every 20ft... awesome.

Keep in mind the only things ever actually broken were the fuel pump and the strut mount. One was the previous owner's fault, the other was apparently mine because of lift.

I keep a little book on the dash with a "to do" list. After a few replacement parts from Suzuki and a couple more lift pieces, its all about making it look new. The list totals 12k... but that's corbeau seats, vinyl floors, new door panels, black dash, tons of sound deadener, better bumpers that are slightly aerodynamic, paint, new seat belts, more Bedliner, LED light bars, a winch, gears, and possibly a jspec motor, new trans, and larger tires to match gears. 12-13k without going straight axles...

Nothing is broken... I just like tinkering.

"Why didn't you buy a new vehicle?"

They just don't get it.

The only thing I don't like is my dying AC clutch finally croaked... so its hot until I fix it, but the vehicle sat for eight years and that was the one part that rusted. Not bad.

Handling is awesome, fuel mileage was until lift tires and tube bumpers (whoops), handling is actually pretty decent. And contrary to what someone on here said, I've done 1200 miles at once and it was quite enjoyable.

Would I buy another, hell yes. Just would keep it much lower to the ground for MPG.

My fiancée has SUV envy.

[CR88Ranger]

I agree with all of these posts. I personally don't own a trackick, but my sister does, and I love that car like it's my own (I've definitely put enough work into it...). For those of you that are curious and don't already know, details are in the link in my sig. Long story short, we got it for dirt cheap, and it has been more enjoyable and reliable than almost any other car I've ever driven. Great gas mileage, very comfortable, (mostly) easy to work on, and it has endless personality compared to all the Wranglers and F150's we see every 7 seconds. I've actually considered getting one of my own to DD and give my old Ranger a break, haha. Definitely a great little Truck. Let's see some pics, though! I don't think I've seen a dedicated picture thread on this site yet, so what better place to put them than here. I'll start with ours:

When we first got it


Most Recent (and famous, I've posted this pic a few times before)


Mine are boring, so let's see some more.

[Bex]

Hmmm....well, I won't post a photo, as my poor old Trackick is definitely a bit of a rust bucket (although it does look better than my avatar...) That being said, to all you ugly people out there, looks aren't everything. My truck starts up right away, idles at 800 rpm, gets 29 mpg, and is great fun. So much so that I have had the frame welded twice in order to keep in on the road. I have driven this car for 17 years now, and I wouldn't part with it for the world. I only wish I lived next door to Aqua, who would weld it back into shape (or teach me). Rust is my enemy......

[detroitdave]

My daughter turned 17 last summer and I bought a broken engine Tracker for $600, thinking I'd give it to her at some point. I remember thinking: it's a little POS that she can bang around on beat up and if it lasts two years, I'll be happy. She loved the car even with the bad engine and convinced me to let her have it.

As it turns out I've fallen in love with it too. It's one of the easiest vehicles in the world to work on, runs like a champ now, has good fuel consumption, and has a full frame. Parts are cheap too (sorry to the international guys).

My son turns 16 this fall and I'm looking for a basket case for him now. He would love it.

To fix up my Tracker, it took me a few months to get motivated b/c I've done things fast before ... with bad results. So I took my time, pulled the engine and rebuilt it with a used block, reman crank, all new main and con rod bearings, new radiator, hoses, gaskets, seals, etc. And bought a bunch of cool tools. I'm into it now for about $1600, with a new bottom end, new exhaust, and a complete run through on the intake.

It's far from perfect, but I'd crack anyone that called it a POS.

[Scudo]

I wouldn't say that I was 100% satisfied with mine but that is my own fault. In reality it does it's job well so I'll list only my positives.

It gets better mileage than most vehicles it's size, even the newer supposedly "GREAT ON FUEL" cars with 10x more tech under the hood.

Escudos are a dime a dozen down here (counted 30 coming in the opposite direction in 3 miles, excluding those that were parked or going my direction) so parts are cheap.

I can cram 7 people in it.

Quite tough

When there has had a no-start it was because of user error. I don't consider a dead battery a breakdown as some people do.

It can handle most of my job requirements.

Insurance and road tax is inexpensive for a vehicle it's size.

Good enough in the rough stuff.

She may have a small engine but she hasn't met a paved hill she couldn't climb. They get very steep in these parts.

The list is a little longer so I'll leave it there for now!

[Bex]

Originally Posted by Scudo

I wouldn't say that I was 100% satisfied with mine but that is my own fault.

Curious now. What are the negatives??

[mtbiker]

I will post on this thread too.

I bought my tracker a few months ago and have been going through everything to get it to the point where I know it should last a long time.

I too find it easy to work on (except for unclogging the EGR).

I think the Tracker/Sidekick is the best used vehice to own here. Very good gas milage, 4X4, excellent availability of parts and mechanics who have the experiance-although I do most everything myself.

I have been on sand, in mud, forded streams, up and down some pretty dramictic inclines. My tracker handles well and I have not been close to geting stuck.

Downsides which I have read include engine winding up at interstate speed-That is not an issue here I have not had mine over 60mph.
Comfort- I have no issue there.
Light weight- I like that-helps with gas milage.

My tracker is getting near 30MPG and I do really like it.

[Dayton86]

Had mine a little more than 2 years, and it has more than 200,000+ miles. It has been for the most part a great truck. I think I have turned a wrench or ratchet on every bolt on this thing by now. Out of everything I have done to this truck, my only complaint is about the low cooling output of the a/c system, even after completely going through it from end to end, it is still poor. I maybe asking too much out of a soft top in 105 degree heat with 50%-90% humidity.

Hope to never have to get rid of it, though I know my wife wishes I would.