GeoTracker...wife is mad...I just don't know.

[SSchumacherCO]

As a Samurai owner my opinions are clearly suspect. That said you made a good buy. The Sidekick was intended to be an "upscale" alternative to the Samurai. The independent front suspension makes for an improved ride at the cost of articulation. A reasonable trade off if you have no plans to do any rock crawling. There are lots of goodies out there for them. Check out SpiderTrax, Rocky-Road, and Calmini. These things are simple cheap fun. The VW diesel engine swap is in my plans although my '94 only has 50K miles so it will be a while before that happens.

[Creamcracker]

Here's our 1995 Geo Tracker we bought it in 1997 and it currently has 58,000 miles on the clock. It's been a great little 4x4 and I've used it to tow several cars out of a ditch. I just put a new top on it --- the first since the original.




I have a tow hitch for the Tracker on order.
Philip

HAH!!! SAME EXACT CAR!!!

What hitch? And where did you get the top? There seems to be a ton of places that sell those tops.

Hey IRA I'll get back to you with answers tonight... I just need to pull a file but I better "hoof" it in a moment or I'm going to be late for work.
Philip

[Arne]

I'm surprised your wife didn't fall for the 'cuteness factor' of it...

You mean when she first saw it, she didn't say: "oh, isn't that CUTE..!!"

btw, what was the first thing she said when she saw it..??/g/... and knew you had bought it, I mean.

[Ira]

I'm surprised your wife didn't fall for the 'cuteness factor' of it...

You mean when she first saw it, she didn't say: "oh, isn't that CUTE..!!"

btw, what was the first thing she said when she saw it..??/g/... and knew you had bought it, I mean.

She said, "Oy vey"--only she said it in Spanish.

With our big truck, she felt really cramped in there at first. I didn't at all, especially since I'm such a shrimp. She also wasn't thrilled with the age of the thing, but I tried to explain that it has a new tranny, runs great, and that we can keep this on the road ad infinitum as long as I take the proper preecautions.

A big thing for me is the rag top--I ALWAYS wanted one since I moved to Florida.

And another big thing is the MILEAGE.

[deputydogrick]

great move Ira, your wife is going to start fighting you to drive it, have no fear. I almost bought one when my ragtop wrangler came along, I don't even put the top up Have Fun
Rick

[Creamcracker]

Here's our 1995 Geo Tracker we bought it in 1997 and it currently has 58,000 miles on the clock. It's been a great little 4x4 and I've used it to tow several cars out of a ditch. I just put a new top on it --- the first since the original.




I have a tow hitch for the Tracker on order.
Philip

HAH!!! SAME EXACT CAR!!!

What hitch? And where did you get the top? There seems to be a ton of places that sell those tops.

Hey IRA I'll get back to you with answers tonight... I just need to pull a file but I better "hoof" it in a moment or I'm going to be late for work.
Philip

Take a look on Ebay -- there is a multiplicity of dealers -- I bought mine from a company called A. A. Best -- just do a search in google for them -- they have all sorts of colors available -- just be sure of the year 'cause 1995 is different to the 1994. I have a Putnam class 1 hitch on order -- hopefully that will come soon.
Philip

[BrwBier]

The fuel savings alone should make it a valuable purchase. Every time you fill it up remind her how much you would have had to spend to fill the truck.
Brwbier

[Joseph]

You are aware that they are one of the most dangerous vehicles on the road aren't you?

I believe that's because their drivers left them in 4WD at all times, even at highway speeds. A friend of mine who lived in Colorado said he used to see Yuppies in their 4WD trucks and SUVs rolled constantly - almost invariably they were in 4WD on dry pavement.
You should put it in 4WD only when you need it.

BTW, Ira - I'm jealous! I want one but do NOT need another car right now!

Joseph

[Creamcracker]

The only good modification I can think to do to one of those is


You are aware that they are one of the most dangerous vehicles on the road aren't you?

But not half as dangerous than any Ford! Especially a Ford SUV!
Philip

[elmo]

Congrats Ira! Those things are a blast. My buddy has a 1995 and it is going strong...last check I think he had 135,000 miles on it. His has been in some pretty interesting places.

[Nitetimes]

You are aware that they are one of the most dangerous vehicles on the road aren't you?

I believe that's because their drivers left them in 4WD at all times, even at highway speeds. A friend of mine who lived in Colorado said he used to see Yuppies in their 4WD trucks and SUVs rolled constantly - almost invariably they were in 4WD on dry pavement.
You should put it in 4WD only when you need it.

BTW, Ira - I'm jealous! I want one but do NOT need another car right now!

Joseph

No, they were actually rated the most dangerous vehicle on the road shortly after they came out and maintained that rating for quite some time, might still have it for all I know.
I don't recall the report it was in off hand but I'm sure it can still be found.
The narrow short wheel base makes them tend to go round in circles at a seconds notice, particularly on wet or snowy roads. See lots of them rolled over too.
We see SUVs wrecked around here all the time in the winter because their drivers think they are invincible with the 4 wheel drive.
I personally never run in 4by even in the snow.

[Nitetimes]

You are aware that they are one of the most dangerous vehicles on the road aren't you?

But not half as dangerous than any Ford! Especially a Ford SUV!
Philip

Hmmm, that's interesting. I'll have to keep that in mind when I'm driving mine.
Have two now, wife wrecked her first one (idiot pulled out in front of her) and insisted on getting another one because she felt safe driving it.
I've know several people with Trackers that have all done 360's in them, they all told me the same thing. Never again!!

For driving where there is no winter they might be an ok vehicle but around here they're not worth a hoot.

[apratt]

Here is a site that shows a list of dangerous vechicles http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2007/04/iihs_lists_dead.html . My opinion is they are only as safe as the driver, if you drive careless something will give.

By the way Ira I like your "new" rig, looks like fun!

[Ira]

Here is a site that shows a list of dangerous vechicles http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2007/04/iihs_lists_dead.html . My opinion is they are only as safe as the driver, if you drive careless something will give.

By the way Ira I like your "new" rig, looks like fun!

THAT LIST WAS AN EYE OPENER!

I recently rented the Kia Spectra while my truck was in the shop, I really liked it, but it has a HIGH death rate!

Also, I'm a very careful driver, and although there are definitely "things" that make cars safer than others, the type of people that gravitate to certain cars sure affects those numbers.

[Joseph]

THAT LIST WAS AN EYE OPENER!

Statistically, it's totally bogus. If there are twice as many Blazers on the road as there are Astros, which is going to have the higher fatality rate per million accidents? That's why the luxury cars are near the top - there just aren't as many of them to get into accidents. Astro sales went steadily into the toilet - the rise of the SUV and the fall of the minivan. Chevvy dropped the line in 2005 and with the declining popularity of minivans, there just aren't that many on the road any more.

A much better indicator of safety is the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration rating.

Joseph