ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum
ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: AJMBLAZER on March 18, 2009, 04:10:17 PM
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(http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_images/2/3747/1521/21865760090_large.jpg)
I'm really starting to need something bigger unfortunately. The Tracker has been my faithful and fun DD around town for almost 3 years now but I'm finding it comes up short in the space department and on long haul trips. I was wondering if I could get some ideas on what to ask for it?
96 Tracker 2 door convertible with 180k+ miles (speedo broke right after I got it and I put a new cluster in, indicates 148k something).
-1.6L 16valve with the TH180 3 speed auto (no-OD).I put a drain plug in the tranny pan.
Bad(ish):
-Smokes on start up a bit initially but no puffs at all after that. If the engine is warm it doesn't puff at all on start up.
-Leaks a bit of oil out of the front but not enough to be dangerous. Check it every other week and it might need a few ounces of oil.
-Body isn't perfect but I took care of any bad rust and it's completely solid. Typical 10+ year old Tracker and FAR better than any original Michigan Tracker around. No worries about the floor boards rotting through or anything like that with this one.
-Lacks interior components (was all moldy and stinky so I pulled out the rear seat and belt equipment, carpet, etc). Basically just the front dash, front seats, front seat belts, cup holders, heating ducts running under the front seats, and a spare tire sitting in the back. Spartan but works.
-It's not pretty. It's loud, noisy, ugly as sin, has bedliner on the outside, the interior is spartan, has no bumper covers, and basically looks like a big ATV. Not so bad for us enthusiasts but I've gotten used to the odd comments and gestures from the yuppies/punks/tuners/dorks/etc.
Pluses and spec sheet:
-6" Calmini lift system. (3" body and 3" suspension)
-31x10.5R15 Wild Country RVT mud tires with LOTS of tread (easily 70%). Siped center lugs.
-Regeared with 5.12's. Gets up and goes great, speedo is about as accurate as a stock speedo, and gives me a reliable 22mpg around town in the summer.
-15x7 steel wheels with 2.5" of backspacing.
-Fender flares to try and stop some of the crap these tires throw on the body.
-Full size 31" spare and 15x7 with 2.5" of backspacing strapped in the back.
-2" Calmini exhaust with a Cherry Bomb. Magnaflow CarSound high flow oxygen sensor. Nice and loud but not obnoxious...unless you want it to be.
-Large K&N cone filter on the end of the stock ducting.
-Sky HD idler arm. BEEFY! 8)
-In the past three years it's had new shocks/struts, filters, fluids, plugs, wires, rotor and cap, oxygen sensors, belts, etc etc etc. I'm sure I'm forgetting something.
-New windshield as of fall '07.
-Aisin manual hubs that turn easily.
-Herculined the lower portions of the body. After fixing the surface rust with POR15 I decided I can't paint and this was cheaper, easier, and more permanent.
-Pioneer CD stereo with Sony 6.5" rear speakers in the rear factory location and...I keep thinking Infinity stock sized speakers in the dash. Sounds good.
-Cruise and power steering. Manual windows and locks, no AC. Simple and reliable and since it's so small and a convertible who needs the puff power options to go dead on you?
I've had it for three years now and taken it from a pathetic "I want a lifted 4x4" cobbled together by the previous owner and his hack mechanic to a reliable, fun to drive and neat looking DD. I don't wheel it much but it'd be good for that as well. Every winter it pulls me right through and gets me where I'm going while I laugh at the AWD's and the cute utes.
I know I can't get back what I've put into it but KBB says only $1740 but that doesn't include any of the aftermarket mods that enthusiasts would appreciate. Not to mention it's a 22mpg DD with real 4x4. Try finding that any more.
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I'd shoot for somewhere in the neighborhood of $2500- $3K. I wouldn't let mine go for under $2500 unless I really wanted to just get rid of it.
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I've found Suzuki pricing is VERY regional. A few hundred miles north of me (Oregon) they seem to go for 1.5 - 2 tomes what they're worth here. And a hundred miles east (Reno, NV) they're 1/2 what they're worth here.
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If you can't get any buyers at your price, you can always part it out and probably make more that way. It is a pita though. I'll probably go that route when it's time to sell mine, part it out I mean.
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I'd shoot for somewhere in the neighborhood of $2500- $3K. I wouldn't let mine go for under $2500 unless I really wanted to just get rid of it.
Im close to you and I d like to see ya get more than 3k with all the upgrades you got but without some shiny paint your probably not going to attract someone with the $$ to convince you to let your hard work go to a new home . I hear almost daily people want something like what you got but they dont realize the work &$$it takes to get a rig like yours pluss they got no dough around here
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I say keep it. You will probably never make back any of the money or time you put into it....why not instead finance a new-ish or slightly used vehicle for the family, and keep the Track/kick????
Mine's loud and ugly. Too small to do anything with. But I love it, and I'll probably just put more money into it. I'll never sell it. Since your needs are changing, just put the track/kick on the back burner and buy something to suit you.
Just my .02
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You can get about 14-16k easily for that rig... But it's here, in Ukraine. I like it all but the transmission, simply hate automatic.
I say keep it. You will probably never make back any of the money or time you put into it....why not instead finance a new-ish or slightly used vehicle for the family, and keep the Track/kick????
Mine's loud and ugly. Too small to do anything with. But I love it, and I'll probably just put more money into it. I'll never sell it. Since your needs are changing, just put the track/kick on the back burner and buy something to suit you.
Just my .02
I think he's right.
P.S.: Well built Sammi may cost 15k in my country, sometimes even more.
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I think he's right.
Finally! Only took 290 posts! =P
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real 4x4.
Um, unless I'm missing something....with open diff's you don't really have "real" 4x4. In any extreme wheeling, or off-camber anything...you'll just sit there all day spinning 2 wheels on opposite corners.
This is why I'm dying to get a mini spool! =) Then I'll at least have 3 wheel drive!
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It doesn't fit my needs anymore. It's just a DD. I was looking for a stock Tracker and stumbled into this one. It was fun at the time but now I need something bigger. I won't wheel it and I just have no use for it beyond DDing it. I've come to the conclusion that I've grown out of my Tracker phase.
Real 4x4 = an actual transfer case, solid rear axle, and front axle. Not some Honda CRV/Toyota RAV4 cute ute AWD wannabe BS. I've passed many AWD's these last 3 winters.
At any rate, thanks for the comments guys, NO I'M NOT KEEPING IT, and please try and stay on track. I'm not trying to debate the merits of the design, it's flaws, or what you think I should do with it other than sell it. If I did somehow manage to scrape up the cash for a bigger 4x4 DD all this thing would do is sit behind the garage until I got sick of it and sold it later for less. Might as well move it along now to someone who wants it more than me.
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Ya know, it's a real shame when some people will pay $10,000 for a side by side ATV, but won't even think of buying a twice as capable Trackick. I was looking for a 4WD ATV to wheel around my hunting property, walked into a dealer's showroom and realized that some people just have too much money and others will gladly take it from them. My rig is BUILT and it cost me way less than 4G. Just driving it around town has everyone scratchin' their heads thinkin' "wish I'd have thawt of that". I say part it out if it's $$ you need. Save the parts for a 4 door if you need the space. I'll be driving up to Central Lake to pick up a beat up 4 door soon let's hook-up!
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Don't have the time or space to part it out. It'll be gone as soon as I get a decent offer. Won't be getting a 4 door either, just too small. Our XL7 barely fits our needs on the road trips now. I'm going back to my fullsize GM roots.
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I want to personally thank you for buying American made products, or at least products made by an American company. I too buy solely from GM. Ironically, I'll buy a Tracker, but not a Sidekick. Those of you that don't understand prolly never will, but AJM definetly gets it. I got into Trackers 'cause of their small size, but the extended cab, 8' box, 2500HD 4X4 I own covers the big stuff. 8) check your PM
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I would say 3500 or so here in Oregon but the bed liner on the paint is gonna make it a hard sell. Also the lack of a front bumper would scare some people off. Hard time to be selling a rig for sure.
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It's got front and rear bumpers...just no bumper covers. Offroad bumper looks without the price and also fixed the prior owners' screwball mounting methods of the covers.
dusty, well, I'm not buying a Tahoe or anything. Actually it'll likely be an old diesel K5 Blazer. I know them well, it'll fit me and my family and our stuff, and with the diesel will get about the same gas mileage as the Tracker does. I'm not a big fan of GM torsion bar IFS and can't afford any of the new coil sprung IFS.
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I know it's a little soccer momish, but minivans usually have a tun of room, and get great gas mileage.
/end hijack
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...and they suck in 2' of snow.
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It's officially for sale:
http://www.zukiworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=24753.0
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(http://www.jflamecustoms.com/sitebuilder/images/VAN_PIC_LIFT_2-585x442.jpg)
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nice van.....terrible break-over angle though. you could beach that thing on a speed bump!
i wonder what the ratio is for inches of lift needed PER inch of wheelbase you have to get over an obstacle a certain number of inches high.
Anyway....good luck selling your track/kick. Hope everything works out for ya.
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NICE! But definitely out of my price range and NOT a minivan. Also a bit bigger than I really need. Thinking a fullsize Blazer/Jimmy. Going back to my fullsize GM roots.