ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum

ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: keith on August 09, 2004, 05:50:29 AM

Title: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: keith on August 09, 2004, 05:50:29 AM
I am wondering what the reasons 4 door Zuk owners bought them as opposed to any other SUV.  The 2 door Trackicks and Sammy's are unique vehicles and there aren't many similiar vehicles on the market.  There are a lot of choices for 4-door SUV's.  So why did you buy a 4-door Zuk?  I am not putting anyone down for owning one, just curious. :)
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: spinaltap on August 09, 2004, 06:53:12 AM
I'm just itching to get my Grandmother's 4dr, its mint and bone stock...I'm buying it as soon as she wants to sell it...I'd like a 4dr for the extra interior space.
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: juggster on August 09, 2004, 08:29:24 AM
we used to have a 2 door sidekick, but sold it cos it was too small and inconvinient (SP), we then later found my current 4 door  about 10 years ago, when it was only a year old, and the owner was selling cos he was moving abroad and couldn't take the suzy with him cos it had no cat, so he sold it a a extremely low price, less than half price of a new one, we jumped on it cos it was near new, was a JLX, ie fullllll extras and we aways liked the vitara and this one was a lwb which wasn't too common here where i live at the time
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: explosivo on August 09, 2004, 09:26:41 AM
I imagine it's due to having kids/the need for room for more gear and the like while still having a kickass vehicle.
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: Maiden Hell on August 09, 2004, 09:58:14 AM
4-Door Sidekick offers more room, 2 extra doors for passengers to get in and out off.  Like the 2 door Sidekicks...it's a true 4x4 (body on box-ladder-frame) as opposed to a unibody (car based) SUV such as the CRV, RAV4 and so on.  Also like the rest of the Zuk family, a 4x4 low gear too.
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: jerryp58 on August 09, 2004, 10:54:42 AM
What about drivetrain options?

Don't the 4 doors, at least the earlier ones have OD automatics available?  I'd love to have that 4th gear in my auto for the highway.
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: explosivo on August 09, 2004, 10:57:27 AM
Quote
What about drivetrain options?

Don't the 4 doors, at least the earlier ones have OD automatics available?  I'd love to have that 4th gear in my auto for the highway.

Are the first 3 gears essentially the same in both, or are the first three in the OD tranny different than the non-OD?
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: cj on August 09, 2004, 11:34:48 AM
After two swb's I have a lwb due to family. You give away a little in rampover angle but gain space and ride comfort and a larger gas tank.
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: keith on August 09, 2004, 12:35:08 PM
This year we were in the market for a 4-door SUV and considered the Vitara and XL-7.  They both were too small in that they had little rear seat leg room.  I really wanted to like the XL-7 due to it's features and price. We ended up getting a Montero Sport.
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: zutefisk on August 09, 2004, 03:22:40 PM
I'm semi seriously looking for an old used 4 door.  Need more room than the two door. Looking at suzuki because
1) I already have the service manual
2) I already have the stupid expensive socket for the front wheel nuts.
3) for suzuki, I already know which bbs's aren't full of bs
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: jerryp58 on August 09, 2004, 10:22:19 PM
Quote

Are the first 3 gears essentially the same in both, or are the first three in the OD tranny different than the non-OD?


I can find gear ratios for my 3 speed auto, but I haven't been able to find anything for the 4 speed ???

I know comparing my old Chevy TH350 with one of the newer 4 speed autos, the 4 speed usually had a lower 1st gear for better off the line performance.  The next two gear were similar and then the 4th was the nice highway OD.
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: INGERSOL on August 10, 2004, 01:31:04 AM
When I had my 2dr '92 sidekick, I had taken out the back seats (and seat belt posts) and put in a raised floor in the trunk and rear footwell which basically turned the back of the truck into a huge subwoofer enclosure.

Now I have a baby seat in the back seat of my 4 door.

Aside from the obvious need for back seats and more space, I have found my LWB 4dr Tracker to be a much easier vehicle to drive on the highway.  I think that unless you are building a tube-chassis "trail truck" you really have to look at your truck as a multi-purpose-vevicle.  I would like to put a 6 inch lift and 44 inch mud boggers, but since I still use the truck to drive my family to church on Sunday, I have to maintain it in a "streetable" form.  I have found the 4dr smoother riding, easier on the bumps than the shortwheelbase, and just as capable off road (almost).
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: Bfunk on August 10, 2004, 03:11:14 AM
I personally liked the 97" wheelbase.  I was tired of "showing off" for my jeep friends (read, tire picking constantly).  It also came with the 16 valve 1600, bigger brakes, and an auto.  The only thing I miss is having a convertable... but that will change soon.  Having alot more room is nice too.
Brian
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: keith on August 10, 2004, 04:06:06 AM
Quote
The only thing I miss is having a convertable... but that will change soon.  
Brian


How is that going to change?  Are you going to cut a big hole in the roof? :D


Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: mperry on August 10, 2004, 02:38:36 PM
I don't need the extra room, but the 4 door is a *lot* handier in loading/unloading. (The ride is better, too.)

Now, if I could find one of the 2 doors with the rare hard top, I'd jump on it in a second.

As for "other" brands, up through 2000 there weren't any other options, IMHO. After all, who wants to drive something called a Sportage, by a company w/ a company logo "Killed-in-Action."
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: explosivo on August 10, 2004, 02:46:45 PM
Quote
Now, if I could find one of the 2 doors with the rare hard top, I'd jump on it in a second.

Now why do I keep hearing that? I chopped up my daily driver 2 door hard top, and have a hardtop LSi 2 door sitting out back :-/

I wanted a damn convertable, too >:(
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: Bfunk on August 10, 2004, 05:09:04 PM
Quote


How is that going to change?  Are you going to cut a big hole in the roof? :D



Not a hole (hehehe ahole) but the whole thing.  I'm going to make it look like a two door convertable... I'd say pickup but I guess a Blazer or Bronco would be closer to the truth.  That's after I do axle upgrades.
Brian
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: trackermad on August 11, 2004, 06:23:24 AM
I want a 4 door so I can take the bigger breaks and the better front third and put them in my 2 door.  ;)
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: 97TRAKIN on August 11, 2004, 09:27:32 AM
Quote
There are a lot of choices for 4-door SUV's. :)
\

True there are a lot of choices for mid to full size 4-dr 4X4 SUV's in this country.
But there are only two choices for a small 4-dr 4X4 SUV in this country.
1 - The Chevy Tracker/Suzuki Vitara.
2 - The Kia Sportage.

Honda CRV, Toyota Rav-4, Ford Escape, And so on ARE NOT 4X4 vehicles, they are all wheel drive.

A 4X4 as defind by LandRover is a vehicle with a four wheel low option in the *TWO SPEED TRANSFER CASE*  
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: Mike71 on August 11, 2004, 09:31:34 AM
4wd is just NOT awd lol

some people just cant grasp that thought..i hear from people that lambos are 4wd and will own zuki off road...sigh oh well
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: Zuki One on August 11, 2004, 07:00:56 PM
So what does the 4door have that the 2 door doesn't drivetrain wise and what not brakes etc...gears? i do not know,and what year did they start putting the MPFI 16 valve? in the 4 doors im gonna buy one here in the next 2 months and do the SAS for my womans winter DD ;D

???
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: steveofrost on August 12, 2004, 02:34:42 AM
Well, I bought the 4-door because it was the cheapest vehicle I could find in the area. It came fully loaded and the last owner kept it in his garage and barely used it (I think it might have been his holiday ride...). Anyway, I didn't know the potential of both the two door and four at the time, so really I didn't choose the 4 over the 2 from that point of view. I got married and got a little 4x4 for me and my wife, that’s why I bought mine. The cargo space is nice, but what it really means to me is an extra added comfort of space for those unfortunate souls that must sit in the back seat and endure my driving! ;D As for a trail rig, I'm already working on convincing my wife to let me buy a two door Kick. I found one in the next city... A mint '90 Sidekick JLX (loaded!) for $1500. And the neat thing is, most of the KMs are from being towed behind a motor home 8) I pray to the Zuki-Gods that I can talk her into it ;)

steveo
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: steveofrost on August 12, 2004, 02:37:50 AM
Quote
Posted by: Zuki One Posted on: Today at 01:00:56
what year did they start putting the MPFI 16 valve


1992
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: Zuki One on August 12, 2004, 12:57:25 PM
 
ok but what about the rest?
Quote
So what does the 4door have that the 2 door doesn't drivetrain wise and what not brakes etc...gears? i do not know,and what year did they start putting the MPFI 16 valve? in the 4 doors im gonna buy one here in the next 2 months and do the SAS for my womans winter DD ;D

???

Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: Maiden Hell on August 12, 2004, 02:53:06 PM
Quote
Well, I bought the 4-door because it was the cheapest vehicle I could find in the area. It came fully loaded and the last owner kept it in his garage and barely used it (I think it might have been his holiday ride...). Anyway, I didn't know the potential of both the two door and four at the time, so really I didn't choose the 4 over the 2 from that point of view. I got married and got a little 4x4 for me and my wife, that’s why I bought mine. The cargo space is nice, but what it really means to me is an extra added comfort of space for those unfortunate souls that must sit in the back seat and endure my driving! ;D As for a trail rig, I'm already working on convincing my wife to let me buy a two door Kick. I found one in the next city... A mint '90 Sidekick JLX (loaded!) for $1500. And the neat thing is, most of the KMs are from being towed behind a motor home 8) I pray to the Zuki-Gods that I can talk her into it ;)

steveo


Dude, put your foot down and just buy it.  Why do you need her permission?  I'm sure you make some healthy dough, just buy it...shit at that price I might drive out there and buy it!  ;D
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: steveofrost on August 12, 2004, 02:54:23 PM
Depends what we are comparing I guess...

There are slight variations between the years as far as I know. (Notice all my sentences end in 'I guess or as far as I know') ;D If you have a choice between a manual or auto, there are different gears. With my Sidekick, an auto comes with 4.62 gears, and a manual comes with 5.12's. As for the rest I have no idea... maybe more research will provide me with some anwers!! (I'm trying to be good for something on this BBS!)

steveo




Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: steveofrost on August 12, 2004, 02:57:29 PM
Quote
Dude, put your foot down and just buy it.  Why do you need her permission?  I'm sure you make some healthy dough, just buy it...shit at that price I might drive out there and buy it!  


;D
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: whitfield on August 12, 2004, 06:02:29 PM
Quote


Dude, put your foot down and just buy it.  Why do you need her permission?  I'm sure you make some healthy dough, just buy it...shit at that price I might drive out there and buy it!  ;D



I'm guessing you are NOT married...  ;D     I used to feel the same way.

I hacked and caniblized Track Kicks for sammy parts for the past 6+ years.  Now that I'm married with a 5 year old I need a little more room.  So i decided to build a 4-door.  If it doesn't work out I can alway hack it up for more Sammy parts.  
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: idaholwb on August 12, 2004, 07:06:28 PM
 The 4 door has nothing special about the drivetrain at all, the only exception is the Sport with the 1.8. Never used that engine in the 2 doors here in the states.
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: jerryp58 on August 12, 2004, 10:20:34 PM
Quote
The 4 door has nothing special about the drivetrain at all, the only exception is the Sport with the 1.8. Never used that engine in the 2 doors here in the states.


Ok now wait a second, what I'm hearing from this and other posts is that the drivetrain components may be interchangeable from year to year, YES?

When was an overdrive auto available and what model years/engines can it fit?

Can a newer drivetrain fit (dimensionally -- without utilizing a team of welders) into an older trackick?
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: Bfunk on August 13, 2004, 03:04:42 AM
Quote
Depends what we are comparing I guess...



There are slight variations between the years as far as I know. (Notice all my sentences end in 'I guess or as far as I know') ;D If you have a choice between a manual or auto, there are different gears. With my Sidekick, an auto comes with 4.62 gears, and a manual comes with 5.12's. As for the rest I have no idea... maybe more research will provide me with some anwers!! (I'm trying to be good for something on this BBS!)



steveo













This is were Suzuki gets confusing.  I have a 93 4 door and everyone told me it would have 4.62 R and Ps.  But when I put the locker in I did the math and it has the 5.125s.  There is no way the guy the owned it previously swaped out gears.  I also have the 4 speed auto so that might be the difference...I don't know.  Hopefully soon I'll be able to use overdrive again.

Brian
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: Speedracer7c on August 13, 2004, 04:26:47 AM
4 door kicks with OD have 5.12's
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: idaholwb on August 13, 2004, 04:45:15 PM
 All 4 door kicks from 92 on have 5.12s, auto and 5 speed, even the Sport. Only the 91 has different gearing in the 4 door. They have 4.62s with the auto, because they are a 3 speed, and the 5 speed has 5.38s, because it has an 8v in a heavier truck. The other gears that Suzuki used in the kicks were the 4.30, 4.62, 5.12, 5.38, and 5.62. GVs use 4.10, 4.88 and the XL-7 uses 5.12s. I don't know what the Vitara uses. The 5.62 is a very rare gear, 89 2 door convertible kick 1.3 only.
Hope this helps.
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: Zuki One on August 14, 2004, 11:35:29 AM
Yes it does but what about brakes front and rear?are they disc on the 4 door?
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: 97TRAKIN on August 14, 2004, 01:12:29 PM
The 4-dr  front has bigger discs than the 2-dr and their vented. The rear takes shoes.
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: Maiden Hell on August 14, 2004, 02:22:25 PM
Quote
Yes it does but what about brakes front and rear?are they disc on the 4 door?


That would only be good to be true.  All Sidekick and the new Vitaras have rear drum brakes.  There is way to make a coversion kit I read on here somewhere using Suzuki and Saturn parts.
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: Natebert on August 15, 2004, 06:01:38 AM
I think that lwb's ride smoother and climb hills better then swb's

Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: Zuki One on August 15, 2004, 06:46:07 AM
Thanx for everyones help i think i have made my decision ;D
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: hcgalvin on August 15, 2004, 09:11:24 AM
Why not?

(http://www.whitepineclub.com/members/kd7hcg/pictures/otherpics/DCP_5779.jpg)

;D  ;D

Pack all your gear, and your friends, and still have plenty of fun!

But all that aside,

I have seen times where I have advantages climbing hills, and speeding across the desert at high speeds. The ride is nicer, and it's already a hard top, so dust is minimal.

Plus, when you do see jacked up two doors, and sammys, they all have short wheelbases... and still fit into the *eep persona... :P

The LWB just well, LOOKS different.

Heather

Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: whitfield on August 15, 2004, 12:00:04 PM
(http://www.whitepineclub.com/members/kd7hcg/pictures/otherpics/DCP_5779.jpg)And 4-doors just stay cleaner. They automatically repell all the dust and dirt.  Just look how it sticks to that 2 door Kick in the background...    ;D ;D ;D

Hey Heather,   I see you brought your team of highly skilled auto detailers with you to MOAB.  Good thing you had the extra room...   JK  ;)

That is one clean & shiny kick...  I'm jelous  :-/  
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: explosivo on August 15, 2004, 01:19:25 PM
Quote
([url]http://www.whitepineclub.com/members/kd7hcg/pictures/otherpics/DCP_5779.jpg[/url])And 4-doors just stay cleaner. They automatically repell all the dust and dirt.  Just look how it sticks to that 2 door Kick in the background...    ;D ;D ;D

Hey Heather,   I see you brought your team of highly skilled auto detailers with you to MOAB.  Good thing you had the extra room...   JK  ;)

That is one clean & shiny kick...  I'm jelous  :-/  

hehe... I see Mister Wild's multi-colored kick in the background ;D
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: hcgalvin on August 15, 2004, 02:16:28 PM
Quote
([url]http://www.whitepineclub.com/members/kd7hcg/pictures/otherpics/DCP_5779.jpg[/url])And 4-doors just stay cleaner. They automatically repell all the dust and dirt.  Just look how it sticks to that 2 door Kick in the background...    ;D ;D ;D

Hey Heather,   I see you brought your team of highly skilled auto detailers with you to MOAB.  Good thing you had the extra room...   JK  ;)

That is one clean & shiny kick...  I'm jelous  :-/  


LOL... hey, it's not always clean...

(http://www.whitepineclub.com/photo/20040403Moab/poisonspider/DCP_5645.jpg)

But we did take it to the spray n wash after this run so it would be all pretty for that Calmini run  ::)  ;D

Oh, and BTW, I STILL have moab red dirt attached to my truck. No matter how much pressure washing, simple green, krylon, and etc, it's STILL there on the underside of my body, and in the nooks and crannys of my carpeting.

One trip to Moab lasts a long, long, time.

;D ;D ;D Hope to see you all next year.

Heather
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: explosivo on August 15, 2004, 02:44:39 PM
That's just dusty. Dirty has to include water in the dirt/dust/clay mix ;D
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: hcgalvin on August 15, 2004, 03:00:34 PM
Quote
That's just dusty. Dirty has to include water in the dirt/dust/clay mix ;D


Oh, I'm pretty sure that Wild might chime in here and state that, yes, there was water in the mix. Chicken Corners had a lot to do with it. Plus the puddles on Fins N Things:

(http://www.whitepineclub.com/photo/20040403Moab/finsandthings/DCP_5566.jpg)

That would be why Moab dirt is still attached to my truck.

But I'm no stranger to mud:

(http://www.whitepineclub.com/members/kd7hcg/pictures/otherpics/DCP02366.JPG)

(wow that's an old pic)

I just like to keep it clean.. seems to get better gas mileage that way. 8)


Heather
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: 1bigtracker on August 19, 2004, 04:52:13 PM
Quote
Why buy a 4-door Zuk?

so you can cut the top off to make a convo.  DUH! why else would you want one of those big things???

stu
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: keith on August 20, 2004, 12:53:27 AM
Quote

so you can cut the top off to make a convo.  DUH! why else would you want one of those big things???

stu


Has anyone actually done this?  If you could just graft the sunroof flip part onto a 4-door that would be cool.
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: 97TRAKIN on August 20, 2004, 06:46:05 AM
I second the cool factor of this idea. ;)
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: steveofrost on August 21, 2004, 11:37:17 AM
Cool but ugly. Maybe I'll try it with my next 4-door ;D

steveo
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: LawDog on August 23, 2004, 03:27:32 PM
You can bring more buddies that don't have Zuk's to show them what its all about.  Then if the lwb gets you hung up, tell them it's because of the extra weight and make 'em push :P
Title: Re: Why buy a 4-door Zuk?
Post by: blacknight on August 25, 2004, 08:28:16 AM
Quote
You can bring more buddies that don't have Zuk's to show them what its all about.  Then if the lwb gets you hung up, tell them it's because of the extra weight and make 'em push :P


Is that where I went wrong  :P

(http://gonzookin.tripod.com/jgz03003.jpg)

George