Speaking of soft ride, how does a Samurai with a coil conversion or soft springs compare to a lifted sidekick? On your standard long dusty CA desert road?

I don't really lift my Trackers that much, but I did a coil conversion on the back of my SJ along with an RUF setup.  The change in road manners and soaking up bumps was immense.  The RUF springs helped with being tossed around by every bump on a road and the coil rear end helped with the suspension being able to work fast enough to soak up smaller bumps that caused it to jump around before.  Basically, it put the rear end at the same level of the Tracker only I was running bigger tires that allowed it to soak up bumps.  The triangulated 4-link also moves a bit better then a 3-link suspension.

One issue is with average sized rocks on the trail.  The SJ tended to be tossed around when climbing over smaller rocks that just litter some places due to it's shorter width, wheelbase and light weight, as lv2fsh pointed out.  There just isn't much you can do other then stretch it out, wider axles, and basically truggy it.   But on the other hand, it will fit places most other wheelers cannot.  But it doesn't sound like your trying to fit between trees. 

If possible, I would see if you can test drive a Sammy.  Or talk to one of the guys on the board in your area and see if you can go out on a run and see the differences.  If Sammy's are more affordable and you like the look then by all means go for it.  The key is doing something you like. 

I'd like to hear more about the Altered Ego lift. I hear it's one of the softer lifts. It's expensive, but maybe worth it (and what is the freight/duty from Canada?).

Whaddyall think of the 2.0 '99 Chevy Tracker? Saw one of those pop up for sale near me. Very clean; all stock.

Rob (in Oakland)

To sorta answer my own question for those that follow, I called zukination/alteredego and the deluxe suspension kit that they have for sidekicks is not yet available for the next generation vitaras/trackers, although it's in testing.