Listen to Hot Rod and Quaddawg when it comes to sidekicks and trackers and don't forget GEOs I like sammis but your needs are different and as far as getting greedy. Don't you think you suffered enough regardless of how it happened. I bet you could get a little hand winch and make a boom to put your chair in licketysplit at the local shop at school for next to nothing. God bless, there but the grace of god go I.Costa

The autos had 4.30's or 4.62's, the sticks had 5.13's.

As for the size difference between the Track/kick and the X-90, they share the same suspension, frame and drivetrain with only slight differences, none of them being size. If anything the X-90 is a little wider due to the curves of the body and the amount of overhang over the tires. The wheelbase is exactly the same between the 2 and the X-90 has more overhang at both ends meaning less approach and departure clearance.

Plus here's a little useless trivia about the X-90 that I've picked up along the way: In the US, only 7205 of them were ever brought into the country over the 3 model years that were made. You have to figure that at least a third of them are now destroyed or sitting in junkyards, which makes the remaining ones even more rare. The last year for them was 98, and only 477 were sold in this country. Mine happens to be #413, so it's actually one of the youngest ones left in the country. That's why the price of them is so much higher than the price of Track/kicks, because of how rare they are. I love mine and I hope to keep it for a very long time(Thanks, Zig! ). If you are looking for a capable rig for less $$$, then I would say look at the 2 door Track/kicks, as said above they can be had much cheaper...

  the 4 door sidekick is in my opinion a better choice.more room for stuff and people and from what i have experienced a better ride on and off road.i have built  a few of the hitch mount lifts very inexpensively, but to keep the weight closer to the body and up high enough for good clearane  we relocated the spare,and it tucked in nicely close to where the spare went.
  i have made electric models using an atv winch,and manuals using a come along type of arrangement.
 

Thank you to everyone that has helped me learn a few things so far, it will really help me out when the time comes to count the Benjamin's. I'm likely going to buy a Sidekick / Tracker or the X90 if I stumble upon a smokin deal, but I have one last technical question I'm sure you guys know the answer to.
Can a Samurai be converted to automatic transmission easily? With just bolt on changes? Some manufactures use different cranks etc. between MT & AT models. Just want to know so in the odd chance I stumble upon a good used one cheap I know it can be easily converted. If not just pass on by you know? Yes I know they never came with one but curious if one from a Sidekick would bolt up.

Thanks again,
Curley

I found a site where a company sells turn-key Samurai's with V-6 GM engines, they looked great! But I would like one with a Toyota ir Nissan powerplant.

One advantage of the Samurai is the divorced transfer case.  So any 2wd engine/transmission combo with a rear output shaft that fits can be made to work, you just need to modify the output shaft to bolt up to the transfer case.

A friend and I are currently looking for a fun engine/tranny combo to drop in a Sammy we picked up cheap without an engine or transmission.