I'm starting to wonder if I should keep going with my Sidekick or switch to a different vehicle. I've had it for a year and since then have installed a 1.5" suspension lift and a 2" body lift in order to fit 30x9.5 tires. I started out with just the suspension lift and 235/75's but I felt I needed more clearance so I got the BL and 30's to help it out a little. Now I'm tackling tougher trails that stock 90's Toyotas are doing and I'm noticing I have to ride the clutch quite a bit in the tougher, steeper sections. I also am noticing that although I have the same ground clearance between the left and right wheels, the ground clearance between the front and back wheels is significantly less than a Toyota. Even with good driving, spotting, and line picking, sometimes there is no other option than to have the bigger trucks go up ahead, hook up the strap, and basically drag me over whatever it is that's got me high centered. So, I figure, to avoid ground clearance issues, I'm going to need to raise the truck up some more, about 4", and put on some 32's or 33"s. With zukination's new 4" kit I should be able to accomplish the fitting of the bigger tires but then I won't be able to crawl at all...because even with 30's I'm using the clutch and the brakes way too much for my liking. Also, I have a feeling that the aluminum front diff won't hold up to the 33" tires so well, so I'd likely need to swap in a steel front housing from an XL-7 or V6 Grand Vitara, as well as do a Hagan widening mod and run Toyota CV's.

So I was looking at prices for new transfer case gears, and they run just under $1000. The Zukination 4" kit is also $1000. 33" tires will probably be a little under $1000. The steel front diff and CV's probably won't be cheap either, I'm guessing at least $250. So, my options are either this: drop around $3500 into my little Zuk and let it keep on trucking..or just sell it, and buy a little Toy pickup and put some 33's on it and call it a done deal? Either way, I come to the same price. I bought my Zuk for $3700 and have already put over $1000 into it. Adding another $3500 to the $4700 I've already spent on it brings it up to about $8200. If I sold my Zuk for let's say, $3300, and bought a Toyota for maybe $6000, what would you say is the better idea?

It's a really tough decision and I need alot of advice!

My other option I guess is a LWB Samurai, but they're pretty tricky to find

If it were me, i'd keep the kick.  Most yotas are torsion bar front suspension which is junk to most people.  When you lift a yota with torsion bars, all you get is a higher stance, no extra flex is achieved just because of the way the front ifs is set up.  Just think man, EVERYONE has yotas, lifted and stock.  A small group of people are wheeling lifted kicks.  We're a unique group and i love it.  No one expects the kind of stuff we do to be done in a kick.  Which is why i never gave up on mine.  So to give you an opinion on your thoughts, i'd keep the kick and keep upgrading it.  Its all worth it when jeepers and yota drivers back down off a trail that you have already conquered. 

If it were me, i'd keep the kick.

I agree, When I started building lil Suzy back in the mid ninties I lived in Memphis and everything was mud bogging. I was incuraged because she could do so much more than people thought she could. By the time I was done she was going places the guys with the 44's were going. I would take her out break her and build her better. by 1999 I had 25,000 invested in her. I am now up to about 28,000 but she has a new suspension etc. and now is set up for Colorado mountain trail riding. Next purchase will be 33's. I am going to keep her, she runs great and takes me everywhere I want to go. By the way, I no longer have ground clearance problems.
Here she is:

As much fun as my daily driver, trail rig, and short time home is... I'm kinda in the same boat with you buddy. Mine is 17 yrs old now and beaten to crap. (read 18 year old aspiring Colin McRea with keys) It has 300K + miles on it over the life of two motors. I have some lite mods to make things interesting- and it does wheel quite well for its small stature. But by nature it is indeed very small in stature. It's also rusting and rattling. Dad said drive it 'till the wheels fall off, i did then re installed them with new studs. Dad said srive it 'till it dies, it did so we put another engine into it. I work in a Toyota dealership and see a lot of $8-15K Tacos with 30" tires great ground clearance, factory locking diffs with twice the range and twice the power. Plus a bed to hold my boards and comfy seating, and heating, and cooling.

They will probably never be as fun as summer top down driving and harder to make go up a level 5 trail (I can do 4s now mostly because I don't care if the sheet metal gets even more beaten)

I just don't know anymore and I'm starting to lose faith.
So here are a couple of proposals for a new project:

Third gen Mazda Miata, turbo kits and rotary swaps are available.
'70's vintage Porsche 917, 2 liter 6 .fender flairs and enough parts to make it into a class 5 SCCA racer
2nd gen MR2 I saw a guy that swapped out for a 3400 V6... and turbo
5 yr old Taco, small lift, lights, tires and wheels.
Even Isuzu Amigos have more room and bigger tires from factory
Isuzu VehiCross. Still not a lot of room and less flex but very nice otherwise.
Carmen Gia- I already have Porsche wheels and a suburu motor & wiring harness. And a bunch of misc VW parts
Save up for a another year and get a Saturn Sky


I would likely keep my track for winter and trail/ camping purposes if I bought anything non four wheel drive. What are your opinions?

I'd say if you can afford it, go with a Toyota if that's what you want. In the end it will cost less than a Zuk.

If need something bigger go with what is available.  Or a Grand Vit.   

Toys are nice, but I have always enjoyed the smaller cars and the ability to put the top down in the summer.  As for the Toy being cheaper, probably not.  Any time you upgrade in size your going to increase costs.  That is why I built the SJ instead of a Jeep YJ, the YJ was to expensive to get started with. 

Sometimes you just have to decide what fits your needs best and be willing to make some sacrifices.  With the Zuki you sacrifice some size, with the Toy you sacrifice gas mileage and the ability to go up most trails with ease.   

T-case gears made a huge difference to my driving.  They're only $600 from trail tough.

Keep in mind, if you switch to other vehicles, they may be easier to lift (like a jeep), but they're very expensive for t-case gears, and some other simple modifications.

If you haven't got a locker yet, do that now.  It doesn't matter which one you use, but it will greatly increase your capability.  I highly recommend the air locker for a daily driver, but you can make a lockright, or a few other the others work just fine, once you get used to their quirks.

Put a locker in the rear and you will be happy


    Kevin

  Give up wheelin' and get a girlfriend. Then you'll really know what expensive is.

Give up wheelin' and get a girlfriend. Then you'll really know what expensive is.

LOL

Well I have been reading here and have a thought or 2 to add myself...
Have you thought of matbe looking into adding a rear locker? If not... It's the best investment you will make for yer Track/Kick. I have the Lock Right in the rear diff and love it... Now to do the front.
Another thought instead of going with a Toyota... (I have no arguements with Toyota Owners... Good little rigs and cool parts for my Kick) Think about maybe getting a 4dr kick in the future for more wheel base. I have gone some place a 2dr kick will not go due to many factors in a LWB kick.
Have you any fabrication skills and access to the tools to build yer own lift? If not then yes you are limited to purchasing a kit from an outside source.
All in all really it does boil down to this... Once you buy a Toyota or build on yer Track/Kick you will always want to improve it and no matter how ya look at it it's gonna cost ya... $$$$
I say build what ya got...
Kelly

My friend, in the 15 years I have been building and wheeling Zuks I have been in your situation twice and after a year without a Zuk I missed it so much I ran out and got another one. Now I have a Sammy and a Tracker!

I've also met many people who have sold their Zuks and they always say the same thing... " I wish I hadn't got rid of my Suzuki". By nature you will get tired of your vehicle no matter what it is and the only way to renew your excitement in it is to add something new! Gears, Locker, whatever! You'll be in love with it again and forget all about how small it is!

Do what you feel is right but remember Suzukis are a lifestyle not just a vehicle!

Cheers!

Johnny G

Freak:    Well said!