So... After researching for months for a used tracker I had pretty much settled on one that I thought was "THE ONE" I knew I'd be able to get it for the right price, it was in really good shape and it was a nice white convertible 2 door. I had it all lined up, the money saved and had checked the vehicle history, everything seemed clean on this low mileage bad boy when I drove it last. 

So I took 1/2 day on today, a beautiful sunny day on the east coast. I stopped by the dealership to pick her up to take her down to my mechanic so he could verify that everything was clear on this car for me and tell me what he saw wrong. Car ran great when I initially got on the highway, until about half way to the mechanic's the temp gauge started raising only slightly. I thought, hmm... maybe I need to talk to them about this, then a slight wizzing sound coming from the engine. I thought, NAAAHHH... IT'S NOTHING.... I get off the highway and come to a stop only a few blocks away from my mechanic. The temp spikes through the roof... i first notice a little smoke... then a lot of that deadly white stinky smoke you get when you know your engine is about ready to die on you. I somehow ease her into my mechanic while she sputters to a complete stop in the driveway. And there she sits, overnight until the dealership can come and pick her up. Fun day, considering I had to wait another hour till one of the dealership's mechanics who was trying to sell me the tracker came to pick me up and take me back to my car. I suddenly find myself appreciating my little 2008 SX4 a lot more. 

Well, at least it happened before and not after. 

oooo, off topic, but how do you like the SX4?? they look pretty cool

Yeah I'm definitely glad it was before. The gf keeps warning me that the Tracker would turn into a money pit... I think she cursed it...

and the SX4, great in snow, descent on gas mileage, extremely comfortable... very cool car overall

If you're going to start wheeling, modifying, and ultimately breaking your rig, it'll turn into a money pit, but I choose to refer to it as a "hobby" with my Mrs.

The gf keeps warning me that the Tracker would turn into a money pit... I think she cursed it...

I totally disagree with your gf. lil Suzy my 89 Sidekick has provided reliable transportation to me for 18 years. I bought her two years old with 30,000 on her. She is now pushing 200,000. Have I put money in her you bet, however before I started taking her off road I drove her to 130,000 before she needed any parts beyond maintenance. I have run her hard and she has never left me stranded. I am extremely impressed with the engineering and quality of Suzuki vehicles. Remember that lil Suzy is a first year car, Suzuki did improve some designs in subsequent years, like increasing the front axle size in 96, but for a first year car to achieve this level of reliability says something about the quality of Suzuki vehicles Here are a couple of pics I took last year. This year she is sporting a new black top and 33" Swampers.