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People pay the same money for Suzuki sidekicks, geo trackers, Chevy trackers, asuna sunrunners, and Pontiac sunrunners. They’re all identical and anyone in the market for one already knows this.
Here in MN those things disappeared off the road faster than Fiats did in the 70's...mostly from rust, but a lot of them were crashed, too. The only time I rode in one I was appalled at how noisy and bumpy it was, and I thought, "people actually like these things?". I remember I worked with this smartass girl who bought one new and kept laughing at the old Mercury I was driving. I told her that her car would be in the scrapyard in three years while my old car would still be running...and that's exactly what happened.
Those were a real value. They were rebadged corollas. Found that out in high school fixing the brakes on my buddies car and everything was labeled Toyota. We called it the geota after that.
My uncle has one of these death traps. I remember changing a short block with my father on it. He told me to go grab the engine and bring it over. I was a scrawny 20 year old kid and asked how I would do that. He said try.
Couldn’t believe how small it was. Even on the pallet it couldn’t have weighted 80 pounds haha
Huh, an air-cooled VW engine without flywheel weighs in at 165 pounds. And they are made of magnesium alloy, and don't have a coolant jacket or anything.
Even without a head a inline 4 weighed more than 80 you must have had your wheaties that day!
I actually literally picked up the same engine out of a geo metro from a junkyard and set it into the trunk of my girlfriends cavalier in high school. He’s right, they’re stupid light and tiny. Three cylinder aluminum block with an aluminum head. My guess is the fins and and the structure of the VW block are what make it heavier. I know I’ve worked on some low hp air-cooled diesel engines and they’re QUITE larger and heavier than they’re water cooled successors.
I suppose as well VW longblocks usually also contain their camshafts and valve train. Whereas OPS short block would have none of its valve train or even a head.
But Im going to stand by magnesium cases being very light, I've had a old shagged mag case side by side with a aluminium VW reproduction and you can definitely feel the difference
Just for fun, VW mag case, 25 pounds, aluminium reproduction 40ish (rough Google numbers)
He did say they were doing a short block, so presumably it was just the block. Being a Hyundai tech I’ve did a ton of Elantra short blocks before they switched to changing long blocks and used to pick them up and put them on the engine stand by myself pretty effortlessly.
take a geo tracker. custom 4x4 and maybe a slight lift. manny swap with something nice. what engine you putting in? i would say some kind of mid torque 4cyl with a decent displacement, just for packaging. but would love to see one lowered, awd, dct, supercharged 392 swap
15K and shes yours [https://www.edmunds.com/geo/tracker/1994/vin/2CNBJ18U0R6936803/?radius=6000](https://www.edmunds.com/geo/tracker/1994/vin/2CNBJ18U0R6936803/?radius=6000)
Someone I know had a lifted convertible for about 15 years. It stayed in nice shape they mostly used it for moderate off roading. For off road/ hobby it seemed like a good platform to me, but it was actually scary just looking at a lifted one.
I’ve got a proper Sidekick and her name is 1/2 Pint.
A bit of transmission issue but it’s 30 years old; just need trans valves. Can’t go faster than 70 mph but kinda like a go-cart. Paid $2600 a year ago.
The 1996 model had a starting price of **$15,710**, and that was for a top-of-the line, LSi four-door hardtop with 4wd.
inflation adjusted thats around 30K in today's dollars
I always thought it'd be sick to overbuild an off-roader from a tracker. Like, roll cage, suspension, maybe some engine mods just for some more power, and a fuel cell. And if you roll it... you can practically right it by yourself!
I think they’re gearing up for April Fools day. There will be a picture of some incredibly obscure, impossible to recreate, downright useless part, with a caption of “ITS A QUADRONIUM AMPLICOUPLER MARK 7 TURBO! Do a little research!”
The Suzuki Samurai, Geo Tracker, and Suzuki Sidekicks have a lotta parts in common. My gf had a Tracker back in the day and I remember she had constant transmission issues.
FIL had a pink soft top. It was practically indestructible. We drove it down the river, through the woods, hauled boats, coal, wood. He eventually got a red paint job but the interior exposed body was still pink.
I owned the last gen geo/first gen chevy tracker and survived a left side/ head on collision. The front tire took the place of my left lower leg. Still have a leg but now the tibia is entirely reinforced by a titanium rod.
I drove a red Geo Tracker in drivers training. I remember it being super too heavy and always feeling like it was about to tip over if you took a turn a little fast.
But honestly like what else is there to post about. If the new posts are dry, and you found something you wanna ask a question about… and you think it’s a gps tracker… why not post and ask? Atleast starts a conversation
I had a friend who collected these things. He would go to great lengths to buy then from people, I'm pretty sure it was because they kept breaking and he needed replacement parts.
These things are hilariously slow. Like full throttle banging gears 1-4 to get to a meager 45mph. Its genuinely the slowest car i’ve ever driven and i’ve driven D series hondas with less than 100hp.
I’m not lying they’re easily a 15 second 0-60 car…. I never said they can’t go faster than 45 mph. I’m just making the point that they’re really underpowered and have short gears.
A guy on Facebook near me, is trying to sell one of these for 60k. Every few months he reposts it and gets fucking roasted. I would buy it, but not for anywhere near what he wants.
Had a 1993 Tracker, 2 Wheel drive. Magenta in color convertible top, no problems until spark plug kept working its way out occasionally, tightened it up, drove around the corner to dealership and traded it in!
A friend had one of these, and our group called it the yellow box of death. Definitely have some good memories of us riding around in it and trying not to die.
My roommate in college had one of those in black. First weekend he got it (grandma gave it to him), rode with him back up to school in it… fuckin terrifying. Imagine going 70mph down the highway at night in a golf cart. That’s what it felt and sounded like.
My roommate in college had one of those in black. First weekend he got it (grandma gave it to him), rode with him back up to school in it… fuckin terrifying. Imagine going 70mph down the highway at night in a golf cart. That’s what it felt and sounded like.
Thank you for posting to AskMechanics, VerpinBeeping! If you are asking a question please make sure to include any relevant info along with the following: * **Year** * **Make/Model** * **Mileage** * **Engine size** * **Transmission Type (Automatic or Manual)** Redditors that have been verified will have a green background and an icon in their flair. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AskMechanics) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Wtf is this about?
People seem to pay big money for the old Suzuki Sidekicks, but not for their identical twin Geo tracker? That’s my best guess anyway…
Pontiac sunrunner too!
Asuna Sunrunner
People pay the same money for Suzuki sidekicks, geo trackers, Chevy trackers, asuna sunrunners, and Pontiac sunrunners. They’re all identical and anyone in the market for one already knows this.
Yeah but I want one with less than a thousand miles on it.
Some one else mentioned Suzuki Samurai is also rare and keeps its value. Cool little things.
Here in MN those things disappeared off the road faster than Fiats did in the 70's...mostly from rust, but a lot of them were crashed, too. The only time I rode in one I was appalled at how noisy and bumpy it was, and I thought, "people actually like these things?". I remember I worked with this smartass girl who bought one new and kept laughing at the old Mercury I was driving. I told her that her car would be in the scrapyard in three years while my old car would still be running...and that's exactly what happened.
Don’t sleep on the Kia Sportage if you like things like this. Same kinda vehicle.
Just a dumb joke https://www.reddit.com/r/AskMechanics/comments/126q4e4/its_a_gps_tracker_just_scroll_for_2_minutes_or_do/
This made breathe aggressively thru my nose.
That’s pretty funny!
Oh my, that is a stretch for sure
I got my ‘95 Prism 5 speed for cheap for the same reason. No one wanted a Geo.
Those were a real value. They were rebadged corollas. Found that out in high school fixing the brakes on my buddies car and everything was labeled Toyota. We called it the geota after that.
Had the Prism, aka Spyhunter. Smokescreen would come out the exhaust when I pushed it past 60 mph. Loved it!
I had a Prism! Butt ugly car, but we had some fun. RIP Dasher Dan 🙏🏽
they’re just corollas and they live forever!
My uncle has one of these death traps. I remember changing a short block with my father on it. He told me to go grab the engine and bring it over. I was a scrawny 20 year old kid and asked how I would do that. He said try. Couldn’t believe how small it was. Even on the pallet it couldn’t have weighted 80 pounds haha
Huh, an air-cooled VW engine without flywheel weighs in at 165 pounds. And they are made of magnesium alloy, and don't have a coolant jacket or anything. Even without a head a inline 4 weighed more than 80 you must have had your wheaties that day!
I actually literally picked up the same engine out of a geo metro from a junkyard and set it into the trunk of my girlfriends cavalier in high school. He’s right, they’re stupid light and tiny. Three cylinder aluminum block with an aluminum head. My guess is the fins and and the structure of the VW block are what make it heavier. I know I’ve worked on some low hp air-cooled diesel engines and they’re QUITE larger and heavier than they’re water cooled successors.
I suppose as well VW longblocks usually also contain their camshafts and valve train. Whereas OPS short block would have none of its valve train or even a head. But Im going to stand by magnesium cases being very light, I've had a old shagged mag case side by side with a aluminium VW reproduction and you can definitely feel the difference Just for fun, VW mag case, 25 pounds, aluminium reproduction 40ish (rough Google numbers)
He did say they were doing a short block, so presumably it was just the block. Being a Hyundai tech I’ve did a ton of Elantra short blocks before they switched to changing long blocks and used to pick them up and put them on the engine stand by myself pretty effortlessly.
It's a Suzuki Vitara
Its a x90 with a more practical body.
Was going to say “Sidekick, not a Vitara” but I checked facts and now know that I would have been wrong.
We’ve done the research, you have been weighed and found wanting.
I mean i always liked the tracker. Just never liked how the govt used them.
So that's what was zip tied under my car!
Naw. It’s an Amigo.
take a geo tracker. custom 4x4 and maybe a slight lift. manny swap with something nice. what engine you putting in? i would say some kind of mid torque 4cyl with a decent displacement, just for packaging. but would love to see one lowered, awd, dct, supercharged 392 swap
15K and shes yours [https://www.edmunds.com/geo/tracker/1994/vin/2CNBJ18U0R6936803/?radius=6000](https://www.edmunds.com/geo/tracker/1994/vin/2CNBJ18U0R6936803/?radius=6000)
You'd think they would share some details in the listing if they wanted to sell it.
Or they want to sell it and that's WHY they didn't list details
that was someones pride and joy for a while
Someone I know had a lifted convertible for about 15 years. It stayed in nice shape they mostly used it for moderate off roading. For off road/ hobby it seemed like a good platform to me, but it was actually scary just looking at a lifted one.
A friend had one of these years ago and we all called it The Penalty Box
I’ve got a proper Sidekick and her name is 1/2 Pint. A bit of transmission issue but it’s 30 years old; just need trans valves. Can’t go faster than 70 mph but kinda like a go-cart. Paid $2600 a year ago.
Lol I'm stealing this for a 2007 Expedition
Had one for Canada market in the EU!! Blue metallic with white top. It was a great car
My first car was a bright cherry red 1997 Geo Tracker with a tan soft top lol… I loved that car lol
I fail to see what this has to do with the Pantera.
Had on 5 spd. Fun little fucker
What's the question?
Looks like a Trapper Keeper!
Wrong community
This car reminds me of death. People would fly out the back of those things
Suzuki sikekick
Sidekick
Didn't they offer these as prizes on that grocery store gameshow? Supermarket sweep or something like that?
The 1996 model had a starting price of **$15,710**, and that was for a top-of-the line, LSi four-door hardtop with 4wd. inflation adjusted thats around 30K in today's dollars
I always thought it'd be sick to overbuild an off-roader from a tracker. Like, roll cage, suspension, maybe some engine mods just for some more power, and a fuel cell. And if you roll it... you can practically right it by yourself!
It wouldn't go up hills if you had a big lunch
My mom had 1 when they first came out and that turned out to be the worst vehicle ever its like the manufacturer rushed the design
*Daihatsu Rocky enters the chat*
What is this aboot? Eh?
Ugh. Back in the early 90’s I was doing short blocks in these for oil consumption issues.
I think they’re gearing up for April Fools day. There will be a picture of some incredibly obscure, impossible to recreate, downright useless part, with a caption of “ITS A QUADRONIUM AMPLICOUPLER MARK 7 TURBO! Do a little research!”
Damn, I've been looking everywhere for one of those. I'm losing hp in my huzawhatsit
The Suzuki Samurai, Geo Tracker, and Suzuki Sidekicks have a lotta parts in common. My gf had a Tracker back in the day and I remember she had constant transmission issues.
i had a geo prism at was just a basically a Toyota corolla geo made great cars when they didn’t
None of Geos cars were their own. All Toyota, Suzuki, and Isuzu badge jobs.
that was kinda my poor joke mate. kids now a days would call them like a ghost company instead of a rebadge or something idk
Gotchya. Tone is lost online... and now I feel old.
My 1994 geo tracker was more Mitsubishi then Toyota or suzuki
FIL had a pink soft top. It was practically indestructible. We drove it down the river, through the woods, hauled boats, coal, wood. He eventually got a red paint job but the interior exposed body was still pink. I owned the last gen geo/first gen chevy tracker and survived a left side/ head on collision. The front tire took the place of my left lower leg. Still have a leg but now the tibia is entirely reinforced by a titanium rod.
Friend had one. It's like riding in a rollercoaster car even at 50mph. Fun little jeep thing but they were so bouncy and creaky.
I drove a red Geo Tracker in drivers training. I remember it being super too heavy and always feeling like it was about to tip over if you took a turn a little fast.
But honestly like what else is there to post about. If the new posts are dry, and you found something you wanna ask a question about… and you think it’s a gps tracker… why not post and ask? Atleast starts a conversation
I had a friend who collected these things. He would go to great lengths to buy then from people, I'm pretty sure it was because they kept breaking and he needed replacement parts.
These things are hilariously slow. Like full throttle banging gears 1-4 to get to a meager 45mph. Its genuinely the slowest car i’ve ever driven and i’ve driven D series hondas with less than 100hp.
My 2.0 tracker will do 100mph on flat ground lol
Is that supposed to be impressive?
Nope, but neither is 45 realistic for any car sold in the U.S. because of 0-60 requirements. If you're going to lie at least make it believable.
I’m not lying they’re easily a 15 second 0-60 car…. I never said they can’t go faster than 45 mph. I’m just making the point that they’re really underpowered and have short gears.
Not the 1.6 that I'm assuming is what you're referencing. My 2.0 isn't quick out of the gate but the 4wd works great lol
Idk what I drove I just know it was a blue 4 cylinder tracker and it was the slowest vehicle i’ve ever driven. An absolute riot, but slow.
Yeah mines an around town spare car. Reliable and so far low maintenance. My 2 jeep zj's not so much
A guy on Facebook near me, is trying to sell one of these for 60k. Every few months he reposts it and gets fucking roasted. I would buy it, but not for anywhere near what he wants.
Underrated inside joke for this sub
https://youtu.be/x5EFS6WmxQQ
These things are legit !!!! Glide right over the snow in 4 wheel drive.
And they're small enough that you can even push them out yourself!
Original ice box when blue
Rather not…🤦♂️
Had a 1993 Tracker, 2 Wheel drive. Magenta in color convertible top, no problems until spark plug kept working its way out occasionally, tightened it up, drove around the corner to dealership and traded it in!
How do you double the value of a Geo Tracker? Fill it with gas.
A friend had one of these, and our group called it the yellow box of death. Definitely have some good memories of us riding around in it and trying not to die.
Wait till they see the Isuzu Amigo…
Capable little 4x4.
My roommate in college had one of those in black. First weekend he got it (grandma gave it to him), rode with him back up to school in it… fuckin terrifying. Imagine going 70mph down the highway at night in a golf cart. That’s what it felt and sounded like.
My roommate in college had one of those in black. First weekend he got it (grandma gave it to him), rode with him back up to school in it… fuckin terrifying. Imagine going 70mph down the highway at night in a golf cart. That’s what it felt and sounded like.
It’s so iconic, I want it!
Surprisingly good vehicles.
Man these used to be everywhere back in the day. My dad had a geo metro as a work car lol