Re: Suzuki Samurai's

Posted by jdemaris on October 12, 2007 at 13:50:33 from (69.67.230.233):

In Reply to: Re: Suzuki Samurai's posted by Gearnut on October 12, 2007 at 08:50:48:

I enjoyed reading your comments. I've been trying to get some input from former Suzuki or Chevy Tracker owners. We have to use 4WD here in the winter. With a 2WD, we could not even get up our own road most of the time. My wife drives 50 miles of steep mountain dirt roads all winter. Being dirt - they dont' get salted like the paved roads - so they get pretty bad with deep snow and ice. She's been driving Subarus for years - always older ones. We often buy them with 100K on them, and then put another 150K until they rot in half and can no longer be driven. They seem to be about the only fuel efficienct 4WD or AWDs available and most have been good for 23 MPG on her mountain runs, and 30 MPG highway. But now, with the newer Subarus, many are not all that good on gas and the prices are high. And, Subaru stopped making part-time 4WD in 1994. I'd rather have a part-time 4WD instead of an AWD.
Another thing is bad weather handling. The Subarus on real bad roads - are much more stable than any of My Chevy 4WD trucks, Blazers, Suburbans, etc. I've had mornings when my Suburban skidded all the way down my hill. Same morning a Subaru would go down with hardly slipping a tire. I've been wondering how the Suzukis do.
All this is why I've been thinking about the Sidekick or Tracker. One problem so far is - I haven't been able to find one that doesn't have the frame half rotted out - unless I buy something newer than 2000. I just looked at a 1997 - and half the frame behind the rear-axle is gone.
I was hoping to hear some good comments about these things - because if I can find a clean one - I think it will do what we want. We almost bought a cheap "almost new" Kia Sportage - but it only gets around 19 MPG highway which is awful for a 2 liter engine.
The other part of my plan is - the potential for later diesel conversion. I've got many small diesel engines laying around - the 1.6s from Jettas and Rabbits and also a few Isuzu 1.8s and 2.2s. My wifes summer car is a 91 diesel Jetta and it gets 50 MPG on the highway and 36 MPG on her mountain ride to work. My 81 Chevette with the Isuzu 1.8 diesel does almost as well. Seems any of those diesels would be good match for the Suzuki.

Replies:

• Re: Suzuki Samurai's Gearnut 19:48:00 10/13/07 (0)

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