Back in '93 we got a used Suzuki Sidekick with 11,000 miles on it. The GEO
Tracker is essentially the same vehicle. It gets 25 miles to the the gallon
and has had nothing go wrong with it except for headlight bulb repolacements
and now has about 70,000 miles on it. It is very adequate for two people and
their gear but three are a squeeze. It is also able to take a long legged
driver and passenger. Three long legged people, however, is uncomfortable.
One has to get out and lock the hubs on this model. I consider this a
virtue as I lock the hubs if their is any possibility because of snow or mud
that I might need 4WD. Then if 4WD is necessary, you just shift in or out like
the in cab models. I had spent a lot of money on a Suburban replacing the
automatic hubs, not to mention the times when I was threatened with being
stranded when a hub would go bad out in the boondocks. I have had a couple of
the original Broncos and a Pathfinder and loved them all but am now sold on
the Suzuki.
We also have a Geo Metro with 70,000 miles on it that has not had any
problems. It gets 50 miles to a gallon. That also is made by Suzuki. Consumers
Reports does not like it but I do since it is the only small car that I know
of that a long legged person can be comfortable in. As the service manager
said when I enthused about it, 'well they run forever and don't give trouble
but they're sort of cheap'. Exactly why I like them.
Bob Norton
norton360 at aol.com