Hello to all the Good Zuki people out there!

I'm thinking about buying a new-used 4x4 with my tax return and I'm seriously considering a Suzuki of somekind. I have previously owned a Jeep Cherokee but that 4x4 is now wasted due to a roll-over.

I want a 4 door 4x4 that is reliable, somewhat fuel efficient, and can be modified for off-road use. It looks like Suzuki has some good rigs but I don't know too much about these cars other than they are made in Japan, which is a very good thing IMHO.

I think the Sidekick might be a wee bit small for me and I don't know if they even make them anymore. I'm thinking more along the lines of a Vitara with a V6.

I live in Colorado and I see GVs all over the place so I think I'll be able to find a good used one. I look for Sidekicks but I don't see nearly as many of the 4 door Sidekicks as I see Vitaras and GVs.

I'm an avid skier so I drive up to the mountains just about every weekend in the winter. I want a good, reliable 4 door SUV 4x4 for day-to-day commuting and driving to the mountains on the weekend. The Cherokee was a very nice rig for doing that and I could easily modify it for serious off-road use.

I'm very much considering buying a Suzuki but I'd like to get your opinions on what to buy.

Can anyone tell me about their Suzuki? For example, which is better and easier (and cheaper I guess) for off-road modifications, the Sidekick or the Vitara? What do you like better driving around town, the Vitara or the Sidekick? Do you have any major problems with your Suzukis? Should I be looking for certain things when I buy a Sidekick or a Vitara?

Just general stuff like that. From the research I've been doing, it looks like Sidekicks and Vitaras are pretty popular and well respected rides. I very much like the idea that the Vitara is a body-on-frame 4x4.

Thank you very much in advance for any and all advice you can help me with!

Well, I cant help with upgradability since I haven't started on mine.......yet

However, I am pretty big and my tracker fits me fine.  As far as fuel economy, I drive almost 200 miles a day to work and back and get 25+ MPG with a 3 speed auto, so an overdrive or a 5 speed is better.

Either way...good luck! Joe

Well, I cant help with upgradability since I haven't started on mine.......yet

However, I am pretty big and my tracker fits me fine.  As far as fuel economy, I drive almost 200 miles a day to work and back and get 25+ MPG with a 3 speed auto, so an overdrive or a 5 speed is better.

Either way...good luck! Joe

Is a tracker a chevy product that is made by Suzuki? For example, I know that a Mazda B3000 is just a Ford Ranger. Does Suzuki make products for Chevy/GM?

P.S. Thanks for your comments!

I understand that GM owns part of Suzuki,
in fact the Auto Trans in my Sidekick is a
GM Transmission.

The Sprint and Sprint Turbo, as well as the
metro are build by Suzuki, GEO and now
Chevrolet had Suzuki build the Tracker.

In North America, Grand Vitara V6s are made in Japan.  New 4 four door V6 and the old 4 banger Vitaras and Trackers are made in Ingersoll Canada. Almost all Suzuki Sidekicks, Chevy/GMC Trackers, Pontiac/Asuna Sunrunners were made at factory in Ingersoll Canada which is owned 50/50 by Suzuki Motor Company of Japan and General Motors of Canada.   The construction of vehicles in Canada follows the Suzuki of Japan method of building cars and trucks.

My 1991 2 door Suzuki Sidekick is the best vehicle I have ever driven.

In North America, Grand Vitara V6s are made in Japan.  New 4 four door V6 and the old 4 banger Vitaras and Trackers are made in Ingersoll Canada. Almost all Suzuki Sidekicks, Chevy/GMC Trackers, Pontiac/Asuna Sunrunners were made at factory in Ingersoll Canada which is owned 50/50 by Suzuki Motor Company of Japan and General Motors of Canada.   The construction of vehicles in Canada follows the Suzuki of Japan method of building cars and trucks.

My 1991 2 door Suzuki Sidekick is the best vehicle I have ever driven.

What other cars have you owned/driven?

I tend to think that Japanese cars/trucks are pretty much top quality. I very much liked my 1994 Cherokee Sport because Chrysler/AMC had worked all the kinks out of them by the early 1990s so it was pretty much a rock solid 4x4.

WHEN DECIDING ON EITHER THE KICK OR VITARA ...THINK OF THE MODS. THAT YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH...THEN SEARCH PLACES SUCH AS CALMINI , ROCKY ROAD ETC... TO SEE HOW HIGH OR LOW OR WHATEVER EACH VEHICLE CAN GO..CONSIDER  THE PRICES FOR THE ADD ONS AS WELL.... EITHER CHOICE AND YOU'LL BE GETTING A ROCK SOLID 4X4 IMHO .....  GOOD LUCK ON YOUR SEARCH..... ALSO IF YOU NEED SEATING CAPACITY ,NOT SURE OF THE VITARA BUT THE KICK IS ONLY A 4 PASSENGER ....  MATTY D.

WHEN DECIDING ON EITHER THE KICK OR VITARA ...THINK OF THE MODS. THAT YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH...THEN SEARCH PLACES SUCH AS CALMINI , ROCKY ROAD ETC... TO SEE HOW HIGH OR LOW OR WHATEVER EACH VEHICLE CAN GO..CONSIDER  THE PRICES FOR THE ADD ONS AS WELL.... EITHER CHOICE AND YOU'LL BE GETTING A ROCK SOLID 4X4 IMHO .....  GOOD LUCK ON YOUR SEARCH..... ALSO IF YOU NEED SEATING CAPACITY ,NOT SURE OF THE VITARA BUT THE KICK IS ONLY A 4 PASSENGER ....  MATTY D.

It looks like the Kick has a lot more off road up grades from the Vitara but that is probably temporary. The thing I noticed when I owned the Cherokee is that more and more off road up grades come out as the rig gets CHEAPER and more accessible. Skyjacker is doing all sorts of outrages off road chit for the Cherokee and its only limited to how much you want to spend.

I have been looking closely at the Vitara and its a pretty small SUV, for a 4 door 4x4, but I really like the V6 option.

What I like about the Kick is that I can get it cheaper. I know that. But, it comes with a 4 banger which is nice for gas mileage but not really good for off road and going up a mountain pass. But, again, it does have a lot more off road upgrades from a company like Calmini.

I don't know. I'm going back and forth... :-/

it will go up anything u want just gear it that way =) they are prety good 4cyl for only having what...90hp? lol

but u can do the header high flow cat exh for it and itl make power they have the 8v and 16v i have the 8v which sounds like a tractor but there seems to be more redily avil. parts for the 8v and they are cheaper..i dont know that for sure

my parents also own an 01 4 door gand vitara 4x4 v6 very very nice ride handels corners better then anyone expected and we took it wheeling it did amazingly well for being stock out performed some of the other stockers to =) if u want plush and a v6 go with the GV if u want a cheap lil buger to go wheelin in get a 90s kick track =) i have very very good luck with mine even when i wassent restectiong it in the least

What other cars have you owned/driven?

I tend to think that Japanese cars/trucks are pretty much top quality. I very much liked my 1994 Cherokee Sport because Chrysler/AMC had worked all the kinks out of them by the early 1990s so it was pretty much a rock solid 4x4.

I have driven a variety of vehicles over the years including Dodge Neon, Ford Aerostar, Plymouth Dodge Caravan, Chevy Vans, Chevy Cavalier, and many more that I can't remember and know many people with vehicles of all types and sizes.

I find that my Sidekick, for what I paid for it and what it costs to run, is by far one of the best values on the market.  In the ten years I've owned it, has NEVER given me any major problems with it what so ever.  The only major components I have ever had to replace were the ECU and alternator.

All those other vehicles I have driven have either broken down, run awful, are a real pain to work on and so on.

Sure there are bigger, more powerful SUVs out there, (I really like the Nissan Pathfinder) but for the $$$ they cost to buy and maintain, in my opinion, they are not worth it.

I am so happy with the Suzuki line of products that I will buy another Suzuki again and again.

I am so happy with the Suzuki line of products that I will buy another Suzuki again and again.

i 2nd that i have only been driving a few years but i own a 91 tracker..which has survived tough abuse and an 86 suzuki intruder both have been very very nice vehicles the intruders a motor cycle incause u didnt know but a suzuki is #1 on my reccomend list =)

but a suzuki is #1 on my reccomend list =)

Mine too, I always get compliments on my Sidekick year after year and people always ask me about it.  I give them the honest truth, that it's a great vehicle and very reliable.

When asking about buying a new vehicle, Suzuki #1 in my books.

Well, I guess I'll stick in my two cents .  To be honest with you, I kinda prefer the four over the six.  (Of course if I OWNED the six my tune would probably be diffrent. lol )  Anyway, I have  a 2000 four door 4WD Tracker. (It's the same as a BASE Vitara.)  I'm very pleased with it. The 2.0 16 V. DOHC motor runs really well, has plenty of passing power on the road. And, in return, I can get as good as 28 mpg on the highway.  It has enough room for our family too.  We got a great deal on it too, it was a lease turn in with only 36,000 miles on it, and since August we put almost 6,000 miles on it.  Not one problem.  The five speed is nice to have with the four too.  So, in your searching, if you find a base model Vitara or Tracker with a four and a stick, I think you might want to take a second look.     Dave

Well, I guess I'll stick in my two cents .  To be honest with you, I kinda prefer the four over the six.  (Of course if I OWNED the six my tune would probably be diffrent. lol )  Anyway, I have  a 2000 four door 4WD Tracker. (It's the same as a BASE Vitara.)  I'm very pleased with it. The 2.0 16 V. DOHC motor runs really well, has plenty of passing power on the road. And, in return, I can get as good as 28 mpg on the highway.  It has enough room for our family too.  We got a great deal on it too, it was a lease turn in with only 36,000 miles on it, and since August we put almost 6,000 miles on it.  Not one problem.  The five speed is nice to have with the four too.  So, in your searching, if you find a base model Vitara or Tracker with a four and a stick, I think you might want to take a second look.     Dave

Bingo! That, my friend, sounds like the perfect ride for me.

I loved the Cherokee because it was a 5 speed manual and there are not many SUV 4x4s that you can get with a stick. I like the idea of a 4/16v engine because of gas mileage which is important since I'll be driving it every day. Do you mind me asking how much you paid for your ride?

I loved the Cherokee because it was a 5 speed manual and there are not many SUV 4x4s that you can get with a stick.

That's true, there are almost no SUV 4x4s that you can get with a manual transmission, BUT, with Suzuki you can and I'm sure they will never stop offering it either.