looking for a new truck and need ideas, I had  93 2 door and the never vitaras seem a lot heavier, anybody have one and regret gettign one?  I mean with all the extra weight I might as well drive a jeep, right?  even with all the extra power, aren't they getting big?  are they still as nimble offroad? 

What is too heavy? How much do the new ones weigh?

Canvas top is about 2700lbs, a 5 door wieghs in at 2900 for the 2.0 engine & 3100 for the 2.5 V6 - I couldn't answer on what is "too heavy"

Those are about the same weights as the older models, mine weighs in at
2500 and my brothers 4 door weighs in at 2800-2900 so looks like the weights
are very similar, just engine weight difference

Wild

I think the main problem with the 2000+ models is they are newer, so they cost more. 

My 93 on 33x12.5 was unstoppable, but if I had 3 people in it it made all the difference. I'd get stuck a lot more

The xl7, there is a decent looking one not far from me, arethey still 5.13 gears?  Same low range as older ones?  Are the wheel bearings able to handle 33s? I'm thinking 2 inch bl I inch coil spacers and 33s. Need more lift

Two words.... Mikey Likey!

http://www.zukiworld.com/month_110110/feature_project-zr3-the-way-a-tracker-should-have-been-built.htm



-Eric

Who wheels a grand vitara or xl7?  What mods are needed to get them to 31s, 33s?  Since they are a lot heavier, how well does the drive train hold up with the extra power o the v6?

Two words.... Mikey Likey!

http://www.zukiworld.com/month_110110/feature_project-zr3-the-way-a-tracker-should-have-been-built.htm



-Eric

Mikey do likey! I especially like the rack and pinion steering. One finger turning with 33s, locked and in the rocks. My old orange rig (97) came in at 3300 lbs. The ZR3 comes in at the same. To be fair the 97 had  steel bumpers and a winch but The ZR3 has a V6 and an auto. My point is they are pretty compareable.