I am currently driving a 96 Tacoma regular cab.  I have a 3 month old daughter and last night my wife and I got into the conversation of not trying to "avoid" having another child within the next year (we're not getting any younger). 

I have always wanted a tin top sammy with a VW TDI swap and now that I have an R32 to drive in the spring/summer/fall I would have enough time to perform the swap and also the funds to do it the right way out of the gate.

I live in MI so it would not see any hardcore wheeling but I would like to handle most anything that comes along yet still be a good DD and be able to load two kids and my wife in the ride if need be (although we almost always drive her X5 Diesel anywhere we go).  I would most likely put a mild lift on; fab up some new bumpers; new wheels/tires and during the swap address any maintenance items.

Now my question (finally I know....) would a tin top sammy fit the bill or should I go with a sidekick?  I like the SA on the sammy and could always build a small trailer for load hauling.  Or should I go with the sidekick because the 4 door would make my life easier with the kids eventhough I don't haul them much except for the 5mile drive to and from daycare.

Anyone facing this situation feel free chime in!

Go for the 4 door Sidekick/Geo Tracker.

4 door Sidekick/Tracker for sure.

-Eric

More room, better ride, more power, same mileage... It's hard to steer you away from a 4-door.  But Sammy's do make for neat toys. 

you forgot cheaper drone... closest samurai I found in price was 1500 more than mine.

Samurai was what I originally wanted.  Getting something 10 years newer with a bigger seat mattered more.

More room, better ride, more power, same mileage... It's hard to steer you away from a 4-door.  But Sammy's do make for neat toys. 

Power doesn't matter as I will definitely do a TDI swap with Acme stuff.

Try to strap the kid(s) in the backseat of a 2 door vehicle a few times and you will be wishing you had a 4 door.

I have owned one samurai, two 2 door trackicks, and one 4 door trackick. My vehicle must to function as a daily driver and sometimes haul the wife and two kids.  Ive been drivin the 4 door over four years now and love it.  I would really like to have a sami or convertible trackick again but they just dont fit my lifestyle. IMHO if you will need to haul more than the occasional buddy in the passenger seat you will be happier with the 4 door.  Where I live clean 4 doors are also way cheaper than not so clean samurais and clean samurais are outrageously high.

4 door would be the best bet with a young family , if you kids where older it would be a different story .

yep. everyone else has said what i was going to say. i was looking for a sami before i got my 2dr kick.

once a kid rolls around (probably next year) im probably going to have to start looking for a 4dr. although the wife doesnt like the 4dr's cause she loves it when the roof is off. so i might be able to keep it as my toy... just strap the kid in the back and watch for the toys flying out the back...

Get a 4dr sidekick and do a coil SAS while you are messing up front putting the TDi in.

And this will just be the beginning of endless upgrades untill you end up with a custom buggie with a Suzuki "S" emblem....LOL Welcome to your new addiction !!!

Just get a GV with the 2.5 V6 and you will not have to do the engine swap.   If you get the manual trans version, you can swap in a 4.625 or 5.12 gear set to compensate for larger tires down the line.