Well, it was a sad day last week when I sold my 2003 Suzuki Vitara.

After spending a couple of years following this forum I want to thank everyone for the advice and info I've read.  Thanks to you guys I lifted my rig with Jeff's kit, and was running some 31ish BFGs.  It was fun until my aluminum front diff broke.  I've since replaced the old girl with a 2006 Jeep TJ and sold the Vitara for $500.

Good luck with your rigs, hope they provide you with some more reliable/durable fun than mine did.  I'll miss the Suzuki as it was the first rig I've owned that I did any wrenching on myself, and it introduced me to the world of off roading.

Cheers

so sad you had to turn to the dark side  good luck with the heep you will fit in on the nova site. so is the person you sold the vitara to fixing it or scraping it?

Be sure to read up on the OPDA issue on the 05-06 4.0 engine Wranglers.  I have an 05 LJ.  I love a lot about the vehicle.  It rides much smoother than any Tracker I've ridden in, new or old.  The ability to remove the top and doors are great.  What sucks is the gas mileage.  I've averaged 15.6 mpg over 25,000 miles.  I miss getting 23 mpg like my last Tracker did!  Also while Wranglers are mostly reliable they aren't quite up to the reliability of our Zuks. 


http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f9/2005-06-jeep-opda_cps_distributor-failure-1144202/

so sad you had to turn to the dark side  good luck with the heep you will fit in on the nova site. so is the person you sold the vitara to fixing it or scraping it?

The guy is fixing it up...  All it needs is a front diff, a rocker panel, and a couple of transmission lines really...  I was quoted around $800 including labor to have it ready for inspection, but came across a good deal on the Jeep so as you said, went to the dark side, lol.

I hope to see it around, loved that rig to be honest.

I read through that OPDA article you referenced.  Interesting!  Hard to believe they had a good thing (the 4.0Liter in-line 6) ... then screwed around with it and made it a troublesome thing.  I'd be P.O.'d if I were a Jeep owner!   The 4.0s used to be almost bullet proof and could clock over 250K miles on one easily when cared for.

I gotta agree.  All in all, the engineering Suzuki puts into their vehicles is very good and dependable.   I drive a Tracker, but there is hardly anywhere you can look under the hood that a part doesn't have the "Suzuki" brand on it.   Yeah some parts are salty to replace... but you don't normally have to replace them.  They just continue to operate.

The absolute BEST dirt bike I ever owned was a 1978 1/2 model year RM125.  After I stopped racing, I added a larger rear sprocket on it and bumped up the idle slightly and then used it for several years as a trail bike.  It was great and took me everyplace I wanted to go and many places I should not have.  Bullet proof little bike!