My questions are..

1) what's a good year and mileage to look for?
2) auto or standard for daily driver with the occasional trail ride?
3) what's a good price to find an unmolested stocker with zero rust?
4) do they need a regear to keep decent fuel mileage with 30s or 31s?
5) what model is it when it doesn't have all the plastic crap along the bottom of the unit!

1)  I prefer the 92-95 4 doors.  The 91 4 doors had the 1.6 8V (not a powerful enough engine for a 4 door, IMO).  The 96-98 4 doors are OBD2 and I don't really care for OBD2...just a personal preference.  96-98s did have airbags, if that makes a difference.
Around 100K would be nice.  But good luck finding one with that low of mileage.  You are probably going to find them with 150K+.  These engines are capable of running well over 200K, but it all depends on maintenance and how they are driven.
2)  I would go with a 5 speed all the way.  You will get a little better MPG with a 5 speed and I like being able to control the shifts.
3)  Depends on the market in your area.  Pretty much all of them are selling over blue book value, so don't be surprised by the prices.
4)  A regear wouldn't hurt.  Your options are 5.38s and 5.62s.  Both of which can be kinda hard to find (they were both only made for one year).
5)  The ones that have the plastic along the bottom are the 96-98 sidekick sports.  They also have a 1.8L engine.  I would stay away from them...limited used parts availability and the 1.8s are bad about eating timing chains and valves, if the proper weight engine oil isn't used.

I appreciate the help, my buying area is anywhere within 1600 miles of Louisiana. I prefer out west or the far south east just because of lack of rust in those areas.

I'm thinking 95 might be a good year, just because lack of airbags would mean easier to do a two inch body lift in my mind. 

I see them from 1500 to 6k... With very little differences in them to be honest.

With a set of 30s, is the mpg going to Plummet? I see people with the 1.8 sports claiming 12-15... Unacceptable

It is not neccesarily true that only the 96'-98' 1.8L sports came with the plastic body trim, my 1.6L JX 4x4 came with the trim from the factory. The previous owner showed me pictures from the day he picked it from the stealership and it certainly had it installed.

I would also opt for the OBDI version.

Without regearing mileage will be affected, but how much depends on the condition of the engine and your driving habits.

It is not neccesarily true that only the 96'-98' 1.8L sports came with the plastic body trim, my 1.6L JX 4x4 came with the trim from the factory. The previous owner showed me pictures from the day he picked it from the stealership and it certainly had it installed.

I would also opt for the OBDI version.

Without regearing mileage will be affected, but how much depends on the condition of the engine and your driving habits.

I remember seeing that yours has the lower body trim.  Very odd.  I think that is the only non-sport that I have ever seen with it.

I appreciate the help, my buying area is anywhere within 1600 miles of Louisiana. I prefer out west or the far south east just because of lack of rust in those areas.

I'm thinking 95 might be a good year, just because lack of airbags would mean easier to do a two inch body lift in my mind. 

I see them from 1500 to 6k... With very little differences in them to be honest.

With a set of 30s, is the mpg going to Plummet? I see people with the 1.8 sports claiming 12-15... Unacceptable

Well, if there isn't much difference between them, then opt for one in the $1500 range, of course.  I'd say if you are looking for one that is rust free and lower miles (~100K), then you are probably going to be looking at around $3K, on average.  Anything much over that, for a 95 or older is too much, IMO.
Of course your MPG will go down some with bigger tires in the 30-31" range.  I think most people that run ~30s with the 1.6 16V get around 20ish with it....maybe 22ish.  Changing the gearing might bring it back up some, but I wouldn't expect stock MPG numbers, with 30-31s.

It is not neccesarily true that only the 96'-98' 1.8L sports came with the plastic body trim, my 1.6L JX 4x4 came with the trim from the factory. The previous owner showed me pictures from the day he picked it from the stealership and it certainly had it installed.

I would also opt for the OBDI version.

Without regearing mileage will be affected, but how much depends on the condition of the engine and your driving habits.

Must be a '98 Sidekick 2 door??? That's the only one I can think of that has the Body Clad trim other than the Sport.

Yeah, stay away from the 1.8 Sport.

I'm getting 23 mpg plus, with my '96 2 Door, 5 speed, on 31" BFG AT's. (in town)

If you are going for a 4 door, I'd do a 2" Body Lift, 2" coil spacers, and 31's on OEM aluminum wheels. (my personal favorite)

I like the '96-'98, the Interior is a little different, and the grille pokes out a bit, but that's about all... visually.

Yeah it is a 2dr. I am not sure but I think what occured is the stealership installed the trim as an option.

I would have preferred to snag a earlier OBD version so I wouldnt have to have the Sidekick hooked up to the states computer come inspection time as required in NY for OBDII, there are several DIY ways to have the CEL only indicate the initial startup illumination and not indicate a actual CEL to pass inspections with an OBD system, not that I would EVER advocate breaking the law......

My 2dr with 5.12 thirds gets 30ish on the highway(driving like grandma) with 31's(but they measure 30") combined city/highway is about 22-26mpg.

Yeah it is a 2dr. I am not sure but I think what occured is the stealership installed the trim as an option.

No dealer option, it is Factory.

If you were to remove the cladding, there are mounting Holes in the Panels. ALL 2 door, '98 Suzuki Sidekick's have the clad trim.

I like it. I'd like to find a nice '98.

Quote from: talonxracer on September 15, 2011, 02:43:03 PM

Yeah it is a 2dr. I am not sure but I think what occured is the stealership installed the trim as an option.

No dealer option, it is Factory.

If you were to remove the cladding, there are mounting Holes in the Panels. ALL 2 door, '98 Suzuki Sidekick's have the clad trim.

I like it. I'd like to find a nice '98.

Thanks for clearing that up!

Yeah it is a 2dr. I am not sure but I think what occured is the stealership installed the trim as an option.

I would have preferred to snag a earlier OBD version so I wouldnt have to have the Sidekick hooked up to the states computer come inspection time as required in NY for OBDII, there are several DIY ways to have the CEL only indicate the initial startup illumination and not indicate a actual CEL to pass inspections with an OBD system, not that I would EVER advocate breaking the law......

My 2dr with 5.12 thirds gets 30ish on the highway(driving like grandma) with 31's(but they measure 30") combined city/highway is about 22-26mpg.

CEL means nothing down here.  A couple of spark plug bungs on the o2 sensor, and bam.

Is the gearing still available or no?

At the moment I'm just worried about the reliability of the unit itself.  Really thinking about the auto though.

any thoughts on the 3inch deluxe altered ego lift?  Figure the additional 200 bucks for longer links and diff drop brackets would help the reliability in the long run. 

Just a waiting game now, looking around the south/southwest for a decent 4 door auto kick.  found a few so far, but their histories are checkered....

my only worry is that with a front and rear bumper, and winch, the lift won't clear the 30s without a lot of trimming.  Thinking firestone destination ats at this point.  Cheap, light, and seem to last quite a while, even on much heavier vehicles.

The Altered Ego deluxe 3" lift was my second choice for my 2dr build and will be what I go with for the next build on a 4dr 4spd auto with 30x9.5's, it will be the back-up DD for whomever in the family needs one.