Enlighten me, Suzuki Sidekick/Tracker/X90

Ok, the kidlet gets her license this fall. Already trying to get her into the Street Survival school in Philly when it comes around.

Been playing the what car game with her trying to judge her interest in different things.

Initially her answer was, bright green....agh...c'mon kiddo, don't be your mom. So I started discussing different items to consider, stick or auto...stick (good), she lives in snow country and likes to ski so I suggested AWD or 4WD and she thought that would be good.

I'm trying to push her toward subarus. She humored me but its easy to tell by her reaction that its a boring car to her and while she would be happy to drive anything it doesnt interest her. (Her mother later confirmed that when she had suggested Subarus earlier the kid was a bit more vocal in her dislike)

She likes weird quirky cars (I've corrupted her) fell in love with a Pinto Wagon last summer, that kinda stuff.

So I showed her Sidekick/Trackers and she likes em. I showed her my personal quirky favorite in the group the X90 and she loooves it. So Im looking at these (yes I know the X90 is a rarity so any of them will do but the X90 would be the holy grail) My first concern is stability, I've found some mild lowering kits so I think that would be on tap to help.

They seem to be fairly robust little vehicles. So who can tell me more of what to worry about, or look at.

Other suggestions in the same vein are welcomed as well. Budget is around $2000. If it came in a bright green stock that's a bonus, but I'm preparing myself to paint whatever we find unless it has some other color that she likes (the purple on the Trackers gets her approval)

Just a side note, I thought that when I was in high school (eons ago) that soft top Jeeps had reputations for really high insurance rates. Would this effect your decision?

An odd fact, I think the X90 was the shortest car sold in the US for its model year(s)

X90 is a total chick vehicle, so good fit.

They're out there, and nobody really wants them, so they can be had for reasonable coin, at least here.

Look for rust. 95+ is the 16V. More power, but either motor is good. The front locking hubs seize when/if they haven't been used a lot, but it's an easy fix. not fun vehicles to drive on the highway. Not bad, but noisy, and bouncy.

jrw1621 wrote: Just a side note, I thought that when I was in high school (eons ago) that soft top Jeeps had reputations for really high insurance rates. Would this effect your decision? An odd fact, I think the X90 was the shortest car sold in the US for its model year(s)

I dont pay her insurance so it doesnt effect me much :) But her mom is checking with the insurance company about the different cars we look at.

Of course she's willing to drive a hearse too....I love that kid :) Too bad the fuel economy sucks.

My son's friend (who lives in the converted church in the village) drives a hearse with a coffin subwoofer. Possibly a suggestion?

Zomby woof wrote: My son's friend (who lives in the converted church in the village) drives a hearse with a coffin subwoofer. Possibly a suggestion?

She wants the back converted to racks for her skis and snowboards. We'd seriously be looking for one if it wasn't for fuel economy.

Rust. Then more rust.

Those things can look totally clean on the outside, yet have most of the frames/floors/rockers gone. They're fun when you get a good one though.

The early Rav4 in two door fashion is quirky and rare in that same X-90 sort of way.

Yet larger but akin to the Isuzu Amigo as well.

Early Rav4 is on the shortlist but I dont seem to find many of them, especially in our price range.

The Amigo is worth a look too. Vehicross would be considered as well as that's another one of my favorites.

You mention fuel economy, but how much does she plan on driving per year?

A possible downside to a hearse: If I was back in my teens, I would love to date a girl with a hearse. I mean, think of all the room back there! You know, for playing Scrabble and such.

X90 are 16 valve. interference engine so change timing belt right away if you get one. I echo what the others say about rust. I have found the 5-speeds are better than the auto, auto seems unreliable, shift weird frequently. Lots of good sites. Zuharrie and zukicrawlers are two. Good luck fun little vehicle and you won't be passing one every block.

BBC

Early Kia Sportages were available in two door and were also plenty small, had Mazda power and were sold in bulk it seems. They have the same sortof rear-sort top that a tracker has, so the front two seats have a steel roof.

MitchellC wrote: You mention fuel economy, but how much does she plan on driving per year? A possible downside to a hearse: If I was back in my teens, I would love to date a girl with a hearse. I mean, think of all the room back there! You know, for playing Scrabble and such.

She will be taking treks to the ski areas and she has already been told she has to pay for her own gas so she's concerned. She'll also be heading off to college in a 2 years and god only knows where that will take her.

That's why I'd make sure the ski rack mounts were permanent in the rear, effectively rendering it a 2 seater ;)

Bench Racer (BowtieBandit) wrote: Early Kia Sportages were available in two door and were also plenty small, had Mazda power and were sold in bulk it seems. They have the same sortof rear-sort top that a tracker has, so the front two seats have a steel roof.

I dated a girl with an early Sportage, that thing spent more time at the dealer than on the road.

I love our current Kia (Soul) but the early stuff scares me.

Of paramount importance to me would be safety, and as a result, I would never consider such a vehicle. The early sidekick/tracker was rather insubstantial and rated among the worst vehicles of its day for crash safety.

http://www.crashtest.com/explanations/archive/crash.htm

1988RedT2 wrote: Of paramount importance to me would be safety, and as a result, I would never consider such a vehicle. The early sidekick/tracker was rather insubstantial and rated among the worst vehicles of its day for crash safety. http://www.crashtest.com/explanations/archive/crash.htm

A valid point but as your link shows the later models (95 and up) were improved over the early ones. Still not the best ratings and something for us to consider as well.

I know the low interest in Subaru but what about a BRAT? They're older than what you're talking about here though so maybe that's a no-go.

Daihastu Rocky, if you can find one, seem pretty cool. Or go with an extended cab Tacoma?

pres589 wrote: I know the low interest in Subaru but what about a BRAT? They're older than what you're talking about here though so maybe that's a no-go. Daihastu Rocky, if you can find one, seem pretty cool. Or go with an extended cab Tacoma?

The age is exactly the issue. She lives about 5 hours from me so I need something that wont need constant care and feeding. Even some of the 90s stuff Im looking at worries me to that respect but I have to balance budget with these concerns. And good solid Brats are hard to come by in the northeast.

I showed her the Baja and she feigned interest but again later reports from her mom said she absolutely hates them. I wish the kid would give me honest answers :) But at least Im learning to read her enthusiasm level. She's a good kid and honestly her first answer is probably the most honest, she'll be happy just to have a car, any car. But dad's a car geek so if he can get her something that she thinks is cool that's a win in my book.

Baja's aren't quirky, BRAT's are. Same reason I didn't suggest a CR-V.

Audi Coupe Quattro might be a decent idea although an 80's Audi may not be the most reliable suggestion either...

One of my nieces had a boyfriend with an early Sportage that was beyond awful. I gather from posts here that the motor is just fine, and in fairness I never heard anything bad about their actual engine, just the rest of the car.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290546361962&viewitem=

http://jerseyshore.craigslist.org/cto/2274743779.html

Woody wrote: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290546361962&viewitem= http://jerseyshore.craigslist.org/cto/2274743779.html

Yep, seen both of 'em. First one looks rode hard and put up wet.

2nd one is on my "to see" list this week, its about an hour and a half away so I gotta see where I can fit it in.

Saw a car that hits some of the notes here (quirky) just this week on CL for St. Augustine, tho I realize that's too far for a used car. Anyway, someone had a Volvo P1800ES for sale, about $5K+.

When I lived in Memphis, someone there ran a X90. I saw another one in Montgomery, Al. on my way to Jacksonville, Fl. And until a few weeks ago, one of the used car dealerships on "auto row" had a 2 door Rav4. So they are out there, but are very uncommon.

integraguy wrote: Saw a car that hits some of the notes here (quirky) just this week on CL for St. Augustine, tho I realize that's too far for a used car. Anyway, someone had a Volvo P1800ES for sale, about $5K+. When I lived in Memphis, someone there ran a X90. I saw another one in Montgomery, Al. on my way to Jacksonville, Fl. And until a few weeks ago, one of the used car dealerships on "auto row" had a 2 door Rav4. So they are out there, but are very uncommon.

Yeah, if I could get over my own age restrictions the quirk factor goes up quite a bit. P1800 would be great. She loves Pinto wagons, Gremlins (her mom hates them so bonus), and all kinds of odd stuff.

JThw8 wrote: Yeah, if I could get over my own age restrictions the quirk factor goes up quite a bit. She loves Gremlins (her mom hates them so bonus), and all kinds of odd stuff.

Don't you love it when your questions answer themselves?