bluesnart
Newbie
Posts: 16
Registered: 7-6-2010
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Used Vehicle for Baja-Suzuki Vitara?
Hello
I am looking a purchasing a used vehicle for future trips to Baja.....does anyone have any experience with the Suzuki Vitara....I know it has a small
amount of storage but I plan to travel light.....and or can anyone suggest a vehicle....I'm on a tight budget
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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I have a 2000 Chevy Tracker 2 door..........
Just use it for around town errands. Drove it on a long trip once, never again. they are fun for what they were designed for, not a lot of highway
travel
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BlackBelt4dan
Newbie
Posts: 1
Registered: 11-16-2008
Location: Vancouver, Wa, USA
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We have a 2002 Suzuki Grand Vitara, V6, four door with 100900 miles on it.
About 25% has been off road in Arizona, Nevada, California and Oregon rock hunting and Ghost Towning. 25% have been road trips of 2000-3000 miles and
then the rest city driving.
I can not say enough good about its Quite comfortable both on and off road. With the low range in 2x, I can actually crawl large rocks with the hwy
tires. Never been stuck or bogged down.
Any other questions, let me know. Chuck...
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chuckie
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6082
Registered: 2-20-2012
Location: Kansas Prairies
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Mood: Weary
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Great Vehicle..had Chevy Tracker (same thing) 300,000 + before the tranny went out...Many trips to Baja, 2 to Alaska...
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paranewbi
Senior Nomad
Posts: 913
Registered: 4-15-2011
Location: San diego
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Have a 94 Suzuki Sidekick with 235,000 on it...all original except the radiator (230,000) and Altenator (234,000). driven it all over Baja, dirt,
including old Gonzaga road...no A/C installed...only regret. Drive it everyday 50 plus miles. Seems to be a lot of them in La Paz.
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J.P.
Super Nomad
Posts: 1673
Registered: 7-8-2010
Location: Punta Banda
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Mood: Easy Does It
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Suzuki
We bought a really nice Sammy when I retired It was a lot of fun in Baja. We used it for a tow car for a few years it filled the bill there but it was
definately not a road car.
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edm1
Senior Nomad
Posts: 568
Registered: 8-23-2006
Location: Oak Hills, Ca
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IMO, Suzuki 4x4s are well-made offroad vehicles. Here's my '96 X90 side-by-side :-)
[Edited on 3-7-2013 by edm1]
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bluesnart
Newbie
Posts: 16
Registered: 7-6-2010
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Thanks for all the great information it will certainly help...
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Islandbuilder
Senior Nomad
Posts: 555
Registered: 11-9-2011
Location: nob
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Mood: bewildered
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How are you guys doing with fuel economy? I've been thinking about a Suzuki/Geo/Tracker as well.
It looks like there are lots of sites with add-ons. Anybody done many mods, or driving them pretty much stock?
Thanks.
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chuckie
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6082
Registered: 2-20-2012
Location: Kansas Prairies
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Mood: Weary
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Mine was pretty much stock except for a performance chip, and Rancho Shocks...mileage driven conservatively was around 20 on road. After about 200,000
miles I swapped out the seats. Weak point was transmissions..the first one went away at about 180,000, the second (used) died at around the 300,000
mark. Very expensive from the wrecking yards, and almost impossible to find....Best utility vehicle I have ever owned. Mine was a 2000 with the 2
liter 4 banger motor...
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paranewbi
Senior Nomad
Posts: 913
Registered: 4-15-2011
Location: San diego
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Mines the 94' sidekick, gets 25 on average, do my own excel sheets for all my vehicles so pretty accurate. Maybe 60% freeway. 4 banger, 5 speed
manual, roll windows up by hand.
Exact copy of mine in Coronado I pass by everyday...would love to pick it up as a second one! They seem hard to find here in San Diego and some guys
have told me they make crawlers out of them.
Saw a lot of em on the Malecon in La Paz last time there...wonder if they pass US standards.
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chuckie
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6082
Registered: 2-20-2012
Location: Kansas Prairies
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Mood: Weary
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I think Baja is where all the old Samuaris, Trackers and sidekicks come to die....kinda like the elephants graveyard..
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Pescador
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3587
Registered: 10-17-2002
Location: Baja California Sur
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You are right Chuckie, that was the big problem with Cash for Clunkers. The US buys new cars, but when then get a little old and worn out, they head
south. Make great cars where there is no need for emissions and people use them for another 100,000 or more and then when they finally die, they end
up in the junk yard for parts, and finally, they end up as scrap which is loaded on trucks and hauled back to the US for smelting. Sure looks like a
great cycle of Supply and Demand.
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Islandbuilder
Senior Nomad
Posts: 555
Registered: 11-9-2011
Location: nob
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Mood: bewildered
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Great information, thank you. I'm thinking of buying one as an alternative to my 15/17 mpg F-150 as a daily driver, and then let it evolve into my
"leave it in Baja" rig if and when we're able to make the move.
Craigslist and e-Bay are good places to look for them, but the prices are all over the place. My hunch is that they are becoming almost fad-popular
and some folks know what they have and some don't.
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Chevy Tracker Mods
I have a 2000 Chevy Tracker, 2 door softtop.
Put 1" wheel spacers on to widen the track, added 235x75-15 tires on Suzuki white spoked rims and added a 2" lift kit.
Works perfect for a run around vehicle, we leave it in the garage with a battery maintainer when we go to the US
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Islandbuilder
Senior Nomad
Posts: 555
Registered: 11-9-2011
Location: nob
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Mood: bewildered
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajaguy
I have a 2000 Chevy Tracker, 2 door softtop.
Put 1" wheel spacers on to widen the track, added 235x75-15 tires on Suzuki white spoked rims and added a 2" lift kit.
Works perfect for a run around vehicle, we leave it in the garage with a battery maintainer when we go to the US |
Nice!! Exactly what I'll be looking for. Thank you!
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Island.....
| Quote: | Originally posted by Islandbuilder
| Quote: | Originally posted by bajaguy
I have a 2000 Chevy Tracker, 2 door softtop.
Put 1" wheel spacers on to widen the track, added 235x75-15 tires on Suzuki white spoked rims and added a 2" lift kit.
Works perfect for a run around vehicle, we leave it in the garage with a battery maintainer when we go to the US |
Nice!! Exactly what I'll be looking for. Thank you! |
The wheel spacers (Spydertrax) widen the stance for increased stability. The larger tires and lift increase clearence for the topes and
potholes.....and the white spoked wheels look cool!!!
What is not showing in the photo....I added a front brushguard from a Nissan P/U (modified by my local off road guy so it bolts onto the frame) and
added a 2" bolt on receiver hitch to tow small trailers....also use a hitch step from Harbor Freight. The brush guard and hitch step protect me from
parking space damage to the grill/lights and the spare tire/tailgate.
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Ton of info
Here
http://www.zukiworld.com/
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