Geo Tracker is the official car of old guys constantly asking you “hey you know those things flip over real easy right?” Or making a joke about how they flip over.
And then the same old guys get offended and start calling you with derogatory insults as soon as you mention that one time the Ford "Exploder" has an issue in around the same era.
I didn't care for this back in the 90s. Now, in this hellscape of grey SUV/giant pick-up mall crawlers, they make me smile. Ride on little Vitara, ride on
I had an ‘87 Samurai in high school. At the time I viewed the tracker as the more silly cousin. Now seeing one, I think it was the logical evolution of the Samurai adapted to the 90s. I’d legit like one now.
@@ALLw3rk it depends where you live, here in Australia this 1st gen was only called a Suzuki Vitara and came in both 2 and 4 doors, plus different spec models the SE with the 1.6L 4cyl (like in this video review) and the SV series which came with a 2L 4cyl and a 2L V6.
A friend and I jammed a vintage Buick V6 into one with a 350 trans. Once we worked out the cooling issues (oh yes, she ran HOT) it was a trail MONSTER! In 4WD, in dirt, it would dig a hole then pop out of it. It was painted white and had Hello Kitty graphics on the hood and doors. It made quite a few road warriors feel bad about their rides!
The Geo tracker, you have an Alanis morrisette's greatest hits cd in your cd player, you have flip flops on the passenger side floor mat, a peace sign necklace on the mirror with wooden beads, your bumper has a faded coesxist bumper sticker, and a long empty bottle of SOBE in the cup holder
@@UltimateMTB They are still around, they're owned by PepsiCo. Pepsi management basically started discontinuing most of their flavours for reasons unknown.
It's kinda crazy how many of these are still rolling around in the north east of Canada. Some are converted into snow plows for driveways, I have seen them with tracks instead of wheels, but most are still just as they were in the 90s.
Man here in New Brunswick for awhile these were like proto-Side by Sides. From 2002-2009 I was a dirt bike kid. We'd see guys ripping around the ATV trails with sometimes modified sometimes completely stock Trackers. They were SO cool. They could go through anything and were still small enough to navigate tight trains. Unfortunately it seems most have rotten to nothing around here.
Because these were technically a "domestic" GM Canada product, when these were new you could also get parts and warranty support in large parts of Canada where there was a GM dealer in every second town, but the nearest Toyota/Honda/Suzuki/Mazda etc... dealer might be many hours away.
What is the "northeast of Canada" ? That is not something that I've ever heard a Canadian say. I live in eastern Ontario, and the rust has destroyed all the old Geo and Chevy Trackers around here, sadly.
I was in moab utah with my now fiance, in a fully built, twin locked yj on 35s. I had just proposed (she said yes) and we were coming down hells revenge, and I had an issue with running out of gear on one climb. I backed off, and an orange tracker zoomed right past me up the hill, no problem. I told my fiance that the day we get back im looking for one. Found one in west Virginia, drove 13 hours a couple weeks after and have my own, MINT 95 8 valve. Thanks for the review Mr Regular Gas, we still a mans.
@@michaelmurdock4607 That's the intelligent decision that I should make. However there is a Suzuki Samurai sitting in my driveway, so I cannot say I'm intelligent.
Speaking of masculinity, you just reminded me of how pickup trucks became $40,000 tanks. You used to be able to get a pickup truck for $20,000, no frills, 100% utility with a nice engine. No crew cab. No fancy-pants electronic windows. No LCD panel in the middle. IT'S A FUCKING TRUCK. The new trucks absolutely manages to dwarf my father's pickup truck in terms of size, but also manages to tow about the same weight
These started at $15,000 bare-bones when they were released initially........ and they're actually capable off-roaders with nothing more than lockers and slightly larger tires. 29s will do nicely for these without requiring a lift......
Around here, 100k F150s with tow packages that will only tow a roly-poly soccer mom to practice and the groceries IS the norm. I have NO idea who that is supposed to impress...
@@the_kombinator that's more like a F-250 in my neck of the woods. Also, murdered out black on black on black. Probably drinking Black Rifle Coffee Company and a 2XL Grunt Style T shirt that's barely covering the belly and a beard that's useful in covering up CPAP mask scars.
Thank you guys for the review. You summed up a lot of the feelings I have for the car. "It's enjoyable in a way that makes you forget you're supposed to be looking for excuses to like it" sums it up for me
My dad used to have one of these when i was a kid, Here in the UK it's badged as a Suzuki Vitara, It was a dark red with the rag top and a 5 speed, And it had the Wide wheel arch flares and chunky wheels with the bullbar at the front, I think it was called the 'Fatboy Kit' My sister and I loved that car, sitting in the back with the top down was the best! We had a huge ginger cat and he used to sleep on the roof to the point it sagged in the middle. I always remember my dad taking me out onto a flooded carpark that had frozen over, he put it in 2wd and we spent ages just sliding around on the ice, Was such a fun car! Great memories
The speech on rigid masculinity just made me think of Peter Cullen's story about talking to his brother about getting the role for Optimus Prime, and how he should voice this heroic leader of a character. One of the things his brother told him was, "be strong enough to be gentle."
yet Cullen at first used a John Wayne-styled voice in the first couple of episodes before 'finding his own voice' so to speak (apparently the writers wrote Optimus with JW in mind). I know Cullen denies it, but there maybe a lil dash of him in there. Funny as i always figured Marion Morrison was in the closet so much that he should have changed his name to Bissel or Hoover instead of Wayne...
Suzuki would make bank if they would federalize the Jimny but it's probably too small to meet US safety standards. Some people have gotten Mahindra Roxors street-legal but for what they cost you could buy a decent used TJ Wrangler and do a modest build.
They now made a 5 door Jimny, it's everywhere here in Latam, a bit on the expensive side, but you can't not notice those things while passing by @@bwofficial1776
In the late 90s early 2000s, my mom had one of these. She hated driving dad's F250 *TRUCK*, and wanted sonething small, economical, and four wheel drive for the winter. She loved that Tracker. Drove it all over Hell's half acre. Local farmer's market, antique malls, regular malls, grocery store, hardware store. It did everything so damn well. It was perfect, until she was tboned by an old asshole in a towncar and totaled it. But by then, the market for these dried up. She did love that car and I always tried to find her another one, but couldn't. I love you mom.
In Greece it's called the suzuki vitara, 99.9% are 5 speed manuals and hunters love those unkillable things it was another banger after the samurai and the jimny
Your rant at the end reminded me of the “Common Feral Bro” description from the Hyabusa episode. I see their kids at the park when I take my kids. I pull up in my Toyota wearing bright orange glasses and there they are. Althetic shorts, athletic shoes, shirt neatly tucked in and a perfectly fitted baseball cap as if to say, “I’m on a team and it’s important to me in 1st grade.” The dad with the perfectly fitted pants and the BLAAAAACK constitutional shirt and work boots on a 90 degree day. The empty vessel mom who used to be the head cheerleader. They pull up in a pristine Chevy Tahoe with an 8 year loan that they sometimes use to tow the 30’ camper up north once a summer for the family 3d shoot, camp out and fishing extravaganza. He looked at an Expedition but ultimately decided the BOWTIE is more intimidating when he is tailgating senior citizens going to church in Buick Park Ave. Wow, I went way out there on that one!
I loved your comment! We came to Cypress, TX this weekend to visit family and the family unit you described are carbon copies everywhere over there! The only difference was when we went to was a Pop Warner football game there were some mom's in cheerleading outfits; not the same as the little cheerleaders with the team name, but still color coded and going three inches down the thigh. And one or two dads traded in the all black uniform for the football jersey.
This was known as the VES among enthusiasts in Indonesia, short for Vitara, Escudo, and Sidekick (yes, the Indonesian market used all three names for a single model). Vitara is the best-equipped of the bunch, with 4×4 and beefier running gear. Escudo is the mid-range option with only 2WD. Unique for the Escudo is the Nomade appearance package, consisting of side body molds and two-tone color. Sidekick is the sparsely-equipped bottom-barrel option: no AC, no radio, no power mirrors, no power windows, no rear wiper, basically just a car. All VES cars in Indonesia are equipped with 5-speed manual transmission. Most were equipped with G16A carbureted 8 valve 1.6L that made 76 hp, although for a short period of time, Indonesia did get the Vitara with a 1.6L fuel injected G16B engine (dubbed EPI: Electronic Petrol Injection). The fuel injected Vitara was a sales flop because 4WD cars faced heavy excise tax back then, causing the price to be considerably more expensive than the standard carbureted ones. However, these days, the EPI Vitara became a sought-after collectors item because of its rarity.
Interesting. Here in Australia we also got high spec trims called the SV420 and SV60 with a 2L J20a 4cyl and a 2L V6. Although most were the lower spec SE models with initially the carburettor 1.6L 4cyl then fuel injected a few years later. All versions available in 2 and 4 door, auto and manuals.
@craigsampson3386 Some short-chassis examples can also be seen in Indonesia. Usually, they were brought from free trade zones or border areas like Sabang (the westernmost island in Indonesia), Batam, or eastern part of Papua province (then named Irian Jaya) that bordered with Papua New Guinea.
@TwentyNinerR yeah true. It's amazing how many different versions and names it got globally, compared to the Jimny now. I've bought a new Jimny in 2020 here in Australia but also still kept my old 1997 Suzuki Vitara SV420, still going with 320,000kms.
This is my attainable dream car. I want to find a manual from this generation ideally in decent shape, take care of her, and take her wherever in the world I end up. They just make me smile like few cars do. This video made me smile too, thank you.
Heehee, though while I was listening to that I was thinking how all-black was at least peak beatnik androgyny. The MEN had to look like a sports team or lumberjacks or something. :)
Thanks RCR for a stellar review on a little truck that’s finally getting the respect it deserves. Had one back in the day, regret selling it so during the pandemic when my gf needed a fun city daily but also a beast off roader and new cars were $$$$$ we for fun found a tin top 95 tracker in Utah being used for a hunting truck brought it to Cali and fully restored it. Insane compliments daily driving around Los Angeles, people love them. Off road, everyone is just stunned by their capability. It’s a mountain goat, it could drive up a cliff face. Gearing is great. But a sloping hill on a highway is its kryptonite. Also great looking Tracker!
Plenty of Americans have had fun with Trackers. They're dirt cheap and surprisingly capable off-road. What is this rule forbidding American citizens from having fun with Trackers?
I'm sad to say that seeing that Fire Island National Seashore decal this Tracker is going to have a hard life. That decal allows access to driving on the beach on Long Island. My uncle would take me surfcasting at Democrat Point in his 89 2dr beige Jeep Cherokee in the mid 90s. We'd catch big bluefish, I'd have some Cokes, he'd have a beer and some jazz cigarettes. Good times.
my first time driving was in a manual Suzuki Vitara version of this. On holiday we went off-roading in rural Poland and it was so much fun and MASCULINE TO WIGGLE THOSE TWO STICKS.
Every hood latch is located in the glovebox on all 80’s/90’s Jimny’s & Trackers etc as a way to lock the latch on the convertible models. (Have owned many RHD models and the glove box latch is always in the left hand glove box)
Ohhh that makes total sense now i think about it! I'm in Australia with a RHD Japanese made Australian domestic market delivered 1997 SV420 Vitara hard top version, mine is in the globe box too which confused me because its designed first as a RHD car in Japan, but factoring in the soft top version to make it lockable makes sense now.
I dad 1996 Geo Tracker, with aftermarket hardtop that was really solid, manual transmission, and in that metallic green they offered and loved every minute of owning it. Bought specifically to drive to Baja, Mexcio from Canada. So I threw some larger tires on it, a 2" lift, a roof rack, replaced a ton of parts for next to nothing pre-covid, installed manual lockers, placed a big metal skid plate at the front, put a snorkel on it, threw some old recaro seats from a Subaru, cut out all the rusted rockers and replaced it with 2x4 HSS tube as sliders and bombed it there and back with zero problems. Well one problem, it sucked on the US highways trying to keep up with some of the high speed areas with the bigger tires. Took it offroading every chance I got, drove it winter and summer to work and for fun, and it was a tank for all the years I owned it. It is a tiny truck and cut way over its weight on the trails. It was crazy following around Jeeps worth 10 times what I paid with tons of mods and I would just bounce over the same terrain with 90hp and lots of skinny peddle. Unfortunately stopped running trails and got out of offroading so ended up selling it. Bought it for 2k, put another 2k in it, and sold it for over 7k. To this day it still drives and runs around. I still love how it looks, and just how small it is for how much room is in it as a tall guy with giant windows we just don't get anymore. I've never owned a car that was so easy to see out of and what was happening around the car. It looks boxy and heavy but is actually so light in every way. If I ever needed this kind of vehicle again I would buy it in a heartbeat. So easy to work on and parts are still cheap. Hell even the plastic in it was holding up pretty damn well. I would look for a hardtop version just like this, it is peak Tracker/Sidekick in my mind. Maybe get a 4 door version for some more space... but never an automatic. To be fair the next car I want is a Miata (ND) so probably won't happen any time soon. Time for another tiny car that people will judge me for because it is too small!
My Australian 1997 SV420 Vitara doesn't have that problem with more power from its J20a 😜 97kw/130hp is just enough still for highways with bigger wheels.
I drove to Hershey last week, with a couple of impromptu stops off I-81 along the way, and this rant is one I've been meaning to go on. I was reminded of an RCR quote about how "the right" vehicle can help you "pass" in dodgy situations (might have been the F150 Raptor/Tremor episode) and, not gonna lie, I kind of wished I was in one of those and not a cute Fit with out of state plates on a few occasions.
It's the James May school of thought: when you have no power and no grip, you get to use pretty much all of what the car can do all of the time. Put your foot down and leave it there.
The Geo Tracker is really a sort of 'heavy duty car' than SUV, in my opinion. Been in love with them since high school. There is such a place in this country for a rugged, fuel efficient, grocery getter than can also be connected to farm equipment, or drive on cratered dirt roads, or just drive to school. I love it because it exists in its own world of rugged practicality where cars arent about speed but endurance.
I just sold my soft top tracker after 3 years of use and abuse off road for more than I bought it for, and every Facebook marketplace offer I got was “buying it for their daughter” 🙄 sure buddy I really loved it precisely because it was so cute and fun and everyone loved seeing it and borrowing it. It’s the opposite of a jeep while still keeping up with them off road
Maybe my favorite video of yours. I drove a baby blue sidekick "barbie" car back in high school, and my current whip is a '12 Beetle. Cute things are cute, and me driving them doesn't change the fact that im straight as a rod
The fact that this owner has 90's "Liberty" NY licence plates on the Tracker, tells you all you need to know about their attention to period details. I miss those plates.
Oh heeeey a Vitara/Jimny thingy! Sidekick, close enough! Locally, we got early Vitaras and Jimnys. Some may have been imports, some may have been local versions but yeah. Even today, the Jimnys are very popular as shit in spite of being smol and whatnot.
Being small and lightweight while still having proper chassis for the job despite low engine power really sometimes do alot of magic to a car. Suzuki's Vitara (up to the 3rd gen) and Jimny are very capable "small" offroaders that sometimes give surprising results as long as you take care of them well
@@PlatinumNath I'm still very fond of getting to test drive the current generation Jimny (before the 5-door Maruti variant came out here). That thing is so charming to drive. And as for the Vitara, it's still around but it's kinda modern Rav4-levels of "you got big chonk" lol
Just seen one of these rolling around western Maine yesterday. Same color, lowered on 90’s OBS show truck-style wheels, teal tracker graphics on the side, and absolutely no rust. I can always appreciate seeing a preserved example of one of these especially in person. We need to preserve vehicles from this era for as long as we possibly can.
My mom used to have a black soft top one of these that she absolutely loved. Thieves cut the soft top and stole the radio twice and my dad built at least 4 different material speaker boxes for the sliver of space behind the back seats to try and get some decent sound into that thing. I remember bouncing around on the back seats with friends when we went over uneven terrain, fun times!
@johnleo2668 now that you mention that, Ft Hood, 1997, guy in my company had a trashed Grand Am in the barracks parking lot, poncho over the roof sagging through the sunroof opening from rain. I thought he was single, but he was so financially irresponsible that the unit made him send his wife and kid back to ohio. Good times man.
Thank you for calling out the tactical community. I drive a molten orange Fiesta ST. It's a car that "manly tactical man men" wouldn't be caught dead in. It's an economy that Ford turned into a wonderful toy, and I love it. I'm also passionate about shooting and a goofball who's shooting skills destroy the minds of those who have adopted tactical as an identity at the gun range. Keep up the excellent videos!
My old roomate had one of these, and it became one of my most favourite cars. It's small and adorable but rugged and capable enough to use for shennanegains. We took it all over the place offroad, and it'd tiptoe right over the ruts carved in the trails by jeeps. Shame I live in the midwest and all the steel is gone from the ones here.
My friends and I got one of these as a rental car in Costa Rica in the 1990s. I had never thought much of them before that, but the little Suzuki Vitara could bang through huge potholes and mud roads like a little tank. Every time we didn't die in it was a core memory made.
My 18 year old self drove a $1,200 Geo Tracker all throughout Colorado for a year. It was the cornerstone of many great camping, climbing, and ski trips (a little cramped with 3 people plus gear). It brought me home safely, albeit slowly, during I-70 blizzards and is the most fun I’ve ever had driving a car. Man I miss that thing
I got a 91 Sidekick 8 valve 5speed ragtop that was sitting out side for probably 10 years (cover most of the time) it spent its life being towed behind a RV and had less then 15,000 miles on it. The clear coat is pretty much gone on the paint, the soft top was done for but the interior was still in pretty good shape because they kept it "mostly" cover. It wouldn't start cuz the fuel pump took a shit and the tank had the most rust I've ever seen in a fuel tank, I replaced both and the sucker fired right up! After replacing the top, driving and wheeling it for 2 years I've only needed to replace the water pump, starter and clutch, with me doing all the work I barely have just over $2,000 into it! and if I keep the speed to around 55/60 I get between 32 and 36 MPG, I love this "truck"🥰
Had this new in the 90s. Over a jeep. Loved it. I own a jeep today but if something this small was still sold I would drive that. 12$k new. Drove it 200k miles. Love love loved it.
This is my favorite car, owned two of them already at 20, and I’m sure my current one isn’t going to be my last. My family has gotten sick of hearing about them by now, but I can’t seem to stop talking about them. I still tell people this is my dream car!
My dad had a red 1995 Tracker with the exact same interior, seats, and a manual gearbox. It was one solid piece of work, and never really gave us any issues except that from the day we bought it until the day he sold it, on rare occasions the car would just stall. Dad was a fairly good mechanic ever since the 1960s but he didn't have the time to go over it, so he took it to the shop who quoted him $1700 to fix whatever was the problem. He never ponied up the cash, but the fellow dad sold it to, around a year after, saw us in the store one day. He told dad that it was 17 cent piece of plastic that was causing the stalls. I would still own a Geo Tracker, and that is probably the closest thing to a GM product I would ever own anymore.
Facts. Driving Jeeps with no sway bars on twisty mountain roads is hella fun! 😊 Lada Niva is a similar 4x4 that is really fun and looks beautiful compared to new cars!
This was my first car. 1989 that had a salvage title. My dad bought it for me and I was so excited. I got it painted burgundy, put 15” (!!) chrome Optima wheels on it, and threw three 10” Rockford Fosgate subs behind the rear seat. What a time to be alive.
The car of my childhood. It was a 4 door maroon Vitara with a turbodiesel. They brought me home from the hospital in it and we had to say goodbye to it just as I was old enough to learn to drive. Went on every holiday in it. I loved and still yearn after this car. Unfortunately body rust got them all. Especially under the signature 90s plastic cladding on the doors. But someday I will buy one
Love it! My family has a "friendly" little teal '87 Suzuki Samurai we have for farm duty. It is AMAZING off-road, like 1/4 the price of one of those "side-by-sides", is dirt cheap/easy to wrench on, and has honestly been the best. That little tank has gotten a million times more off-road action than all the "manly" lifted mall-crawlers will ever see in their lifetimes. Something's shifted in our culture recently, though. When I take it into town to grab feed and supplies, I get tons of compliments and questions from all the REAL cowboys and country bros. People are starting to get it! Are these things good highway vehicles? Absolutely not. But for slow, off-road duty, they are an absolute riot. Especially in manual transmission form. 0-30 is still fun and that's all you need for running around off the beaten path. These are unstoppable, even in nasty, sloppy, bumpy, muddy/snowy terrain.
My Dad owned a Blue, '94 Tracker with the black soft top. I have nothing but the fondest memories of riding with him through the backroads of Southern Mississippi, and/or to and from the military base in Gulfport, while listening to the local classic rock station. I miss that Tracker dearly to this day.
An old friend had one of these when we were still in high school. I have a ton of good memories of cruising in that little rc car. Goin off roading and finding little sneaky hideaways in the woods of rural Pennsylvania. Absolutely a ton of fun.
10/10 ending monologue, coming from someone who had a big black land-barge and switched to a tiny (albeit black too) Japanese hatchback. Happiest i've been with a car in years
I had a '94 Suzuki Sidekick JLX 4-door, tin top (Sidekick was 4 door, Samurai was 2 door), to this day my favorite of anything I've ever owned. They were unstoppable, surprisingly comfortable, and stupidly fuel efficient.
The same vehicle that had one of the highest driver death rates among passenger vehicles from 1989-1993: 3.2 per 10,000 vehicles, which was almost three times the average for all passenger vehicles. What a forgotten legacy...
I have a 127 BHP diesel version of the next generation Grand Vitara (the 4-door one JT). The power delivery and speed is exactly the same as the Geo Tracker. When I drive it on the highway it's an experiance. You have to anticipate when to accelarate and at highway speed it's at around 3600 rpm with a 4500 rpm redline. Holding 1st while climbing, shifting to second at at least 3000 rpm. It's exaclty the same. I still love this thing though! Don't ask me about the fuel consumption though :D
Fantastic unexpected essay at the end. Kinda related, some people fond it funny that I, as a middle aged straight man, have a Fiat 500C as my daily. I guess they expect the Vette with the gold chains? But my car is cheerful, fun, and makes other people smile. And that makes me smile.
FINALLY!!! I requested this car to be reviewed so many years ago....its been so long that my dad sold his and now my sister bought a 4 door AT version thats even slower and chugs even more gas! This things are never leaving my family....oh and here in Costa Rica having a hidden power switch its a most....they get stolen like crazy
My folks bought one of these new in 1991. I drove it as a student and got quite familiar with what a Tracker could and could not do. I was teased by my friends, true, but it was a beast in the winter (Edmonton, AB) and when I had to do maintenance it was a breeze. I remember I replaced both my headlights in 5 minutes. Each bulb cost $6 CAD from the dealership. We had the hard top convertible with a soft top we never used, manual hubs and no power steering. Great little car!
I had one of these as my first car I purchased with my own money. I'm 33. One of the best cars I ever had. It was tons of fun. It had massive rust holes in the floor. Every time I hit a puddle, I got wet. It was spray painted a hideous color by its previous owner. It had the rag top, but the plastic windows were all torn, so I stuck plexiglass in their place. It was glorious.
I love these!!! They were very popular in Central America. We used to have two at first: Suzuki Sidekick (2 door) and Suzuki Vitara (4 door). Eventually they added a Grand Vitara, which had a V6 and later on Geo Trackers started getting imported. So you would see this same car with different names and logos all around.
I remember a couple of football players coming back to college in the fall of 95, driving a Diahatsu Rocky. I don’t know how they fit in it. It looked completely out of place in rural North Dakota, but it was their daily driver all through the winter. That was my first experience with this type of vehicle, and they were definitely secure in their masculinity.
My mom got a new Sidekick in 89, we did two cross country trips in that thing. Fast forward to 2013 and she decided she needed a cheap runabout and found a clean Tracker that was a manual TOWED in Phoenix and brought it home. A week later she found an auto and debated about picking it up because she has a prosthetic left leg. My then girlfriend and I road a Greyhound from Texas to the East Coast to get it and we drove it home. It was one of the best road trips I ever had with the most amazing woman I ever knew. I told my GF I wanted one. Three weeks later we were walking in our neighborhood and found a CLEAN 95 TEAL Sidekick for sale. It was a three owner with 50K miles. Needless to say it was mine within a day amd I dailied it for for a couple of years. Eleven years later we are married, have two kids and a wrold of stress. But we also still have that Suzuki.... She needs an alternator but otherwise still runs like a charm.I think it's time to order it, and go for a long drive....
I had the next-generation 'Chevy' Tracker, 2-door like this one, but with a stick and a pretty nice aftermarket hardtop rear roof section. It was all-but stock (Old Man Emu suspension, bigger tires, and a rear locker), and it was among the most capable off-roaders I've ever been in and really wasn't that bad on the road if you didn't expect anything unrealistic. I loved that little bastard.
![Digital Circus Episode 4 [TRAILER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/abZtsmMUbJo/mqdefault.jpg)
Geo Tracker is the official car of old guys constantly asking you “hey you know those things flip over real easy right?” Or making a joke about how they flip over.
And then the same old guys get offended and start calling you with derogatory insults as soon as you mention that one time the Ford "Exploder" has an issue in around the same era.
Hey careful they flip over.
BLERGH... I dunnnooooooo about thazaaaaaat *cough cough cough cough*
Oh be careful there son they don’t sell those anymore for a reason, they flip over. 🙄
Wasn't that the Samurai, its predecessor?
I didn't care for this back in the 90s. Now, in this hellscape of grey SUV/giant pick-up mall crawlers, they make me smile. Ride on little Vitara, ride on
I had an ‘87 Samurai in high school. At the time I viewed the tracker as the more silly cousin. Now seeing one, I think it was the logical evolution of the Samurai adapted to the 90s. I’d legit like one now.
the Grand vitara is a luxury SUV where i live
I wish we went back to giant land boats instead of the 80mph buildings on the freeway today.
The Vitara is a family sized 4 door SUV. You must be thinking the Sidekick
@@ALLw3rk it depends where you live, here in Australia this 1st gen was only called a Suzuki Vitara and came in both 2 and 4 doors, plus different spec models the SE with the 1.6L 4cyl (like in this video review) and the SV series which came with a 2L 4cyl and a 2L V6.
A friend and I jammed a vintage Buick V6 into one with a 350 trans. Once we worked out the cooling issues (oh yes, she ran HOT) it was a trail MONSTER! In 4WD, in dirt, it would dig a hole then pop out of it. It was painted white and had Hello Kitty graphics on the hood and doors. It made quite a few road warriors feel bad about their rides!
That…is the definition of BASED!
@@drewo.127 I love building insanity.
Even stock with 29-inch tires and lockers they were quite good off-roaders.....
Are you talking about the 3800 by any chance lol
@@mikehall3976 , your Kung Fu is mighty, good Sir! Indeed it was!
"And you know what, who cares?" That right there is everything. To be a true automobile enthusiast, one must embrace this idea in their soul.
I read your comment as he said that line. Weird
automotive ego gets people killed and fast vehicles wrecked.
The Geo tracker, you have an Alanis morrisette's greatest hits cd in your cd player, you have flip flops on the passenger side floor mat, a peace sign necklace on the mirror with wooden beads, your bumper has a faded coesxist bumper sticker, and a long empty bottle of SOBE in the cup holder
Oh man, the Sobe reference made this perfect.
And faded glow sticks in the back floor board
@@JohnScott-JacobiteBee I miss muh lizard drink!
What happened to sobe? What a throwback
@@UltimateMTB They are still around, they're owned by PepsiCo. Pepsi management basically started discontinuing most of their flavours for reasons unknown.
It's kinda crazy how many of these are still rolling around in the north east of Canada. Some are converted into snow plows for driveways, I have seen them with tracks instead of wheels, but most are still just as they were in the 90s.
Man here in New Brunswick for awhile these were like proto-Side by Sides. From 2002-2009 I was a dirt bike kid. We'd see guys ripping around the ATV trails with sometimes modified sometimes completely stock Trackers. They were SO cool. They could go through anything and were still small enough to navigate tight trains. Unfortunately it seems most have rotten to nothing around here.
Because these were technically a "domestic" GM Canada product, when these were new you could also get parts and warranty support in large parts of Canada where there was a GM dealer in every second town, but the nearest Toyota/Honda/Suzuki/Mazda etc... dealer might be many hours away.
I sold one to a guy who runs them on his farms and ranches instead of sidexsides. Dusty the Tracker Dude. Hes always looking for more!
We have hundreds of these and Daihatsus. Still running.
Say what you want, these cars were made to last.
What is the "northeast of Canada" ? That is not something that I've ever heard a Canadian say. I live in eastern Ontario, and the rust has destroyed all the old Geo and Chevy Trackers around here, sadly.
I was in moab utah with my now fiance, in a fully built, twin locked yj on 35s. I had just proposed (she said yes) and we were coming down hells revenge, and I had an issue with running out of gear on one climb. I backed off, and an orange tracker zoomed right past me up the hill, no problem. I told my fiance that the day we get back im looking for one. Found one in west Virginia, drove 13 hours a couple weeks after and have my own, MINT 95 8 valve.
Thanks for the review Mr Regular Gas, we still a mans.
Do you know how terrifying a man you must be to drive a 4wd that adorable?
@@michaelmurdock4607 That's the intelligent decision that I should make.
However there is a Suzuki Samurai sitting in my driveway, so I cannot say I'm intelligent.
"A man walks down the street in that hat, people know he's not afraid of anything."
Giant, brass hangers.
Speaking of masculinity, you just reminded me of how pickup trucks became $40,000 tanks.
You used to be able to get a pickup truck for $20,000, no frills, 100% utility with a nice engine. No crew cab. No fancy-pants electronic windows. No LCD panel in the middle. IT'S A FUCKING TRUCK. The new trucks absolutely manages to dwarf my father's pickup truck in terms of size, but also manages to tow about the same weight
These started at $15,000 bare-bones when they were released initially........ and they're actually capable off-roaders with nothing more than lockers and slightly larger tires. 29s will do nicely for these without requiring a lift......
Around here, 100k F150s with tow packages that will only tow a roly-poly soccer mom to practice and the groceries IS the norm. I have NO idea who that is supposed to impress...
@@the_kombinator that's more like a F-250 in my neck of the woods. Also, murdered out black on black on black. Probably drinking Black Rifle Coffee Company and a 2XL Grunt Style T shirt that's barely covering the belly and a beard that's useful in covering up CPAP mask scars.
@@the_kombinatoryou had me at, “roly-poly soccer mom”
Everyone needs lovin
You literally still can they're the work truck trims they're usually white and 2wd
Thank you guys for the review. You summed up a lot of the feelings I have for the car.
"It's enjoyable in a way that makes you forget you're supposed to be looking for excuses to like it" sums it up for me
My dad used to have one of these when i was a kid, Here in the UK it's badged as a Suzuki Vitara, It was a dark red with the rag top and a 5 speed, And it had the Wide wheel arch flares and chunky wheels with the bullbar at the front, I think it was called the 'Fatboy Kit' My sister and I loved that car, sitting in the back with the top down was the best! We had a huge ginger cat and he used to sleep on the roof to the point it sagged in the middle. I always remember my dad taking me out onto a flooded carpark that had frozen over, he put it in 2wd and we spent ages just sliding around on the ice, Was such a fun car! Great memories
Yes the Fatboy kit was also available in the US but is quite rare.
@@A-Negative it was the coolest car In the world to me when I was a little kid, I miss it!
My friend who had one had the same problem--their fat cat liked to sleep on top of it and definitely made the soft top sag.
The speech on rigid masculinity just made me think of Peter Cullen's story about talking to his brother about getting the role for Optimus Prime, and how he should voice this heroic leader of a character. One of the things his brother told him was, "be strong enough to be gentle."
yet Cullen at first used a John Wayne-styled voice in the first couple of episodes before 'finding his own voice' so to speak (apparently the writers wrote Optimus with JW in mind). I know Cullen denies it, but there maybe a lil dash of him in there. Funny as i always figured Marion Morrison was in the closet so much that he should have changed his name to Bissel or Hoover instead of Wayne...
I wish we still had small off-roaders like this today
Suzuki would make bank if they would federalize the Jimny but it's probably too small to meet US safety standards. Some people have gotten Mahindra Roxors street-legal but for what they cost you could buy a decent used TJ Wrangler and do a modest build.
@@bwofficial1776 There's also the not-insignificant issue of Suzuki no longer having U.S. or Canadian car dealer and distribution networks.
wait you can buy jimnys in the US? what a hellscape, I knew something felt off (all of it)
They now made a 5 door Jimny, it's everywhere here in Latam, a bit on the expensive side, but you can't not notice those things while passing by @@bwofficial1776
I have one still. Love it.
In the late 90s early 2000s, my mom had one of these. She hated driving dad's F250 *TRUCK*, and wanted sonething small, economical, and four wheel drive for the winter. She loved that Tracker. Drove it all over Hell's half acre. Local farmer's market, antique malls, regular malls, grocery store, hardware store. It did everything so damn well. It was perfect, until she was tboned by an old asshole in a towncar and totaled it. But by then, the market for these dried up.
She did love that car and I always tried to find her another one, but couldn't. I love you mom.
OMG! How hurt was she?!
These were more popular than bread, here in Portugal in the 90s.
Its a loaf
Here in America too
Only in our part of the world they where called Grand Vitara
They were also made in Spain by Santana up until 2012 if I recall correctly.
@@LouisSubearthgrand Vitara by Santana sounds like a good song
In Greece it's called the suzuki vitara, 99.9% are 5 speed manuals and hunters love those unkillable things it was another banger after the samurai and the jimny
Your rant at the end reminded me of the “Common Feral Bro” description from the Hyabusa episode. I see their kids at the park when I take my kids. I pull up in my Toyota wearing bright orange glasses and there they are. Althetic shorts, athletic shoes, shirt neatly tucked in and a perfectly fitted baseball cap as if to say, “I’m on a team and it’s important to me in 1st grade.” The dad with the perfectly fitted pants and the BLAAAAACK constitutional shirt and work boots on a 90 degree day. The empty vessel mom who used to be the head cheerleader. They pull up in a pristine Chevy Tahoe with an 8 year loan that they sometimes use to tow the 30’ camper up north once a summer for the family 3d shoot, camp out and fishing extravaganza. He looked at an Expedition but ultimately decided the BOWTIE is more intimidating when he is tailgating senior citizens going to church in Buick Park Ave.
Wow, I went way out there on that one!
I loved your comment! We came to Cypress, TX this weekend to visit family and the family unit you described are carbon copies everywhere over there! The only difference was when we went to was a Pop Warner football game there were some mom's in cheerleading outfits; not the same as the little cheerleaders with the team name, but still color coded and going three inches down the thigh. And one or two dads traded in the all black uniform for the football jersey.
This was known as the VES among enthusiasts in Indonesia, short for Vitara, Escudo, and Sidekick (yes, the Indonesian market used all three names for a single model).
Vitara is the best-equipped of the bunch, with 4×4 and beefier running gear.
Escudo is the mid-range option with only 2WD. Unique for the Escudo is the Nomade appearance package, consisting of side body molds and two-tone color.
Sidekick is the sparsely-equipped bottom-barrel option: no AC, no radio, no power mirrors, no power windows, no rear wiper, basically just a car.
All VES cars in Indonesia are equipped with 5-speed manual transmission. Most were equipped with G16A carbureted 8 valve 1.6L that made 76 hp, although for a short period of time, Indonesia did get the Vitara with a 1.6L fuel injected G16B engine (dubbed EPI: Electronic Petrol Injection). The fuel injected Vitara was a sales flop because 4WD cars faced heavy excise tax back then, causing the price to be considerably more expensive than the standard carbureted ones. However, these days, the EPI Vitara became a sought-after collectors item because of its rarity.
Interesting. Here in Australia we also got high spec trims called the SV420 and SV60 with a 2L J20a 4cyl and a 2L V6. Although most were the lower spec SE models with initially the carburettor 1.6L 4cyl then fuel injected a few years later. All versions available in 2 and 4 door, auto and manuals.
@craigsampson3386 Some short-chassis examples can also be seen in Indonesia. Usually, they were brought from free trade zones or border areas like Sabang (the westernmost island in Indonesia), Batam, or eastern part of Papua province (then named Irian Jaya) that bordered with Papua New Guinea.
@TwentyNinerR yeah true. It's amazing how many different versions and names it got globally, compared to the Jimny now. I've bought a new Jimny in 2020 here in Australia but also still kept my old 1997 Suzuki Vitara SV420, still going with 320,000kms.
1:19 is such an insaneeee choice of words I was genuinely impressed
This is my attainable dream car. I want to find a manual from this generation ideally in decent shape, take care of her, and take her wherever in the world I end up. They just make me smile like few cars do. This video made me smile too, thank you.
Make sure you treat it for corrosion. That's what killed most of these.
Look into the first gen Kia Sportage, same exact concept, but stronger and more agile.
@@JohnSmith-wx9wj luckily we don't really have that problem here in Australia lol
That "black" monologue deserves a Pulitzer Prize for poetry.
It reminds me of the Lego Movie Batman Song.
"That's just the first verse."
Heehee, though while I was listening to that I was thinking how all-black was at least peak beatnik androgyny. The MEN had to look like a sports team or lumberjacks or something. :)
I can't believe mr regular would say such terrible things about black men
they stopped making these on Ecuador in 2013. mine is 22 years and 250k miles, we love them in latam!
Easily the most versatile car in Ecuador if you ever leave the city. Tons of them up north in Imbabura and Carchi
In Costa Rica, they're everywhere
Yeah, you still see them here in Chile, they were really popular in the 90s.
Yup! These are a constant sight on the roads of Cuenca Ecuador!!!
Thanks RCR for a stellar review on a little truck that’s finally getting the respect it deserves. Had one back in the day, regret selling it so during the pandemic when my gf needed a fun city daily but also a beast off roader and new cars were $$$$$ we for fun found a tin top 95 tracker in Utah being used for a hunting truck brought it to Cali and fully restored it. Insane compliments daily driving around Los Angeles, people love them. Off road, everyone is just stunned by their capability. It’s a mountain goat, it could drive up a cliff face. Gearing is great. But a sloping hill on a highway is its kryptonite. Also great looking Tracker!
The Geo Tracker: The kind of fun 4 wheeler only allowed to be enjoyed by non Americans
It was only ever called a Geo over here wdym
Plenty of Americans have had fun with Trackers. They're dirt cheap and surprisingly capable off-road. What is this rule forbidding American citizens from having fun with Trackers?
Canadians love them! 😊
This is a very well maintained Tracker that has been preserved better than 99.999999% of the vehicles on the road. Kudos to the owner.
I'm sad to say that seeing that Fire Island National Seashore decal this Tracker is going to have a hard life. That decal allows access to driving on the beach on Long Island. My uncle would take me surfcasting at Democrat Point in his 89 2dr beige Jeep Cherokee in the mid 90s. We'd catch big bluefish, I'd have some Cokes, he'd have a beer and some jazz cigarettes. Good times.
Shame its an auto
my first time driving was in a manual Suzuki Vitara version of this. On holiday we went off-roading in rural Poland and it was so much fun and MASCULINE TO WIGGLE THOSE TWO STICKS.
Every hood latch is located in the glovebox on all 80’s/90’s Jimny’s & Trackers etc as a way to lock the latch on the convertible models.
(Have owned many RHD models and the glove box latch is always in the left hand glove box)
samurai too
I came here to say this, I rate it tbh, always remember where it is
Ohhh that makes total sense now i think about it! I'm in Australia with a RHD Japanese made Australian domestic market delivered 1997 SV420 Vitara hard top version, mine is in the globe box too which confused me because its designed first as a RHD car in Japan, but factoring in the soft top version to make it lockable makes sense now.
I dad 1996 Geo Tracker, with aftermarket hardtop that was really solid, manual transmission, and in that metallic green they offered and loved every minute of owning it. Bought specifically to drive to Baja, Mexcio from Canada. So I threw some larger tires on it, a 2" lift, a roof rack, replaced a ton of parts for next to nothing pre-covid, installed manual lockers, placed a big metal skid plate at the front, put a snorkel on it, threw some old recaro seats from a Subaru, cut out all the rusted rockers and replaced it with 2x4 HSS tube as sliders and bombed it there and back with zero problems. Well one problem, it sucked on the US highways trying to keep up with some of the high speed areas with the bigger tires.
Took it offroading every chance I got, drove it winter and summer to work and for fun, and it was a tank for all the years I owned it. It is a tiny truck and cut way over its weight on the trails. It was crazy following around Jeeps worth 10 times what I paid with tons of mods and I would just bounce over the same terrain with 90hp and lots of skinny peddle. Unfortunately stopped running trails and got out of offroading so ended up selling it. Bought it for 2k, put another 2k in it, and sold it for over 7k. To this day it still drives and runs around.
I still love how it looks, and just how small it is for how much room is in it as a tall guy with giant windows we just don't get anymore. I've never owned a car that was so easy to see out of and what was happening around the car. It looks boxy and heavy but is actually so light in every way. If I ever needed this kind of vehicle again I would buy it in a heartbeat. So easy to work on and parts are still cheap. Hell even the plastic in it was holding up pretty damn well. I would look for a hardtop version just like this, it is peak Tracker/Sidekick in my mind. Maybe get a 4 door version for some more space... but never an automatic.
To be fair the next car I want is a Miata (ND) so probably won't happen any time soon. Time for another tiny car that people will judge me for because it is too small!
My Australian 1997 SV420 Vitara doesn't have that problem with more power from its J20a 😜 97kw/130hp is just enough still for highways with bigger wheels.
Spent the weekend in Buck's County PA and the last three minutes are spot on
I drove to Hershey last week, with a couple of impromptu stops off I-81 along the way, and this rant is one I've been meaning to go on.
I was reminded of an RCR quote about how "the right" vehicle can help you "pass" in dodgy situations (might have been the F150 Raptor/Tremor episode) and, not gonna lie, I kind of wished I was in one of those and not a cute Fit with out of state plates on a few occasions.
My dad had a Suzuki Samurai for years and that little car was such a blast to drive! No power, no speed, but still so much fun.
It's the James May school of thought: when you have no power and no grip, you get to use pretty much all of what the car can do all of the time. Put your foot down and leave it there.
I haven't watched a regular car review in about 2 years, and I'm glad to see they are still just as slightly unhinged as ever. 😂
The Geo Tracker is really a sort of 'heavy duty car' than SUV, in my opinion. Been in love with them since high school. There is such a place in this country for a rugged, fuel efficient, grocery getter than can also be connected to farm equipment, or drive on cratered dirt roads, or just drive to school. I love it because it exists in its own world of rugged practicality where cars arent about speed but endurance.
I knew a guy in high school who bought himself a sidekick. He caught a lot of grief for it but man it was fun as hell!
I just sold my soft top tracker after 3 years of use and abuse off road for more than I bought it for, and every Facebook marketplace offer I got was “buying it for their daughter” 🙄 sure buddy
I really loved it precisely because it was so cute and fun and everyone loved seeing it and borrowing it. It’s the opposite of a jeep while still keeping up with them off road
Maybe my favorite video of yours. I drove a baby blue sidekick "barbie" car back in high school, and my current whip is a '12 Beetle. Cute things are cute, and me driving them doesn't change the fact that im straight as a rod
I can't explain why, but ive always liked this car. Maybe its the honesty it conveys.
The fact that this owner has 90's "Liberty" NY licence plates on the Tracker, tells you all you need to know about their attention to period details. I miss those plates.
Oh heeeey a Vitara/Jimny thingy!
Sidekick, close enough! Locally, we got early Vitaras and Jimnys. Some may have been imports, some may have been local versions but yeah. Even today, the Jimnys are very popular as shit in spite of being smol and whatnot.
Being small and lightweight while still having proper chassis for the job despite low engine power really sometimes do alot of magic to a car. Suzuki's Vitara (up to the 3rd gen) and Jimny are very capable "small" offroaders that sometimes give surprising results as long as you take care of them well
@@PlatinumNath I'm still very fond of getting to test drive the current generation Jimny (before the 5-door Maruti variant came out here). That thing is so charming to drive.
And as for the Vitara, it's still around but it's kinda modern Rav4-levels of "you got big chonk" lol
i have a '96 rag top. I removed the ragtop. i love it. so fun to drive.
Just seen one of these rolling around western Maine yesterday. Same color, lowered on 90’s OBS show truck-style wheels, teal tracker graphics on the side, and absolutely no rust. I can always appreciate seeing a preserved example of one of these especially in person. We need to preserve vehicles from this era for as long as we possibly can.
0:26 - The effect of "TRACKER" fading into view here is trippy.
My mom used to have a black soft top one of these that she absolutely loved. Thieves cut the soft top and stole the radio twice and my dad built at least 4 different material speaker boxes for the sliver of space behind the back seats to try and get some decent sound into that thing. I remember bouncing around on the back seats with friends when we went over uneven terrain, fun times!
Geo Tracker, the 90s car of college girls and broke soldiers
1A and 1B with the Isuzu Amigo
Broke soldiers car of the 90s was the Pontiac Grand Am.
@johnleo2668 now that you mention that, Ft Hood, 1997, guy in my company had a trashed Grand Am in the barracks parking lot, poncho over the roof sagging through the sunroof opening from rain. I thought he was single, but he was so financially irresponsible that the unit made him send his wife and kid back to ohio.
Good times man.
Thank you for calling out the tactical community. I drive a molten orange Fiesta ST. It's a car that "manly tactical man men" wouldn't be caught dead in. It's an economy that Ford turned into a wonderful toy, and I love it. I'm also passionate about shooting and a goofball who's shooting skills destroy the minds of those who have adopted tactical as an identity at the gun range. Keep up the excellent videos!
"Live your life!". Absolutely, you don't get a second chance.
My old roomate had one of these, and it became one of my most favourite cars. It's small and adorable but rugged and capable enough to use for shennanegains. We took it all over the place offroad, and it'd tiptoe right over the ruts carved in the trails by jeeps.
Shame I live in the midwest and all the steel is gone from the ones here.
I don't care what anyone says, I kinda like these
MAAAWWSSS
My friends and I got one of these as a rental car in Costa Rica in the 1990s. I had never thought much of them before that, but the little Suzuki Vitara could bang through huge potholes and mud roads like a little tank. Every time we didn't die in it was a core memory made.
These things have more in common with a modern side by side than a modern car.
Devoid platonic physical contact kinda hits home more than I expected. This freaking channel and its retrospective quips. 11/10.
It's the Pikes Peak hill climb car.
No that's the Escudo.....wait a minute.
My 18 year old self drove a $1,200 Geo Tracker all throughout Colorado for a year. It was the cornerstone of many great camping, climbing, and ski trips (a little cramped with 3 people plus gear). It brought me home safely, albeit slowly, during I-70 blizzards and is the most fun I’ve ever had driving a car. Man I miss that thing
This car was great. I owned two and miss both of them.
Ayo, when’s the next car meet? I just bought a 2000 Chevy Blazer that’s doesn’t smell like cigarettes and the upholstery is still about perfect.
Labor Day Drops be hittin different
*blaaaaack*
I got a 91 Sidekick 8 valve 5speed ragtop that was sitting out side for probably 10 years (cover most of the time) it spent its life being towed behind a RV and had less then 15,000 miles on it. The clear coat is pretty much gone on the paint, the soft top was done for but the interior was still in pretty good shape because they kept it "mostly" cover. It wouldn't start cuz the fuel pump took a shit and the tank had the most rust I've ever seen in a fuel tank, I replaced both and the sucker fired right up! After replacing the top, driving and wheeling it for 2 years I've only needed to replace the water pump, starter and clutch, with me doing all the work I barely have just over $2,000 into it! and if I keep the speed to around 55/60 I get between 32 and 36 MPG, I love this "truck"🥰
I live in the small town where the CAMI plants are, up in Canada. Never knew they were made here. Thanks RCR!
Had this new in the 90s. Over a jeep. Loved it. I own a jeep today but if something this small was still sold I would drive that. 12$k new. Drove it 200k miles. Love love loved it.
I miss these. I always thought they were cool, especially the soft top ones. If I could buy one today, I probably would.
Same same same.
Me too
Same. I'm looking for one for my 16 year old daughter to take to high school- I plan on using it for off roading on the weekends.
“Geo Tracker, friendly fun car. Live your life.”
Amen Mr. Regular!
There is a Mint red 1997 rolling around town. The elderly lady said its never seen winter! Hello from Wisconsin
This is my favorite car, owned two of them already at 20, and I’m sure my current one isn’t going to be my last. My family has gotten sick of hearing about them by now, but I can’t seem to stop talking about them. I still tell people this is my dream car!
I owned one for years. It was glorious. I would buy one in a heartbeat if I could find one, but alas they have all turned to dust.
Look in Florida. They're here. There's a glorious one that someone who works at my local Target drives. It has a snorkel. I love it.
@@TheSalPic I'm in Canada and that might be worth the trip.
@@joels7605 I have represented many Canadians for visas and green cards because they fall in love with "no winter" so be careful 😆
My dad had a red 1995 Tracker with the exact same interior, seats, and a manual gearbox. It was one solid piece of work, and never really gave us any issues except that from the day we bought it until the day he sold it, on rare occasions the car would just stall. Dad was a fairly good mechanic ever since the 1960s but he didn't have the time to go over it, so he took it to the shop who quoted him $1700 to fix whatever was the problem. He never ponied up the cash, but the fellow dad sold it to, around a year after, saw us in the store one day. He told dad that it was 17 cent piece of plastic that was causing the stalls. I would still own a Geo Tracker, and that is probably the closest thing to a GM product I would ever own anymore.
I’ve had more fun with slow cars, driving fast than fast cars driving fast
Facts. Driving Jeeps with no sway bars on twisty mountain roads is hella fun! 😊 Lada Niva is a similar 4x4 that is really fun and looks beautiful compared to new cars!
@@user-ne9sd4ow1o I love the little niva.
One of your best car review of all times! I thoroughly enjoyed it!
It's great in Australia that we can still get the suzuki jimny/ Samurai and the 5-door version as well, and it is awesome.
I love 80s-00s vehicles they're just so unique compared to the vehicles we have now lol
12:10 Bro does the heel click getting into this tracker. He belongs.
As always, I love the writing and love the way you wrapped that up.
The grill reminds me of Captain Planet. Yay Ted Turner.
I’ve got an 89 sidekick and was baffled by the glove compartment hood latch. Thanks for answering that 😂
Bam Margera in the background at 3:20!
Dad had a 5 door one. Engine blew itself up.
Loved when we went offroad on it, and I miss it.
Ah a new Mr regular post, my Monday just got a little less monday-ier
This was my first car. 1989 that had a salvage title. My dad bought it for me and I was so excited. I got it painted burgundy, put 15” (!!) chrome Optima wheels on it, and threw three 10” Rockford Fosgate subs behind the rear seat.
What a time to be alive.
The 3 speed auto sounds as if it's made with the precision of an anchor tied to a rope.
My buddy had the 3 speed and it made more noise than power 😂 A 5 speed model would be so fun!
The car of my childhood. It was a 4 door maroon Vitara with a turbodiesel.
They brought me home from the hospital in it and we had to say goodbye to it just as I was old enough to learn to drive. Went on every holiday in it. I loved and still yearn after this car. Unfortunately body rust got them all. Especially under the signature 90s plastic cladding on the doors. But someday I will buy one
Hey look a suzuki samurai!
Suzuki Sidekick
Mitsu Montero
Something special about the old RAV-4's/Suzuki Vitara/Samurai/Jimny always gonna sit on my dreamcar list
I wish Regular will bring back the unedited POV test drive videos.
Love it! My family has a "friendly" little teal '87 Suzuki Samurai we have for farm duty. It is AMAZING off-road, like 1/4 the price of one of those "side-by-sides", is dirt cheap/easy to wrench on, and has honestly been the best. That little tank has gotten a million times more off-road action than all the "manly" lifted mall-crawlers will ever see in their lifetimes. Something's shifted in our culture recently, though. When I take it into town to grab feed and supplies, I get tons of compliments and questions from all the REAL cowboys and country bros. People are starting to get it! Are these things good highway vehicles? Absolutely not. But for slow, off-road duty, they are an absolute riot. Especially in manual transmission form. 0-30 is still fun and that's all you need for running around off the beaten path. These are unstoppable, even in nasty, sloppy, bumpy, muddy/snowy terrain.
Good morning darling.
Good morning Cupcake!
My Dad owned a Blue, '94 Tracker with the black soft top.
I have nothing but the fondest memories of riding with him through the backroads of Southern Mississippi, and/or to and from the military base in Gulfport, while listening to the local classic rock station.
I miss that Tracker dearly to this day.
The last segment hits like a truck holy crap
An old friend had one of these when we were still in high school. I have a ton of good memories of cruising in that little rc car. Goin off roading and finding little sneaky hideaways in the woods of rural Pennsylvania. Absolutely a ton of fun.
Your writing is still god tier.
It's ridiculous. I've been watching for years and I still regularly get setup by the dick jokes and knocked down by the poignancy.
10/10 ending monologue, coming from someone who had a big black land-barge and switched to a tiny (albeit black too) Japanese hatchback. Happiest i've been with a car in years
I had a '94 Suzuki Sidekick JLX 4-door, tin top (Sidekick was 4 door, Samurai was 2 door), to this day my favorite of anything I've ever owned. They were unstoppable, surprisingly comfortable, and stupidly fuel efficient.
The same vehicle that had one of the highest driver death rates among passenger vehicles from 1989-1993: 3.2 per 10,000 vehicles, which was almost three times the average for all passenger vehicles. What a forgotten legacy...
I have a 127 BHP diesel version of the next generation Grand Vitara (the 4-door one JT). The power delivery and speed is exactly the same as the Geo Tracker. When I drive it on the highway it's an experiance. You have to anticipate when to accelarate and at highway speed it's at around 3600 rpm with a 4500 rpm redline. Holding 1st while climbing, shifting to second at at least 3000 rpm. It's exaclty the same.
I still love this thing though!
Don't ask me about the fuel consumption though :D
The last time I watched a RCR, your face was still a mystery, I'm glad to be back, I forgot how much I love these
Fantastic unexpected essay at the end. Kinda related, some people fond it funny that I, as a middle aged straight man, have a Fiat 500C as my daily. I guess they expect the Vette with the gold chains? But my car is cheerful, fun, and makes other people smile. And that makes me smile.
FINALLY!!! I requested this car to be reviewed so many years ago....its been so long that my dad sold his and now my sister bought a 4 door AT version thats even slower and chugs even more gas! This things are never leaving my family....oh and here in Costa Rica having a hidden power switch its a most....they get stolen like crazy
My folks bought one of these new in 1991. I drove it as a student and got quite familiar with what a Tracker could and could not do. I was teased by my friends, true, but it was a beast in the winter (Edmonton, AB) and when I had to do maintenance it was a breeze. I remember I replaced both my headlights in 5 minutes. Each bulb cost $6 CAD from the dealership. We had the hard top convertible with a soft top we never used, manual hubs and no power steering. Great little car!
I had one of these as my first car I purchased with my own money. I'm 33. One of the best cars I ever had. It was tons of fun. It had massive rust holes in the floor. Every time I hit a puddle, I got wet. It was spray painted a hideous color by its previous owner. It had the rag top, but the plastic windows were all torn, so I stuck plexiglass in their place. It was glorious.
I love these!!! They were very popular in Central America. We used to have two at first: Suzuki Sidekick (2 door) and Suzuki Vitara (4 door). Eventually they added a Grand Vitara, which had a V6 and later on Geo Trackers started getting imported. So you would see this same car with different names and logos all around.
I remember a couple of football players coming back to college in the fall of 95, driving a Diahatsu Rocky. I don’t know how they fit in it. It looked completely out of place in rural North Dakota, but it was their daily driver all through the winter. That was my first experience with this type of vehicle, and they were definitely secure in their masculinity.
My mom got a new Sidekick in 89, we did two cross country trips in that thing. Fast forward to 2013 and she decided she needed a cheap runabout and found a clean Tracker that was a manual TOWED in Phoenix and brought it home. A week later she found an auto and debated about picking it up because she has a prosthetic left leg.
My then girlfriend and I road a Greyhound from Texas to the East Coast to get it and we drove it home. It was one of the best road trips I ever had with the most amazing woman I ever knew.
I told my GF I wanted one. Three weeks later we were walking in our neighborhood and found a CLEAN 95 TEAL Sidekick for sale. It was a three owner with 50K miles. Needless to say it was mine within a day amd I dailied it for
for a couple of years.
Eleven years later we are married, have two kids and a wrold of stress. But we also still have that Suzuki.... She needs an alternator but otherwise still runs like a charm.I think it's time to order it, and go for a long drive....
I had the next-generation 'Chevy' Tracker, 2-door like this one, but with a stick and a pretty nice aftermarket hardtop rear roof section. It was all-but stock (Old Man Emu suspension, bigger tires, and a rear locker), and it was among the most capable off-roaders I've ever been in and really wasn't that bad on the road if you didn't expect anything unrealistic. I loved that little bastard.