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What's the thoughts on Suzuki's?

jonathon

jonathon

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More specifically, the Sidekick with a 1.6L/5 speed? I've read of potential issues with exhaust manifolds and such, but good headers are cheap for these things and would be a good, easy fix.

I know it's not a Chevy, but I'm looking to add another 4x4 vehicle to our family to replace a Crown Vic that has a dieing trany(and not really worth fixing IMHO), and I figure something compact would be a good idea.
 
What would you use it for?

Its not the best 4 wheel drive platform to start with and don't forget that they are IFS in the front.
 
38377k5 said:
What would you use it for?

Its not the best 4 wheel drive platform to start with and don't forget that they are IFS in the front.
Click to expand...

Daily driver, only time it'd see 4wd is in the snow or out on rough forest roads.
 
parts for these are plentiful on craigslist and junkyards:
parts store parts are expensive though (thats how jap parts are though)

Me and my dad have several:
95 4 door sidekick 4x4 (16valve)
93 4 door sidekick 4x4 (16 valve)
87 Samurai with yota axles
90 sidekick 2 door 4x4 (8valvle)
88 samurai hardtop

They are good little rides. I would try to find a samurai with a swapped in fuelinjected motor. The 8 valve motor (injected) out of a sidekick is the hot ticket. Its an noninterference motor unlike the 16 valve. It will move the samurai quickly unlike the stock sami motor.

If you are going to get a sidekick.... I'd get one with an auto trans. Mostly because you can swap in most axles (they have a center rear diff) and chevy side t-case output for the front.

Plus, they are way cheaper than a rhino or Polaris side by side and they go anywhere a quad will go for 1/5th of the price.

Get one and have fun. Working on them can be like putting your hand in a box of scalpels but they are neat little rigs that are pretty formidable 4x4s. Keep it as stock as possible drivetrain wise. I have a crack on my exhause manifold but its not to big a deal. I'm gonna get a header for it.
 
I had an 87 samurai and I would never daily drive one again. They are terrible in the rain, extremely small, and you feel like your in a tin can. Good luck if you get hit by anything bigger than a honda. It did get a solid 28mpg around town though. I would fill the 10gallon tank and drive almost 300miles all week.

A sidekick maybe an improvement to the samurai but thats my experience. try to find a 4 door if they make them (I know the tracker version came 4 door).
 
A friend of mine drives one all over town, every day. That little fuucker just won't quit. Its ugly but it gets him where he needs to go.

Me, personally, would never drive, ride or own one. Too small. I'm afraid of flipping the damn thing. :doah:
 
I have one. Its running on propane but making some engine noises. I use to drive it to the shop everyday. To get highway speeds I had to maintain at least 4500 rpm's and I don't think the little 1.3 could take it.

Frackin' basset hound stepped out in the road in front of me one day.... AHHHH, I damn near flopped it. Thank god I was on gravel and not pavement. Any more side bit and she would've went.
 
I had a samurai and loved it. Drove it for years before I joined the navy and had to pick one vehicle, couldn't part with my K30. I wheeled the heck out of that sammy too, reminded me of driving an old flat fender jeep!
 
I have a 1994 as a daily driver. Very reliable. Has 120,000 miles and has only asked for tires, brakes and a water pump.

Just don't expect it to handle as a sports car. Also it's a high-revving engine, so it has 5.13:1 (or something near) with 29" tires.

Has a good ol shifter transfer and locking hubs. Not the newer "auto everything" crap that always fails when you need it.

I get 21-22mpg in heavy traffic, and 27-28 in highway. Although highways over here are more city style than a real highway at a constant speed so you can expect more.
 
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