Looking at Geo Trackers, general questions, mileage etc...

I am looking at Geo Trackers and had a few questions about them. the one i am looking at now is a 1995 with 4 wheel drive and a soft top. the basic use of the vehicle will be winter time beater and long trips (300 miles)

Most important is the engine, how far can they go? is 100k considered high? or have they been know to go further?

do the soft tops tend to leak?

any known general weeknesses with this suv? strengths?

thanks, Nate

*sigh* i'm looking at the car today. i posted 2 days ago and got no replys.

i personally own a 95 lsi with 4x4 and i love it i have had it for about 5 years. the engine is outstanding i have 130k+ and its still going strong. as for the 4x4 its excellent. i dont know much about the soft top because mine is a hard top (wish it was soft). the only thing i would say is it does get a rust problem but that depends on the area you live in. i personally drove mine 1800 miles nonstop when i moved from minnesota to florida and didnt have a bit of trouble. it should get about 25-30 mpg and will suprise you as to what it can haul. hope this helps and wasnt to late.

I havn't commited to buying it yet, any more input would be very helpful. i've looked un it and see rust but it doesn't look bad... how much rust should be a concern? it is going to be a wintertime vehicle and i hope to have it for at least 3 years.

the back seats fold forward and you can lift the carpet and see if there is a lot of rust and holes then it will need some repair and at that point you might need to look at the door hinge area

i have a 96 Tracker that i use as a winter vehicle, and have previously owned a 92 Tracker, and both i might add were great winter vehicles. I have a 93 Camaro that is my daily driver, but as you might know from your name, a sports car is no walk in the park in the snow.. being from Michigan i find 4X4 vehicles almost a necessity.. and i would definately go with a tracker.. reliable for many miles if taken care of, decent gas mileage, and great in the snow.

i agree i would take my tracker any day over the other vehicles out there when it comes to driving in the winter. i live in florida now but i used to live in minnesota and i can tell you that the car is great for winter.

"a sports car is no walk in the park in the snow" yeah i know that... rear wheel drive, wide tires, lots of horsepower. lol a tracker would be much better in snow.

tell you one thing tackers are fun for- water puddles i like hitting the really big ones and having this wave of water just soak everything around :)

That sounds like fun... i can't wait to take the tracker out in a field and tear around in 4 wheel drive. this would be my first 4 wheel drive vehicle.

well i put a down payment on the red tracker... in 2 weeks it'll be paid off and i can bring it home. can't wait!

cool what are you getting?

1995 GEO TRACKER
2 DR WAGON SPORT UTILITY
16 valve 1.6L
4 wheel drive, 30 mpg
It has 90k miles on it, seems to run nice.
paying $2000

not bad same thing i have and mine is great

I am looking at Geo Trackers and had a few questions about them. the one i am looking at now is a 1995 with 4 wheel drive and a soft top. the basic use of the vehicle will be winter time beater and long trips (300 miles)

Most important is the engine, how far can they go? is 100k considered high? or have they been know to go further?

do the soft tops tend to leak?

any known general weeknesses with this suv? strengths?

thanks, Nate
i have a 95 tracker bought it with 83000 two year ago now has 116,000 no problems just found a removeable hard top for it soft top did not leak just a little noise hard top is quiet.great in the snow i dont really go real fast because it it very lite. so far just replace cat. and had to fix wires that go to fuel pump.. thats it .good gas mileage a bout 24 to 27 mpg hwy .dont forget it is a japanese engine made by suzuki.

to add, make sure u plan to do the timing belt change... my dad's 89 sidekick <same thing> just broke 1 last year...screwed up the cyl head since it's an interference engine...

side note: any1 here knows of a cheap rebuilt cyl head?

so far i have put 60k on mine and the most trouble i have had is my mass air flow sensor needed cleaning although lately i have been haveing a stalling problem but i have some ideas as to what that is (egr valve)

ok this is one awesome suv! fun to drive. and i drive a mustang so if i say something is fun to drive it's gotta be.

i also got parts of the frame wirebrushed, primed and painted to try to deter rust.


here's a few pics...

http://ebay.datahost.sent.com/Tracker1.JPG
http://ebay.datahost.sent.com/Tracker3.JPG
http://ebay.datahost.sent.com/Tracker4.JPG

My mustang and the tracker...
http://ebay.datahost.sent.com/Tracker2.JPG

Ok, what is the best way to fix this? weld a piece a metal over it?
http://ebay.datahost.sent.com/Tracker5.JPG


also the soft top has some of the stitching coming undone. how do i fix this? the best thing i can think of is some sorta glue. dunno what would stick. thanx

looks very clean. i like the pic with the stang and the tracker.. i might get one sometime of my geo next to my camaro, but i have one in the intro thread of my car, the tracker and my grandpa's truck if you wanna check it out.

not bad! i like the split seats in mine for the back. now to tune it up. im still trying to find a cone filter setup if anyone know of where to get one

check your coolant hoses i just had one blow today that goes from the back of the engine to the heater i only have 134k just a helpful precaution

ok good idea... i'll check the hoses

Nice Tracker. I wish I had the 16 valve...

Nice Tracker. I wish I had the 16 valve...

thanks, i wish i had the 5 speed...

not to rub it in but i have both :)

sorry i couldnt resist that :) i do have a question though does anyone know of a good clutch cable (brand) to buy when mine broke i went after market and that one broke within a year and im afraid my other one is going to follow soon. any suggestions? also any real good parts sites for performance upgrades i checked out the ones posted a couple weeks ago but they were pretty much crap from what i saw.

sorry i couldnt resist that :) i do have a question though does anyone know of a good clutch cable (brand) to buy when mine broke i went after market and that one broke within a year and im afraid my other one is going to follow soon. any suggestions? also any real good parts sites for performance upgrades i checked out the ones posted a couple weeks ago but they were pretty much crap from what i saw.

about the clutch cable, i know what you are talking about. I broke one right after i bought it 6 years ago, then i have replaced it about every year since then. Each time i changed brand. I did find though that the first mount that holds the cable in the engine compartment is too high for aftermarkets, it kind of binds them up, Try to drop that mount down. trust me it makes a world of difference.

Ok now what i really wanted to say. You got a steel. that tracker looks great, and i would love a tracker with so few miles on it, and for only 2k. WOW. I spent 4 on mine 6 years ago, it is a 94, but the good news for all you tracker owners. I have 219000 miles on it. Yes you read that right, I have nearly a quarter of a million miles on it, and it just got off a 1900 mile move, and a 1200 mile evacuation from rita.

That shock, that is exacly how mine looks, looked like that since I bought, not any problems from it.

Have fun with it, and it will love the snow.

TTFN
geofrog

i agree and thanks for the tip :)

219000 miles? thats awesome! and it's nice to know that shock should be fine as is.

I can't wait for the snow. i've already taken it around a field, in 4x4 wen't right through all the mud. lotta fun

I have a 1993 tracker 4x4 5 speed. It has 13500 on it. It roons strong and gets about 25,26 mpg. You will be amazed at how good they are in 4x4 mode. Just be sure to get a good quality off road tire.

It has now been a year since i sold both of mine, including my black 16 valve 4x4 with 186k miles on it.
Despite the fact that it was completely rusted out for the body and frame the mechanical was in excellent condition and i truely miss it....
I have seriously thought about seeing if the person i sold it too would sell it back to me.

I had a 96 Tracker and loved it, however, these things are notorious for the front crankshaft pulley keyway worming out causing the crankshaft to be out of balance and losing lots of power. The only way to fix the problem is a new crankshaft, ask me how I know. Talked to several Tracker owners who've had the same problem. Mine had 130,000 when the problem first surfaced.