sassylady Posted May 11, 2021 Share Posted May 11, 2021 Hi there, I'm considering selling my 1994, red, w/removable black hardtop, 2 door 4x4 Tracker. I am the original owner, and it has only been driven by my elderly parents and me since 1994 (5spd manual). The speedometer stopped at 159K, but I have had it garaged since 3/2018 and have only put 2 tanks of gas in since then. I had it professionally appraised in 03/2018 at $5K for insurance reasons( have appraisal), but since the appraisal, the clear coat peeled off my hood (NO RUST), so I am guessing it is not worth as much. The heat, a/c, cruise control ( I had the dealer put it on since I bought it to go to Texas and teach there), 4x4, radio/cassette, and EVERYTHING still works on it. All the original stickers are in mint shape on it. I have the original tire cover (4x4)with original spare. It has a U-Haul hitch on it from when I towed my stuff from Texas back up to MN. The interior has no rips or stains. Dash is perfect. The only bad thing is that it now has rust on the rockers and a couple of fenders (not all). I was just curious to see if anyone would have interest in this cute, little SUV. I have not put it on the market yet. Thanks, Kristin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knyte Posted May 11, 2021 Share Posted May 11, 2021 Believe it or not, that factory hardtop & cover is a little less than 1/3 the value of the entire vehicle! The hardtop hardware is VERY sought after. Sounds like it's been kept in very good condition. $5k sounds about right based on your description. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassylady Posted May 11, 2021 Author Share Posted May 11, 2021 Thanks. I have 3 teenage boys, but none of them are interested in it since it doesn't have blue tooth and such...LOL. Only 1 learned to drive stick on it, but it was too small for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knyte Posted May 11, 2021 Share Posted May 11, 2021 That's funny! I'm 6' and I can fit better in these things than in most vehicles. I've sat in $70k Lexus SUVs and had to tilt my head to the side. I know that's now what you meant, but the ergonomics are quite good in these things. I hope you find it a good home! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassylady Posted May 11, 2021 Author Share Posted May 11, 2021 My sons are 6'2, 6'4, and 6'5....LOL Their knees practically hit, although the head height is good. I have quite the sentimental value for the Tracker, and it costs me almost nothing to keep, so that's why I don't have an ad out on it yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassylady Posted May 12, 2021 Author Share Posted May 12, 2021 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knyte Posted May 12, 2021 Share Posted May 12, 2021 Looks sharp, I like that red! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassylady Posted May 12, 2021 Author Share Posted May 12, 2021 Thank you It has no engine leaks, never has, no lights, new clutch and battery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Moses Ludel Posted May 12, 2021 Administrators Share Posted May 12, 2021 Really nice Geo Tracker, sassylady...Wouldn't surprise me if you decide to keep such an exceptional example. The hardtop, as Knyte suggests, is prized. Moses Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassylady Posted May 13, 2021 Author Share Posted May 13, 2021 Thanks Moses! It is a cute lil thing. I actually did some donuts with it in a deep snow parking lot...LOL...the 4x4 is awesome in snow. It's got the manual hubs and the 4x4 stick on the floor (I'm in MinneSNOWta). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knyte Posted May 13, 2021 Share Posted May 13, 2021 3 hours ago, sassylady said: I actually did some donuts Now that's my kind of Tracker owner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Moses Ludel Posted May 14, 2021 Administrators Share Posted May 14, 2021 Sounds like the Tracker could be a "keeper"...Used vehicle prices are spiking. Fuel prices are creeping up. The Tracker strikes a balance for tractability and fuel savings. The vehicle is sturdy, easy to drive and simpler to service and maintain. What kind of fuel mileage does your Tracker get? The gasoline powered Jeep® 4x4s are certainly not fuel efficient. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassylady Posted May 17, 2021 Author Share Posted May 17, 2021 Knyte - my first SUV was a 1970 International Scout - it went off road with me...it did with my brother too.....door high in mud...LOL.. My dad used it for hunting pheasants with my brother - I tend to like off-road stuff..... Moses - my Tracker gets 23-28 mpg. It is super easy to maintain! I just don't use it much, so that is why I go back and forth on it. Someone could even put a plow on the front and use it for their driveway here in MN. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Moses Ludel Posted May 17, 2021 Administrators Share Posted May 17, 2021 That kind of mileage is closer to the diesel-powered Jeep KJ Liberty. A 4.0L Jeep Wrangler gets 13-17 mpg. We are lucky to get 16 mpg on the interstate with our XJ Cherokee (partly due to the chassis lift and weighty accessories). The Tracker offers far more utility than an AWD passenger car. A winch or the snow plow you mention are not options for a passenger car or CUV. By design, the Tracker/Sidekick is built like a scaled down 4x4 truck. Suzuki had considerable experience with the Samurai plus exposure to GM's compact and light truck designs. If you decide to sell the Tracker, there will be ready buyers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassylady Posted May 18, 2021 Author Share Posted May 18, 2021 Thanks for the info! I'm still on the fence about selling since it is cheap to have. If I did decide to sell, do you have any ideas where I would post it? There's always Craigslist, Autotrader, Cars.com, Cargurus, and such, but this is kind of a unique little SUV. Sidenote - my dad had a little '84 Sukuzi Samurai that was just a beast. It was a lighter green/blue. I think it lasted up through like 30 years! He gave it to a friend, and I don't know if it is still alive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Moses Ludel Posted May 18, 2021 Administrators Share Posted May 18, 2021 sassylady...Looking for vehicles of various sorts recently, I found that each of the commercial sites you mention reflect higher prices. Craigslist's private ads do not drill down into the history of a vehicle by its VIN. At Craigslist, even though one can often find "buys", the word of the seller can come into question. If you try Craigslist, back up your assertions with a CarFax report. This is always a selling tool for a vehicle with a pristine history, no accidents and few owners. Yes, you do have a "unique little SUV". The appreciative buyer will know the Tracker model, value the hardtop like Knyte mentions, prefer a manual transmission and like the ownership history. Consider eBay Motors if you can put up with cross-country buyers, the delivery logistics and giving eBay a commission. Classic and one-off vehicles often reach grossly inflated purchase bids at eBay. "Bring a Trailer" online has also become a prominent method for maximizing return on one-off and exceptional, niche vehicles. I would consider a pristine 1994 Tracker 4x4 a niche vehicle. Moses Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassylady Posted May 19, 2021 Author Share Posted May 19, 2021 Thank you very much for your information. I have never sold a vehicle personally. I let my parents have my Tracker when I got pregnant with twins and had nowhere to put them (and my 19 month old); the Tracker was a bit small for 3 car seats...hahaha. They drove it from 2001-2018 when they gave it back to me since they were giving up driving all together, plus they knew my boys were finally old enough to drive it. I still go back and forth on selling. I do live in Minnesota, and we do get LOTS of snow. It's my emergency back-up vehicle at the moment because I have 2 AWDs. I appreciate your insight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Moses Ludel Posted May 19, 2021 Administrators Share Posted May 19, 2021 sassylady...Wash the salt off the frame and fender wells, and the Tracker should last forever! We bought a pressure washer (3100 PSI) from Harbor Freight that does a spectacular job washing Nevada's highway and interstate salt brine off our prized vehicles' chassis. Nevada was a rust-free desert climate—until the last decade. Cheap and expedient, sodium chloride has become the national de-icer of choice and a blight to vehicles. You have a light SUV/4x4 worth keeping and maintaining. Your sons are the perfect height for swinging a pressure wand beneath your vehicles in the winter... Moses Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassylady Posted May 20, 2021 Author Share Posted May 20, 2021 Good idea Moses! Thank you! That really stinks about them switching to sodium chloride.....ugg... My dad used to say, "Do you hear that? That is the sound of salt eating your car. Wash your car.".....LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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