Printable View
Trackers and samurais are fairly miserable on the road though. An absolutely insane amount of wind noise above 40 (at least on the samurai). I loved mine, but I'd never pay more than 5k for one unless it's completely swapped out with a better engine, axles etc.
As someone pointed out, the point is that they were cheap, as there's effectively no soundproofing or, well anything. Everything is cheap metal.
I had a 1960 Willys that I did a lap of the country in so I know all about the noise ;) I would try to find one with a hardtop and if that didn't happen the removable ones are out there. I think a Fit would still probably be more appropriate for the current need but knowing myself...
Fit is perfect. The hardtops were rare 20 years ago so I wouldn't count on finding one.
A Tracker does not seem like the best choice for a dependable daily driver. Having one to bash around in would be hella fun. And it would need to be driven frequently to keep it limber. Get a Fit. Or a Versa. The Fit is nicer and better in every way.
Just the 10-15 year age difference is enough for me to go with a Fit. Versa and most of the other mini options are off the table, I'm so sick of shitty auto trannies and won't get another cvt ever. Unfortunately there's a Fit tax similar to the Toyota tax, 175-200k and they're going for over $10k :nonono2:
Well that’s sobering.Quote:
Originally Posted by gravitylover
Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums
Up here the body rusts on the Versa before the transmission goes out. At least that was our experience on the 2007 we bought in 2015-2016 ish for my FIL. We had to junk it in 2022 because the floor was mostly gone. However, we don't drive as many miles as you do.Quote:
Originally Posted by gravitylover
$10K+ for a 200,000 mile Fit?
Has the world lost its fucking mind?
Yes.Quote:
Originally Posted by BmillsSkier
Absolutely. These things are complete tin cans. That is their purpose. They thrive to this day in the jungles of SE Asia. They SUUUUUUUUCK on the highway. I would hate to DD one. But for #FARMLYFE, they are freaking amazing. When putting around the property, I rarely make it past 2nd gear. It's used to haul feed, chainsaws, etc. and a trailer I toss wood onto.Quote:
Originally Posted by schuss
This. They ARE hella fun. Even with its like 50 gerbil power, that's more than adequate for my use case.Quote:
Originally Posted by riser4
Yes. Yes it has. The Toyota/Honda tax is real, my friend. Guess I'll stick with aging European cars.Quote:
Originally Posted by BmillsSkier
Meh. I don't need all that fancy tekmology. With the '87, if it were to ever act up, you could probably whack the engine with a hammer and that would fix it. Thing cranks right up every time tho! The tiny little engine could probably be pulled out by hand. Motor seems downright archaic, like 50s era simplicity, which is also part of what makes it so wonderful. Everything is SO ridiculously easy to work on in there. Almost like an old Beetle or something.Quote:
Originally Posted by m2711c
GL, why don't you check out that CTS4 wagon I posted? Seller sent me pics of the undercarriage and it seems like it's in great shape. Car only has like 46K on it. Helluva lot nicer and CHEAPER than that old Tracker. LOL
https://www.autotrader.com/marketpla...DG8EG6A0131150
For a daily driver, I'd definitely say go for the newer car. I know you said you're used to road noise but, the sound deading is nice to have. Driving a 99 Integra and I can hear EVERYTHING.Quote:
Originally Posted by gravitylover
There are some pretty important parts for that car that are unobtanium now, try finding a front bumper cover or rear side glass. There's a few things under the hood too that gets people to do full swaps rather than fight to repair it. It's also more than I want to spend right now.Quote:
Originally Posted by MontuckyFried
Exactly. Farm truck. Basically a side by side, but road legal, maybe, if it ain't rusted to shit. I'm; n the 802 and everything rusts, even if it contains zero Fe.Quote:
Originally Posted by MontuckyFried
Bingo. It's road legal so good enough to (slowly) roll into town for supplies or whatever. That's the advantage it has over a side by side or ATV. And way cheaper. Well it SHOULD be at least. Bonus: it has a radio and a heater! Farm/off-road/beach use = Rad. Highway daily driving = Hell naw.Quote:
Originally Posted by riser4
Always fun having the top off, radio on, doggo in the back, ice cold beerz in hand (on the property only), doing whatever I wanna. You can completely act the fool in these things. Instantly time warp you back to the 80s when we were more reckless with our recreation, like those Honda 3 wheelers. Good times. Good times.
If a wagon suits gravitylover's needs currently, and reliability is important, why not the first gen Toyota Venza? A Camry wagon, basically.
There is a time when reliability is more important than fun to drive. How fun is broken?
Aww. That sucks. Still worth it if one had a V, but holy balls they've like tripled in value (w/ 6MT) since I was actually looking into them way back when. FML. :(Quote:
Originally Posted by gravitylover
Good call. Venzas are great. Can't beat Camry reliability! However, I wonder how much they succumb to used Toyota premiums?Quote:
Originally Posted by El Chupacabra
For us or him?Quote:
Originally Posted by El Chupacabra
There are two distinct camps in this thread.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ted Striker
Gerbils are the tracker 1.6 big block, samurai just has mice in the 1.3 sewing machine.Quote:
Originally Posted by MontuckyFried
You can do a lot with them even stock. If you get your hands on some yota axles you can make them indestructible with a hi-steer and rewelding the perches to correct the camber. Then you shackle reverse with YJ springs and it can run 35s with some fender cutting.
Pro tip: replace the transfer case mounts with hockey picks and a thru bolt. Stock ones are junk
Back in the early 2000's my hunting buddy had a beater samurai for his hunting rig. He'd hook it up behind his truck/camper and you couldn't even tell it was back there driving down the road. Cost $2500 and went anywhere a side by side would for about $8,000 less. It had a dummy hand grenade for the shifter knob, and was fucking awesome.
youse guys is fuckin’ nuts… tracker ain’t a daily driver? huh? been daily drivin’ one for the past 20 years.
Attachment 467304
Attachment 467313
was drivin’ 250 miles goddamned a day to run night shift at court street damn for 4 years. still doin’ 110 a day round trip in tracker style right now.
Attachment 467308
tracker don’t compare to jeep at all… jeep handles like shit. fucking tracker rallies. got the wheels all the way out at the corner like old style mini cooper. cruise the thruway turnin’ 3800 rpm at 75 easy peasy… fucker can do that for hours on end in 4wd over yer steep passes and through yer deep powders to get to teh choicest of slopesides parkin’ afore the gaper hoards….
Attachment 467309
Attachment 467310
Attachment 467311
Attachment 467312
fuckin’ fact.
Attachment 467314Quote:
Originally Posted by m2711c