It is almost inevitable that SUVs will incur physical damage during off-road adventures. Panel damage is common, while interiors suffer at the hands of mud and other icky substances. However, this 1994 Geo Tracker is a dazzling exception to those rules. It presents superbly, and with only 70,000 miles on the clock, it should offer its new owner years of motoring fun. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Curvette for spotting the Tracker listed here on Craigslist in Spokane, Washington. The seller set their price at $13,500 for this turnkey classic.
Introduced in 1988 for the 1989 model year, the First Generation Geo Tracker was a joint venture between Suzuki and General Motors of Canada. Early examples were built in Japan, while full production commenced in Canada in late 1989. This 1994 example is an absolute gem that rolled off the line wearing vibrant Bright Red. It has led a sheltered life, clocking most of its miles hooked to the back of an RV. The lack of cosmetic imperfections indicates that it hasn’t ventured into the wilderness often. The original paint holds a beautiful shine, and the panels are laser-straight. The decals look crisp, with no checking or other shortcomings. Although the seller doesn’t supply any underside shots, I see no evidence of rust that could spoil the ownership experience. The trim and glass are in good condition, as are the wheels.
I admit that if one aspect of this Tracker truly impresses me, it is the interior. Cloth trim and carpet often suffer when the going gets muddy, but this Tracker is almost perfect. The driver’s seat outer edge exhibits very slight wear, but there is no evidence of developing holes. The remaining upholstered surfaces are immaculate, and with a back seat, this gem could take four people deep into the wilderness. The carpet is spotless, and the dash isn’t cracked or damaged. I can’t spot any aftermarket additions, and it is worth noting that this Geo isn’t lavishly equipped. The buyer receives cloth trim and an AM/FM radio/cassette player. There is no air conditioning, but the heater works perfectly.
The Geo Tracker isn’t a big, heavy vehicle, which means that it never required mountains of power to provide respectable performance. This beauty features Suzuki’s 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 80hp and 94 ft/lbs of torque. The power reaches Planet Earth via a five-speed manual transmission and a dual-range transfer case. The engine’s specifications don’t sound startling, but the reason these cars proved so effective was their low-end torque delivery. The four is remarkably flexible, allowing the Tracker to clamber over harsh territory with the motor barely ticking over. The odometer shows 70,000 miles, but the seller states that most of those were clocked with the Tracker hooked to the back of an RV. They say that it runs and drives perfectly, and is a turnkey proposition for its new owner.
This 1994 Geo Tracker has led a sheltered life, and its overall condition reflects that fact. The Tracker is a surprise packet because, despite its size, it is an accomplished off-roader capable of reaching locations beyond the reach of larger vehicles of the same type. This 1994 example is only the eleventh Tracker we have seen at Barn Finds, and I would stick my neck out and say it is also the best. The seller’s price is at the top end of the market, but the condition justifies it. If delving into the wilderness appeals, would this Geo Tracker be the vehicle you would choose?
If this little rig had AC, it would be perfect. That upholstery is rad.
If it had ac I’d be interested also. South Fl to hot for no ac
I didn’t think a lot of these when they came out. But nowadays, I really appreciate them. That driver’s seat is about the only negative on this.
I was just thinking that, LOL! I thought these and the Samurai were ridiculous vehicles that college girls drove back when they were new. Today, I appreciate them. Off road capable, easy to park, decent fuel economy. If I had more room and didn’t already have an off road vehicle, I’d be seriously tempted here.
I had a Samurai, one of these Trackers and the later style Chevy Tracker and they were all rock solid reliable and fun to drive.
These are neat little vehicles that do well both on- and off-road. IMO, every Suzuki product larger than the Samurai is worth a close look.
My only question would be how it was towed behind the RV. One hopes the owner at least popped the transfer case into “neutral.” It does need air conditioning, though. Shouldn’t be the worst job in the world to install.
I once had a drive in a Tracker that GM engineers somehow shoehorned a hot-rodded Buick V6 into. The thing was scary fast. I loved it.
This is too nice a Tracker to mess with. $13K seems a little high, but these days, maybe it isn’t.
I was at an auction recently, not looking to purchase anything in particular and a super nice one of these with 200,000 miles sold for $3100. I knew it was a good deal but I didn’t really need it.
I like it but not enough to drop $13,k on it. I wonder how many miles it spent pushing the motorhome
I had a 2000 Tracker 4 door same red as this. It was great. I still miss it. Salt seriously did the frame in. I think it only had 160000 miles on it. I still had the original clutch, water pump etc. It didnt owe me a dime.
32 years and 0 depreciation – not bad.
Of course, $13,500 in ’94 dollars is well over 30K in 2026 dollars.
Still cheaper than a side by side.
Yeah , no A.C. kills it . Even if it were $500 it would be too much.
I bought my ’94 Tracker convertible new and drove it for six years with virtually no issues at all. The 4×4 system is primitive, but it worked great in the snow where I live. I had the dealer install A/C when I bought it and did not regret that. We drove that thing all over the country trouble-free. It was my introduction to well-engineered Suzukis. I’ve been driving my ’93 GEO Metro convertible now for 25 years.
Like Michael Gregory says, A/C was a dealer installed option on many of these import vehicles in the 80’s into the 90’s. I’m not sure why the no A/C complainers seem to forget this. Most cars didn’t have it back then, even into the early 90’s.
“Because A/C was an available add-on rather than a strict factory build, many Trackers rolled off the assembly line without it. However, installing an aftermarket kit or a full salvage system is a common project for owners looking to add A/C to a non-A/C Tracker.”
sheltered alright.
Last yr we turboed one, brought in 5-speed, more
– maintenance/repairs (inc frame). Round here the p/u
truckers always seek them out when gas prices top (along
w/the 3 cyl ones – sprint/metro.) We even have a Sami (I like
the tin top) that’s solid axel swapped, bigger motor’n rear end)
that comes in for restoration.
This one’s definitely in the top rating for the ’90s small off roaders
& in THIS condition should get snapped up bya aficionado. Not pricin
them but this is a rather hopeful start, no?
Love to have this on the BC coast. Perfect vehicle for 4wd sightseeing on all the logging roads..
No ac no problem up here. 🌦