I’m showing my age by saying that whenever I hear the word sidekick, I think of Ed McMahon. Everyone under 40 (50?) just fell asleep, but hopefully a few of you know who I’m talking about. This 1989 Suzuki Sidekick is posted here on craigslist in the Ukiah, California area and they’re asking $4,800. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Pat L. for sending in this tip! This one won’t last long at that price.
I’m not sure how Suzuki came up with the name Sidekick for North American versions of the Vitara, or Escudo, as the line of Vitara SUVs was known in most other markets. They were a partnership between Suzuki and GM at the time and 1989 was the first year they were available in North America, entering the market in late 1988. At under 12 feet in length, they’re almost small enough to sit on a couch (obscure Ed McHahon sidekick joke) (tough crowd).
I find it hard to believe that Suzuki could never make it in the U.S. as far as their four-wheel vehicles went. We all know about their motorcycles and they even made great snowmobiles at one time, but they kept trying to be a player in this huge market and could never pull it off. They make great vehicles, is it the name? People couldn’t take a “motorcycle company” seriously when it came time to spend money on a car or SUV. It makes no sense, people buy Honda cars and trucks, so why not Suzuki? Maybe Carnac the Magnificent would know (enough with the obscure Johnny Carson/Ed McMahon references!).
The interior looks as nice as the exterior does. You probably noticed some fading or wear on the graphics on the exterior, and the interior looks nice but also not perfect. For a 33-year-old vehicle, what’dya want, perfection for $4,800? It has a five-speed manual transmission ahead of the transfer case selector. This one has a new clutch, as well as a new top, a new timing belt, and new carpet. This is looking like a really good deal.
Sadly, the seller didn’t include an engine photo, which is hopefully a 2022 thing and will totally change in 2023 with every seller including engine photos! (crickets) This one should have Suzuki’s 1.6-liter SOHC inline-four cylinder with 80 horsepower. It has no leaks anywhere and it’s running great. This is a two-owner vehicle and it has had a lot of work done to keep it maintained. It has no rust and has always been garaged when not in use. This looks like a good deal to me, even with 154,000 miles and being over three decades old. These little Suzuki 4x4s are getting to be hot sellers, have any of you owned one?
Since Ukiah is inland,rust isn’t really a problem there.
I’d imagine this should be gone soon,as most of them are
pretty used up.
When I think of Ed McMahon I think Phil Hartman playing him on Saturday Night Live with Dana Carvey playing Carson. “YES MASTER”!! Anyway, I don’t really think of Suzuki Sidekicks anymore, looks clean though.
Aside from Hartmans voices on the Simpsons, he was the most talented one. His rendition of Frank Sinatra was priceless. In case some may not know, his jealous soon to be ex-wife, killed him and herself in front of their 2 small children.
Hey-Yoooooooooo!!!!!!
Ah so, ( pardon the Asian slur) Sidekick, like Samurai, Asian names depicting strong adversaries, Americans were not impressed. Didn’t have the zing of Bronco or Blazer. Still, they were very popular. The author didn’t mention, the Geo Tracker that was this vehicles twin. The “cracker lady” who stocks Nabisco products at Walmart( hotter than a pepper sprout, btw) has a Tracker, they are certainly no Samurai, an image that almost ruined the Suzuki name. Geo was much more pleasing, and were okay vehicles. The “cracker lady” sure thinks so. My nephew had a VT7, he had to remove the entire front grill to replace a headlight bulb. He liked the car itself, however.
The Vitara was the 4-door model.
Wasn’t it Consumer reports or similar that was bought off by the big 3 lobby groups to claim these were unsafe and killed sales? Thought I remember reading that.
I’m pretty sure this vehicle along with the small Broncos were known to rollover when they encountered an steep incline. The width of the wheelbase was too narrow.
They were deemed unsafe.
These are not rare. They are still being made and sold. They were and are still very popular. They can be imported from Asia and Canada as long as they are 25 years old. They will usually have lower miles and less wear and tear. They will be RHD. You can check them out as well as everything else you didn’t know that existed @ http://www.carfromjapan.com
1988 was when everybody was tired of under powered vehicles, I lived it & even then kids like me hunted muscle cars in earnest! The problem was I was not making the dough then to buy the 20 grand Superbird at the local gas station it was a terrible time back then & tired of Chevy citations & I should have been issued a citation for driving it & it was my girlfriends ! This was when people started getting mustangs ( hello foxbody) muscle was just coming back I remember my boss showing me his SVO & snickering (bad move)but I craved a V8 & had a 1977 trans am that I did every possible modification that i could afford & do myself drilled the shaker, headers, pull the heads put a mild cam in it & was pretty happy until the kid who had a nice chevelle LS6 rained on my parade! the chase for horsepower never died. I had a Suzuki motorcycle as guys my age in florda had figured out a fast motorcyle was the way to go! & could afford the gas but a Suzuki car 4 cylinder? No way! It just didn’t click in guys my age! I was ground zero for this!
These and the samurai were such a pos that NY state wouldnt insure them. 154,000 miles?? Run Forrest Run. Underpowered and dangerous?? Whats not to love??
Happy new year
Cheers
GPC
To answer your question NO this is NOT the nicest one left. My neighbor has one with only about 45k miles on it and he keeps it in his garage
Heeeeere’s Johnny!
I have a Tracker, 1998 I believe. No rust, really good shape. Sat in the desert out here for a decade or so. Just bought it. Tune up, fresh oil, gas, and filters. Started right up. But it has a leaky rear main seal and according to You Tube I have to pull the engine to replace it. But it does have only 20,000 miles on it.
Looks like it would ‘flip over’ on severely curved roads. S curve interstates
in windy conditions as well.
So I’ll take a pass.
Owned a Vitara with an automatic. Nice car just not enough power. Gave it to our granddaughter as it was perfectly suited for a young, new driver. HOWEVER, then bought the Chevy Tracker with the 5 speed and love that little guy. Enough power and tows behind the motorhome with no problems. They were never advertised as a sports car that are great for quick turns or 0 to 60 times. But do very well as versatile commuters and moderate off-roading. With a little modification, will go anywhere other 4-wheel drives go. Not for everyone but don’t knock it till you try it.
Grew up in a family in Canada that loved spring trout fishing as the ice was melting on lakes. These were amazing for us as we went into lakes on old logging roads that hadn’t been used in 50 years. As the frost came out of the ground these were able float over and get through where larger trucks just sunk. They have there faults but to us we could go 100 or more miles into the Quebec Backcountry and fish lakes very few even new about.
It’s gone, which one of you grabbed it? That was a good deal.