Good morning! For our Friday showdown this week, we’re just going to take it easy and look at a pair of reliable little hop-in-and-go fun machines. Doesn’t that sound nice? I thought so.
I apologize for the Beach Boys earworm yesterday; if it’s any consolation, it got stuck in my head too. We looked at a nice old Grandpa truck, and a clean BMW roadster with the wrong transmission. As I figured, the truck won easily. It’s funny; even folks who don’t typically like trucks can appreciate those old “single cab with all the options” trucks. It’s just such an honest, wholesome machine. Grandpa knew what he was talking about.
As for me? Of course I’d choose the truck. I have no real interest in any BMW built after the late 80s, and I wouldn’t even consider one with an automatic. I have no need for another GMT400 either, but if those were my choices, it’s an easy one.
Like many of the other writers here, I’m a pretty accomplished mechanic. I enjoy the satisfaction of diagnosing what’s wrong with a car, figuring out how to fix it, and taking that first drive after everything is sorted out. But there are times, when I’m in the middle of trying to fix a particularly irksome problem – as I am with two different vehicles right now – that I can’t help wishing for something that just plain works. Something I could just hop in and go bombing down a country road for a while and clear the cobwebs out of my head. Something like one of these two, for instance.
1993 Mazda MX-5 Miata – $5,999
Engine/drivetrain: 1.6-liter DOHC inline 4, five-speed manual, RWD
Location: Newark, CA
Odometer reading: 145,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
The term “instant classic” is sometimes overused, but if there ever was a car that deserved it, it’s the Mazda Miata. Ever since we first saw this thing in 1989, small sports car enthusiasts have been in love, and even though it’s still going strong in its fourth generation, it’s these early NA-chassis ones that still capture our imagination. You either have one, used to have one, or always wanted one. I’m in the “used to have one” category, and honestly, I wouldn’t mind another someday. If you’ve never driven one, all I can tell you is: Yes, it’s as good as everyone says. Maybe even better.
For the first few years, the Miata was powered by Mazda’s B6ZE four cylinder, making only 115 horsepower. But it’s a lightweight car, and it’s geared low, so it’s plenty. Behind that little twin-cam engine is a five-speed manual that has to be felt to be believed. This one is in good mechanical condition, though it’s being sold by a dealer, so we don’t know its history. It did just pass a smog test, which is a good sign.
This is quite a bit fancier than my Miata was. It’s got power windows and cruise control and leather seats with the speakers in the headrests. One thing I don’t think it has is air conditioning; the button for it is in the center of the fan control knob, and I don’t see it. It’s in decent shape, though one seam on the driver’s seat has come apart. The round air vents in the dash look like they’re drooping, which is a common problem, and like nearly everything else on this car, there’s a well-documented fix.
Outside, it’s presentable, but far from perfect. The paint on the nose is a bit dull, the rear window stitching has come undone (also a common problem), and no one has cleaned the brake dust off the wheels in ages. But you can’t see any of that from the driver’s seat, with the top down and a nice two-lane road in front of you.
1999 Chevrolet Tracker – $5,300
Engine/drivetrain: 1.6-liter OHC inline 4, five-speed manual, 4WD
Location: Myrtle Creek, OR
Odometer reading: 152,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
Little sports cars like the Miata have been a fixture on American roads for decades, but so have some much larger vehicles: RVs. These vacation-homes-on-wheels can be seen plying the Interstate all across the country, often with a smaller vehicle in tow, like a dinghy on a yacht. The Chevy (formerly Geo) Tracker and the Suzuki Vitara (formerly Sidekick) seem almost tailor-made for this duty: they’re small, lightweight, and 4WD with a traditional two-speed transfer case with a neutral gear. Pop the transfer case in neutral, and it will roll right along behind a big RV with no problem at all.
When it does move under its own power, the Tracker is powered by a 1.6 liter engine courtesy of Suzuki. It’s not a lot of power, but you’re not racing anybody in this thing anyway. The transmission in this one is a five-speed manual, but since the transfer case disengages the whole drivetrain from the transmission, automatic Trackers can be towed behind an RV too, which adds to their appeal. It runs and drives well, the seller says, and it has new tires.
The second-generation Tracker got fancier and more car-like inside; the original was pretty utilitarian. It still has crank windows and manual locks, though. It’s in good condition, as far as I can tell, and it’s got cool seat fabric. Fun patterns like this need to make a comeback, especially in small fun cars like this. Oh wait – we don’t have those anymore. Never mind.
It looks clean outside, but I’m a little confused about why the bump strips on both doors are missing. Did they fall off? Were they removed intentionally for some reason? And either way, why not remove the short pieces in front of and behind the doors as well? It’s very confusing. The tow bar for the RV is still attached to the front, but if you aren’t going to use it, you could probably sell it and recoup some of the purchase price.
These two both look like a lot of fun to me, without a lot of stress. They’re both known to be reliable and low maintenance, and neither one needs anything but a little cosmetic tinkering at the moment. Which, considering the ordeals I’ve been through with my own projects recently, sounds nice. I’d be happy to take either one for a spin on a nice Saturday afternoon, but which one appeals to you?
I’ve wanted a Tracker since I was a kiddo. I also don’t fit in Miatas
That might be the nicest Tracker left in the US. I’m taking that, I can get a great Miata a lot easier than a Tracker in that condition!
Almost but not quite on topic, I saw a Suzuki Cappuccino at a kei car meetup last night, and now I must have one. Pound-for-pound it’s more Miata than the Miata.
No wrong answers today. I don’t fit in Miatas, but I’d love to tool around in that Tracker.
One day I was driving down a back road and came across a Ferrari Superfast. I thought to myself. Wow those two people don’t look like they are having any fun at all.
A mile down the road I saw a NA Miata and the two people inside looked like they were having the time of there lives.
Just goes to show you don’t have to be going superfast to have fun. Since this is suppose to be a fun car. I’ll select the Miata.
Come to think about it. That Tracker reminds me a lot of my friends old Suzuki Samurai. Which was tonnes of fun off road.
why not both day? I chose the Miata but it was a close one in my head, I’ve always wanted one of each lol
Agree. Today is a both day.
I have a Miata so am voting Tracker. And like someone else said, it’s a lot easier to find a good Miata than a good Tracker.
Miata would require I buy lower seats just to in fit.
And that Tracker is just so adorable.
I want both, but chose the Miata because of the ease of putting the top down:
Miata: 1.7 seconds
Tracker: 11 minutes
Picked the Tracker. Much harder to find a Tracker. You can find a Miata everywhere.
The Miata is way overpriced for the miles and condition–has anyone cleaned those wheels since 1994? And what does that level of neglect suggest about mechanical maintenance? Still, any non-rusty Miata beats any Tracker when the prices are this close.
Today is THE day for both. Always have wanted a Miata. The one at the right price and location for me just never landed for me. I’ve owned a Tracker. It handled better on and off road than any of my jeeps, and gets a solid 35 MPG at 75 all day long. Just such a fun run about.
Screwed up. Didn’t mean to respond to your comment. My bad.
A NA that isn’t thrashed to crap with reasonable miles for $6K? Even accounting for my extreme bias, this feels like an easy choice.
Neither seems to have a button for an air conditioner, so I guess they’re even that way. They’re both very tempting cars and it’s a hard choice – right now I’m picking the Tracker because it’s slightly less money and it’s big enough for a single guy Costco run, but I could easily change my mind by the time I scroll up to vote.
I voted for the Tracker. I haven’t seen one this nice in decades. Come to think of it, I’m not sure I’ve seen one of these at all in many years. I also like that it is unmodified. I genuinely want to buy this thing.
The Miata is also nice (particularly for the price), but, as I have ranted before, I despise pop-up headlights. That is a deal breaker for me.
I used to have an NB, would find the room for another one.
Put this one squarely in the “both” category. But if I have to pick one, its the Tracker. I already have two Miatas in the family, so I’ll be fair and let someone else experience the joy.
I’ve always thought a Tracker/Sidekick would be fun (I got to drive a few Tracker’s at a dealership I worked at in 91-92). But if the Miata is in running condition, it’s a no-brainer.
I almost thought that was identical to my Miata, but this is actually a pretty bizarrely optioned car. It’s got the black/tan leather combo, but no AC and no MSSS1 stereo. I see the headrest speakers, but I wonder if the seats have the transducers? I’m guessing no. Either way, it’s an interesting Miata and I am physically unable to vote against it.
Does the Tracker’s odometer run while it’s being towed? ‘Cuz it looks a lot nicer than the miles it has.
Had to vote for the Miata. I’ve already owned a 2003 Tracker 4wd with a 5-speed.
I liked it, but I’ve moved on. The wife has an MGB, so we don’t really need another convertible. Both of them would be fun, but Miata Is Always The Answer, right?
The only new car I’ve ever bought for me was a 1995 Geo Tracker. It was probably the best vehicle I’ve ever owned in terms of all around fun, reliability, cost to own and operate, etc. I’d LOVE to have another one, and that one looks like it would be a great candidate!
tough tough tough!
Miata today, but who knows about tomorrow?
Oh man, I’ll take that Tracker all day and twice on Sundays.
I’ve been actively shopping them, as it’s a rare case of the Venn Diagram of “what my wife likes” and “Fun summer vehicle” overlapping into a perfect circle.
I want my little one to experience top-down summer fun, and my wife used to ride around in one of them with her friends. As such, she has a lot of love for these machines.
Buy it!
I’m on the opposite side of the continent and you’d have to kidnap me to get me to enter the states right now. Maybe I can find one equally as nice in BC and drive it home.
Gotcha. I wouldn’t come here either if I was Canadian.
I’ll take the C Package Miata – Air Conditioning was optional on all Miatas in those years, and headrest speakers were in package A and up.
Incoming blowout.