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Driving Impressions
We got some surprises here. Good ones. We weren't surprised that our Tracker 4x4 Convertible handled well in traffic situations. It is high on maneuverability. You can see all four corners of the vehicle easily. Parking and close-quarter handling were ideal. The 1.6-liter single-overhead-cam, multi-port fuel-injected four puts out 95 hp. Applied through the five-speed manual, it had good acceleration and passing ability. Like most small engines, it tended to run out of steam at speeds above 60 mph.Handling was superb, with power steering, wide stance and the tried-and-true suspension combination of front MacPherson struts and rear coil springs with a solid rear axle. The brakes were front discs and rear drums with an anti-locking system in the rear. They performed well, with little fade. One complaint is the rather small brake pedal-in fact, all three pedals seemed too small. A rain storm enabled us to put the Geo Tracker 4x4 Convertible through some seriously muddy ruts on our off-road course. We locked the manual front hubs, shifted the transfer case into 4WD low and took off. It was a blast. The Tracker powered through the muck and mire with ease. There was jouncing and bouncing, but no more than we expected. In fact, a lot less than we expected. The Tracker seemed to float over a lot of the mess. We tried our hill climb slope in the rain and the Tracker handled it with no problem. We shifted the transfer case to 4WD high and tried a slippery two-track. No problem here, either. We suspect our modest off-road course wasn't much of a test and that really adverse conditions might daunt the Tracker. Naturally with the rain, we had the top up. We expected some loud wind and rain noise. Instead, we were surprised that it was so calm inside. Later, on a sunny day, we put the top down and enjoyed the outdoors. We found putting the top up and down very manageable--we accomplished it every time without scrapes, bumps or torn fingernails. Top-down travel in a Geo Tracker 4x4 Convertible, especially off-road, tends to make one giddy. We had all the fun we expected and more. Lest we lose all semblance of objectivity we must admit this is not a vehicle we would want to live with in the wilds for long periods, but it sure makes the occasional off-road jaunt fun.
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