Chevrolet Tracker hard or soft top wagon gains new substance
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
|
BURNT FLATS, Calif. -- The steep and rutted path out of Devil's Hole, a sink on barren eastern slopes of the San Bernardino Mountains overlooking California's Mojave Desert, consists mainly of packed sand and loose gravel which sets up a slippery surface not conducive to secure traction by motorized traffic.
You could probably climb out on foot, perhaps using hands on occasions to claw through sand to improve grip on severe grades, but you'd risk a dangerous tumble, not to mention encounters with desert critters like the rattlesnakes spied on this four-wheeling foray.
Better to remain in the vehicle and instead of flesh risk bumpers, tires and gears of the machinery at hand.
Besides, the point of this trek -- a long loop down to sandy desert from a lofty perch in alpine forests at Lake Arrowhead -- should be to experiment with traction capacity of several small sport-utility vehicles.
The newest one, Chevrolet's revamped Tracker, happens to be the wheels of the moment, and the one needed to climb out of Devil's Hole.
This specific Tracker, a prototype of the 2-door subcompact sport-utility convertible which joins a 4-door wagon variation in expanded new designs for 1999, stocks a 2-speed transfer case for the 4-wheel-drive system, with shift-on-the-fly convenience due to new automatic locking front hubs.
Tracker's base engine for the soft top, with four cylinders aboard and a single cam mounted on top, only generates 97 horsepower but aluminum in block and cylinder heads compensate for modest power by paring excess weight. The plant produces more than adequate torque in low range and thus far has managed to keep four all-season radials rolling steadily through desert debris.
Tracker also runs well on dry pavement, of course, and it tackles rain-slick or snow-covered streets confidently.
At the moment, though, it must scale that slope.
So shift into low range of 4-wheel-drive, drop the manual stick into first gear, then get a good grip on the steering wheel while easing off clutch and adding some throttle. Gears mesh, the little engine hums and tires spew sand in the path as Tracker slithers up the hill, skirting several serious depressions and bumping over embedded granite impediments along the way.
On top of the grade at last, Tracker makes all of the slip-sliding work seem easy, despite the teeny engine.
It also handles rocky obstacles with confidence -- and exhibits an agility not found in several car-based competitors, which lack a low range in 4-wheel-drive for crawling over rough stuff.
These new generational editions, wider in track and longer in form, contain more refined mechanical components and more comfortable appointments than predecessor Trackers.
In effect, they ride better and handle with a certain sophistication not evident in previous issues, yet Chevrolet somehow manages to hold the line on prices this year so Tracker remains squarely pegged in the affordable column.
As Chevrolet's midget sport-utility, Tracker comes together in Canada through a joint agreement between General Motors and Suzuki of Japan. Editions for 2-door open-top Tracker and the more powerful 4-door wagon compare essentially to Suzuki's 2-door and 4-door wagons, although Chevy's designers through exterior cladding skews Tracker in unique stance with its own hunky appearance package.
Why pick an eensy-weensy sport-ute like Tracker?
Perhaps the most important consideration would be the constraints of a tight budget. Trackers in new mode for 1999 carry sticker figures which fall well below the average price of an automobile today -- especially one equipped with expense-loading mechanisms like a 4-wheel-drive system.
Beyond the factor of pricing, another reason to pick a mini-wagon like this may be found in lifestyles of drivers.
When properly rigged, Tracker can haul a light trailer and with hardtop for more cargo serve as an able weekend warrior to take you places a conventional car cannot go.
Besides, Tracker looks rugged and serious, whether as convertible or hardtop.
Strength for Tracker begins with a sturdy steel frame which stretches to the length of the vehicle and employs ladder-type cross members which resist twisting to stabilize the platform when navigating through off-road terrain.
Adding malleable suspension components like the front MacPherson-type struts and a rigid rear axle of 5-link design with lower and upper trailing arms plus large 15-inch wheels and tires create an impressive vertical ground clearance of eight inches to avoid obstacles like rocks, stumps and bumps.
Tracker's 2-speed transfer case, available for both hardtop and convertible, splits engine torque and applies it intelligently to front and rear wheels to prevent slippage.
Both variations pack a power-assisted steering system -- improved now with rack and pinion design -- and both have power assisted brakes with front discs.
The hardtop has a stronger engine, but it's optional for soft top. The twin-cam 2.0-liter four runs to 127 hp.
For safety, Tracker gets dual airbags to shield front seat riders from frontal crashes. A steel frame forms a protective safety cage around the passenger compartment, with front and rear crumple zones built into the chassis.
The 2-door version, six inches longer than an earlier edition, gains 1.3 square feet of floor space for cargo in the rear section. In addition, a clever lockable storage compartment boosts security.
The tall stance of the hardtop's superstructure brings good vertical space too, with more than 40 inches of headroom, for instance, for front seat positions.
Front riders sit on comfortable reclining bucket seats divided by a center console with twin cupholders and storage recesses for personal gear. The rear bench, which folds flat in the convertible when not needed for passengers to make more storage space, provides over 52 inches of shoulder room for two riders. In the hardtop, the rear seatback splits but also folds flat to the floor.
Conveniences range from full carpeting to stereo sound and complete instruments including tachometer. Options begin with air conditioning but extend to 4-wheel disc anti-lock brakes, cruise control, a CD player and power windows and door locks, plus skid plates for serious off-road work.
1999 CHEVROLET TRACKER WAGON
|
| 1999 CHEVROLET TRACKER VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS |
| Description: |
Subcompact sport-utility |
| Model Options: |
Subcompact sport-utility |
| Wheelbase: |
2-door: 86.6 inches
4-door: 97.6 inches |
| Overall Length: |
2-door: 148.8 inches
4-door: 159.8 inches
|
| Engine Size: |
SOHC 1.6-L I4
SOHC 2.0-L I4
|
| Transmission: |
Manual/5, Auto/4 |
| Drive: |
Rear, AWD |
| Braking: |
Power disc/drum,
opt. 4-disc/ABS |
| Airbags: |
2 |
| Gas Mileage: |
1.6: 25/28 mpg
2.0: 23/25 mpg |
| MSRP Price: |
$ 14,500 to $ 19,000 |
|
|
|
The Big Lot! is dedicated to privacy, security, and service. Read our Privacy Policy.