98,99,00 good buy?

[Dannyru89]

I'm looking to buy a metro for a drive to work car, 15min freeway, 15 min city, About 40 miles a day. perhaps a 98,99, or 00 metro 3cyl 5-spd. Are these things any good? I'm a seasoned mechanic so I can deal with it, but I don't know really anything except the basics. So, I thought I'd ask the professionals (you guys) on your thoughts. I've read some of your threads, and they are helpful.

driveline problems?
3cyl an interference engine?
electrical eng/body? coil pac right?
engine/tranny lube what do you reccomend for grade/mfr?

thanks all,

Danny.

[geozukigti]

98-2000 didn't come in a 3cyl. Only 4cyl. the 00-01 came in a SOHC 16valve MPFI motor. But either motor uses 2 coil packs. The 98-99 uses single fuel injection, 8v motor. The only real driveline problem is the 2nd gear synchro when the tranny is not properly maintained, or wrong gear oil is used. You should use 75w90GL on it. 80w90 will rip a gearbox apart in no time at all. I'm not 100% sure they never made 1 98-00 3cyl, but if they did, it would use a distributor, non-interference, single fuel injection. I personally recemmond 10w30 for a high mileage 3 banger, or 5w30 for a low mileage one. Most(not all) 3cyls have an oil burning issue after 100,000 miles, from lack of maintenece, and too ahrd of driving. It's just how people treat them. Also, they have a bad habit of burning the exhaust valve on cyl#2 when driven at high RPM's a lot. I would recemmond a 4cyl metro over a 3cyl. They get almost the same gas mileage, and they're less prone to problems.

[Dannyru89]

That is exactly what I'm looking for, thanks a lot for the input. Does anybody else want to weigh in on this?
Thanks again!

Danny.

[91metallicblue]

At around 94k, the 'cv boots'(?) had to be changed, which was a couple of hundred dollars due to the labor cost. But if you can do it yourself...
The Metro's are equipped with several sensors dealing with emissions. Some of these sensors can cause idling problems. So I'd test the car and see if it surged while idling during the test run. My idle problem wouldn't occur unless I put the car in gear THEN put it in neutral(as when coming to a stop).
Even with these issues, I really like my Geo. I'm getting 45+ mpg - can't beat that at this price

[mcalvo]

Metro's are worth the money. Just understand you are not buying a corvette beater. But sometimes it could.. right geosukigti?

MC