Do they still make Geo's?

[carman]

they don't make Geo's anymore, do they?
The official site isn't listed in the Directory, so I guess not...
anybody have any info on this manufacturer?

[enzo@af]

Well as I'm sure you know they were part of GM. I believe that all the models that once were Geos (that still survive) have just been changed to Chevy. Like, a Chevy Tracker or a Chevy Metro.

But hey...one's thing for sure. These are some killer machines. I just love taking my metro to Laguna Seca and tearing $hit up!

[JD@af]

Enzo.. dude.. you kidding about the Metro thing?
Or do you really have a bad-ass Metro?
I mean hey, if you wanted to just blow one out, they'd be cheap, unassuming cars to work with, and I'm sure it has been done before, so hey you never know.

[enzo@af]

joke.

[2001 AE]

Yea, that's strange. Chevy went from the Chevy Sprint in the 1980's to the Geo Prizm in the 1990's to the Chevy Spectrum this decade. (models used for mental illustration only)

[Hudson]

Not that I think anyone REALLY cares...but....

Geo was a marketing tool used by Chevrolet. They combined their import-based models (Chevrolet Sprint, Chevrolet Spectrum, Chevrolet Nova) and combined them under the new Geo "sub brand".

From 1989, the Sprint became the Geo Metro (Suzuki Forsa/Swift), the Chevrolet Nova became the Geo Prizm (Toyota Sprinter/Corolla), the Chevrolet Spectrum became the Geo Spectrum (Isuzu Gemini/I-Mark), and the Geo Tracker (Suzuki Escudo/Vitara/Sidekick) was added to the lineup. The Isuzu-built Spectrum was replaced by the Geo Storm (Isuzu Impulse) in 1990.

Shortly after the introduction of the second generation Metro, the decision was made to merge Geo back into Chevrolet. Chevrolet's claim was that "Geo had accomplished its goal" of bringing non-GM buyers into the showrooms. In reality, the "brand" probably cost more to maintain than any gains Chevrolet ever saw from "new buyers".

As of next month, all that remains of the ol' Geo brand will be the Chevrolet Tracker, as the Prizm leaves production very soon.

[Jimster]

actually the Metro still remains, the only catch is that like the Lumina and Ford Escort, they are only selling them to fleet buyers, ie Rental Companies

[Hudson]

No, actually the Metro left production in May and the Lumina ended production in the summer as well. The Escort is still in production in both fleet (sedan) and consumer (ZX2) versions.

[Jimster]

Oh I see, I haven't heard much about the US car industry since about MArch

[Euro19]

I think it´s less expensive to have a brand with many models instead of many brands with few models...
That was the case of Geo, GM erradicate the brand but not the models, to save money, if not they would have get rid of all of it. Anywise why is the Prizm still under construction? Is there anyone that actually would buy a Chevrolet Tracker over a Suzuki Sidekick (Grand Vitara)??? Is the Metro such a reliable tiny econobox?

[Hudson]

The Metro is a good little car...it's transportation and it's reliable.

The Tracker has always outsold the Sidekick/Vitara. It's a matter of several thousand Chevrolet dealers vs. a few hundred Suzuki dealers.

The Prizm, I must correct myself, ended production as of last Thursday. Total produced since 1988 was 998,580. Odd that they wouldn't build another 1,420 (two weeks production) and round it to an even million. Ah, but they need the factory space for the new Pontiac Vibe.

[Euro19]

That´s quite interesting information. Anywise the Tracker is sold about just in NorthAmerica and Suzukis Grand Vitara are better sold worldwide.

[Hudson]

I'd have to look up specific numbers, but I'm betting it's close. The Tracker outsells the Vitara/Grand Vitara by such a wide margin in the US/Canada, and Suzuki doesn't produce all that many Vitara/Grand Vitaras around the world, that it might be a close battle.

Chevrolet also sells the Vitara/Grand Vitara in South America (badged as the Chevrolet Grand Vitara).

I'm pretty sure that US/Canada is the largest market in the world for this vehicle.

[chip4761]

Okay folks, we can't go knocking the Geo Metro. I haven't owned on personaly, BUT the aftermarket for them is INSANE. Well, actually, not so much the Metro as the Swift, but they're the same car. I think the only reason Suzuki was able to, and is still able to produce the Swift is b/c of the Metro sales numbers here in the States. But seriously, you could take a Metro/Swift to the track and tear it up. Check out www.ssgti.com to see what I mean.

[Hudson]

You're right about Suzuki's ability to sell the Swift in the US. It's all because GM was selling more Sprint/Metros. Swifts are not produced for sale in the US anymore; they ended production last May when the Metro went out of production.

Swifts were offered only with four-cylinder engines in the US, while Sprint/Metros were three-cylinder only until 1996. Also, the Swift had an optional engine that the Chevrolet/Geo products didn't: the fun DOHC four. I know...I have one.