Metro Lifespan?

[mtran2000]

I have a 95 GEO Metro 3 cylinder 5 speed and would love to drive it another 20 years. Anyone else feel that way about their car? I think it is possible if you keep body in decent shape and parts are available to keep it running (not sure on that)

I obviously love the gas mileage but there is something about driving a Metro that is hard to explain. The most common question I get asked is 'How do you fit in that thing' (I am 6'4 230 LBS) I actually have more leg room and head room than a lot of cars I have been in.

Only thing that might change my mind is if another model comes out that gets comparable mileage. I like the Yaris but it is not as fuel efficient as Metros and I am not sold on Hybrids. Plus I like design of Metros

Just me rambling
Mark

[91Caprice9c1]

We'll it's been over a year now that I've been in charge of managing and performing maintenance and repairs on a fleet of 20+ metros. Also, I've acquired one of my own from the boss, and I love it. It fulfills it's purpose impecablly as a to-work/back-home and short trip vehicle. I'm not burning more gas than I need to, I'm not spending an arm and a leg keeping it going, and It's kind of fun to drive the little 3cyl 5spd, winding it out and slaming it around corners lol. It does make me very grateful however, whenever I hop in my 96 caprice to feel the brute of a large, much more powerful and roomy car =)

[DangerDude]

Hi Guys, I have a 1999 Chevy Metro and I love it! Fit's my travel and commuting needs perfectly, and with gasoline at 3 dollars a gallon it is definatly the car of the future, here now, and they don't even make them anymore .. what's THAT all about?? Ahh well .. I lavish love and care on mine anyway. I ought to get a second one. It's fun to drive and easy to park. Well, we all agree on this subject. Too bad everyone isn't driving one, there wouldn't be a fuel crisis! Big business .. go figure. DangerDude

[mowfixer]

My 93 is still going strong at 224,000 miles. No engine work has been done and we drive it daily. Still gets 40+ MPG. Wish I had another one!

[Metronomical]

I love my 1991 Metro, too. It has about 128.5k miles When mine developed a coolant leak and slipping clutch, I considered buying a new economy car. The trouble is, although Metros have ~20 year old technology, nobody is producing new cars with comparable gas mileage! How screwed up is that?

I may take a look at the Smart cars when they arrive in 2008 but until then my Metro is the way to go. I still get 40-45mpg in town which is better than the 40mpg highway some new cars are reported to have, lol.

[mtran2000]

My Metro is starting to use some oil so I plan on doing some engine work on it probably next spring because I am storing it during the winter (Midwest and lots of salt on roads in the winter)

I would like to find another one to have around along with my 1995, they are getting harder to find and good ones are bringing top dollar. If I am able to find a newer Metro, I would probably drive the 95 in the winter.

Mark

[Irk]

Originally Posted by Metronomical

I love my 1991 Metro, too. It has about 128.5k miles When mine developed a coolant leak and slipping clutch, I considered buying a new economy car. The trouble is, although Metros have ~20 year old technology, nobody is producing new cars with comparable gas mileage! How screwed up is that?

I may take a look at the Smart cars when they arrive in 2008 but until then my Metro is the way to go. I still get 40-45mpg in town which is better than the 40mpg highway some new cars are reported to have, lol.

The Smart cars are a joke. They are so tiny. There is only room for 2 people and hardly any storage space. They are only supposed to get a little over 40mpg. For such a small car it should get 70+mpg. I drove across the United States in my 97 Metro with a 50lb dog, cooler, 3 decent sized suitcases and my wife and I still averaged over 40mpg the whole way. I'm pretty sure the reason they can't make cars like the Geo Metro any more is because of the high US saftey standards and emissions standards. These standards were lower back when Metros were made. Now they want cars with heavier stronger frames. If the US will just lower their standards, car companies would probably build cheap cars with high gas mileage once again.

[mtran2000]

Originally Posted by Irk

The Smart cars are a joke. They are so tiny. There is only room for 2 people and hardly any storage space. They are only supposed to get a little over 40mpg. For such a small car it should get 70+mpg. I drove across the United States in my 97 Metro with a 50lb dog, cooler, 3 decent sized suitcases and my wife and I still averaged over 40mpg the whole way. I'm pretty sure the reason they can't make cars like the Geo Metro any more is because of the high US saftey standards and emissions standards. These standards were lower back when Metros were made. Now they want cars with heavier stronger frames. If the US will just lower their standards, car companies would probably build cheap cars with high gas mileage once again.

The Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris get decent gas mileage, now what if they put a 3 cylinder in a small car like that. I would think they could make a 3 cylinder that can meet todays emissions standards.

[Irk]

Originally Posted by mtran2000

The Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris get decent gas mileage, now what if they put a 3 cylinder in a small car like that. I would think they could make a 3 cylinder that can meet todays emissions standards.

Yeah, but the Yaris and Fit are heavier cars than the Metro. I don't think the 3 cylinder would be able to push these heavier cars around without being bogged down. I drove a Yaris and the 1.5L 4cyl felt like it was slightly loaded down, compared to driving my 3 cylinder Metro

[dookeye]

yeah seems like they could just take the old Metro design and upgrade the chassis; make it more solid and safe, seems like they could do this and not have to add more than a couple hundred pounds, then slightly soup up the engine to get a couple more horses to make up for the weight.

Part of the problem also is people are used to an unreasonable level of performance out of cars- everything has to be fast, fast, fast, even economy cars; does everything have to do 0-60 in under 7 seconds? Everyone always wants a V6 in their compact sedans, my question is why? V6's are invariably more expensive to use and maintain and are usually less reliable and shorter lived than the 4 cylinder engines that are offered.

[sgeorge]

if they are anything close to the geo tracker and suzuki sidekick in engine realiabilty they will run almost forever with normal oil changes .

[Jepiza]

Thats a good...

[GeoMetron]

I have a 1991 vert with 107,000 miles. I've replaced the motor, the struts, brakes, and exhaust system. When I get around to replacing the aging top and slapping on a bit of paint, the car will look as good as it drives. The fit and finish are remarkable for a car that is now 16 years old.

The body is in excellent condition with no rust at all. And as long as the body stays is good form and the frame remains true, I'll keep replacing powertrain parts indefinately. Rust and collisions are the two biggest threats these cars face. Parts remain plentiful and relatively cheap. The biggest headache for convertible owners are replacement parts for the convertible top.

As far as contenders to replace my metro, there are few in the domestic U.S. market. The Yaris is probably my favorite of the U.S. market. I'd snap up a Smart-For-Two in a heartbeat. I've got a thing for tiny cars, economical or not. The metro remains pretty stiff competition in my estimation. I do like the safety of newer model cars, despite the weight gain, and I do like the creature comforts newer model cars provide. But at the end of the day, dollar for dollar, nothing new comes close to matching my metro for fuel economy and overall cost.

$1750 purchased 1991 vert
$1600 jdm engine, clutch, f/r struts, f/r brakes, exhaust
$4680 in fuel over 3 years ($30 weekly @ $3 per gallon)

[Ded_Lotus]

Originally Posted by GeoMetron

$1750 purchased 1991 vert
$1600 jdm engine, clutch, f/r struts, f/r brakes, exhaust
$4680 in fuel over 3 years ($30 weekly @ $3 per gallon)

so how long have you owned you metro for?

[GeoMetron]

Slightly over three years now. With Toyota financing, I'd be able to get a Yaris for about $250 per month or $9000 over the same three year period. I like the Yaris, but not quite that much.