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I saw your photos: that's a nice looking pair of Metros you've got there! Wish I had the hatch window wiper. Keep them running strong...
While having my shocks and struts replaced recently (the first time it's needed done) I had an occasion to rent a red 2000 Metro 4-door LSI from a local Enterprise Rental outlet. (Auto)
I have to say, it surprised me! I thought it would just get me around for the day, but I really liked it. And I see after reading through the postings here that it's no longer available? Rats! I was looking at a new Nissan Sentra GXE for $15,000, but there was just something about the Metro that I took to, and in only one day. Yes, it's slow to accelerate compared to my 100hp Spirit, but I'm not a speed demon anyway. At 31, I'm one of those people you see doing maybe 5 mph over the speed limit, but no more. My main priorities in finding another car are: 1. Reliability 2. Price 3. Space (Roominess). From what I've read here, reliability is excellent. And I know about the cars roominess (I'm 6'1 and the car almost seems to have more up front room than my mid-size spirit. How about price? And milage?
I was ready to put a new Metro on my consideration list, but as it's no longer available new, is it a good buy used? I found a '99 locally (same as above) "loaded" for 8,850 with 34,000 on the odo. Opinions?
This seems a very informative and friendly group, so I thought I'd take a chance and ask.
Thanks for your time.
They are a good buy used IF you get as much info as you can about the vehicle's history. Metros are very durable but require strict adherence to regular maintenance to stay that way. If the previous owner was negligent in this regard, you may want to look elsewhere. You could probably find a decent used Metro for anywhere from $1,500 - $9,000 depending on model year and your geographic location. Mileage is great (about 45 MPG on the highway for my 1993 H/B) but I would personally avoid the auto tranny and stay with a manual as it can affect performance and mileage noticeably.
One more thing - I have noticed that in my area of the country (Northeast; suburban NYC) that there are very few used Metros available anywhere. I wonder if this is because: a) people who bought Metros don't want to sell them, or b) very few Metros were sold in this area in the first place. Scenario b) doesn't seem logical to me since this crowded area of the USA is the perfect stomping ground for Metros.
Good luck in your search, urbandriver. I hope you will be happy with your Metro. They are tough little cars -- sort of like the modern reincarnation of the "old" VW Beetles.
Good service records would be a must too. Unfortunately since Metro's weren't all that expensive new it attracted "owners from hell". The kind of people that buy a car, never maintain it, drive the life right out of it and after a couple of years wonder why they are starting to have problems and call the car "junk".
Properly maintained there is no reason you can't get 150K-200K+ out of a Metro. Suzuki quietly has made awesome small displacement motors for over 15 years now. Here in the Pacific NW I still see a lot of '85-'87 Sprints. Pretty good for a car that cost $5000.00-6,000.00 brand new.
Only as a "fleet" purchase (buying 5 or more).
You might not like the changes either. The 2001 Metro is offered in the 4 dr model only,... and only available as an automatic. The ABS braking system is no longer offered as an option and the only radio you can get is AM/FM. Gone also is the optional tach.
An alternative would be to see Suzuki. The 2001 Swift is in it's last year (or so I'm told). However,...
The Swift is only available as a hatchback. If you liked the 4 door, sorry.
I had a 1991 Metro Hatchback and traded it in for a new 2000 Metro LSi Hatchback and it hasn't given me any problems. Would I buy another one? Yes!
gr8gal
Metronians -- I love it! Did you actually get that copyrighted, inuvik?
Oh and by the way I can't copyright "Metronian(s)"® but I can claim it as a Registered Service Mark
GM put out a TSB (Technical Service Bulletin)in August of 1993 (Number 92-362-6A titled "Stalling, Loss of Power". It states the cause as "High pressure in the hydraulic lifter assemblies may result in valves not closing completely due to the inability of the lifter to bleed oil quickly enough during the cold start cycle". This causes the exhaust valves, pertiularly in #2 cylinder, to burn, destroying compression and performance. Might be your problem- I know it's mine. GM specifies replacing the lifters with Part Number 17106263.
My fix, rather than a valve job, etc., is to buy an engine from Japanese Engines. They import engines with less than 40K miles. The one I am getting has 30k on it, and sells for $495 including four-day shipping to your door. Or, you can try going to your dealer, mentioning the TSB, and see if they will fix it. This problem existed in all 1989, thru 1991 models, and in 1992 models thru IN 2C1MR2160N6761708.
TowMan....
I believe the Metros with A/T were three-speeds, so your mileage estimate sounds about right for city driving. Expect a few more MPG on the highway. As for your mirror, I have noticed that Metro parts may be hard to find in some places so you might strike out at the junkyard. A dealer can order the part for you but it may be expensive. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think all outside mirrors on these cars (with the exception of the convertible model) were black so if you find one at the junkyard you won't have to fret about a color mismatch.
One thing to watch for -- the stock exhaust systems tend to develop rust problems at around 40k-45k miles.
Happy motoring.
But then I got to thinking about my bone-stock little Metro (named Ruby) which has served me faithfully for seven years. She's only got 45k on the odometer and she runs like a Swiss watch. Why would I want to ditch a perfectly good and reliable car that's also paid for?
So I guess if I'm going to keep her I might want to make some upgrades so she's easier to live with on a daily basis. I'm seeking advice from my fellow "Metronians" (credit inuvik for the catchy name) on the following upgrades:
1. Wheels and tires: I'm considering replacing the 12" wheels with either OEM 13" or after market 14". Several previous posts dealt with this so I know the appropriate sizes I will need. Can anyone recommend a particular brand or retailer?
2. Steering wheel: since the day I bought it my Metro has emitted an annoying rattle from inside the steering column. Only occurs while idling. I've pulled the dash and can't seem to find the source. Placing my hands on top of the wheel stops the noise. Would switching to a heavier steering wheel help? Besides, the thin and slippery stock wheel has never been my favorite. Something meatier may quell the rattle and make driving more fun.
3. Air conditioning: my Metro does not have factory A/C. This wasn't a problem until I moved to NJ, where we have God-awful humidity beginning every May. I've installed a huge pop-up sunroof but that's not totally satisfying. Is it possible (or practical) to retrofit factory A/C to a seven year-old vehicle? Alternatively, has anyone tried to hard-wire a small interior fan (like the kind you see in big-rigs or city buses) inside their Metro? This may be a more cost-effective way to keep cool.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
ps - OPEC passes 4% production cutbacks....Summer gas prices due to rise....Metro owners may smile now :-)
Thanks for the advice on the exhaust. I guess I needed to give more details on the mirror problem. The mirror housing is ok - it's the part that attaches the mirror into the exterior black housing. I checked at NAPA and they don't have the plastic piece that connects to the adjustment arm. It's getting warmer now and I am planning a trip to the junk yard as soon as I can find some free time.
Thanks again, Jeff
The dealer wanted close to $5500 to replace, but by chance found an article about a company called Solectria in MA who take Metro's rip out the engine and gearbox to be replaced with electric motors.
I called them and they had an 89 engine and tranny in the workshop from an old Metro which they had crash tested.They removed the tranny and shipped it to a shop where it was installed. Total bill was around $750 for transmission/shipping and installation. Worked fine ever since.
May be still a good source, but must have correct model year because of changing electronics. Wanted $1000 for brand new engines.
Anyway - due to the rising price of fuel and my long (time not distance) commute in the DC area - I have decided to buy a Metro. I have found one from a lady at work for what I think to be a pretty good deal. Ir is a 1998 LSI Sedan w/ A/C, CD and Auto (I really wanted the 5spd). The car was driven since new by their daughter to college and back several times - I think it has about 58K on it.
First - is this a decent deal? Second, I am in with this car for the long haul. I assume these things need timing belts somewhere along the way. Basically, what are my 60-75K maintenace reqs. and then 75-125K reqs as well (if it will go that far).
The car has all the oil change receipts - but other than oil - nothing else has been touched.
Thanks so much - great group,
-sn
Watch out for the exhaust starting to rust. Usually happens around 45k or four to five years. Other than that, if the normal maintenance items have been attended to, you shouldn't have any major repairs to look forward to any time soon.
One thing I've discovered -- it's quite easy to knock the front windows off their tracks. In my 1993 this has happened twice. It's a pain in the neck to re-set them, too. The easy way to avoid this kind of trouble is not to slam the doors with the windows partway down. Consider it a lesson learned the hard way by yours truly!
I finally stopped for gas the first mileage check is 31mpg. This has exceeded my expectations. It got cold this weekend and I was not able to make it to the junk yard to look for a mirror. I also have taken my Metro on a tow trip to KY. I have to keep reminding myself the little guy is still back there. Lucky for me I have a back-up monitor and can check it out every so often. These are great cars for towing behind a RV. I luv it more and more!!!! What a steal! More later.... Towman....
You will find that your Metro, if cared for properly, will reward you with years of faithful service. Mine has been completely buried in snowdrifts, driven over dirt roads, driven through eight inches of standing water (I don't advise this) and carried many heavy loads of passengers and outdoor gear. All it ever asked for was a little gas, regular oil changes and a clean-up every so often. It has never failed to start at the first turn of the key. The Metro is, IMO, the modern incarnation of the original VW Beetle. Simple, tough, economical and reliable.
But I'll continue to happily drive my 1994 4dr, which now has 126k and continues to be a great car. No problems yet. I have put 37k on this car in a year (122 mile a day commute). I have put a set of plugs, distributor cap & rotor, PCV, and front/rear brake pads/shoes and changed the oil. That's it.
Cjacetta, you are right, the Metro IS the VW Beetle of the 90's, simple, ultra reliable, affordable, effecient. IMO I have never owned a better car, even those I have bought new.
Metronians® unite!!!
By the way, I have a weekend job that has a big garage with hoses and drains that's heated in the winter. (The garage that's heated, not the hoses and drains.) My coworkers think I'm obsessive because I've washed that Geo almost every weekend this winter, regardless of the weather. It's body is in such great shape that I want to maintain its great looks as long as I can.
Speaking of the Beetle for the 90's, I came close to buying a 74 super Beetle. It was hunter green, my dream car, until I talked to the owner and found out the gas mileage and how much work has to be done to maintain a Beetle. A mechanic friend of mine said that the Beetle engine is not known for being a reliable engine. They're just real easy to work on and rebuild.
I like my REAL economy car. It's a dark blue, hence the name Blue Streak. My students at school think it's a hoot. They notice things like the little TV I've mounted on the dash (I picked it up a garage sale for 2 bucks).
The local Salvation Army Store had an orginal equipment Delco radio with Geo on it for 5 dollars. The radio with cassette that is in it now is some off brand called Radion. How 'bout it, should I part with 5 bucks to make it more original?
Later fellow Metronians!
IMHO=In My Humble Opinion
any clues as to where I look?
I'd like to get a compression check done soon, but will need to shop around. With that many miles(no history) and such a small engine, it's not a bad idea.
I've noticed websites where you can purchase extended warranty, but cannot claim until after 1-3 months. I am not sure how well they pay out if something major goes wrong... http://warrantybynet.com
They don't require an inspection...
I had an older F150 truck that was sucking money from me at the Gas station. I figured that I would go the extreme side with the best fuel mileage car(minus hybrid). That's how I found these cars and at such a good price. I compared light trucks for the same price, but they were really beat up.
My mom has a 3 cylinder Daihatsu, which is comparitable, but don't have that 'Egg' shape to them.
When I drive down the road, I see all those people in their gas guzzling Trucks and SUV's, etc. Who really needs a vehicle that large anyway? I guess, there are times to tow trailers, etc. But many of them don't even have the need. If I need a truck, I'll just ask a friend or rent one from UHAUL.
Well, I'm crossing my fingers that everything holds up on it. In high school and college, I've had some real lemons, so I know the signs. At any rate, it's a lot better than the truck I just traded-in. I hope they fix that up before they sell it...
I'd rather take my chances in my egg with wheels:)
Gagews
One of the things I've noticed with the 4 cylinders is, the the smaller ones (1.5,1.6) tend to have more little quirks, like loud noise and vibrations and I was wondering about the 3's.
Thanks.
I was wondering if anyone has any information on the convertibles. Like their history and when they were last made. I don't see many like mine.
If you do get a burnt valve I would just replace the entire head. There are a few places that will exchange the entire head for only a couple of hundred bucks. I've done it and it's really a pretty easy job. Took me about a hour of actual time under the hood.
You usually don't have to worry about the bottom end on Metro's. You have to remember the 1.0 3cyl and the 1.3 4cyl are the same motor except for the number of cylinders. So the crank bearings on the 1.0 are really oversized for the amount of displacement the engine really has. Of course this is the reason why the engine can go 250K+. Hope this helps.
http://www.cylinderheadsrebuilt.com/Prices.htm
http://www.rpmrons.com/cart/GeoGMHds.html#1.0-1
http://www.motorheadmachine.com/suzuki.html
http://www.fred-jones.com/heads/geo_heads.htm
http://www.aluminumheads.com/Suzuki.html
I've bought a 1991 Geo Metro 3 cyl 5spd hatchback and it ran great up till around 68,000 miles.
After that I noticed a drop in performance. I thought it might have needed a tune up. Until it couldn't pass the smog test.
Turned out I had burned an exhaust valve. THAT was expensive! Other than that, they seem to run like a swiss watch. Very reliable.
I had the 1991 till it had around 121,000 miles. Never replaced the clutch and only the brake pads once! After hearing GM was going to discontinue selling the Metro, I decided to buy the last year model and trade in my '91.
I now own a 2000 Metro LSi w/auto trans, a/c, and EVERY available option that was offered! Even though it cries for a 4th speed overdrive, I can't complain. I love that car. The 4 cyl really adds more power. But you can't knock the great gas mileage of a 3 cyl manual.
-Tom