HOW dangerous is a Geo Metro?

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J

jagec

Lifer
Apr 30, 2004
24,442
6
81
Well, as some of you know my car was stolen last week. I've been looking for an interm solution-I need a car to get to work, but I don't want to slap a lot of money down on a really nice car, just in case the cops find my car.

Well, I saw an ad for a 1992 Geo Metro LSI for $100. It's a manual (which is one of my requirements in a car), and gets great mileage. My commute doesn't involve any freeway time, so I wouldn't have to worry too much about high-speed merges (which, I am given to understand, SUCK in that car). The only thing that is keeping me from buying it is the safety issue. Are these things the rolling death traps they are made out to be? What are my chances of surviving a (say) 40MPH accident without any major injuries?

If it's not too bad, I just might get one. I mean, 50MPG isn't too bad, and on a $100 car I wouldn't be afraid of totally thrashing it, taking it offroad, and just generally having fun with it.
 
Evadman

Evadman

Administrator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Feb 18, 2001
30,990
5
81
If you don't buy it, let me know where it is so I can.
 
Chaotic42

Chaotic42

Lifer
Jun 15, 2001
34,348
1,523
126
They're *very* small and pretty deadly. My Festiva has more room than the Metro (which I also had). They're also 3-cyl vehicles, and they are every bit as underpowered as you've heard.
 
R

Rogue

Banned
Jan 28, 2000
5,774
0
0
Friend of mine drove one for at least 5 years and his was about as unsafe as they can get. Holes in the floorboards, exhaust leaks, etc. Hell, he and his father removed the entire engine from it by hand (no chains, no cherry picker). He's still alive and driving a Honda now.
 
UglyCasanova

UglyCasanova

Lifer
Mar 25, 2001
19,275
1,361
126
Originally posted by: jagec
Originally posted by: UglyCassanova
I drive a 92 Geo Prizm. :(
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A Prizm is a rebadged Corolla...
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Ok, but I still hate it.

Actually I LOVE driving the car, it's like a go cart. The air sucks, the speakers and radio sucks, I've had 3 door handle break off in 1 year, and several other things. I could put a new stereo in but I honestly do not feel like spending any money on it that I don't have to. The thing is reliable as hell though, and gets great gas mileage. :D
 
T

TechnoKid

Diamond Member
Feb 12, 2001
5,575
0
0
Originally posted by: Chaotic42
They're *very* small and pretty deadly. My Festiva has more room than the Metro (which I also had). They're also 3-cyl vehicles, and they are every bit as underpowered as you've heard.
Click to expand...

i thought the LSi were 4cyl?
 
J

jagec

Lifer
Apr 30, 2004
24,442
6
81
Originally posted by: Chaotic42
They're *very* small and pretty deadly. My Festiva has more room than the Metro (which I also had). They're also 3-cyl vehicles, and they are every bit as underpowered as you've heard.
Click to expand...

I'm hoping that having the manual transmission and not having to drive on the freeway should alleviate *some* of the underpoweredness...obviously I won't be trying to race Corvettes though.

I drive a van at work, and when that thing is loaded down, it's *slow*...so I'm used to that.
 
Chaotic42

Chaotic42

Lifer
Jun 15, 2001
34,348
1,523
126
Originally posted by: TechnoKid
Originally posted by: Chaotic42
They're *very* small and pretty deadly. My Festiva has more room than the Metro (which I also had). They're also 3-cyl vehicles, and they are every bit as underpowered as you've heard.
Click to expand...

i thought the LSi were 4cyl?
Click to expand...

It may be.

Mine was 3cyl though.
 
W

Wuffsunie

Platinum Member
May 4, 2002
2,808
0
0
As an interm solution it's not too bad. Though for $100, assuming it's still even there, I really don't know what you'd get. Somehow I'm expecting little more than a car fit for parts. Of course you're in Washington, so I'm assuming the weather hasn't had much of a chance to abuse it much.

As something to tide you over for a few weeks until you've given up on your old car, I'd say it's fine. All assuming it's even in half way decent condition of course.
 
T

TechnoKid

Diamond Member
Feb 12, 2001
5,575
0
0
Originally posted by: Chaotic42
Originally posted by: TechnoKid
Originally posted by: Chaotic42
They're *very* small and pretty deadly. My Festiva has more room than the Metro (which I also had). They're also 3-cyl vehicles, and they are every bit as underpowered as you've heard.
Click to expand...

i thought the LSi were 4cyl?
Click to expand...

It may be.

Mine was 3cyl though.
Click to expand...

i stated that because my friend has a crashed metro LSi in his backyard collecting rust and the engine is out; it was a 4cyl. i think the non LSi had the 3cyl.

There are plenty of 3cyl diesel cars in europe, but those are usually turbo'd diesels; lot more fun than the metro 3cyl:p
 
J

jagec

Lifer
Apr 30, 2004
24,442
6
81
The ad claims this car is a 3 cyl.

Of course, if you're going to buy a Geo Metro anyway, might as well go all the way and get the 3-cyl, huh?:p

Really, it's not a Geo Metro specifically that I want. My criteria are:
1)Cheap. <$1500 or so.
2)Decent mileage. >30MPG preferrably, however if the car is fun enough I can lower that a bit
3)Not a very common car. I want a car that isn't boring. Diesels, forced induction, etc. are welcome.
4)Must be manual.

I've considered turbo dodges, the Metro, old Mercedes diesels, Merkur XR4Ti, maybe a VW Rabbit...
 
Evadman

Evadman

Administrator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Feb 18, 2001
30,990
5
81
turbo dodges are a nice choice if you can find one
 
K

KingNothing

Diamond Member
Apr 6, 2002
7,141
1
0
I know of two girls that both chose a Geo Metro over other cars. Their reasoning escapes me, but they both drove them for several years without any problems. For $100 go for it.
 
D

DurocShark

Lifer
Apr 18, 2001
15,708
5
56
Originally posted by: Evadman
turbo dodges are a nice choice if you can find one
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No. They're not. Even the Shelby Omni was a big POS. Trannys were the worst. I had one and went through 3 trannies in 6 months.
 
Chaotic42

Chaotic42

Lifer
Jun 15, 2001
34,348
1,523
126
Originally posted by: jagec
The ad claims this car is a 3 cyl.

Of course, if you're going to buy a Geo Metro anyway, might as well go all the way and get the 3-cyl, huh?:p

Really, it's not a Geo Metro specifically that I want. My criteria are:
1)Cheap. <$1500 or so.
2)Decent mileage. >30MPG preferrably, however if the car is fun enough I can lower that a bit
3)Not a very common car. I want a car that isn't boring. Diesels, forced induction, etc. are welcome.
4)Must be manual.

I've considered turbo dodges, the Metro, old Mercedes diesels, Merkur XR4Ti, maybe a VW Rabbit...
Click to expand...

I'll sell you my Festiva for $1000. I get ~450 miles out of 8 gallons on the interstate.
 
rh71

rh71

No Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
52,844
1,049
126
$100 cars are worth it. I don't care what it is, unless it dies on you a month later.

For your situation, definitely a good interim solution. Safety? How congested are your local roads that you take to work ?
 
L

LuckyTaxi

Diamond Member
Dec 24, 2000
6,044
23
81
Check this out, my friend took his brother's ride (Geo Metro) for a ride back to my apartment to get some stuff. This commute involves getting on 95 N headed towards Franklin Mills. On our way back home, we both felt the car slowing down. Then a weird noise and then smoke from the hood. I looked over to the dashboard and the oil light appears. I'm telling him to pull over and he says he's gonna try to make it home. Engine was fried and we ended up calling AAA. Ironically as I'm on the phone with AAA, a AAA truck pulls up only for him to say he was here for someone else and thought we were them. He was nice enough to tow two cars, but my friend ended up sitting in his car on the flatbed while the other ppl's car was being towed and they got to sit in the front of the truck. I left with my friend who came by to see what was wrong with the car.

Crappy car? I can't say, but we've had our shares of problems with this car.
 
CrackRabbit

CrackRabbit

Lifer
Mar 30, 2001
16,642
62
91
Originally posted by: Atomicus
I've heard of people stealing Geos by lifting them away.... but only rumors in NYC :confused:
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I had a friend that had an MG that we did that to, picked his car up and moved it to a different parking space :D
 
J

jagec

Lifer
Apr 30, 2004
24,442
6
81
Originally posted by: Atomicus
I've heard of people stealing Geos by lifting them away.... but only rumors in NYC :confused:
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well, in NYC they'll steal ANYTHING.
 
A

Atomicus

Banned
May 20, 2004
5,192
0
0
Originally posted by: jagec
Originally posted by: Atomicus
I've heard of people stealing Geos by lifting them away.... but only rumors in NYC :confused:
Click to expand...

well, in NYC they'll steal ANYTHING.
Click to expand...

I hear there's a lot of people kidnapping and stealing organs..... is this true?
 
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