Tag Archives: geo metro
The History of the Geo Metro and Its Place in the Modding Scene
The Geo Metro, a small subcompact car produced by General Motors in collaboration with Suzuki, first hit the market in 1989. Despite its initial low sales figures, the Geo Metro soon became a popular choice for car enthusiasts looking for an affordable, fuel-efficient vehicle that could also be easily modified. In this article, we’ll explore the history of the Geo Metro and its place in the modding scene.
The Early Days of the Geo Metro
The Geo Metro was introduced in 1989 as a replacement for the Chevrolet Sprint, another subcompact car produced by General Motors in collaboration with Suzuki. The first generation of the Geo Metro came with a 1.0-liter, three-cylinder engine that delivered 55 horsepower and a five-speed manual transmission. The car’s lightweight construction and fuel efficiency quickly made it popular among budget-conscious consumers.
The second generation of the Geo Metro, which was introduced in 1995, featured a more modern design and a slightly more powerful engine. It also came with a new 1.3-liter, four-cylinder engine that produced 70 horsepower. However, despite its improved performance, the Geo Metro still struggled to attract mainstream buyers.
The Rise of the Geo Metro in the Modding Scene
While the Geo Metro may not have been a hit with the general public, it quickly gained a following in the modding community. The car’s small size, lightweight, and simple design made it an ideal platform for customization. Car enthusiasts began to experiment with different engine swaps, suspension upgrades, and body modifications, transforming the Geo Metro into a sleek, high-performance machine.
One of the most popular modifications for the Geo Metro is the engine swap. The car’s original engine may be underpowered, but it’s also very easy to remove and replace with a more powerful one. Some car enthusiasts have even managed to fit V8 engines into their Geo Metros, resulting in an incredibly fast and agile car.
Another popular mod for the Geo Metro is the suspension upgrade. By replacing the car’s stock suspension with a more advanced system, car enthusiasts can improve the car’s handling and cornering abilities. This is especially important for those who use their Geo Metro for racing or autocross events.
The Future of the Geo Metro
While the Geo Metro is no longer in production, it still has a dedicated following in the modding community. Car enthusiasts continue to experiment with different modifications and upgrades, pushing the limits of what this little car is capable of. Whether you’re looking for an affordable daily driver or a high-performance racing machine, the Geo Metro has something to offer.
Conclusion
The Geo Metro may not have been a commercial success, but its place in the modding scene is secure. Car enthusiasts continue to modify and customize these little cars, transforming them into unique, high-performance machines. Whether you’re a seasoned gearhead or a new enthusiast, the Geo Metro is a great platform for experimentation and customization.
Need To Save Some Cash? Buy A Geo Metro!
If you’re looking for a car that’s fuel-efficient, reliable, and affordable then the Geo Metro is just what you need. This little gas saver will get you where you want to go without costing too much in fuel costs or repairs!
Not to mention, there are more stylish options like the Geo Metro convertible that could tickle your fancy.
I am damn proud of my Geo Metro because it is great! It’s easy on gas mileage, has low maintenance costs, it’s an inexpensive option if your credit score isn’t good enough to get financing for a different vehicle.
It’s also perfect for people living in urban areas because parking can be hard sometimes with larger vehicles, and its size makes it easier to park when driving around town.
It is simply perfect for everyone out there trying to save as much as you can. Why spend so much on a fancy new car that costs a lot to maintain and run when you can get a good old Geo Metro for cheap?
How Much Is A Geo Metro
The Geo Metro is a great option for anyone looking for an affordable and fuel-efficient car. You can usually find these cars for around $2,000 or less, and they get up to 40 MPG on the highway. That means you could save a lot of money on gas over the course of a year.
How much money could you save?
Well, the national average price of gas is $3.25 per gallon right now, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. If you drive about 15,000 miles a year in your Geo Metro – with an average fuel economy of 40 MPG – you’ll use about 510 gallons of gas a year. That means you’ll be spending about $1,650 on gas each year.
But if you bought a Geo Metro and got 40 MPG highway mileage, you’d spend about $860 a year on gas. That’s a savings of $790 per year!
The Maintenance Cost
The Geo Metro is also a great option for anyone looking for a low-maintenance car. These cars are known for being reliable and requiring very little upkeep. In most cases, all you’ll need to do is change the oil every 5,000 miles and check the tire pressure regularly. You can even do this on your own, to save more cash.
That means you’ll be able to save even more money on maintenance costs. The average cost of a tune-up is about $75, but with a Geo Metro, you can go much longer between tune-ups – up to 10,000 miles! Only changing the oil every 5,000 miles means you’ll save yourself about $60.
Who Should Buy A Geo Metro?
Anyone looking for a fuel-efficient and affordable car should consider buying a Geo Metro. These cars are great for commuters, students, or anyone who wants to save money on gas. The Geo Metro is also a great choice for people who need a small car that can fit in tight spaces.
How Can You Get A Geo Metro?
You can buy a used Geo Metro on Craigslist, or through classified ads. Another option is to visit some of your local used car dealerships – they usually have some great deals on these types of cars. Some people even sell them for very low prices on sites like eBay.
It’s no secret that the cost of gas has been on a steady rise for years now. In fact, it is very possible that this trend will continue as we move into the future and more oil reserves are depleted.
This leaves many drivers feeling frustrated with their high monthly fuel costs or not being able to afford to purchase an expensive vehicle outright. But there is good news! The Geo Metro may be just what you need if you’re looking for: low maintenance cost, high mileage and can help keep your wallet from taking such a hit when filling up the tank every few weeks.
Geo Metro’s Stylish Car
So what have you been up to this pandemic? Have you guys returned back to work or did you have the privilege to “work” at home?
As for me, I’m still here breathing and thinking as I admire the beauty of my Geo Metro. Yeah, yeah, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I know because some of you might not agree with my definition of beauty.
Then why the hell are you here reading about my musings and shenanigans about my love for this Earth-saving car?
Gotcha! Admit it, you secretly love Geo Metros too!
What’s not to love? Yes, you may consider it as an econobox but did you know that there are models released for more, uhm– stylish clients?
Picture a convertible. Just like the picture above, it really suits the more stylish clientele, doesn’t it?
Spotlight please for the Geo Metro convertible!
However, the Geo Metro convertible isn’t exactly like that, but at least it tried to be…
The Geo Metro Convertible Is Not For All
To target those who are looking for a more stylish, yet still efficient and affordable Geo Metro, the convertible model was born. However, not all people liked it and some are even laughing at the thought of a convertible Geo Metro.
Don’t laugh too hard and belittle such a car. There are still great things about it like the efficient 55 hp engine. Additionally, it also has an airbag, at least for the driver side. Without too much excess baggage, the weight is minimized.
As for the top, it’s manually operated and you have to manually unlock the cabin to get access to it. Some were also not a great fan of the plastic panel that covers it.
The seats were like any other Geo Metro, which is a pain in the ass and there is no armrest. The side mirrors are also present and are manually adjustable. Lastly, it also has air conditioning and a tachometer.
Would You Drive It?
If you ask me, I’d surely love to take that for a ride. That might amp up my appeal, being a convertible and all. Plus, it’s efficient and you’d save a ton from using it.
However, some people might not be comfortable with it due to safety reasons, you wuss. As for me, I’m a careful driver and I take my chances every time I drive my own Geo Metro anyway so as long as I can still make it run, then I’d gladly take it for a ride.
How about you? Would you take the chance in driving such a classic beauty? Come on now, I know I’ve got a lot of readers who are as big Geo Metro fans as I am.
Saving The Planet One Geo Metro At A Time
I’m a notic-er
That means I notice shit.
And what I’ve noticed here recently is more and more electric cars on the road, to which, I can only assume the owners are thinking they’re going to single-handedly “save” our one-and-only planet earth with their stupid awesome-looking vehicle.
Too bad they can’t hold a candle to the Earth-saving potential of my 1989 Electric-Blue Geo Metro Hatchback 4-Speed.
Here’s why…
Electric Car Vs The Geo Metro
When it comes to the environment, fossil-fueled cars have a bad reputation for their carbon footprint. Whenever it runs, it produces carbon dioxide. Most people agree because it is what they see. When an electric car runs, it doesn’t produce smoke so it doesn’t add to the world’s carbon footprint. That’s wrong because even if you can’t see it, electric cars are contributing to the pollution of the environment.
Electric cars are mostly advertised as green cars because they don’t emit as much carbon dioxide as other combustion engine cars like my Geo Metro. At first glance, they do look like their carbon footprint is low. However, you have to look at the whole picture when it comes to determining which car is greener.
Electric cars are powered by lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion batteries are not just limited to use on cars. They are also used to power other electrical devices like laptops and mobile phones. With the production of electric cars, there is an increase in the demand for lithium. That also means mining lithium is has a high demand.
It may seem that mining more lithium doesn’t have too much effect. However, it does have a huge effect on the environment. With lithium mining, water is in demand in large amounts and this depletes natural water sources plus it negatively affects the ecosystem.
Carbon Dioxide Footprint
Apart from lithium mining, we should also take a look at the carbon dioxide produced by the vehicle throughout its life cycle. There are three phases included in the life cycle of an electric vehicle. Those are the manufacturing phase, use phase and lastly, is the recycling phase.
Manufacturing Phase
In the manufacturing phase, consider the creation of the different components plus the assembly of such components. Comparing the carbon dioxide emission during the manufacturing phase, electric cars surprisingly produce more carbon dioxide than internal combustion engine vehicles. A huge part of the emission is due to the manufacturing of the battery fitted in electric vehicles.
Use Phase
As for the use phase, the emission of electric cars will only depend on the emission produced due to the production of the electricity that will charge the car’s battery. As for my Geo Metro, the level of emission will depend on how the fossil-fuel was produced or made available for the vehicle plus the actual emission produced by the car.
The emissions for electric car use will vary from one area to another. This is because some countries have a higher percentage of renewable electricity than others. Take Australia and New Zealand for example. New Zealand’s share of renewables is significantly higher than in Australia, which means that an electric car in New Zealand has fewer carbon emissions than an electric car in Australia.
As for fossil-fuel powered cars, their emission is much higher compared to electric vehicles whether they are in Australia or in New Zealand. Most of the carbon emission of a fossil-fuelled car is found in the use phase.
Considering our current source of electricity here in the US, the source of electricity for the vehicles will still produce a lot of emissions. Our renewables, when it comes to electricity, are just too low at the moment. Even if it rises in the next decade, that still wouldn’t significantly lessen the emissions produced to get electricity.
Recycling Phase
For the recycling phase, a study in China found that recycling an electric vehicle produces more emissions than recycling a fossil-fueled car. Like in the manufacturing phase, it is the battery that plays a significant part in producing higher emission when the electric car is recycled.
Why My Geo Metro Is Better Than Electric Cars
When comparing electric cars with new combustion engine vehicles, we can conclude that there will be a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions. However, that change isn’t big enough to cause a great impact on the climate or environment.
Buying and using a Geo Metro that has already been produced and used years ago is a better choice than buying a new electric car. If you really want to lessen the impact on the environment, help slow down the demand for electric cars. This also helps decrease the demand for mining lithium, manufacturing the battery and producing the electricity needed to power the vehicle. All of which negatively affect the environment. Remember that electric cars become really environmentally friendly when their source of electricity is renewable and not done by a coal-burning plant.
Oldie but goodie cars like the Geo Metro can still run well. It is easy to check the emissions they produce through various services you can find online. You can also have them serviced or maintain them on your own to lessen their carbon footprint. With a Geo Metro, you’ll not only help the environment but also help your pocket when it comes to fuel expense.
Dishing The Dirt On The Geo Metro
Many people have a love-hate relationship with their car.
That’s not really true for me and my Geo Metro. It’s dependable, remarkable, it’s a total chick magnet, and it even smells really nice with my “Black Ice” Little Trees Car freshner hanging in the visor.
I could spend foreve4r talking about why I love my Geo Metro but I’ll save that for another day. For now, let’s focus on the dirt. I dug deep with this one because there’s not a lot of complaints and problems I can find – it’s about as perfect of a car as one can possibly hope for.
That being said, the very short list below includes some problems I personally encountered plus what others have experienced about theirs.
Don’t get me wrong: this post is not meant to change your mind about buying that Geo Metro – without a doubt buy the next Geo Metro you see – but just to give you a head’s up about what problems you might expect.
No Power Windows Or Automated Door Locks
I also experience this but this isn’t really a problem for me, but hey, the Geo Metro is an old car and a basic one so what do you expect? It is created for people on a budget so don’t expect power windows or automated door locks.
For you youngsters out there, rolling up the window literally means turning a handle round and round until the car windows completely close. You also roll down the windows while turning it the other way.
Door locks also need to be done manually by pushing down or pulling up on the door locks. There is also o alarm system but I don’t think you’ll have to worry too much about someone taking your Geo Metro.
Uncomfortable Seats
For me, this problem has a simple fix. Buy some cushions or some of those ergonomic add-ons to seats and Bam! You got yourself some comfier seats with lumbar support.
Don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t compare to the seats of a Lincoln Continental or an Audi A8 L, but it works.
Noisy
With 55 restless Horses under the hood, you’ll definitely be hearing your engine roar when driving a Geo Metro.
Sound insulation wasn’t a priority in this vehicle. If your on the highway with the windows rolled down and accelerating to it’s top speed, you’ll definitely have a hard time conversing with the other people in the car.
No Airbags On Older Models
Depending on the model of your Geo Metro, it may or may not come with airbags. Older models like my blue beauty, which were produced prior to ‘95 don’t come with any airbag.
I like to live on the edge so I don’t really care for all those safety features.
Poor Acceleration Time
Your need for speed might not be met with this car. Most owners, including me, wished it could speed up faster than it does.
Although it is able to hit the 60 mph mark, you will need to be patient and going downhill before it happens.
Steering Problems
Some owners say that the steering wheel isn’t sensitive enough. You need to put some serious effort it if you want your wheels to turn, especially at the lower speeds. I say, you just have to know your vehicle and control it. Sure it may need a little effort for it to turn left or right but that gives the vehicle more character.
The more you drive your car, the more you’ll know about its features and flaws. My advice: spend time driving your car no matter what it is. You can adjust the way you drive. That’s how we do it.
Totally Wrecked
In case this car gets involved in a car crash, it can be totally wrecked. It can be very difficult to straighten out because of the unibody design. You can try but it won’t look the same again.
Final Words
As you can see my 1989 Blue Hatchback is a hard car NOT to love. It’s got SO many things going for it. Any issues are REALLY minor. Besides manual windows, uncomfortable seats, lack of sound suppression and airbags, really shitty acceleration, the worst power steering ever, and it’s reputation for difficulty to repair – it’s a total dream.
I Said Yes To My 1989 Blue Geo Metro
So I’m pretty lazy, and have been MIA (missing in action) for a while and I haven’t written anything at all. And I’ll do it again. Can you blame me? My creative juices just aren’t flowing and I’m simply in no mood to write. But, here I am again ‘cause I just don’t wanna leave you guys hanging.
For those of you who’ve been wonderin’ whether I’m dead or something, well, the great news is I’m not. I’m perfectly fine. Let’s just say I took a break and now I’m fully recharged to fill your free time with my crazy antics and somewhat useful information about my Geo Metro.
Deep Thoughts by the Beach
In a recent vacation, I was chilling outdoors seated rather comfortably on a hand-made Adirondack chair. I was enjoying a cold bottle of beer while watching the waves clash as the sun set. All of a sudden my thoughts wondered off to my Blue 1989 Geo Metro that’s nicely parked in my garage at home.
My thoughts led me back to the day I finally decided to buy one for myself. I recalled all the reasons why I thought that it was such a great buy. Today’s post is all about that.
Why I Bought A My Blue 1989 Geo Metro
It’s such a lady magnet, no doubt about that! Whenever I roll with it, I can see the girls start to whisper in each others ear. Maybe they’re talking about what a great car I have, how cool this shade of blue is, or maybe they got a glimpse at the man behind the wheel. All is still but a mystery to me. Apart from that, here are the reasons why this baby is mine:
-
Efficient
I have no doubt in my mind that this car is efficient. This baby saves me a heft lot of money on gas. It even performs better compared to more recent cars when it comes to fuel economy. It’s no surprise that it is part of the “25 All-Time Best Gas Cars by MPG”. Currently mine is at 52 MPG on the highway but there are others who have theirs as high as 75 MPG or even higher. Now that’s efficient.
-
Cheap
Back in the day, a brand new Geo Metro only cost several hundred dollars. To this day, the same car would go around for more or less a thousand bucks. I personally had several people offer me $1500 for this car, which is more than my Kelly Blue Book value. You can read more about that on another post called My Depressing Kelly Blue Book Value.
-
Dependable
It may not be the prettiest car on the block but I don’t care. I’ve gone through a lot with this car and never has it left me stranded. It can take a beating, at least the beating I put it through. Sure it requires some loving and tuning but I can definitely do that on my own.
Here are the reasons why I bought mine. So why did you buy yours?
My Depressing Kelly Blue Book Value
My Geo Metro is clean – no doubt.
But once in a while I get to wondering: what would it be like to own a normal shiny new vehicle? My Metro is getting up in miles (just over 218,000 currently) and the clutch is going to need to be replaced soon, so I went online to Kelly Blue Book to do some serious research into the matter. Their handy-dandy value calculator only went back as far as 1992, but let’s roll with it…here’s what it came back with:
The depressing Kelly Blue Book Value for my Geo Metro
$305.00 for a trade-in average? Doh!!!
That didn’t seem like a lot to me. Frankly, I had people walk up and offer me over $1500 on at least two occasions, so I was a little depressed with the results.
But I pressed on anyway – for shits and giggles – and tried to find place that would buy it outright. The closest place that would consider taking my car for other than scrap was like 60 minutes away. So I did the math: What would I actually make on trading my car in? Well for starters the gas to get there wouldn’t be much since this is, after all, a 45 MPG car. So let’s just say it’s $8.00:
- $8.00 – Gas
Then there’s my time. I’m a freelance programmer, and if I’m getting steady work I’m making around $50.00 per hour on the low-side. So let’s figure 2 hours to make the trip there and back, and another hour to seal the deal for 3 Hours total. That’s $150:
- $150.00 – Time (3 Hours @ $50.00)
- $8.00 – Gas
$158.00 total to sell my car. Minus that off of the trade-in value and we’re talking about $147.00! That’s bullshit man!
So I guess I’ll be keeping my super-clean, blue 1989 2-Door Hatchback Geo Metro a little longer. I really don’t know if I’ll ever sell it to be honest, but it’s fun to fantasize sometimes.
Gerard Pfeffer and Bobby Kruse Metro Mod
Just poking around the web I found this cool article from the Wall Street Journal about THIS:
Some of you may say, “This man has too much time on his hands.”, others might say, “Why didn’t he pick a better looking car to mod?”, or “Why the color yellow?”
To them I say two things:
- What’s wrong with the color yellow and…
- STFU
Now I like my cars clean and stock and nothing is stock in this car aside from the dash and the body, but damn – do it look mean!
Congrats Mr. Pfeffer and his late friend Bobby Kruse on this sweet Metro mod…
History of the Geo Metro
Here’s some history on the 1989GeoMetro. I copied a lot of it from Wikipedia, but I tried to improve it somewhat since Wikipedia was missing some details like how they left out a bunch of information on the HatchBack coupe, which is the car I own.
I tried to e-mail Wikipedia so they could update it, but I’m not sure that they will take my advice. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it! Alan
The Geo Metro can be defined as a manufacturing and marketing variation of the Suzuki Cultus that was available in North America from the year 1989 until the year 2001. It was essentially a joint effort of Suzuki and General Motors (popularly known as GM). In the United States of America, the Geo nameplate was carried by the Metro from the year 1989 to the year 1997. The Metro similarly carried a Chevrolet nameplate from the year 1998 to the year 2001.
It evolved over a period of thirteen years with the Cultus and its siblings. This was characterized by 3 generations and 4 body styles i.e. 3-door hatchback, 4-door sedan, 5-door hatchback and 2-door convertible. The above were ultimately replaced in the line of General Motors by a family of vehicles that were based on Daewoo Kalos.
Geo Metro facts
It is important to note that all the Metros were manufactured by CAMI Automotive Inc., this is with an exception of the convertible. The manufacturing process took place in Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada. It is equally important to note the fact that the Convertible was built in Japan by Suzuki.
The beginning of Geo Metro production
The Geo Metro can be described as a small economy car that was designed and manufactured on the basis of the Suzuki Swift or Cultus. It was basically produced from the year 1989 through to the year 2001. The very first generation was in 3-door and 5-door hatchback models. In addition, there was a four-door notchback sedan model which was sold in Canada.
The middle of Geo Metro production
In the year 1990, there was availability of a convertible but unfortunately it was phased out right after the year 1993. This was followed by the coming in of Metros that happened in 3 trim levels i.e. XFi, LSI or Base. The engine of XFi had less power in comparison to the engine of the Base and the engine of the LSi. The XFi was also able to achieve an incredible gas mileage of 53 MPG in the city and a startling 58 MPG on the highway. Each and every Metro at that point in time had 3 cylinder engines with either a 3-speed automatic transmission or a 5-speed manual transmission.
The only first-generation of the metro to have an airbag was the convertible. In the year 1995, the Metro underwent redesigning to give it an appearance that is more modern. The redesign also incorporated 70 horsepower (an equivalence of 71 PS or 52kW), a 4-cylinder engine, anti-lock brakes that were optional and standard dual airbags. The 5-door hatchback was replaced by a 4-door sedan. In the year 1995, the XFi never returned. The Base model and the LSi model were the only ones offered. The 3-cylinder engine was retained in the Base hatchback.
The end of Geo Metro production
In the year 1998, there was final revamping of the Metro that had been rebranded as Chevrolet. They performed minor re-styling, enhanced its headlamps and even boosted 4 cylinder engine to produce 79 horsepower (an equivalence of 80PS OR 59kW). The 2000 model was the final production of the 3-cylinder engine and the Metro hatchback. All the 2001 models were 4-door sedans that were exclusively sold to fleets.
The Metro line-up
The Metro line-up comprised of the following:
- The Metro Hatchback Coupe that was produced from the year 1989 through to the year 2001.
- The Metro Hatchback Sedan that was produced from the year 1989 to the year 1994.
- The Metro Convertible that was produced from the year 1991 through to 1993.
- The Metro Sedan that was produced from the year 1995 through to the year 2001.
Metro trim levels
3 varying trim levels were available during the manufacture of Metros. The bumper is undoubtedly the simplest way of identifying a specific Metro trim level. Bumpers on the XFi model were colored entirely black on both the upper and lower portions. Bumpers on the Base model had an upper portion that was body colored and a lower portion that was colored black. However, the LSi model bumpers were all body colored on both the upper and lower sections.
The Metro XFi was produced between the year 1989 and the year 1994, the Metro Base Level was produced between the year 1989 and the year 2000 and the Metro LSi that was produced from the year 1989 through to 1993, it was similarly produced between the year 1995 and the year 2001.
Metro XFi
Each and every Geo Metro was designed with three-cylinder, 1liter engine. The Metro XFi model was primarily designed for optimum fuel efficiency. It had different computer, lighter curb weight, different transmission and camshaft compared to both the Base model and LSi model. However, its convenience and comfort options were less appealing in comparison to the other two models. It achieved 53 MPG in city and 58 MPG on highway. It was rated as the most fuel efficient car in the whole of America throughout its production period. It was discontinued after the 1994 model year caused slow sales.
Metro Base
This model was considered more upscale in comparison to the XFi model. It has options that lacked in the Metro XFi such as automatic transmission and A/C. Its standard features included a passenger side mirror and body side molding that were also present in the XFi model. It had an extra 6 horsepower than the Metro XFi, it was rated a 55 horsepower car. This was possible with computer programming for both economy and power and because the lift camshaft that was a bit higher.
