GAS MILEAGE! Dependability!

Small. I only have 2 kids, but if they both want to give someone a ride, I''m out of luck. It only holds 4 with seatbelts.

I love my little car. I have had no difficulties since I bought it a year ago. I change the oil every 3000 miles. I get appx 40 mpg. IMy metro is used for work and I put on about 3000 in 2 mos. I am very pleased this far and would recommend this car to teens and single moms alike. This is probably not your car if you have to haul a lot of things or have a big family.

great mpg! like 38-45! cheap parts, cheap gas, and very cute! saved some money.. actual value was $4,800.

low weight more like to flip over. very, very slow (max 90mph.. like ive ever gotten there!!) and there was no tripometer.

Great car for casual driving but very slow. Not that great for highway driving because of it''s low weight. then if you add that to the driving wind, the suction of big rigs, and the rpms you get a coffin on wheels. my suggestion don''t buy this for your teen!

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`92 mazda mx3: much better than my metro `96 ranger: piece-o-crap

great gas milage, especially highway. compact and fits in small places where others cant park, extremly low maintenence.

As far as city driving you do have to fill up the tank maybe once a week but its only a ten gallon tank too.

This is my first knew car and by far the best Ive ever driven. Me and my buddy drove the car form Winston-Salem NC to Ithica NY on two eight dollar tanks of gas. The car is pretty peppy for a three cylynder.

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None

ECONOMY: Cheapest to drive, cheapest to repair (parts are CHEAP by my wallet, and it doesn''t break down anyway), and cheapest to INSURE.

Automatic struggles climbing hills with A/C running. Recommend stick on models this old (newer model automatic has 4cyl).

Great car. I would do it again in a heartbeat, but would choose the manual transmission for sure, due to lack of power/fuel economy under hard driving conditions (A/C inadequate during hottest part of day, when it is on the car will stall at a lenghthy stop light; also can''t climb hills with A/C on...those with 5speeds don''t seem to have this complaint. Car now has 114000+mi on it and has never broken down; I have basically replaced what my mechanic has suggested (based on mileage) BEFORE it has failed, and changed oil and filter every 2000mi. I am dumbfounded by hearing about ANY problems with this car, other than the minor inconveniences I''ve mentioned! I have found replacement parts to be CHEAP AND ABUNDANT...reviews saying otherwise mystify me! There is no comparison to other so-called economy cars, such as Toyota or Honda. Now that my car is 11yrs old it is beginning to have a bit of oil blow-by, noticeable around the air filter; but several different mechanics have told me "it''s 3 cylinders, you''ve got over 40000 miles per cylinder, what do you expect?" and they all seem to concur that the car has been an OUTSTANDING VALUE. I give this car my HIGHEST recommendation. Those who voice complaints about size and power ought to get out of the car and observe the nameplate...it says ''Metro'', not Mustang, not Yukon, not Freightliner. place your comparison where it is supposed to be: at the gaspump! I''ll say to you, naysayers, "What do you expect???"

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Toyota, Honda. Far, FAR better value all things considered. Get over yourself and check it out.

Superb gas mileage. Good climate control/audio systems. Daytime running lamps Roomy interior and trunk..

Narrow tires. Dark interior intensifies heat buildup. No trunk light.

I was pleased with the LSI sedan from the day it was purchased. The trunk and interior room is generous, the rear -folding seats can acommodate a least two adults. The L4/79HP engine is surprisingly fast, with a great passing gear. Controls and the instrument cluster are well-placed for the driver, front seats are quite comfortable. Narrow tires excerbate bad road conditions. Daytime running lamps are really helpful during rain, snow or near dark . Gray interior is a downside during the summer months,creating a heat buildup inside the car. Make certain you have air conditioning.

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Dodge Omni Hyundai Accent

Great gas mileage. Good reliable work car.

Not so great on the highway. Not a comfortable "traveling" Car. Dash faded real bad even when using Armor all frequently and a window shade.

Purchased as a work car and works great for that. I have the 3 cyl/1.0L and even with the ac running get an average of 43mpg (49 when not running it). Did notice when going speeds in excess of 60 (i.e. highway driving) the mpg was a lot less (36 mpg averaging 70 mph). 51,000 and all i''ve done is preventive maintenance. I was rear-ended with minimal damage to the bumper.

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Much better car than my 1987 Cavalier.

Dependable, cheap to buy used

expensive replacement parts!, OEM tires suck in rain( replaced with goodyear intergitys P175R70- really good tire for the car)

I drive my car 120 miles a day on the Freeway six days a week and have no problem running at 75 MPH. Windy days hold on! I have never had to have the car repaired, and I beat on it every day. It has been a very reliable car and very cheap. As far as gas milage, the way I drive( foot to the floor) I only get 40 MPG. Tune-up parts are not cheap ie cap,rotor,and wires. Yes, I have crash this car and it held up well against a 1990 ford ranger. I drove away with $4000 damage, but still drivable. The replacement parts are so expensive that it is very easy to total the car. Not a family of 5 car. Great commuter car.

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1990 nissan sentra. The sentra power kick its butt, but the metro reliability was better.

Mileage and durability. Up to 164,000 miles, I've driven for over 7 years, and the engine runs like it came off the lot yesterday. Oil and filter (standard,not synthetic, + FRAM filters) have been changed at 2500 mile intervals, with an occasional FRAM Double-Guard every 30-40,000 miles (yes, I understand the risks of too much teflon in the system). Overall the car has run beautifully, maintenance is wonderful, acceleration is good. All radio wires are already pre-installed, which was a big bonus when I installed my CD player. Don't buy a stock radio, they waste an enormous amount of panel space and cost a mint. I purchased a "half height" Jensen CD5050 CD player in '96 with detachable faceplate for $180 at Wal-Mart, a car adapter from the local car audio store, soldered the wires from the stereo to the car adapter, and it was basically plug-n-play...next radio I buy will be mp3-compatible (aiwa?). I highly recommend the Chiltons 89-93 (also covers 94+) Geo Metro manual, page 8-173 covers the audio wiring scheme. 6-speakers at 150 watts in a Metro is pretty fun.

Until the tires warm up, it's very difficult to manage on the highway. Even afterwards it's risky to go over 70mph. Any speed over 55mph decreases mileage by 1% per mph over 55, but this is true of most any vehicle. Other yee-haw drivers (i.e. most other drivers) also tend to run you over in this car. The Metro can also stop on a dime, which sounds like a bonus if theres a deer 20 feet in front, but if you've got a Ford Exfatass 2 feet behind you, it's not very helpful). As for repairs the wiper assembly WILL break if frozen in ice (a 50-cent plastic part breaks, and the entire $180 assembly then has to be changed). A friend owns a 96 Geo Metro so the following problems come from BOTH vehicles: radiator wore out at ~100,000 miles, distributor and/or rotors go bad every ~50,000 miles, MAP sensor is a common failing component, the muffler pipe will wear out around 110-140,000 and the clutch plate for standard (manual) transmissions will need replacement at ~120,000 miles. The front brake pads and rear shoes also wear out ~100,000 miles, and the fuel filter is the hardest component in the entire vehicle to replace, right next to the gas tank (must be replaced every 30-40k miles) -- your mileage may vary!!! :). It recently failed emissions...yes, NJ failed emissions in a Geo Metro - don't come to NJ if you like to drive (in fact, don't come to NJ period, they don't want more people, and this is just another way they like to show it)...at any rate, I attempted to replace the oxygen sensor last summer (6 months before inspection failure) and it's been extremely difficult to get rid of, being almost wielded into the exhaust manifold. My advice would be to replace or inspect in shorter intervals than I did (i.e. every 30-40,000 miles).

Would not recommend 94 metro due to lack of safety features. This DRASTICALLY changes in the 96 models, with standard airbags, larger tires (better control), steel door beams and (optional) ABS brakes. However, on the + side the 94 was the last year before they changed the Metro model, so most of the "kinks" or "bugs" were worked out during the previous 89-93 model years (i.e. very few suprises). Never purchase a new model car...they will almost ALWAYS contain recalls and bugs ('it's not a bug...IT'S A FEATURE!' -Dilbert).
I recommend anyone who wishes to keep their metro running to purchase the 9-film parts microfiche and the Geo Metro Factory service manual for your model year, which is a several-inch thick manual (or manuals) covering every aspect of that model year car...ebay frequently carries these books and 'fiche, and can be had for a fraction of what helm publishing would charge (see http://www.helminc.com/helm/product2.asp?Style=&Sku=ST37094&itemtype=N&mscsid=V67MXS68J5SR2MUQ00A3HVE05KVB4K8D ). The 89-93 Chiltons Geo Metro manual is highly recommended, and will also cover 94+ models, but the Haynes Metro manual is EXTREMELY TERRIBLE, since it covers the Chevy Sprint 10x more than the Metro, leaving out vital repair details.

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Never had to buy any other car. Previously drove a used '70 nova and later calculated that I paid off the metro in 3 years worth of gas it took the nova to drive similarly equal distances.

C h e aaaaaaaaaaaaa p and tops for fuel milage. Like being on a fasssssssst goooooooo cart and easy to park. Smaller than a motorcycle.
Good quality inside and out. Good ride and good lumbar support, better than a VW Bug (Ouch) I had a 99 VW Bug, but you feel every little bump and the seats are horrible. I had to get rid of it, to many back problems.
The Metro is just wonderful for the price. When I fill up, about 1/2 tank, it usually cost less than $6 compared to $20-30 for my other car. I'm using the Metro as my summer car and in the winter I drive my 2000 Jeep
Grand Cherokee Limit for heat and traction. The money I save on fuel in
the summer with my Metro, goes toward my Jeep in the winter.

Weakness.............obviously the small engine. But if you plan ahead and keep on your toe's, it's fun.

I got mine cheap, for only $6400 with less than 5000 miles on it, plus a three year warranty. I wouldn't hestitate to recommend it for a single
person or a single mother, it's just fantastic. The CD sound system is
wonderful, better than my Jeep! The only problem is that other drivers may have a hard time seeing you. I put a reflective strip on the back and front bumper, bright flourogreen, they see me now; otherwise they have
a tendency to come up from behind fast and slam on the brakes. Hair
raising events. Check your rear view mirror often and be prepared to go onto the shoulders, if you have to.

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VW Bug. Much better than the Bug. Not as beautiful, but functional. Gas
milage is two-three times better. The layout of the Metro is logical and
practical. The driver's view is wonderful and it's fun looking up at the
undercarriage of biiiiiiiigggg trucks to see if they have undercoating.

Gas mileage, reliable and tough motor whether you buy a 3 or 4 cylinder, roomy in the front for a 6'4" guy like me and enough leg room in the back seat for a 6-footer.
Lots of storage space when the back seat is down.
Cheap to buy, parts can last a long time if cared for properly.
On my Swift, the original tires & battery lasted 6 years, clutch & radiator lasted 7 & 8 years.
4-door version is taller and longer than the 2-door.
The rust protection of the GM seems to be better than the Suzuki version of the car.

Other drivers think you're invisible so they cut you off or they enter the road in right front of you forcing you to brake. I've used my horn a few times and I just bought it!
Lots of wind noise hitting my hatch window, so I open my rear door windows and it's fine. Too bad the rear windows behind the rear doors don't open.
the 2-door model do, just not the 4-door model.
3 speed automatics rev kinda high when you hit 80 km/h compared to the 5-speed manual.
They should've made an overdrive.
Parts are expensive. But if you baby your car you won't replace your parts as frequently.
When the shift is in park it's hard to get your cup out of the cupholder.
My 5-speed Suzuki Swift doesn't have that problem and it's the same car.
No rear panel to hide what's in your trunk, unless that was an option back in '94.
Rear doors don't open far enough.
Some of you mentioned the insurance is high on these cars (Metro/Firefly, etc.).
CALL AROUND!!! to other insurance companies. What I was paying for my Swift
I found an insurance company that's the same price for both my Swift and Firefly combined!!!

There's no posting for Pontiac Fireflys so I might as well post it here since it's identical to the Metro.
There is a Suzuki Swift posting on this website and I posted there too if you would like to read it.
Bought my Firefly in April, so I haven't had it that long but I know about
these cars as I also have a '93 Suzuki Swift which is also identical.
I've been to Boston and Detroit twice on my Swift.
Never had to fill up before getting to these cities.
Well over 800km to each city and still had gas left over on the 5-speed.
On the automatics you may make it to 800km on a tank on the highway
as long as your speed is about 90 km/h or 55 mp/h.
Remember, this is a small tank. It was costing me $17 to fill before the gas prices rose.
The Firefly, including its cousins (Metro, Swift, Sprint, Forsa)
and other small cars in the similar price range (Hyundai, Kia, Daewoo, etc)
are meant for patient, open-minded and brave folks.
Not for lead-footed, speed freaks. Unless you buy the turbo version of these types of cars.
Patience - for those who don't need the extra power, speed and price
from other cars to get from point A to point B a few seconds or minutes sooner.
Open-mindedness - keep an open-mind with these cars, they are small,
they'll grow on you and in the end and then you become attached like I have.
Brave - who is more brave and strong when you're surrounded by these
SUVs, vans, 18-wheelers and pickups? Probably cyclists and motorcyclists.
If they made a pickup version of these (like the VW Rabbit) I'd be first in line to buy one.
If you enjoy supporting the wealthy Oil Companies forcing our gas prices
to skyrocket, these cars are not for you.
With the rising gas prices, on average, you pay about $2-$3 more for gas,
nothing to whine about, eh?
Too bad they phased out these cars. They've been in North America
for over 16 years, they did something right to last that long.
The similar fuel-efficient VW Golf/Jetta TDI, and the gas/electric cars are great but they are so overpriced.
The Swift, Metro, Firefly, Sprint, Forsa are the next best thing for a fraction of the price.
Long live rock'n'roll and the Pontiac Firefly!

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'77 & '81 Civic (only other good cars I've had), Calais (unreliable, but nice when running well), Reliant (roomy, but unreliable), Festiva (similar to Swift, but not as good quality).