Faults:

The road noise is high on this car, but it's like a little go-cart. Really fun to drive! One problem was the driver's side front wheel bearings were bad, but one hour of labor, and parts, and my mechanic checked the timing belt and changed the spark plugs for $119.00.

Then I went to U-Pull wrecking yard, it and found some inside plastic panels as it didn't come with those, and a friend helped me glue down some insulation before putting that on. That was $24. Still looking for some hubcaps.

Oil changes are so easy. It's using some oil, but I read where I should probably clean the ERG? valve, so I will before I burn the valves. (I don't speak the language of a mechanic, really. Ask me about nutrition or cleaning products, but I learn quickly.)

General Comments:

My Pontiac has 204,000? on it, and gets 20-23 mpg. This little disposable Geo had 171,000 on it when I bought it, and had been a smoker's car (I'm very allergic to smoke), but I picked it up for $550, figuring with gas prices that it would pay for itself in 3-6 months. With $50 for registration, and $120 for basic repairs, $24 for some noise control, the 38-39 mpg (it's automatic and I haven't tested the mpg on a long freeway trip yet) I'm happy. I fill up with $20-27 depending on gas prices, which is half of what I had been spending.

The safety factor makes me feel like I'm a scurrying mouse on the highways, and I'm cautious. I find that I brake later than with my large, heavy old Pontiac 6000 which can get me rear-ended if I'm not more careful. Overall, a great money saver and experiment.

The cigarette. smoke is gone after wiping it down inside and shampooing, and then using an Air Source air purifier inside for a couple of days to kill odor, mold, pet dander, etc. Great little go-cart. My next one will be a mint green classic Mercedes convertible. Looking. leangreencafe@yahoo.com

Faults:

Needed valve job at 165,000 miles.

General Comments:

My previous car (a 1985 honda CRX) was totaled and I had just needed a good economy car to see me through grad school. The car dealer showed me this little (very!) green convertible and it was love at first sight. Almost fifteen years and 170k miles later little "Gumby" is still running strong.

Apart from a valve job and new clutch at 165K miles, the car has required just about no repairs other than the usual oil change, tune ups, tires etc. Also, due to vandalism, I've had to replace the top twice, although I was incredibly happy with the factory convertible top and the first replacement top did not measure up at all to the factory top (the second replacement is much better).

Most people who haven't driven a geo metro (manual transmission) will think that its sluggish on the road (after all, it is a three-cylinder...) The truth is that this car is peppy and an absolute joy to drive. It handles well and, because the car is fairly light, is very responsive.

...and of course, there is the gas mileage. I live in Los Angeles and have to deal with stop-and-go traffic all of the time, but still get about 38 city miles/gallon and 40-43 on the freeway.

Other pluses: With the Geo Metro, you can be crappy at parking and still fit the car well within the lines; you an always find a parking space to fit into; little kids think that your car is cute because it looks like a life-size "playmobile" toy; I could go on and on...

Safety is always a concern with the little Geo Metro, though. You have to be much, much more than just a defensive driver. I've been backed into by more other drivers than I'd like to remember and they always said the same thing: "I didn't even see your car."

Overall, a car that has more than exceeded my expectations and one that I have no intentions of trading in.