Faults:

Acceleration or merging on a ramp is sometimes slow.

General Comments:

My fond memory of my former 1996 Geo Metro LSi was the driver and the passenger seats were comfortable enough to sleep in or take a nap. It's good on my back.

Faults:

I finally junked it at 240000. Both the engine and transmission needed replacement to get it running again.

General Comments:

Best car I've ever owned. I'm now beginning to regret not replacing the engine and transmission and keeping it. I bought it new and junked it at 240,000 miles on the original engine and transmission. It was very reliable, at least until the engine and transmission went on it. Fun car to drive. Small on the outside. Maneuverable. Excellent head room inside. Very good gas mileage, 37 mpg with the auto transmission.

Anyone else out there who was in the same situation? Did you replace the engine and transmission, or sell it as junk? How did things work out afterwards?

Faults:

It needed a transmission when I bought it. I got a used one for $325. The headliner is starting to come down in some places.

General Comments:

Truth is I am poor and needed a car that was reliable, easy to work on and got awesome gas mileage. I drove 4 hours to buy this car knowing it had a bad transmission; fifth gear was gone, but I managed to drive it home using 4th.

I talked the price down to $600 (which included a Sony CD player, an amp, and a sub box already hooked up). I picked up a used 5-speed at a local salvage yard for $325, and had it installed for $100.

I am a big guy, 6'5 and 240 lbs and I fit in it great; I was surprised at how much leg and headroom it has. With the back seats folded down, there is more room than you would think in such a small car. I just put new tires on it (for $200) and my gas mileage went up 6 mpg to a honest 48 to 50 mpg consistently. Most people flip when I tell them my mpg!

These things are rare where I live; imagine this... I went shopping at Wal-Mart and it was busy. I came out to a mostly full parking lot. It was cool to look around and KNOW I get better gas mileage than every other car in the parking lot. For about $1000, I got a great car!

Faults:

Moderate oil leak. Replaced several gaskets until it was found out the a plugged PVC valve was causing the gaskets to fail.

Replaced the tires with Blizzacks--this car can now drive through anything!

Replaced a muffler.

General Comments:

I love my Geo Metro. I bought this used for $1400.00. It has never failed me--well except the time I left it running on a hill in neutral and it decided to roll backwards, down 2 steep embankments, and hit a 3 story brick apartment building. LOL It handled that encounter extremely well and with the help of a dent puller, some bondo and a new tail light lens from a junkyard--she was on the road within 48 hours. Almost 3 years since that backyard repair and it is still undetectable unless you point it out to someone.

I have hauled many things in this car. The hatch opens to a substantial area. I have hauled a chest of drawers, lawn furniture (not the folding type), and several times hauled 400 pounds of bags of top soil. It is just an amazing little car.

Now, since the grandkids are older, I usually drive my Concorde as the Geo is not big enough for a driver and 3 fairly good sized passengers. But I drive it when it is just me and one passenger.

I will NEVER sell my Geo. I will keep it until the day it dies.