1997 Geo Metro LSi 1.3 four cylinder from North America
Summary:
The car has proven to be quite solid and a good value
Faults:
The air conditioning/heating system in the car has been a minor annoyance. While it has not yet quit entirely, it appears that a contact in the switch is going bad, because I have to jiggle the switch to make the blower come on.
The only other money I have spent on the car has been regular maintenance--tires, exhaust, brakes, etc. I think the rotors may be on the weak side, because mine always seem to be a little warped (pulsing is felt in the brake pedal).
General Comments:
My previous car was a modified 1977 Chevy Camaro that was powered by a 350 horsepower V8. The Metro quite a change, but I have not regretted purchasing the car. It has been incredibly reliable--I have been stranded only once in three years of ownership, and it was my own fault. The battery was going bad and I ignored the problem until it was too late.
The car is not powerful, but the four cylinder model makes sufficient power to merge with traffic safely (I suspect that the smaller three cylinder engine would not make adequate power to safely merge in interstate traffic).
The cabin is almost entirely windows (mine is a hatchback model), and there is no discernable blind spot.
The Metro handles surprisingly well, and it's roadholding ability in winter driving conditions has pleasantly surprised me.
Creature comforts are lacking, although what do you expect in a Metro? There are no power locks, windows, or power steering. My only complaint here is that the seats are not comfortable for longer drives. I wouldn't recommend planning to take it on a five hour trip; I did this once and could barely walk when I arrived at my destination.
With a tailwind the car once gave me 40mpg on the highway, although I seem to average between 33 and 37 miles per gallon on the highway and 29-33 in town.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 9th August, 2002
19th Feb 2004, 00:53
I'm glad someone finally mentioned the visibility from the cockpit. Having no blind spots is a big deal in a car this size.
Although the automatics don't get near the gas mileage, they tend to wear better than the manuals on the four cylinder engine.
The a/c malfunction is probably a loose connection. I think it takes all of four screws to take the switch out of the panel and check the lead wires.
And since your warranty is definitely expired by now, you can do it yourself. Don't worry, though. Nothing is hard to get to in these cars (with the exception of the water pump and the constant velocity joints).