1997 Geo Metro LSi from North America
Summary:
Cute and unique, with a good price
Faults:
The overhead light doesn't work anymore for no reason we can find without ripping the cars wires out.
At one point we took the car in to the shop because it was making an odd noise. some piece of metal from the car's bottom was touching the muffler and vibrating when I drove. The shop cut it off (obviously it wasn't needed, I don't recall what it was) and it sounds fine now.
Other than that, there are two small vents facing toward the rear hatch window. Supposedly for defrosting. They have not worked since we bought the car and we haven't gotten them checked out yet, so the window fogs pretty bad at times. (Small car though. Easy to handle.)
General Comments:
The car's history began in Florida so she's a little rusty on the bottom around the wheel wells. Nothing major though.
Some people have commented on how the car "has no power". I have the 4 cylinder hatchback and I have beaten almost all of my friends out of stoplights and received 4 tickets in my short time. Just gotta give her a little mid-grade gas to keep her injectors clean is all!
I seriously love my car. Don't know what I would do without it. Especially since people around town know me as the girl in the "little green car with all the stickers."
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 27th August, 2002
18th Feb 2005, 15:33
I think the people who say your car has no power are referring to the go-kart sized 3-cylinder engine that the Metro is known for. Most Metros were made with this engine, but a few were equipped with 4-cylinders after 1995 when drivers began demanding more Metro muscle. When people see a Metro, they automatically think "slow", but in your case they are wrong. I, myself have a 3-cylinder Metro, and though it is a bit powerless, I'm proud of it. What other car gets 50mpg without a hybrid engine?
31st Mar 2005, 00:49
Some Geo Metros are indeed very peepy. I have a 1997 Hatchback Lsi 1.3 liter engine and I commute in a highway 100-120 miles per day. I normally keep up with traffic flow at 65-75 (continuously) miles per hour almost all the way. I drive on the average 3300 miles per month and owned it for 4 years now with no major problem. I change oil every 10,000 miles and never had to add oil in between. I feel my Geo Metro is fast, economical, reliable and a lot of fun to drive. It is as good as my Mercedes, Jaguar and other fancy cars I still own- currently in storage.
12th Oct 2005, 22:19
I also have a '97 LSI with the 1.3L engine. You are right about the power - mine is very peppy. I drove it for 5 years and recently gave it to my son for college. It now has over 130K miles and doesn't burn a drop of oil. It's a great car that has paid for itself several times over. A/C has a slow leak, but I recharge it every couple of years and it keeps on cooling.
19th Feb 2004, 00:45
Those "vents" at the back of the headliner do nothing. There is not any vent work in the roof of the car.
I would like to know what your friends drive, or were they running along side of you?
No hard feelings, I just know that it takes quite a bit more than high octane pump gas to beat anything in most any sub-compact car.
I'm glad that you love your car. I also own a 3dr Metro that has been in my life for almost seven years.
Don't believe anything that spectators say (or chuckle) about; it takes a strong ego to even commute in one of these rides.