1996 Geo Metro review from North America

I have owned this car for a year, and nothing at all has gone wrong with it. There are some minor things, but the car is over 10 years old.

The "Service Engine Soon" light comes on occasionally, usually after I fill the gas tank. I had it checked out, and nothing seems to be wrong. I haven't noticed any drop in performance or any problems. I'm assuming it might be a faulty gas cap, or sensor.

The dash is discolored and faded in some places, but this is a common issue with this car. It's unimportant to me.

Minor nicks and dings on the exterior, usual wear and tear on a 10 year old car.

Aside from that, I have not had any negative issues with this car.

I bought my li'l Metro Hatchback a year ago with 58,000 original miles. I paid $2,700 cash for it. Considering gas was pretty expensive at the time, and Metros are always in demand when gas prices are high, I feel I got an excellent deal.

Obviously, in purchasing this car I was not looking for the smoothest ride or most luxurious features. I was looking for a reliable, economical vehicle that would get me were I needed to go. I have not been disappointed.

I had the timing belt replaced when I first purchased the car, and have had an oil change and service every 3,000 miles. It has not given me any problems whatsoever, aside from the minor issues described above.

The engine, while small, is very efficient. I average 40 mpg CITY. With a 10.6 gallon fuel capacity, I can drive 400 miles between fill-ups! I haven't driven it on any long highway trips yet.

Acceleration is what I would describe as "zippy". You're not going to beat anyone off the line in a Geo Metro (unless you've done some custom engine mods), but it's just fine for normal driving.

I haven't had to replace the tires yet, but I've been doing research and it will only cost me $100 to replace ALL 4 TIRES!!

People like to joke about my li'l Geo, and I like to joke right along with them. It is a quirky little car. But when I tell them how much I paid for it, what kind of gas mileage I get, and how reliable it has been, people stop laughing and usually say "wow!".

Overall, this car has been a joy to own. It has been very economical, easy to maintain, and worry-free, and is easily one of the best investments I have ever made.