1992 Geo Metro Lsi Convertable review from North America

Muffler Rots.

Engine failure.

Leaks Tranny Fluid.

O2 Sensor Rotten.

Coil Failed.

Body Rotten.

Convertible top cracked - window busting out.

Rear Wheel Bearings Poor Life.

My wife fell in love with this little car, and even now as it sits dead in the driveway, she still loves the little thing. I admit, it's cute and gets very good gas mileage, however this car has been somewhat of a lemon for us. Right from the dealer (bought it used) the engine was a little "rattly" and loud. Not being familiar with the 3 cylinder I figured it was normal noise. She took the car on a trip from Ontario Canada to Virginia and after making it there, she was left stranded with a hole in the block. After an engine change in "backwoods VA" the car barely made it home with a used engine. When she got home the car was covered in oil soot and it was chugging like a diesel. We took it back to the dealer and after another engine change (another used one) they tried to tell me that my warranty wouldn't cover the installation of engine number 3 because they weren't responsible for the shoddy workmanship of the Virginia mechanics. After the threat of legal action, we got the car back, and again, this engine sounded loud and was completely gutless. I never returned to the dealer so she drove it this way for about a year. After filling the oil and topping it up with gas on a daily basis, I changed the engine (again). Enter engine number 4. This change happened about 2 years ago and it's been somewhat reliable. I've been fighting with moments of no spark, gone through some coil changes, wires, plugs, cap and rotor, but never really got to the bottom of it. Last week she went out to start it and it's toast. It turns over, but it sounds like no compression so we're not going to go to engine number 5 or possible a timing belt, who knows.

After being plagued with numerous engine problems, my wife still likes this car, but from a monetary standpoint, what we saved on gas, we payed out 10 times over on repairs. Admittedly, we installed used parts where we could, because the price for parts on this Japanese engine are astronomical. My wife only used this car to drive 10 or so miles a day, and it's had 4 engines, so needless to say, it wasn't very reliable.

If you ask her today, she still loves her little car, and even as it sits, we've had offers to sell it. As for me, I don't share her sympathy, I'm sick of the thing. LOL.

She's being replaced with a VW Beetle, which she finds just as cute, and I feel a whole lot better about her driving around in the Beetle vs the Geo.