Comments: 1-15, 16-20
I have just bought this vehicle so it may be silly to write a review for it already, but I am hoping to retain a record of mileage/repairs here to give others an idea of the costs of running this vehicle.
At time of purchase this vehicle had been very well maintained as far as engine and transmission go, plus the clutch, CV axles, tires, and battery were all brand new.
Rear struts were blown - I replaced them myself for $140 CAD... and 11 hours of labor. It probably shouldn't have taken me so long, but it was the first time I've ever replaced struts on my own. Plus, one of the pinch bolts wouldn't go back in after I took it out. I had to re-thread the bolt hole and that was no fun.
Front rotors, pads, and rear drums need to be replaced. I've found all the parts for around $150. Will update next week since this is my upcoming weekend project.
Windshield and exhaust are being replaced this week.
Testing fuel economy at the moment. Filled up when I first bought the car. Only $20 (at a $1.10 per liter - yes, that's $4.16 a gallon) to fill it with the needle at 1/3 tank. Sure a nice change from my $80 to fill minivan. The needle is hovering around 1/2 tank right now and I've driven over 200 km. 80% city driving - I'm doing a worst case scenario fuel economy test. Most of the time I will only be doing about 40% city driving.
The accelerator is very sensitive. Took me a few days to get used to it.
The car feels a lot bigger than it looks. The seats are comfortable. In most vehicles the "headrest" is not comfortable to rest on at all. In this vehicle I really can "rest" my head on the headrest and be comfortable. It's a very well-designed seat.
My teenagers can actually fit in the backseat with room to spare. Lots of leg room. My son was amazed at this since the car looks so small. He thought it was going to be like his friend's Camaro inside - seriously constrictive.
Visors are flimsy, doors are thin and cheap, but it's an economy car - I wasn't expecting much else. I am surprised that the dashboard isn't too bad. It seems very solid and well-crafted.
Previous owner put in a nice Kenwood CD player... but left in the stock speakers...ugh. I don't care if my music is loud, but I do want it to sound nice (I have some sound engineering experience and I'm a musician). I don't want to spend a lot of money, but a few quality speakers and a small subwoofer are definitely in the plans.
I hated... REALLY hated driving my Aerostar back and forth to work. It's a great vehicle for long trips, but it's clunky, a gas-guzzler, and it's BIG. I love cars. Not vans, trucks, or buses...cars.
The Metro is the perfect, everyday, commuter vehicle... if you're carpooling get the four-door though.
Now all I need is a '68 428 Mustang Fastback for the weekends.
Okay, here's the first report on fuel mileage. Over 405km I burned 25.084L of fuel. This works out to 6.2L/100km or 38.2 mpg. My driving was actually a 60%/40% split between city/highway mileage.
So, that's really not too bad for a 10 year-old vehicle. However, I am hoping to increase that number to 42+ mpg. The car is rated for 44/49 city/highway fuel economy and I think I should be able to get close to that again with some careful maintenance. Then again, it took me a few days to get used to the touchy accelerator and find the car's optimum shift points (idiot light isn't working).
I guess overall engine compression could be down slightly. Anyone know how difficult it is to pull pistons out of one of these?
Replaced the windshield on October 1st. Cost me $229+GST (again, Canadian dollars). When I got the quote the fellow told me the molding would probably have to be replaced (another $65), but afterwards he said the old windshield just popped right out without any problems. He could have replaced it to make extra money, but he didn't. I think that is pretty honest service.
Didn't get a chance to replace the brakes - it was raining and I don't have a garage. I'm hoping to get the brakes done soon. Right rear drum is starting to make some noise occasionally.
Had exhaust checked. I only need a new muffler and a section of pipe replaced. Apparently the Metro's muffler is somewhat specialized and costs $115. $182 for the entire job isn't too bad, but the parts costs in Canada seem really high compared to the US. I've found an entire replacement exhaust (from engine to tip including cat, resonator, and muffler) for $222.73 USD ($261 CAD) on a couple of parts websites. However shipping is around $250 CAD. Maybe one of these days I'll find a shipping deal and just get a whole new exhaust.
Further Update:
*Sigh* the joys of buying a used car. I've never shopped for a used car before - always purchased off family members previously so I knew what all the issues with the vehicle were.
I knew the rear struts were gone, but how are you supposed to know that the fronts are going to follow suit within two weeks? Front struts blew out sometime within the last few days - probably all the speed bumps in the local Rec Center parking lot. I guess they're not totally gone - car doesn't bounce too badly yet.
The car hasn't been a money pit by any means yet. I purchased it for $2,300 and I've only put $475 into it so far. I plan on purchasing an engine rebuild kit (mostly as a "just in case") and even with that I should only top out at $1,500. $3,800 for a used car that gets nearly 40 mpg is a good deal in my opinion.
And more updates:
Changed spark plugs and distributor cap - I have never had such an easy time changing spark plugs before. 20 minutes and it was done. Found out one of the original plugs was not properly torqued in place - could feel it turning as I was trying to get the wire off. Hopefully this will increase my gas mileage marginally. I'm really hoping to get a minimum of 42 mpg out of the car.
If anyone can give me ideas of things to check for to improve fuel economy it would be appreciated. New plugs, tire pressure is okay. I carry quite a few tools around, but they don't weigh any more than an extra person in the car would.
Attempted to change front struts this weekend. Ended up with a sore back and a snapped bolt - plus a bolt that simply wouldn't unscrew more than a 1/16". The broken stud is in there so securely that I just left it for now and didn't bother changing the struts. Put all the nuts back on and it's perfectly safe to drive. I'll do it next weekend I guess.
You should change the title of this review to "95 Geo Metro blog".
The headrests (despite their name) are not supposed to be a comfy place to rest your head; they are supposed to help prevent whiplash injuries in an accident.
If you are getting close to 40 mpg now you are probably not going to get much better. Hardly anyone is ever able to get the advertised mileage figures, let alone on a car with such high miles/km. Synthetic oil might get you some, but the increased cost would more than offset any mileage gains. Plus synthetic oil might break loose accumulated dirt (not a good thing if it then clogs oil passages or the pickup screen). Don't waste your money on those tornados or "fuel magnetizers" or any of that crap. Check/replace the air filter.
Ha, good point (about the "blog"). You should see my personal journal on this car - pictures, costs, details, etc.
Headrests: Oh, I know that, I just like the fact that I CAN rest my head on it and my back and neck remain straight. Most "headrests" actually cause your neck to tilt at an unnatural angle.
Fuel economy: I guess I've read a lot of reviews from people stating they are still getting 45 mpg. The car has had synthetic oil in it for the last number of years (in my previous vehicles I've split the cost difference and just bought semi-synth). I'll probably just do that again. I wasn't planning on a "tornado" or "turbonator" or any additives. All hokus-pokus junk in my book.
Compression could be slightly down - I haven't checked it yet. I'm probably going to look at an engine rebuild next year...maybe.
Don't feel too bad about your purchase, it is a good car.
I just bought a 97 Metro with 262,000 km on the clock and had to redo the entire front end to both sides.
Rebuilt cv axles, hub bearing and seals (you will need a 20 ton press to get that bearing out, hammer will not cut it neither will heating it up work, too much wear and tear), new ball joint with lower control arm, new roll bar link to control arm, new rotors and pads, new cv axle seals in transaxle, new rad and hoses plus sum minor tuneup and all filter changes (air, fuel, oil).
But the big one I encountered on both sides of the car no less, was having to address the rust in the lower control arm support structure. You know, the structure the lower control arm and roll bar is bolted to. All rusted through and through.
Had to rebuild and weld it from scratch with new heavier sheet metal. The previous owner removed the inner splash guards and forgot to replace them leaving some holes open for salt/saltwater to enter and bugger it up.
Well it is all tidied up now and much stronger than when new. You won't see me by the road with my front wheel twisted and ripped out from underneath me like some poor Honda sobs you see in and around the highways of Toronto.
Oh if your looking for some cheap 1.0 litre engine parts contact Richard of Longrun Imports in Trenton http://www.longrun.com he has some very good deals.
I really don't feel bad about my purchase. I don't think I could have bought a better car for the money - even with all the repairs the car is saving me money compared to the cost of running my Aerostar around ($80 to fill every 450 km!).
I wanted a car that was easy to work on and - most importantly - it had to get over 40 mpg (which I am getting on the highway - up to 39.5 mpg in town before the new plugs went in).
It's definitely not a sports car, but it's economical and strictly mine - my wife doesn't care if I tinker with it. She's the type who believes everything should be treated like china - keep it pretty and new looking and try not to use it too often. I'm the type who beats the hell out of everything I own and fixes it when it breaks... until it simply can't be fixed anymore.
As I said, I'm really happy with my car. Maybe I could have checked it out a little more when I bought it, but I probably would have gone ahead with it anyway.
One Further Update:
Finally completed the front struts. Took forever to drill out that broken bolt. It was one hitch after another.
Anyway, car drives great now. Getting 41.7 mpg (65/35 cty/hwy driving)! I think I'm going to look for another Swift clone to fix up for my son to drive when he gets his license.
Kudos on your purchase working out for you. I don't doubt it for a minute, I'd take a metro over an Aerostar any day. You got to expect you have to spend a couple of bucks on a used car and it's still always cheaper than a newer car.
I wish I could find a decent 5 speed Geo around here that's not rediciously overpriced. There was one in the paper a bit over a month ago, it was a 93 I think. They wanted something like $2800 bucks for it! Ludicrous! I had a 93 4 door hatch Geo with the 5 speed and I loved it. I kick myself in the arse so damn hard everytime the gas price goes up for selling it. At time time I sold it, I wasn't working and I needed a hood, driver's side front fender, some rear brake work, one rear shock, and either a cylinder hear or an entire motor, and I just got fed up with it. See, I have a slight mental condition that affects my train of thought from a motorcycle accident 15 years ago. For WAY less than the cost of purchasing my next car, I could have fixed up my Geo. I figure 300 bucks in parts from a junkyard would have brought it right back up to snuff. A local junkyard only wanted $100 bucks for a running motor! Hell, 100 bucks is less than 2 tanks of gas for my current car, a 93 Crown Vic. Damn price gougers, if there was a reasonable priced 5 speed Geo, I'd be ALL over it.
I have a 95 metro with a 3cyl 5 speed. I was getting around 38-41mpg with a combo of about 30%/70% city/highway respectfully. However with the extremely high cost of gas lately I have tried to keep my foot as far off the pedal as possible and keep it in as high of a gear as possible. I'm usually in 5th before I hit 30mph and I just feather the gas up to speed. It takes me a little longer to get up to speed then I stay off the gas as much as possible and just try to stay steady instead of going from flooring it to completely off the pedal. I still travel at around 65mph on the highway, but I just keep my foot just slightly on the pedal to keep the car at speed. I have a lot of hills around where I live so that doesn't help, but I am still able to keep off the gas. I checked my mileage on strictly highway driving yesterday and got 81 miles out of 1.44 gallons. That translates to 56mpg. I then did the same thing with a combo of around town driving and highway driving (about 40%town and 60% highway) and got 83 miles out of 1.73 gallons. Which translates to 47mpg. Not bad considering all I did was stay off the gas. I encourage you to try this and see if it makes a difference for you. I was really surprised what a difference it has made for me.
65 mpg seems to be the magic highway speed for best economy. I'm an appraiser, and I just get in the right lane and relax. Saves me both money and peace of mind (South Floridians are terrors on the highway).
Hey congratulations on the purchase of your metro. I recently bought a 95 with 130,000 miles on it. for $450 it seems to run pretty darn good. With my first tank of gas I t only got a disappointing 36 mpg. however like others say if you put eggs under accelerator petal you will see great improvement in mpg. I now average around 42mpg. with just new plugs and O2 sensor. one word of advice keep tires rotated!I had real hard time removing rear wheels they were rusted to hubs. I needed to use punch to aggravate edge then ten pound mall to losen. I reassembled with never seize. I really love car. have read that egr system plugs and valve sticks part way open part way closed and will burn valve. I (shh) temporarily fixed this by plugging ports by sandwiching pop can between valve body and manifold. that seems to have helped occasional rough idle. just remember if it ain't broke fix it till it is.
Good luck all.
Update:
I am the original writer of this review and as the months have gone by I have been keeping a VERY comprehensive log of mileage and work I have put into this vehicle. Now that summer is approaching it is amazing how well the little Metro runs in higher temps.
Anyway, I have learned that fuel economy is a highly variable statistic and is hugely dependent on driving style, ambient temperature, and the condition of the vehicle.
On May 30, 2006 I recorded a personal record of 50.265 mpg US (21.381 km/L, 60.372 mpg Imperial, 4.677 L/100 km) all city driving. If you come to gassavers. org you can find lots of tips for driving efficiently.