1992 Geo Storm 1.6 Liter 4-cyllinder from North America
Summary:
An underestimated car with unbelievable speed
Faults:
The exhaust pipe has fallen off of the manifold 2 times so far and sounds like its about to again.
I replaced the stock muffler with just a piece of pipe and a 4-inch chrome, baffled, exhaust tip, and it doesn't get loud or gain tone until the engine is warmed up to its fullest.
A little rust is developing under the doors.
The heat-shield rattles constantly.
My gas mileage should be great, but, unfortunately it isn't.
The rear-view mirror fell off after about a week of my stereo system.
The door locks freeze up causing you to not be able to close the door.
The frozen door locks cause the driver side door to fly open occasionally.
There is no room in the back seat for anyone to sit.
General Comments:
Despite all of the little problems this car is great. My engine is only a 1.6 liter, but it will fly. I have topped out at 113 miles per hour in this car in a long straight stretch and it was quite scary, so don't underestimate these cars and do not assume that because they are made by Geo that they are slow. The exhaust sounds wicked after the engine warms up and you have the revolutions per minute between 2,500 and 3,200. I have eaten Dodge Neons, Plymouth Lasers, Ford Probes, and several other sports cars up with this car. If GM would fix the smaller problems and maybe quiet down the engine a little, I would say they could re-market these. I added an aluminum racing wing to the back of it and it is a real rice burner, long live the Geo Storms...Overall, great car.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 20th February, 2003
28th Aug 2003, 05:50
These "slow" cars as you say, are powered by an Isuzu motor, with torque to spare.. (I have spun the wheels up to 3 gear with a chirp into 4th)
The base model to the GSi model differs, base has a 1.8 SOHC while the GSi is DOHC. I have placed a turbo in from a Isuzu Impulse and other mods to the engine and, and made my "slow car" or sleeper as they call it a surprise to others while on the road. "I just got passed by a GEO?!?"
As stated the manifold on my 1992 has also decided it wants no part of the exhaust, I am about to mig weld the three bolts to the joint.. lol.
The heat shield sounds like some one on a snare drum, the metal they used for this was too thin, the heat from the manifold plus mother nature has rusted thru on one of the areas where it is connected, my fix? I have removed the shield and placed on it a mold of "muffler patch" and placed it back on.. bingo, this works, it keeps the heat in the pipe better, and there is no more rattle.
As with most imports, the motor will out last the body, I have done allot of fiberglass work overall on the car to fix all the rusted out area's around the wheel wells, fenders and dog legs.. It now sits in primer gray awaiting what color I should paint it..
These small cars make some heads turn when they are set up right, and why be normal and run a Honda, like the rest of your buds..
10th Jul 2003, 21:46
Geo's are slow. Unbelievable speed? Maybe if you're used to driving a school bus. My friend had one. It was slow. End of story.