Needed valve job at 165,000 miles.
My previous car (a 1985 honda CRX) was totaled and I had just needed a good economy car to see me through grad school. The car dealer showed me this little (very!) green convertible and it was love at first sight. Almost fifteen years and 170k miles later little "Gumby" is still running strong.
Apart from a valve job and new clutch at 165K miles, the car has required just about no repairs other than the usual oil change, tune ups, tires etc. Also, due to vandalism, I've had to replace the top twice, although I was incredibly happy with the factory convertible top and the first replacement top did not measure up at all to the factory top (the second replacement is much better).
Most people who haven't driven a geo metro (manual transmission) will think that its sluggish on the road (after all, it is a three-cylinder...) The truth is that this car is peppy and an absolute joy to drive. It handles well and, because the car is fairly light, is very responsive.
...and of course, there is the gas mileage. I live in Los Angeles and have to deal with stop-and-go traffic all of the time, but still get about 38 city miles/gallon and 40-43 on the freeway.
Other pluses: With the Geo Metro, you can be crappy at parking and still fit the car well within the lines; you an always find a parking space to fit into; little kids think that your car is cute because it looks like a life-size "playmobile" toy; I could go on and on...
Safety is always a concern with the little Geo Metro, though. You have to be much, much more than just a defensive driver. I've been backed into by more other drivers than I'd like to remember and they always said the same thing: "I didn't even see your car."
Overall, a car that has more than exceeded my expectations and one that I have no intentions of trading in.
Great review. I've looked here and there for a used Metro to use as a daily driver, but alas, they've usually got a couple of hundred thousand miles on them or have been thoroughly abused. Just more proof that Suzuki builds some damn fine cars. Too bad the Metro was replaced with the clearly inferior Daewoo Aveo.
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