Used 1994 Geo Metro Consumer Reviews
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23 yrs old, 240,000+ Miles, still getting 50 mpg
(updated December 2017, still daily driving) Back in the 90's when I first saw these cars, I laughed...hard. They became the butt of most of my auto-related Jokes. Then gas prices went up. In July 2013 I broke down and bought one because it was cheap, and the lady said it got around 43 mpg. SHE LIED. I've driven this thing over 95,000 miles since then, and the worst MPG's I've achieved are 46. It averages around 50 or so per tank. This is the most reliable and easiest car to work on I have ever owned, and could turn it inside out and back again if I wanted too. (I don't want to) Parts are cheap, too. Besides the reliability and MPG's, I think my favorite thing about this car is it's honest, bare-bones simplicity. The car has no power steering, no power brakes, (you don't even notice!) manual transmission, manual windows. It hearkens back to the days when cars were just...cars, not overweight luxury liners for a spoiled society . You feel very close to the road (literally and figuratively) in one of these. This car makes the daily commute an experience. I know why they stopped making these cars, though; they were TOO good. When you bought a Metro, you were set for 20+ years with proper maintenance. This is not good for auto companies trying to sell a new model every year or two. If you can find one in decent shape, and want honest-to-goodness transportation for the most bang for your buck; BUY A GEO METRO. the biggest problem with these cars though is body/subframe rust. The death blow for this and most Metros will inevitably come due to that terrible cancer. The engine and other components will still be going strong after the body has rusted to dust. Find one that has been preserved and prevent the rust. If you are even remotely mechanically inclined you should be able to keep it going for a long time. (side note, I am over 6 feet tall, and I have no trouble getting in or out of this car, and it has wonderful front seat legroom.)
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incredible highly underrated car
I absolutely love my '94 Geo Metro XFi. My grandparents bought it used around '94; I acquired it in '05. After 18 years of life, it might finally be time for me to say goodbye to this car, due to some substantial subframe damage lately. But even now, the only issue with the car is rust; the engine, the transmission, etc. are all perfectly fine. After 18 years, and a low 74,000 miles, the only major repairs were replacing the MAP sensor (around 65-70K), replacing the exhaust and muffler, and replacing front CV joints and control arms (this year and last year). This car is amazingly reliable. I've driven it in every harsh condition, as well as across the country. surprising cargo capacity too.
229,xxx miles on my 1st one, and at 227,xxx on 2nd
Keep in mind that I am writing this in 2016 and it is a 23 year old car now. There is not enough to be said about it. Here's the deal--this car, by today's millennial entitlement standards, is a piece of crap. There are no power windows, no power steering, no air bags, there's lots of road noise and wind noise. A remote keyless entry system? Never. Air conditioning? Probably not. At idle, the engine shakes the car. Anti-lock brakes? What are those? It is not the speediest thing by any means. It is tiny. The wheels are 12 inches in size. Most people are embarrassed to drive it or even be seen in it. It is a dinky tin can on wheels. But if you are a realist and the type that would rather not rely on government hand-outs and don't care about impressing your buddies, and don't want to live out your life in constant debt, and want something very reliable, this is the car for you. Also, when gas hits $3-$4 per gallon, it suddenly doesn't become very embarrassing anymore. It also helps if you do not let fear run your life, because if you get hit, you may be better off on a motorcycle. Due to the fact that it is a 22 model year old car as of 2016, it is *very likely* to have problems unless the previous owners maintained it well. Almost any car this old will have such problems. It is just the fact of life with old cars. Visibility is absolutely great. Tight parking spots are never a problem. You can throw all sorts of stuff into the hatchback. The turning radius is great. Repairs are the simplest of simple. The timing belt can be replaced in 45 minutes in an apartment parking lot. If said belt breaks, no engine damage is done. Wheel bearings can be replaced with simple ordinary hand tools. Parallel parking is awesome because it will fit into spaces that 99.9% of the vehicles out there have to pass by because they will not physically fit into them. If it is a REALLY tight spot, you can pull forward into it, and you and your buddy can get out and dead lift the rear end of the car towards the curb. If the battery goes COMPLETELY dead for whatever reason, I was able to Macgyver my cordless drill batteries through the cigarette lighter outlet and then push-start the car all by myself. Common problems include a frame that rusts out and breaks at the front suspension. I would recommend buying one of these where road salts are not commonly used if at all. The engines burn up valves, which contrary to popular belief, is ultimately caused by the neglect of oil changes--the reasons are technical. 1st and 2nd gear manual transmission synchronizers wear out, making it tricky to downshift to those gears while the car is moving forward. Interior door handles break, but are available aftermarket for not a ton of money. Otherwise, that is all for the common problems. Considering that these cars were like $7,000 when brand new, there is actually great value to them as they will get you to where you need to go and you would have only lost $6,000 in depreciation if you bought one new. They are highly reliable. The 50 mpg is no joke, at least it is not during the summer months. Head room is no problem for someone 6'4". You want to get one with the 3 cylinder engine and manual transmission if you want the fuel economy. Automatics seem to chug gas. The 4 cylinders really compromise fuel economy as well. The odometer is deadly accurate. The old cable driven speedometer is deadly accurate. The car just works.
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GM Goofs again!!!!
Why did Gm stop making this car???? Best Idea of the eighties. Good reliable transportation. I called the hatchback my mini pick-up. I moved alot in that cargo space. Why couldn't they have improved on its design. It could have broken the 70MPG barrier.
"MAX" 60+ MPG No Joke!!
I purchased this Canadian built Geo, in Sept 1994. I has served my family well! in fact, we bought two other cars trying to retire "Max"(as the kids call it) and they are no longer on the road. The reliability of this car has been phenomenal! It has taken its share of lickings and keeps on ticking along. regular oil changes, timing belt replacement every 65,000 miles (just because) alternator replaced at 100k!, Valve job @155k (California mandated) and just discovered I need to replace cv joints at 168k! Can you believe it? It's true!! The best part is yet to come, 65 mpg when the vehicle was new! After moving to California, the mileage dropped to 49-50 mpg!
Why did they discontinue this car?
I bought it used in 1998 with around 65,000 miles on it. Traded it off in 2006 with 200,000 miles. In all that time, I think I replaced an alternator and had a tune up. Period. Great car. Worth twice the price. And the darned thing got 52 mpg on the highway! I live in Denver and I took several road trips to Las Vegas in that car that cost all of about $60.00 in fuel (at the time). This car spoiled me for other cars. Every car I've had since then has been a lemon in my eyes because they need repairs occasionally, and need to be re-fueled now and then.
Rust is the major issue all others ok
If your looking at a Geo Metro from the 1989-2001 time frame you have a one main duty before any other duty CHECK THE FRAME HORN FOR RUST. It's not an option, the killer of these cars is the frame horn, if you don't know where it is on the Metro, look under the car, near the wheel connected to the control arm, its rusted out hop back in your car and leave. There are mechanics and welders online who do the complete replacement of the horns but your looking an easy $500 bucks. If you have a desert or southern car and the rust is very minimal go further and check out the car. Issues which bother you on other cars ignore. Ignore the handles on doors, ignore the windows not going up, you can even ignore the some minor engine problems as an eventual engine rebuild is doable yourself. In fact you can pull the engine out yourself no lift, serious! Parts are dirt cheap, the complete exhaust runs about 170, try that on a CRV and your talking 1K. Brakes, dirt cheap, clutch dirt cheap, radiator dirt cheap. Today's enviro conscious person cut the car a brake, its had to start somewhere, that somewhere was the Metro. It weighs about 1700 pounds, a guy 6'5" may be longer then the car. It's 3 cylinder and 49 horse is quite meek. Avoid the automatic its a 3 speed and takes forever to get up to speed limit they also have a huge issue with the control unit. The manual is the way to go. Sorry no power steering unless you count your arms getting a workout. No RPM gauge, drives me nuts, I keep finding myself looking for a magical gauge to show up. Instead they have this goofy up arrow to say shift gears. Eventually you get its speed range and just ignore the whole instrument panel. So you say why waste time on this stupid little car? Fair question, your rich and can avoid these modern enviro cars and their 10-15K luxury tax they apply to them go for it. I can't. I bought it because I wanted to shave a few miles off my main ride. I also wanted it there when the crazies decide to blow up the middle east again and gas hits 4 bucks. It's not a car for the novice, you can't work on cars, buy a civic and pony out the extra coin. It's the cheap car that always stays cheap, buy it and don't know what to do your not going to make money selling. Another note its not a highway car, its a city car, a rural back street car. Keep the car on 55 mph roads you'll be fine. This car also has niche clubs, owners and summer get togethers sort of a beater annual reunion lol, their are also gurus of these little three squirrels under the hood beaters. I'm not going to kid you its a beater with a heater thats fixable, unlike the other beaters.
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no good deed goes unpunished
94 2-door hatchback, bought new. Used for commuting from '94-'96. Excellent commuter car (after stereo upgrade). Averaged 45 mpg. From 0-5 mph, as fast as anything! Then the flywheel momentum was conferred. I actually loved this car, but unfortunately its not for a young single man. People just don't want to understand why someone would drive this. It was a good car, but nearly impossible to sell during the boom years of the mid-90's. Later drove a '96 for another two years - same comments
I love cars AND I love my Metro
I'd call myself a gearhead and yes, I love this Metro. More faithful than a dog, more reliable than any person, all the pep you need (it doesn't weigh anything!) and parking's a breeze. Get this: after nearly a decade and 152K, its mpg STILL beats an off-the-line Toyota Prius! You know, that fancy hybrid electric car! I'm looking forward to more cross- country trips. This car loves to run! Remember the old ad, "How can far can your car go on $78 of gas?" Metro goes from CA to NY!
Bulletproff
I bought my 3-cylinder, 5-speed new in "94. In 314,000 miles I have replaced the water pump, radiator and starter. That's it. The motor is as tight as a drum. Mo leaks or burning. I"m still regularly getting around 42 MPG. It's nothing more than an upholstered tin can, but it sure keeps running.
I LOVE THIS CAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My parents bought me a 94 geo metro 5 speed for my 18th birthday. I drive it everyday and absolutely love it!!! It's great on gas (I've never put more than $22 to fill it) and it's fun to drive. The only problems I find is merging/passing on the expressway... it's kind of lacking in the power department (although I can beat almost any car off the line!) I would recommend this car to anyone... especially students... it's reliable, cheap and an all around great car!!!!
$ for $ best car ever built
This was my second car as my previous and first car (a catty cimeron) couldn't handle my type of driving (it blew up). I have driven this car extremely hard, i.e., heavy acceleration, severe weather, and been involved in several minor to medium accidents. This car never broke, always started and drove reliably anywhere I wanted to go. Always got 44+mpg. I got 55 mpg on a long trip. This car did a great job accelerating and cruising on interstate at 75 to 80 mph. My only regret is how poorly I treated this car for 15 years and although mechanically it's still great, the body and other things I inflicted on the vehicle are making me think its time to move on. I'm sad.
Driving to Paradise
I love these cars. I love these cars so much that I bought one for my wife to drive and I trust it to take her anywhere she wants to go and safely return her home. My wife drives a 1991 and mine is a 1994. No matter where we go or what we are doing, these cars have been by our side. The world seems to go away when driving through the countryside in my Metro. Find one (or two) for yourself and someone you love. The Metro will love you back.
Better car than any Hybrid ever made
I had this car from 1995.I rebuild wrecked cars for my own use.This is one of those cars with amileage of 20.000 at the time I bougt this car.I repaired the front end wreckage and stored the. Started using the car since the gas price went to $1.80; I think around 1998. I rebuilt the Motor and 5 speed transmission at 120000 Miles.It is 3 years since the motor is rebuilt and right now the Mileage is 176000. Use Mobil one with a K&N reusable air cleaner. I had to get the 3 rd set of tires and I have put 4 14" Mag alloy wheels from a 1990 dodge colt from Canada and 14" tires.Speedometer reads 35 m/hr when it is 37 M/hr. at 60 m/hr it shows 55/hr. One of the best;reliable car I had.Does 53mpg.
Green Machine
Bought this car to learn to drive. It has been very dependable and excels at fuel economy. It currently has 115,000 miles and is still going strong with no problems. Other drivers often seem surprised at it's pep and ability to keep up with larger cars with bigger engines. I have very impressed with my Metro.
Who needs hybrid? - 60mpg, 250k miles
Owned it since day-one. It started out ONLY getting 50 mpg, but as the engine broke in, it went up to 60-62 and has held there to this day. 250k miles. No smoke. Change oil every 5k, brakepads every 75k, belts at 100k. It has always started and gotten me to anywhere. Drive from Washington DC to Miami for 20 gallons of gas at 75mph. Lived on a mountain, no need for chains. It LOVES snow. Better in snow than my 4x4. Who needs a hybrid - build these again!
My Metro, the best car I ever owned.
I bought my Metro new in 94 and loved it right from the start. I like the simplicity of the design, its agile nature, and of course its superb fuel economy and reliability. I never had any major problems with the car in all the years I owned it. I wish I would have kept it though. It's too bad the car went out of production a few years ago. Small economical cars are, in my opinion, under appreciated in America. I am considering buying another one to use as a second car. I would also recomend one to anyone looking for a simple, economical, and fun car to drive. I'll take a geo over these big SUVs any day!
Great first time car!
My family has had this car for 6 years! Trust me, it has gone through a lot! After being used as a practice car for manual driving by my older sister, it was then passed down to me two years later. This car has helped teach many of my friends and my little brother how to drive clutch. It takes a lickin and keeps on a tickin!
Geo Metro
All around great car.
my green geo metro
best car i've ever owned, we have 2 geo's and i love mine, great gas mileage, and its always dependable
Great little car!
I have been very pleased with this little car. the gas mileage is excellet for me because I drive over 30 miles per for work.
faithful little car
I bought this car new 10 yrs ago as my first vehicle. I've had some repairs in the last year or two, but overall it has been a great little car and been reliable. It's not the most comfortable during long distances but it is cheap on gas and its small size makes it excellent to drive around town. It's beginning to rust some, but honestly, I hate to get rid of it.
Great Little Beater
Great all around savings -- gas millage, cheaper tires, easy on brakes, no expensive frills that we really do not need. Shifts smooth, Air can freeze you.. Radio decent..Great first car or for the experience driver that wants to save at the pump.
Swears by my Geo Metro
Bought this vehivle at the time because I couldn't afford anything more. It turned out to be the best investment I ever made. I have owned it ten years and my record keeping allows me to calculate that it cost me less than 5 cents per mile to operate. Even in its old age it still gets almost 30 miles per gallon. At 158000 miles it is fianlly beginning to use some oil (NOT leakage). Beware, it eats tires - it has apoor ability to maintain alignment. Other than that, it has been a charm. I am finally donating it to a charity - and its still running.
More Room Front & Rear Than Large Cars
I have kept mileage records from day 1 on this car. It consistently gets over 40 MPG. It uses no oil at 105000 miles. I change oil and filter every 3000 miles and have kept records on all. The only failure I have experienced is a water pump seal at 105000 miles. I'm giving this car to my daughter to save her some on gas. I rate this car as the best I have ever owned. I'm 66 years old and have owned a lot of cars. I have a 2002 Mercury Grand Marquis that has less leg room in the rear than the GEO. The GEO has incredible acceleration with only a 1 liter engine. It astounds me!
Good A to B, but watch out @ high mileag
Great little car with great gas mileage, but a little imtimidating if taken of the highway (you're no taller than semi-truck tires). Lots of repair/replacement work done @ 100,000 miles and above. Good disposeable car, but don't expect this cool little powered go-cart to last forever!
lovin the gas mileage!
Ive had my Metro since Sept 2003 with 81,000 miles on it. It now has 106k on it. I drive it a lot and it has been very dependable. The only thing I've had to buy for mine was a muffler when I first got it and a new battery, not to mention the regular oil changes and the tune up. I will be doing that again soon as winter is approaching. One thing though ... both windows are off track and the door handles broke off easy ... I'm not sure if this is a common Metro problem or not. But, you can still get out of it. I need to buy a new antenna since mine has broken off from parking under a tree and need to possibly buy a new hood because of hail damage.
Definitely "NOT" a Throw-Away-Car.
I had owned a Geo Metro for almost ten years, and it was the most reliable and fuel efficient car that I've ever own. It's definitely not a sports car, but that's not why you would buy one. In spite of their lack of acceleration, it's their gas mileage which more than redeems them. With regards to freeway driving, the Geo Metro does more that just keep up with traffic. I'll put it to you like this,"A Geo Metro can do 95 miles per hour... it doesn't like to, but it can do it". Speeds between 65 mph and 90 mph are quite manageable for this car. Additionally, their little 1.0 liter engines are remarkably tough.
You get what you buy
It is what it is and that is a gas saver. It is good for a starter car or to work and back.
This Pre Hybrid is Worth It!
My Metro has been VERY dependable. The 3 speed automatic is peppy enough to be able to pull out in traffic with no worries. Rather easy to work on. Parts are not hard to find. Heater is HOT in the winter and warms quickly. Interior noise level is a little high on the freeway due to lack of insulation / thin metal. Has issues with rusting on the door edges and the lower control arm mounts. Ideal in-town vehicle. Overall, the car is easy to drive, easy to fix, and worth it for the great gas mileage.
It keeps on going
I've owned this car since new and have used and abused it. It just keeps going. I've kept it well maintained and put on a lot of miles in town and on road trips. I also use it for mountain biking around the Tucson mountains, and it handles rough terrain like a mountain goat. Still averages 38 mpg in town, with the AC running! Overall, I'd say it is the best car I've ever owned. It's got great pick-up with the five-speed, manual transmission.
Best car I ever owned
This has been the best car I have ever owned. By far the most dependable. She has only let me down once and that was my fault. I bought the car used and after a little over 2 years the battery went dead. I roll started it and replaced the battery. Have never had another except the door handles.
Geo Metro
I bought my first Geo used in 1998. Still on the road today 2008 120,000 miles, Of course the car is made cheap, door latches need to be replaced. The car broke the orignal timing belt in 2007. It is not an interference engine, didn't eat the valves. Very happy.
A good car
This was an excellent car that rarely gave me any trouble and was reasonably easy and cheap to repair. The only reason why I traded it in was that it was getting to that age where it needed a lot of maintenance. But for many, many years, it never gave me any trouble whatsoever. The gas mileage was better than some hybrid cars. There were no real issues with this car except that it didn't come with any airbags.
My Metro, the best car I ever owned.
I bought my Metro new in 94 and loved it right from the start. I like the simplicity of the design, its agile nature, and of course its superb fuel economy and reliability. I never had any major problems with the car in all the years I owned it. I wish I would have kept it though. It's too bad the car went out of production a few years ago. Small economical cars are, in my opinion, under appreciated in America. I am considering buying another one to use as a second car. I would also recomend one to anyone looking for a simple, economical, and fun car to drive. I'll take a geo over these big SUVs any day!
beware the geo engine!
When it started losing power and developed a pinging sound, I was informed by several salvage yards and mechanics that the geo 3 cyl (ALL years) is prone to "dropping cylinders." Sure enough, a compression check confirmed my 3cyl is now a barely running 2 cyl car. New rebuilt engine is $1600, with a 600 core charge, and they won't take the old one for core after the piston drops (as the engine will freeze up). This is the 2nd engine for the vehicle, previous owner replaced orig. engine with one from junkyard for same reason before we bought from him. 157k and went through 2 engines.....hmmmmmm.
gas prices bad but not with this car
This car is a great car if you want to get good gas mileage. Mine is a 3 speed automatic and is very easy to work on. If you don't know much about cars this is a good learning tool. pros: great heater, it heats up fast/ good gas mileage/can go on the freeway and get up to speed fast enough. Cons: makes a lot of noise due to lack of insulation/cheap interior/oil leaks/battery drainage/rust in the crevasses of the car/not a very safe car as far as getting hit by another vehicle.
Love it!!!!!!!
This little geo was handed down to me from my parents who bought it new in '94. this car is very reliable as long as you keep up on the maintenance. It's on it 3rd engine, 1st one the oil drain plug didn't get screwed all the way in and feel out dumping all the oil, 2nd one was a used engine and wasn't good to start with, and now the 3rd is running good and has been for over 60,000 miles. engines are very tough for their weight (you can pick up the whole thing by yourself). and if you want more power just search for swift performance as it's really a Suzuki Swift.
Still going strong!!!
It is 2025 and this basic little car is still fun and economic. 31 years and 142,000 miles. The only downside is after so many years all the plastic and cheaper parts have degraded. Both door handles have stopped working and the hood flew up on the highway one day so it's ratchet strapped down now. But this little ass car corners like a demon. The transmission is sound asf. The engine doesn't just run well it sounds healthy too. Oh and the best part i was given this car for free 6 months ago. I will keep this car running as long as humanly possible, it is the best gift I have ever received
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born to run - in town
Made for city driving, not the interstate. Been driving it on a 55 mile daily round trip sinced January. Makes the trip very inexpensively, but at a cost to comfort.