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September 17, 2008
Car and Driver Sets Metro-Sensibiles Straight
By John Coyle
Editor
When a Geo Metro sold on eBay for $7300, everyone—including Rob—had something to say about it. Sure, gas prices are high, but seven grand? For a 16-year old three-banger? That’s nuts! But what about paying a reasonable amount for one of these sub-sub-compacts and using it to relieve gas pains? Well, the guys over at Car and Driver have weighed in, and their answer isn’t no, it’s hell, no. From the obvious safety issues—you like your legs, right?—to the almost-certainly sketchy maintenance history, to the fuel-efficiency argument—you’ll have be on the gas constantly to avoid getting run over—this piece explains exactly why seeing a teenage crap-box as some kind of golden goose is misguided, and I got a big kick out of it. So if you have $7500 burning a hole in your pocket and a burly beef with Big Oil, do yourself a favor and read this first.
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Black_cat89
Sep 7, 2009 at 8:24 pm
think of it this way… if you have a “safe vehicle” your not constantly thinking about driveing safe. if you drive a metro your constantly watching what you, the other driver and the deer are doing. and if you do those things to begin with… your less likely to get into a crash. we cant dummy proof everything in this world. cmon my metro has been in the family since it was new. i remember i was in 1st grade when dad got the car, we would pack the whole family into it we also had a 92 Dodge caravan that was a little more safer but dad didnt care because he is a safe and cautious driver, ive rode, and driven this car since i was a kid its mine now and im still as cautious as dad was while driveing it… and guess what??? I STILL GOT MY LEGS. and the car has never been hit!!!! imagine that. like i said we cant dummy proof every thing.
Now the price issue. it all started when some guy bought one off of ebay for $9,000 and then every one started buying them for 7 like they where going outta style… i bought mine for $600 from dad, the car had a blown engine, that i replaced for cheep (another $600) with a used JDM swift 3 cyl engine. would i buy one for that price? no. i think $3,000 with low miles, and no rust would be the limit.
mindy
Oct 1, 2008 at 7:33 pm
i have a 92 model and granted it looks like shit but fill it up with $25 and drive for 400 miles!! there’s no question here. Of course i only paid $1300 for mine years ago. but for anyone who HATES pumping gas these little bean cans are the way to go!!!
Dylan
Sep 21, 2008 at 3:58 pm
first off all i got about 1000 kms 2 one tank highway miles and that was from my 2002 grand prix se model its a 6 banger and im pretty sure it can tank whatever lays in its way and kill that before it kills itself lol
GEO JOE
Sep 20, 2008 at 1:05 am
TEAM GEO TURBO!!
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=THdgqTXWS54
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=1nRaRHlN7nU
can’t get any sexier!! three hampsters of POWER!!!!!
brian
Sep 20, 2008 at 12:11 am
sure it save gas but it look like ass
gary
Sep 19, 2008 at 11:52 pm
take a look at the new ford feista
gary
Sep 19, 2008 at 11:52 pm
sure it save gas but its a death trap
23606
Sep 19, 2008 at 9:43 pm
ITS WHATS UNDER THE HUD THAT MATTERS! but the yellow rims have 2 go
Anonymous
Sep 19, 2008 at 9:29 pm
loooooooooooooooooooooser!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bill
Sep 19, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Who ever bought this piece of shit is one dumb mofo
Dunkel Mann
Sep 19, 2008 at 7:18 am
for 7k I would at least want the convertible… and 5 speed, so I can easily hear those 3 cylinders of fury chirpin’ away under the hood, all of those ponies galloping till I pull on the reigns.
I remembered this chick that had one at my high school, it was white with this racing checkering all over it, but of course they were only symmetrical black squares.
chris
Sep 19, 2008 at 5:41 am
NO WONDER IT WENT FOR 7300..it has solid gold rims 14k just go pawn the rims you’ll get your money 4 times fold
MoDoFoSHo
Sep 19, 2008 at 3:55 am
who fuckin cares….. it aint my money.. shit!
Mnfire
Sep 19, 2008 at 3:36 am
BTW to the person that posted only meicans drive em’ f-u cuz that is very racist. I am not hispanic but my gf is, and she drives a better car then I do. As for the metro we bought my sisters for $1200 6 years ago, sold it for 1200 last summer. Should have posted it on ebay and seen if I could have gotten more for it then what I am hoping to get for my civic. Hell maybe I might be able to get almost back what I paid for my civic if people are that desperate for and older econo- car…
retroman
Sep 19, 2008 at 1:38 am
I say If you’re worried bout getting run over, and obviously arent concerned about trunk/cabin space, get a Miata. Small fuel efficiant engine with decent power to boot. Or if your bent on getting an unsexy uber small econo box, the Ford Festiva/Aspire is the way to go. They share the same engine as the Miata, so repair parts are usually easy to find. There’s even a forum and small aftermarket industry dedicated to the Festy in case you’d like to make a Shogun or something like that. Granted the Festiva/Aspire isn’t as safe as a Miata, so weight the risks before you jump in.(funny thing though, these cars are so light I literally picked one up and moved it with my bare hands!!!)
nick
Sep 19, 2008 at 1:22 am
That is terrible. you could buy a used civic 5 speed coupe for 5 grand with 100k miles on. give it a 1000 tune up. put the other 1300 into cosmetics-body work, paint, wheels and tires. I have a good, cheap, dependable, and decent looking means of transportation. 5speed civics can get 35+ miles per gallon if they are driven right. imports are cool, but only when done in good taste. fuck the big winged, fart can pieces. That metro pictured is a piece
Tomas
Sep 18, 2008 at 8:58 pm
AWWW. Mr Hanky’s son, a cute lil sh*t. Gas may be pricy but $7300 for one these that will never pay for itself.
melville248
Sep 18, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Um…doesn’t look tempting to me Steve Siler. But something very eye catching about it, just don’t look to long or hard, you might hurt yourself.
melville248
Sep 18, 2008 at 8:23 pm
Um…doesn’t look tempting to me Steve Siler. But something very eye catching about it, just don’t look to long or hard, you might hurt yourself.
melville248
Sep 18, 2008 at 8:21 pm
Um…doesn’t look tempting to me Steve Siler. But something very eye catching about it, just don’t look to long or hard, you might hurt yourself.
melville248
Sep 18, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Um…doesn’t look tempting to me Steve Siler. But something very eye catching about it, just don’t look to long or hard, you might hurt yourself.
Cadillactien
Sep 18, 2008 at 5:50 pm
What’s this guys number?
“I’d like to sell him a few Mint Three Dollar bills.”
Anonymous
Sep 18, 2008 at 4:13 pm
You have to be either Mexican, or really really cheap to be caught driving these pieces of shits.
Seriously, you gay would you look driving this thing? yuk,…i’d rather ride a pink scooter.
Anonymous
Sep 18, 2008 at 1:54 pm
i got my old 92 metro hb FREE i got rid of it for FREE all these things are, are a giant oversized gokart/RC car. i took my metros life with a pickaxe through every body panel all lights…everything. i have never felt so good in my life thats all these cars are for is to release anger out on…id never use this for a daily driver no matter the MPG…why you ask? cause i got dignity and respect for myself.
fRED THE CAR GUT
Sep 18, 2008 at 9:30 am
Just Please say NO TO DRUGS, STOP SMOKING MUS- ROOMS, AND OTHER DRUGS.
austin
Sep 18, 2008 at 7:18 am
wow what idiot paid 7300 for that piece of shit…sombody got over on this guy real good
Brayden
Sep 18, 2008 at 4:05 am
Lol, that thing looks like a John Deere tribute Metro
SuzyBruisy
Sep 18, 2008 at 2:57 am
Lol, awesome article. Those C&D guys are pretty renowned anti-environmentalists, though–they’ll do anything to talk someone out of a fuel-sipping car, yet they think everyone should be signing a lease for a 2009 Wastemobile. They’ve definitely got the crush-’em-all-so-we-can-make-people-buy-more mentality. Plus, worrying about safety in an old-school econobox is for ninnies–to hear them snivelling about the Metro’s lack of stability ctrl and side-curtain airbags (are they serious?) is totally weak. Sure, like anything, driving an old four-banger (or 3-cyla killa in this case) has certain inherent risks: just don’t wreck! And even if you do, it’s not always the end of the world: like, you know I wrecked in my ‘84 diesel Escort, demolished a Scion xB, and wasn’t even sore the next day. Old econoboxes are hardly the public-health scourge that those fuddy-duddies make them out to be. But for $7300? Nah.