Wow....no wonder those guys on Free Credit Report dot Com are so upbeat and singing. Their credit may be ruined, but they're about to be rich.

Let's not forget, it's 46MPG for the manual/standard transmission. How many Americans are really driving them anymore? I wanted to buy my last car in a standard, but none existed within 100 miles of the dealership.

It can be as chic as it wants, but realize that in an auto accident your car just became your coffin.

@DashTheHand:

I came here to say exactly that. Don't get hit by anything bigger then a Geo Metro if you're riding in one.

Chic? Really?

$7000 for a 16 year old compact car? Ridiculous.

Anyone who thinks the Metro is too unsafe to drive around has the fear. Anyone who thinks the Prius is more stylish than anything has the blindness. And paper money discriminates against them with its uninformative texture.

I work at an auto parts store and have had people call up for parts for these Metros lately .I don't carry the CV Joints for them in stock or even the valve cover gasket.It's either next day for the little stuff or Factory Direct Orde that would take over a week.

I drove a 1993 Geo Metro for nine years. I bought it slightly used back when I was young, single, and nearly broke. In the nine years I drove it, it never once broke down. Not once. I put new brakes on it, new tires, got the oil changed regularly, and that was it. It was an awesome car. But it was ugly and the air conditioner just couldn't keep pace with the desert's heat. I sold it to a high school kid for a thousand bucks about five years ago.

When gas was 1.40 a gallon, it cost me eleven bucks to fill up my car. :)

@DashTheHand: Not to mention the fact that a 16-17 year old econobox is probably not going to be the most well-maintained car in the vehicle universe.

I'm guessing it won't last as long as the Prius would and that over the period of time you'd own the Prius you'll spend close to or more than the purchase price of the Prius in repairs and replacing the Metro with another one when it has a breakdown that's too expensive to repair.

And yeah, I'd never want to get hit by anything while driving one.

A Metro is a smart purchase in terms of mileage and low cost. From the details in this post, I'd say Ms. Solomon way overpaid for her car, though.

I'd suggest craigslist or the auto classified circulars you can pick up at your local grocery store would help get you a car much cheaper. And you'd have the benefit of personally going and checking out the car beforehand.

@Gev: Agreed on potential condition.

Most drivers of the Metro, since its inception, were not doing it because gas was pushing up towards a dollar a gallon (gasp!). They did it out of economic necessity. And that almost never translates well to "good maintenance"

The Metro was a laughing stock back then, even among other small cars. No reason why it still shouldn't be, even if people found one thing to like about it.

Now here we would know this. But not one mention in the article of the Suzuki Swift its based on? They even mention the Festiva.

Well I guess we are waiting on Smart sales and Mini sales to see if bringing over the smaller Euro/Japanese cars is worth while. But the Smart isnt a good comparison since it gets only ok gas mileage for its size. 35mpg is pretty disappointing in a fortwo

The car gets better mileage than the Prius (where it counts, on the highway), it looks better than a Prius, it doesn't have all sorts of modern electronics and safety equipment to break and weigh it down so it is way more fun to drive than a Prius. Come over to Jalopnik, we've been extolling the virtues of small light and fun cars forever. Getting your car news from CNN is like getting sex tips from a nun.

@VA_White: I loved my Metro! It was such a great dependable car. I never ever had a problem with it, either. It makes me wish we still had it :( but alas 3 kids and 2 dogs just don't fit well in the back seat.

1992 Vehicles by Suzuki
We have revised the 1985-2007 MPG estimates to make them comparable to the new 2008 MPG estimates!
Suzuki Swift
3 cyl, 1.0 L, Automatic 3-spd, Regular C-31 H-35
Suzuki Swift
3 cyl, 1.0 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular C-38 H-45
Suzuki Swift
4 cyl, 1.3 L, Automatic 3-spd, Regular C-25 H-31
Suzuki Swift
4 cyl, 1.3 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular C-33 H-39
Suzuki Swift GT
4 cyl, 1.3 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular C-24 H-32

2008 Vehicles by Toyota
Learn more about EPA's new MPG estimates!
Toyota Prius
4 cyl, 1.5 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular C-48 H-45

The Swift dumps an average of 5.8 Tons/Year of Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
The Prius dumps an average of 4.0 Tons/Year of Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

The closest measurable score for the Swift was 2004 and it had an EPA Air Pollution Score From 0 to 10 of 3

The Prius had an EPA Air Pollution Score From 0 to 10 of 9.5

0 = worst, 10 = best

[www.fueleconomy.gov]

I agree with the premise - it's sad that a sixteen-year-old car gets better mileage than damn near anything available today. BUT - to pay $7300 for one is beyond ludicrous - its laughable.

My main concern, however, is the fact that even at 28 mpg, she's filling up twice a week. How about this for an idea? Live closer to work. The false economy I see is: what is your time worth? You're never getting those two hours of commuting back. That's time you could spend with your family or whatever it is you do in your free time. I'll never understand that...

The best Metro ever made isn't worth $7000 used. For God's sake,people. Ebay is for idiots to purchase cars like this,for that kind of money.

Frequently a "first car" , these things are plenty clapped out by the time they are dumped on Ebay.They have lots of known issues (like rusting front strut and control arm mounts that will snap at highway speeds). The quality was just middling for its time,but they are hopelessly crude by todays standards.
I did own and drive a Ford Aspire which was slightly larger than the Met. It was an OK car,but like most of these econoboxes,built down to a price.(The Festiva was the same engine,transmission and suspension,but with a boxier body)

Save yourself a lot of headache - get a 2-3 year old Kia,Hyundai or a little older Toyota Corolla and you will get very good gas mileage without the quality issues. (Stay away from older Hyundais- It took a near death experience for Hyundai to get serious about quality).

But please,please don't bid up the price of these old Metro's on Ebay and give any ideas to the crooks that are lurking there.

I drove a Metro once as loaner car and it was scary. Any slight wind nearly sent my careening off the road.

That being said, I drive a 95 Geo Prism and it's a great car. The only time it's ever been in the shop are for general useage problems, i.e. broken timing belt, alternator crapping out, etc. It has a 175,000+ miles on it and still runs like a top. (Knock wood) And I get about 30 miles to the gallon. It ain't pretty but it's paid for and dependable. :)

Buying a Metro over a Prius is more green as you are "reusing" something as opposed to buying something new (no new materials consumed, energy for manufacture has already been consumed). Something often over looked when the smugs are boasting of the greenness of their new Prius. Of course, I guess that makes any used car with decent mileage more "green" than a Prius.....

The guy selling the Metro on eBay probably couldn't believe his luck.

@Lackey: Here's another idea. Find an apartment where the difference in rent isn't more than the cost of gas. It's not as easy to do than it is to say, is it?

Geo Metro, fun to drive? Uh, no. It is a death trap. Some people consider "modern safety equipment" a plus.

@tomok97: The Prizm (aka Toyota Corolla...big surprise) was definitely a workhorse. I knew a couple people who had them past the 200k mark.

Unfortunately, that car has no bearing on the other, since those were GM's random cherrypicking (lemonpicking) days of GEO.

I drove a 92 Geo Storm for years. Got just under what the Metro got for gas mileage. It wasn't ugly, NEVER broke down, had a good air conditioner, and by the way - had airbags. I got in a pretty spectacular side/front impact accident and drove the wrecked car home. The brand-new Toyota that hit me disintegrated and could not be driven. Bought it in 98 for $1500 - was still going strong in 2005 when I got hit.

For those saying she over paid for the car, consider this.
Her current car gets 28 MPG. The new one gets 46.
She is currently filling up twice a week at $100 a pop.
That's $200 a week. With the new car it will be roughly $120 a week. So saving $80 every week.

At $7000 The car pays for itself is about a year and a half. if she keeps the car for three years with only minor maintenance costs she will be UP by almost as much as she has paid for the car. That's not bad at all.

Those tiny cars may be good for big city driving, but I wouldnt want to use them at dangerous highway speeds. Or during winter (in snow & ice). Do they make 4-wheel drive geo metros? Also...good luck hauling anything besides groceries in it. And towing anything substancial is pretty much impossible.

I'm sorry, bit tiny cars look like clown cars. I actually saw one of those smart cars the other day & had to do a doubletake because of how insanely small it was. Might as well drive a golf cart while you are at it.

I drive a Chevy TrailBlazer and enjoy about 18mpg at best. About a month ago; I am driving, wife is passenger and two kids are in the back. I stop at a stoplight but the minivan behind me doesn't even slow down. At 55mph she jammed into the back of me and I end up in the back of the car in front of me.

We are still alive and kicking thanks to my gas-guzzling SUV, can't say as we would have faired very well in a smaller car. I may spend extra $$$ on gas each year, but to me it is worth the expense.

I like having a good bit of steel between me and the cell-phone addicts on the roads.

@Ryan H: But if gas prices come down (even just a little bit, say to $3), the car could easily correct back to fair market price, which is probably $1,500. Plus, she's giving up all the utility and reliability of the Element.

I can't emphasize enough that Americans are in the midst of a massive knee-jerk that is mostly unfounded (from a financial perspective). Generally keeping your current car will pay off in the long-run.

@Ryan H: Yeah, but old Geo Metros don't cost $7000. It doesn't matter whether she'll make the money back. She overpaid because she paid more than the going rate. No math required.

Wouldn't you know we sold Old Reliable just before this stupid run up of gasoline prices. 1989 Honda Civic 4dr with 226,000 miles that still got 40mpg. Smoked like Winston Churchill, but it sipped gasoline.

@Ryan H: Except, she grossly overpaid for her car. A random look at craigslist showed a 2000 Metro selling for $1795.

Her car would pay for itself a lot sooner, and if she ever goes to sell it, she wouldn't take a bath on the resale. (She will never be able to sell her car for close to the 7 grand she paid).

practical, yes. chic? no.

Hmm, my Prius gets much more than 45mpg on the highway. More like 55 mpg, especially cruising down the freeway at ~70 mph.

@tomok97: That's a great choice for a used car. It's a Corolla with a GM badge discount.

If you're looking for a mileage king, you're better off with an old Civic VX hatch. More comfortable, better quality, and as long as the timing belt was changed regularly it should produce a reliable 45-50 mpg.

@Ryan H:

Presuming that the Metro lasts that long. Those cars had numerous problems with the engine that could see it off the road long before she makes up the overpayment.

Paying $7k for a $1500 car is not "saving" money in any way. It's overpaying for another car - period. If she got the Metro for $2000, then there might be reasonable grounds.

I would highly recommend a used Honda Civic HX coupe, instead of the Geo Metro.

Fuel Tank Capacity: 11.9 gal.
Manual: 39 mpg / 45 mpg
Automatic: : 35 mpg / 39 mpg

I wonder how the mini cooper compares? Thats about the only tiny clown car I would even concider getting (because it has a cool novelty to it). ANd only for in town driving.... no way in hell am I getting on the highway on one of those.

You can also get something not available on a Prius.

A convertible!

It may get better fuel economy, but it's still a tin can with 4 wheels and not many safety features. In high school we used to have a great time with our Metro-owning friends when we figured out that it didn't take a whole lot of manpower to pick one up and move it!

You can get even better fuel economy on a motorcycle.

But here's hoping the manufacturers take note. Hybrids look good on paper but are more expensive and there are still a lot of unknowns in terms of long-term costs. A light and efficient conventional car may still be a better bet. Oh and it has to have a reasonable price. I'm talking to you, SMART. For $6000, sure. For $14000 when I can get 4 seats and decent fuel economy from an xA/xD/Fit/Yaris, etc? No dice.

@Ash78: Plus, she's giving up all the utility and reliability of the Element.

Thanks, Ash. That brings up another good point. Efficiency is a lot more than just MPG figures. Trading down to a Metro, she lost a lot of practicality in the tall wagon she used to own. There are quite a number of subcompacts in the used market that were available as wagons that made better than 28 hwy.

Toyota Corolla, Suzuki Esteem, Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix, possibly even the Saturn SW1 or Ford Escort / Mercury Tracer.

I'm not meaning to pile on, but looking at this as a case study in choosing a more efficient vehicle, this story seems to hit a lot of important factors to consider.

@Sucko-T:

This is what I currently drive, only mine's red.

I love my Geo more than my newer car (Scion xB). It's great on gas, it's great in city traffic, and I love driving around with the top down. Yeah, maybe other people think I'm a tool driving around some crappy junker, but I'm having fun with it and filling my tank for under $25, so who cares?

I once drove a friend's 89 Metro 3cyl. automatic. Going up a minor grade was cause to floor it - acceleration was painful. That's not to say acceleration is all that matters, but this thing was beyond anemic. I would estimate its 0-60 time at 20 seconds, no joke.

@chucklebuck:

But as to these crazy eBay listings, it also helps that I only paid $1200 for mine. I don't think I love the Geo $7300 worth.

@missdona: I'm driving my first "automatic" (VW DSG - really an automatic manual, no torque converter) in a long time; before that, I owned several manuals. Sadly, a lot of cars are losing the manual transmission choice and sticking you with an automatic -- and I don't mean the kickass DSG type that performs better and gets more mileage than the manual version of the same car (true!).

I'm mildly weirded out that a car that does 28mpg is insufficient to some people (that's better than most out there, if it's mixed city/highway), but if you drive a LOT, I can see it.

Bought a 1991 Geo Xfi a few years ago for $300 because the clutch was toast. Cost me about $400 to get it in super shape. I used it as commuter for a year and it got over 50 mpg on average. In the end, I chopped the rear hatch off and made it a truck and got $1800 for it on eBay. I wish I still had it.

Here's a 1997 Metro for $2699 - from one of those small dealers that are prone to overcharging:

[columbus.craigslist.org]

She paid way too much. It baffles me as to why anyone would pay that much.

Gotta agree with other posters that suggest getting a used civic or corolla. They sip gas, last forever, and replacement parts are easy to find when you do need them fixed. I think you're going to pay for the metro a few timies over in repairs, compared to gas savings. They're boring, but the whole point of this post is practicality, correct?

It has been weird recently how many people have knocked on our door asking if we'll sell my husband's old 1991 Geo Prizm and it's not like the thing even looks good. The red paint is coming off, it is dented and dinged, the inside driver's side door handle is broken and the passenger side window doesn't go down. People must be desperate for decent gas mileage.