Favorite most reliable hand me down car i ever owned... my mom owned it from new for 6 years and gave it to me as my second car (but first car that i had to treat as my own) Drove it for 10 years and gave it to my dad as his around town car (since his other car is a 2500 dodge) cars still running with 250k on it. Best car i ever owned..
@@joesmith-fi1sx the exact number can vary with any car that age of course. These metros can be great but get a manual if you can find one. The automatic metros are almost all in the junkyard, no one wants em cuz the gas mileage is that bad
It's hard to find one of these cars for sale because those that own them don't want to sell them. They are great. High gas mileage, easy to work on, fun to drive, parts are inexpensive and they don't break down. I won't ever sell mine.
I rented a metro one time. Drove it for several days. I was impressed with the little car. The gas mileage was amazing on it. Why General Motors did not stick with making a small and economical car is beyond reason.
I have to say I have been through 3 of these cars... they are flipping amazing.. mine is a 2000 model and it gets 45-50mpg. They really truly are reliable super fun easy work on cars... mine still has a little bit of a shake but it is just because it is idling low. I think the ISC motor needs to be replaced but that isn't to major.
I miss my 99 Suzuki Swift. 😫. It was totaled sitting in front of my house by a kid who was texting while driving. It had the 4cyl and looked identical to this car except it was an automatic. I bought it for $3000 with only 5200 miles on it. The only options available were a/c, and automatic tranny, plus a dealer-installed radio (mine was never put in). I had NO COMPLAINTS about it until it was hit (at 85k). The one thing that I would’ve liked would have been a light in the rear hatch. It would have been handy on cold, dark winter nights in CT (especially picking up groceries after work!). It was an EXCELLENT commuter car, and (surprisingly) drove quite well in snow! (All of the weight was in the front!). I grabbed some new & good parts off of it before the insurance company took it, and still have them in case I should find another one! I really loved driving that car! Suzuki makes a great product, especially in small cars!!! Too bad they folded North American Operations here. I’d buy another one in a minute!
Sterling Hughs While I agree about the MPG and money savings, these cars are horrendously unsafe in a crash and I would not want any of my family driving or being in one.
@@SAMCAMJAIK1 Metros are safer than a motorcycle. The scariest thing in a small car is when someone doesn't notice that you're stopped and slams into the rear - leave some space in front when you're stopped in traffic. Pay attention when approaching an intersection to avoid being T-boned if someone runs a light. Driving a Metro helps teach good defensive driving techniques! Like I said, its safer than a motorcycle. I want to convert one of my Metros to an EV as lighter batteries will enable better than a 100 mile range. If the solid state batteries become widely produced and affordable then the range of a homebuilt EV might become very good indeed . I don't expect SS batteries to be practical until after 2025. The Tesla fans make it sound like its happening now, but I doubt that will be the case. So, y'all buy EVs and I'll search the salvage yards for bits to use. A EV Metro ought to be very quick 0 to 60.
Being a slow car you only drive at 45 mph and stayed in the slow lane. People die in supposedly save large SUV’s. People who drive metro’s are usually defensive drivers not challenging bigger cars.
I bought a new 2000 metro 3 cyl stick. I even changed out the EGR valve and same problem. I paid $8,200 brand new and a car hit it. The insurance paid me $4,200. The car still drove fine. I sold it for $400. 45+ mpg. Highest mpg 52. Never had 1 problem in 15 years. I only changed tires every 5 years @ $25 each new.13” tires. Very reliable cheap transportation. I miss the car and wish I still had it. Very easy to maintain. 3 spark plugs in front, oil change 2 1/4 quarts.
Had almost that exact car, minus air conditioning. Bought it in Monterey, California and drove it from there to San Antonio. It was a great little car except going up hills. Second gear was the highest I could go without losing speed. I actually miss that car.
i have a 1997 g.e.o. metro l.s.i and drove mine from tacoma wa. to san antonio and had no problems. i have had nicer cars but none compared to the reliability and durability on my g.e.o. simply put this is the best car i ever had and i love it.
Greetings from Fresno! I liked the review, I am receiving a '97 Geo as a gift in a few days so it's good to know what I'll be getting in to. Figuratively and literally.
Got mine a few days ago at an auction in Long Beach for $250 after bidder fees and some other crap. I got lucky with it only having 86K miles, no major damage aside from one fender being damaged and like new tires on after market rims. No one wanted it because it was Metro and owed almost 3 years on tags but it passed smog like nothing and I love it as my daily driver for work.
Nice review Im thi king about buying one as I will be working 30min away. I do want AC as well as I live in the Midwest and can see some HOT summers. Is there anything to stay away from when looking to buy one? Anthing to be on the look for?
Buddy of mine had one. It was a stick shift. Got about 50 on the hwy and mid to upper 30s in the city. Perfect pizza delivery car. I'd love to have one.
I just bought a 1997 Geo Metro for 700, yeah a little more than you payed but its reliable and straight to the point. So glad to see that some people still respect the car.
the reverse grinding issue if u are really deliberate when putting it in gear and pressing down on the clutch as evenly as possible it'll cut down on that grinding some
Check your clutch play in the pedal. Only supposed to be about 3/4” max. No wrenches needed. Under the hood you can screw the nut in my hand and adjust the play.
A UA-cam channel is currently building a rear drive Metro with a Hayabusa motor. Metros make good rally cars. Its possible to swap a Honda K series in a Metro, requires some body mods. The B series might be a better choice. I'm sure the D series Honda will fit as its similar size to the Suzuki G series. The Suzuki G16 can be swapped and use the Metro transmission. The Suzuki G13B Twin Cam is a good motor as well if you can find one, but its 100 hp output isn't that great anymore.
No wonder a small engine repair guy has a metro (ba dum crash) but really these are great to borrow to people who don’t have a car because they WANT to give it back, despite them being efficient and reliable, I’ve seen it
@hanksranger well maybe in a flimsy geo . but im my subaru i always park in 1st or Reverse , unless its one heck of a grade maybe 35-40% bad enough that if you didnt put put in gear or break the car would fly away
Why is the front more safe than the back? Truth is the geo pound for pound is as safe as any other car. Of course a gas gusler weighing 10 x more, has more of a cage around you, but any accident big enough to hurt you in a geo you would be driving wrongly, and unsafely.
sure, unless someone else hits you head on. If you compare the crash tests for these to the smart fortwo, or newest chevy sparks there is a massive difference in safety.
I got a 1996 geo metro lsi 2 door hatchback it was in worst shape then yours wen I got it back in 2013 and now it is 2015 now its looking in mint shape
lol well you CAN swap the ones from the swifts over, just make sure its for the 3 cyl if you have a 3 cyl, they were an option in the geos but like I said the suzuki swifts were more common with them. If you can find a gauge cluster with a tach they run about 100 bucks on ebay. As far as I know there is no aftermarket tach available for a 3 cyl motor.
hanksranger awesome! I was thinking of buying a Metro, since I can't afford a Versa. The Geo Metro and the Nissan Versa are my two favorite cars right now for the $$. The swap wouldn't be too hard, would it?
I want to buy one and modify the crap out of it such as bigger coils LED light bar and other stuff I can find one on Craigslist cheaper than a LED light bar on Amazon
Favorite most reliable hand me down car i ever owned... my mom owned it from new for 6 years and gave it to me as my second car (but first car that i had to treat as my own)
Drove it for 10 years and gave it to my dad as his around town car (since his other car is a 2500 dodge) cars still running with 250k on it.
Best car i ever owned..
I’m looking at one ! Good to know. What kind of gas mileage ? 45?
@@joesmith-fi1sx the exact number can vary with any car that age of course. These metros can be great but get a manual if you can find one. The automatic metros are almost all in the junkyard, no one wants em cuz the gas mileage is that bad
one of the best cars ever made
No, Toyotas are the best.
joshua morales SIKE
@@filipmac5577 Not for fuel economy.
whats the highest mileage you've seen on a 4 cylinder model?
@@joshjlmgproductions3313 Why man? I think it is very economic.
It's hard to find one of these cars for sale because those that own them don't want to sell them. They are great. High gas mileage, easy to work on, fun to drive, parts are inexpensive and they don't break down. I won't ever sell mine.
Reverse is supposed to whine, reverse is straight geared while 1-5 are slanted to reduce noise.
I always wonder why some of my manuals do that when reversing
I learn something every day
Straight cut gear whine. Race cars have straight cut gears in the forward gears. That’s why they whine when racing
I rented a metro one time. Drove it for several days. I was impressed with the little car. The gas mileage was amazing on it. Why General Motors did not stick with making a small and economical car is beyond reason.
Americans love SUVs and trucks. I don't think the dealers like cheap cars that don't break down.
Probably because of safety concerns, it wouldn't stand a chance against most bigger cars on the road.
I love my 98 metro (daily car 500 miles per week) had to parked my gas thirsty V6 Silverado at home 🏡.
I have to say I have been through 3 of these cars... they are flipping amazing.. mine is a 2000 model and it gets 45-50mpg. They really truly are reliable super fun easy work on cars... mine still has a little bit of a shake but it is just because it is idling low. I think the ISC motor needs to be replaced but that isn't to major.
Put it in first before shifting to reverse. That always saved my synchros
Learn something new everyday. I had no idea what that light was til now I own a 3 cylinder geo.
Man I love the 3 cyl engine sound
I miss my 99 Suzuki Swift. 😫. It was totaled sitting in front of my house by a kid who was texting while driving.
It had the 4cyl and looked identical to this car except it was an automatic. I bought it for $3000 with only 5200 miles on it. The only options available were a/c, and automatic tranny, plus a dealer-installed radio (mine was never put in). I had NO COMPLAINTS about it until it was hit (at 85k). The one thing that I would’ve liked would have been a light in the rear hatch. It would have been handy on cold, dark winter nights in CT (especially picking up groceries after work!). It was an EXCELLENT commuter car, and (surprisingly) drove quite well in snow! (All of the weight was in the front!). I grabbed some new & good parts off of it before the insurance company took it, and still have them in case I should find another one!
I really loved driving that car! Suzuki makes a great product, especially in small cars!!! Too bad they folded North American Operations here. I’d buy another one in a minute!
3k for a 5200 mile car sounds like the best deal of the century
best cars ever! I'm collecting them, I have two and going for 3. I want everyone in my family to have one. They are amazing for MPGs
Sterling Hughs While I agree about the MPG and money savings, these cars are horrendously unsafe in a crash and I would not want any of my family driving or being in one.
Better wear a motorcycle helmet when you drive.
Hey, I have a 97 metro. I can't find a new iac valve anywhere. Can you help?
@@SAMCAMJAIK1 Metros are safer than a motorcycle. The scariest thing in a small car is when someone doesn't notice that you're stopped and slams into the rear - leave some space in front when you're stopped in traffic. Pay attention when approaching an intersection to avoid being T-boned if someone runs a light. Driving a Metro helps teach good defensive driving techniques! Like I said, its safer than a motorcycle.
I want to convert one of my Metros to an EV as lighter batteries will enable better than a 100 mile range. If the solid state batteries become widely produced and affordable then the range of a homebuilt EV might become very good indeed . I don't expect SS batteries to be practical until after 2025. The Tesla fans make it sound like its happening now, but I doubt that will be the case. So, y'all buy EVs and I'll search the salvage yards for bits to use. A EV Metro ought to be very quick 0 to 60.
Being a slow car you only drive at 45 mph and stayed in the slow lane. People die in supposedly save large SUV’s. People who drive metro’s are usually defensive drivers not challenging bigger cars.
I bought a new 2000 metro 3 cyl stick. I even changed out the EGR valve and same problem. I paid $8,200 brand new and a car hit it. The insurance paid me $4,200. The car still drove fine. I sold it for $400. 45+ mpg. Highest mpg 52. Never had 1 problem in 15 years. I only changed tires every 5 years @ $25 each new.13” tires. Very reliable cheap transportation. I miss the car and wish I still had it. Very easy to maintain. 3 spark plugs in front, oil change 2 1/4 quarts.
Pretty little thing. I've always liked this car.
@crammage Yea it puts less strain on the trans, my driveway is on an incline if you could not tell.
Had almost that exact car, minus air conditioning. Bought it in Monterey, California and drove it from there to San Antonio. It was a great little car except going up hills. Second gear was the highest I could go without losing speed. I actually miss that car.
i have a 1997 g.e.o. metro l.s.i and drove mine from tacoma wa. to san antonio and had no problems. i have had nicer cars but none compared to the reliability and durability on my g.e.o. simply put this is the best car i ever had and i love it.
Greetings from Fresno! I liked the review, I am receiving a '97 Geo as a gift in a few days so it's good to know what I'll be getting in to. Figuratively and literally.
+Travis C Hey buddy lol same neck of the woods as me eh? Yea these cars are simple as hell to work on, parts are cheap too
Lmfao, the most basic of the basic cars to ever exist lol
Yugo are more basic
Hyundai accent are the newer most basic car. My 99 has no power steering no abs nothing. Over 40mpg
Everything that you need, nothing that you don't. Metros are comfortable and reliable. Parking is so easy.
My grandfather bought one of these brand new back in the day. He actually would get 55mpg, 47mpg when the plugs needed to be replaced
The exhaust issue is that an expensive fix? Does anyone know or is familiar with that code issue. Please let me know thanks!
To be honest.
It has A/C and a radio.
I can live with that forever.
Got mine a few days ago at an auction in Long Beach for $250 after bidder fees and some other crap. I got lucky with it only having 86K miles, no major damage aside from one fender being damaged and like new tires on after market rims. No one wanted it because it was Metro and owed almost 3 years on tags but it passed smog like nothing and I love it as my daily driver for work.
+Link the Duelist thats a good deal!
+hanksranger Thanks. I do plan to replace the left fender and install a cheap $20-30 stereo and better speakers.
U still have your metro?
She's an awesome little thing man! It's a dream of mine to own one of each Geo haha, they only exist as the Suzuki counterparts here in Australia lol
Nice review
Im thi king about buying one as I will be working 30min away. I do want AC as well as I live in the Midwest and can see some HOT summers. Is there anything to stay away from when looking to buy one? Anthing to be on the look for?
Buddy of mine had one. It was a stick shift. Got about 50 on the hwy and mid to upper 30s in the city. Perfect pizza delivery car. I'd love to have one.
Where to buy metro parts online?
Rock Auto
I had one. They're good little cars. Mine was an automatic.
I'm about to get my first car (one of these) so I'm trying to learn as much as I can
what was the best year of the cultus 2 metro in your opinion? in terms of fuel economy, durability, engine integrity and efficiency.
cool, I see you still have the remote for the OEM sound system in the glovebox.what are the payments lol,)
I just bought a 1997 Geo Metro for 700, yeah a little more than you payed but its reliable and straight to the point. So glad to see that some people still respect the car.
Thats gonna scare the girls away lol
Thats what the F250 in the background is for. This was for saving gas obviously.
+Blake Montz not as much as a dude with no car though
Hi, is there any way you can tell me where the starter solenoid is located? having some start issues...very frustrating....thanks
Its on the starter, I recommend getting on geometro forum as well, they have loads of info about the cars and are extremely helpful
the reverse grinding issue if u are really deliberate when putting it in gear and pressing down on the clutch as evenly as possible it'll cut down on that grinding some
Check your clutch play in the pedal. Only supposed to be about 3/4” max. No wrenches needed. Under the hood you can screw the nut in my hand and adjust the play.
I got 1999 geo metro it a a good idea to make a close thing to a race car??
A UA-cam channel is currently building a rear drive Metro with a Hayabusa motor. Metros make good rally cars. Its possible to swap a Honda K series in a Metro, requires some body mods. The B series might be a better choice. I'm sure the D series Honda will fit as its similar size to the Suzuki G series. The Suzuki G16 can be swapped and use the Metro transmission. The Suzuki G13B Twin Cam is a good motor as well if you can find one, but its 100 hp output isn't that great anymore.
Manual with AC is the best
@wwjoshdew was it the sedan? and auto or manual?
No wonder a small engine repair guy has a metro (ba dum crash) but really these are great to borrow to people who don’t have a car because they WANT to give it back, despite them being efficient and reliable, I’ve seen it
I actually don’t own this car anymore. It was sold 5 years ago. Fix and flip when gas was high. Made good coin off it to be honest.
@hanksranger i dont see how anything could happen ,
are one those people that that put their e brakes on with an automatic transmission?
@hanksranger do you know how strong the park gear is?
How to change valve seals on suzuki swift 1000cc
I really like the monocle on the headlight
Yeah, they have a 10 gallon tank, and a very pessimistic fuel gauge.
@hanksranger well maybe in a flimsy geo .
but im my subaru i always park in 1st or Reverse , unless its one heck of a grade maybe 35-40% bad enough that if you didnt put put in gear or break the car would fly away
I can't wait to see all the videos you have on this car. Do you still have it?
Does it really get 45mpg?
Got closer to 48 on high way actually
One day, I'll own this baby. I can only dream.
Lovin' the Ricky profile picture. Best show ever
Frig yes it is
Frig yea!
@hanksranger not far
but thats just how far the syncro is, like 2 inches rolling distance
These are pretty cheap, are they super easy to work on?
yup parts are easy to find too and cheap as well
Great fuel economy for something that has technology of 1997, and not a hybrid. But it must be fast lol.
+Angry Whale lol 0-60 in 15 seconds I think it was
more like 1-60 in 2.5 minutes. but these cars are amazing, and that's no joke.
@@tatorkator9901 A Metro with a G13 four is quicker and the fuel economy is pretty good. But most of the G13 Metros have the auto trans.
Where is the thing to check for codes
Seemed like it was running hot, maybe head gasket or thermostat
saving gas is best
shift it into reverse instant rear wheel drive lel
Lol
The best ever built tha is true
I drove my for 11year with no problem
The check engine light just stays on in anything over a 96 Metro (OBD2) cars. Takes a Wizard to get it to go out.
They had a lot of issues with the intake manifolds and carbon buildup
I loved my 94 and my 96. The 94 was better than my 96
let me get this straight wy would you buy a car that has a go kart engine in it
Fix and flip bud. Prices for these in my area sky rocket when gas goes up. I sold this for 3k after I fixed it up.
hanksranger oh ok my bad good idea tho
Yea 48mpg was what I got when I had it before I sold it. People love em for the mileage.
Cuánto cuesta y dónde está qué parte de california
I’m really surprised that it had no tachometer but did have shift lights
Tach clusters for the 1.0 are rare and were seldom an option, I found one in the junkyard and installed it in this geo at one point as well
@crammage Thats what I said, I was all wtf a shift light of all things?
Not the prettiest car but the gas mileage with that 3 cylinder engine is near 50mpg on the highway.
looks like temp is a little past normal
Geo metros are fun little cars!
Como cambiar el chicote del cloch
Rolled one at 60, walked away
Why is the front more safe than the back? Truth is the geo pound for pound is as safe as any other car. Of course a gas gusler weighing 10 x more, has more of a cage around you, but any accident big enough to hurt you in a geo you would be driving wrongly, and unsafely.
sure, unless someone else hits you head on. If you compare the crash tests for these to the smart fortwo, or newest chevy sparks there is a massive difference in safety.
That cab would be cold as hell if the ac worked
no fuckin way a shift light damn it my car dont have that!
well i got mine's in Arizona
LS SWAP
Lol. People have swapped motorcycle motors in these though
Bet your not saying that now, $4.59 a gallon Davis California.
Saying what now?
I got a 1996 geo metro lsi 2 door hatchback it was in worst shape then yours wen I got it back in 2013 and now it is 2015 now its looking in mint shape
+jr the geo metro 96 ya id like to get another one eventually but they are getting harder to come by in my area in decent shape.
@hanksranger not that much
@crammage wtf didnt i reply to these?
Who wants Geo back?
cant believe you use ebrake to park when its a manual xD
Ah yes the classic 10 year old video
Indeed. It is 10 years old.
@@hanksgarage_ saw a fully modded out Geo Metro with twin exhaust lol had to check it out all that 52hp manual transmission
Love these
Here bc of American Dad, lol
Lol American dad talked about this car?
Yup, in the kisses dog episode
Holy shit! No RPM gauge? Are you shitting me?
+Andrew Rogers Yea they did not come with them stock... the swifts had them more commonly.
hanksranger I rely on the RPM gauge quite heavily when I want to go fast lol
lol well you CAN swap the ones from the swifts over, just make sure its for the 3 cyl if you have a 3 cyl, they were an option in the geos but like I said the suzuki swifts were more common with them. If you can find a gauge cluster with a tach they run about 100 bucks on ebay. As far as I know there is no aftermarket tach available for a 3 cyl motor.
hanksranger awesome! I was thinking of buying a Metro, since I can't afford a Versa. The Geo Metro and the Nissan Versa are my two favorite cars right now for the $$. The swap wouldn't be too hard, would it?
No its simple, I did a video on it while I had this car, its all plug and play
Id be depressed if i daily drived a geo metro, but not gonna judge
+deluxe4500 it’s a gas miser if you expect it to be anything more idk what to tell you. I’ve owned Ducati’s a 280z and many other fun vehicles.
@@hanksgarage_ Metros can be good rally cars. They are better than the original Mini Cooper, as loved as those cars are.
I want one of these just because it looks like a shit box and u can do whatever and not give a fuck because its cheap
I want to buy one and modify the crap out of it such as bigger coils LED light bar and other stuff I can find one on Craigslist cheaper than a LED light bar on Amazon
That would be pretty cool actually I no longer have this car though bought to fix and flip
Replace that EGR as soon as possible. They are known to burn exhaust valves overtime.
it was replaced and this car has long been sold as well
hanksranger
Aww dude, those cars are rare to find in running condition and not eaten up by rust.
Yea in other parts of the country lol they are fairly common here on the west coast and hardly any rust here we are lucky
I've heard of the EGR problem, but never personally experienced it.
@@timothykeith1367I did.. take it off and clean it with brake cleaner. Totally worked on mine.