posted by pbell56000
Cohort Pic(k) of the Day: Geo Metro – I Would Like To Think That It Doesn’t Have Portholes On the Other Side
– Posted on July 3, 2020
-
-
Curbside Classics Archives
posted by pbell56000
Fake Buick portholes. The ultimate JC Whitney “accessory.”
The difference is these portholes are used ironically. The depressing instances are where owners think fake portholes are an improvement. A co worker’s husband managed to stick three quarters of the Whitney catalog to his cars and in all seriousness thinks it’s great.
The ultimate JC Whitney accessory would be a kit that allowed you to install lights in the portholes that would flash in time with the spark plugs.
Enlarged, with an extended cargo area, a shortened hood, and a less tall glass area, the basic shape of the five-door Metro hatchback could have been one of best looking minivans of the 90s. Certainly, a forebearer to the design language of the 1996 Chrysler minivans, the first gen Honda Odyssey, and the first and second gen Windstar. IMO, it would have been a cleaner shape than any of those later designs.
The 1990 Nissan Axxess looks most similar to the Metro Wagon. Just enlarged, but same overall design.
That’s all three generations in one shot, isn’t it? And red, white, and blue, quite the family gathering for the Fourth of July weekend there.
Why is it that this white second generation looks so much more “off” than either the first or the third? Is it the sort of curvy-ish front mixed with the slab sides? I’ve never really cottoned on to this generation for some reason although I really like the third and accept the first. And no, the portholes don’t work, although being a transverse triple, perhaps they should be mounted on the leading edge of the hood instead, it’d be more interesting and correct.
For a transverse engine the three portholes should be on the front, not one side.
It always struck me as odd that Buick’s portholes implied a V6 engine on Specials and Centurys, and implied a V8 on Supers and Roadmasters. Buick didn’t have V8s until ’53, and didn’t have a V6 until ’62.
I reserved a Chevy Cavalier for a 1997 visit to Oklahoma City. When I arrived, the agency said they were out of Cavaliers and they could give me a Geo Metro, or an upgrade to a V6 Corsica at no charge. I picked the Corsica. No regrets!
Happy Motoring, Mark
These are ‘speedholes…’ sorry for the Simpsons reference.
Yet another conurbation of metros?! https://www.curbsideclassic.com/uncategorized/qotd-what-do-you-call-a-gathering-of-metros/
That must be the supercharged version. Extra air for the squirrels under the hood!
I love my 95 GEO Metro Hatch. With back seat down amazed at room. I can carry (8) 8 ft. 2×4’s right down the middle, and still get’s 48 mpg.. I should next get a roof rack. Lol. Paid $1000 for it 6 years ago and still runs smooth as whipped cream. Milage 104k.
That not exactly the hatch. It’s the 4 door. Sort of the wagon. And a bit longer than hatch. I’m thinking these came in 4cy. not the 3 .
Wow, there’s the original Sprint in red back there which as Jim notes is technically the first generation, the original Metro 5 door and the final generation 3 door! I do think they look rather unfortunate with the base-model sunken in headlights. I believe the 95-01 body style was exclusive to the North American market, or at least the trunked sedan was while the rest of the world only got the ‘89 vintage stylin which held up quite well during the ‘90s.
I have now proudly owned 2 1991 Geo Metros. The first was a dark red, two-door hatchback with a 5 speed tranny. It was an awesome car and fit my 5′ 1″ size. I drive that car everywhere in all kinds of weather conditions and never had to chain up once in snow. I sold it after 230,000 miles. Now I have a yellow and black two-door convertible that had an automatic tranny. It doesn’t quite get the mileage the first one did, but it definitely does better than my Chevy S10 4×4. I have always liked this body style over the later ones.