(first posted 10/3/2011) Since we’re indulging in toy cars, let’s trot out some Metrovertibles. There’s something so endearingly goofy about this little ragtop, like it somehow escaped the Autopia ride at Disneland. It has no genuine sporting pretensions whatsoever, just a tiny two seat convertible. When was the last time something like that was offered for sale here? And with a remarkably similar name, no less.
Yup, the Metro is the Nash Metropolitan reincarnated. They both pursued a niche market, and one that proved to be somewhat illusory, but helped keep the production lines moving. Which in the case of the Metro, was always a bit of a problem.
Beginning with the 1990 models, Geo Metros, Pontiac Fireflys (Canada only) and Suzuki Swift were built at the CAMI plant, a 50-50 joint venture between GM and Suzuki in Ontario, Canada. Production briefly peaked at 100k units, but then began a steady slide downwards. By 2001, the Metro was history at CAMI, GM having found its successor Aveo at its Korean Deawoo division.
We’ll take a closer look at The Metro and its Chevy Sprint predecessor soon. It’s a polarizing car; people love it or love to hate on it. During times of high gas prices, the pendulum drastically swings to the positive. In 2008, folks were paying big premiums, and I seem to distinctly remember someone paying $7k for one at the height of the last big gas price run up. With its little 55hp 1.0 L three-pot engine, Metros had an (adjusted) EPA rating of 38/45. The specially tuned 49hp XFi pulled a 43/51 rating.
Like most oddballs, these Metro convertibles seem to be falling into the hands of their devoted followers, just like Metropolitans were in the seventies. These folks a block from my house have a thing for short, stubby cars. Can you see what’s behind their xBox?
Hey, it’s a winning combo: top down motoring on the cheap. And who ever sits in the back seat of a convertible anyway?
Still think I would take an old Metro over a new FIAT….’Fix It Again Tony’ keeps running through my head…
Fiat is banking on younger buyers than those of us who remember Fiats of old but Im with you I like the old model Suzis.
And we’re learning quickly. A friend bought a brand new Fiat Palio in 2008, and she has to get a new CPU that the warranty did not cover for USD $1,300.
It’s 2015. How long of a warranty are you expecting?
The post you replied to is almost four years old.
Is that…a Chevy Sonic?
if you are referring to the car behind the Scion, no. The Sonic is a 5 door hatch subcompact that replaces the Aveo.
It’s a Mini Cooper.
What I find most ironic about the Metro convertible (aside from the mere fact that it existed, of course) is that in 1990, it contained a novel feature that other GM cars costing almost three times as much didn’t have: An airbag.
They never would have sold any without an airbag! The cowl shake in these things is incredible, and actually gets worse with the plastic-garbage-bag-over-an-umbrella-frame top down. Just for laughs, I weighed the hood on one of these things once – 13lbs.
Ha, I can imagine! No doubt they had to reinforce the structure in some way, but even so these probably had the structural integrity of balsa wood.
The prosaic reason for the airbag was that passive restraints became mandatory from 1990 on. GM’s cheap cure-all solution across their lineup was door-mounted seatbelts, but the Metro convertible didn’t have a place to mount them to. (That didn’t stop them from coming up with ways to inflict their belts on other convertibles, though: The early ’90s Cavalier/Sunbird mounted the belts to “nubs” in the doors protruding above the windowline, while the Cutlass Supreme used a partial doorframe and roll bar.)
My summer ride is a yellow one similar to the one pictured – but without the glue-on chrome. My extremely wonderful and exceedingly tolerant wife drove me down to North Carolina the week before Christmas last year to pick it up (we live in central Connecticut) and, other than a faulty O2 sensor, it’s been nothing but a joy to drive. Slow, yes, and not RWD, and not as tossable as a Miata – but it has manual steering, you can drive it flat out without fear of a speeding ticket, it has a ragtop, and it’s just fun. (A pretty consistent 45+ MPG doesn’t hurt, either!) I don’t put a lot of miles on mine, as I got it with well under 70K, documented original – as it had to be due to the 5-digit odometer – but it handled the 800+ mile road trip home, and a 600+ road trip to Ithaca this summer, with aplomb. In sum – these are horrible, miserable penalty-box cars that are uncomfortable to drive and don’t give great gas mileage – so go buy a Miata and leave me to my dwindling supply of Metros. 🙂
If considering, WHat should I watch out for? Good, Bad? Auto? Options?
Looking at your comments further down, and considering you live in a rust-free climate that gets virtually no snow, I’d look at a Miata first. Bear in mind that all else being equal, a ’91 Miata and a ’91 Metro are going to be around the same price, with the Miata holding a definite edge in standard equipment, safety (other than the Geo’s standard airbag – did Miatas come with one this early?), comfort, aftermarket and dealer support, and cylinder count. The Metro has better styling and much better gas mileage (with the first statement obviously highly subjective). They also share strong and weak points – excellent reliability and tremendous fun to drive factors (the Miata as a true driver’s car and the Metro as a front-wheel drive gokart) are balanced by highly limited practicality.
Reasons you should consider a Metro – Do you need gas mileage? Do you appreciate the styling better than the Miata? Will you occasionally have to drive your convertible in wet and/or snowy weather? Are you bound and determined to have only one car, and have that one car be a two-seater?
Things to look for – Poor maintenance, rust near the suspension mounting points, missing trim pieces and broken lock blocks on the header panel. Poorly maintained, the three can become an oil burner. Higher-mileage cars may also have badly worn synchros, and clutches wear very fast as you need to rev the engine fairly high to take off. A clutch job is, however, a very simple job.
Finally, if you do go for a Metro, STAY AWAY from the auto. A 3-speed automatic coupled to 55hp is a true deathtrap. As for options – you’re more or less limited to aftermarket cruise control, aftermarket radio, and if you can find one with it, air conditioning. My current Metro has great, cold factory air – very nice for the last road trip I took, but I could easily have lived without it.
TY so much for that. I must say, all things considered, the Miata is more for me, especially considering what you have said.
But I can respect your love of them clearly. I appreciate your well thought out answer immensely, Thank you for your time.
I enjoyed learning what a fan of the Metro finds attractive about them.
I purchased a 1991 Manual Geo Metro LSi Convertible in May of 2015, 93,000 miles on it. Never Winter driven and was transported in a fully enclosed trailer when taken to Texas from Windsor for 6 weeks in the Winter. The interior seats, door panels and carpet were redone/replaced, the body and engine were mint. The seller did have an oil leak and kept a 1 litre of oil under the hood, but I had that fixed and switched to full synthetic 5w30. Replaced the (4) rubber hoses under the hood and the wires. My car guy mentioned the hoses and general life of parts of the car would last longer if I did not use 87 octane gas, so I now run it on premium. Premium gas at Costco usually costs less than regular fuel elsewhere. I use ’44K Fuel System Cleaner’, and get 58mpg. I looked at a 2003 Volvo convertible with higher KM’s and lower price tag, but after reviewing replacement costs, insurance ($20/mo), and gas mileage, I decided to go with the Metro. No brainer. The Metro is more DIY friendly, and parts are readily available and cheap. I had a 1974 and 1981 MG, and know imported cars can be a money pit. Always wanted another convertible to enjoy the summers of my ‘golden years’, and the Metro is it for me. Love my Happy Cap! Christine
Bravo! I’ve always thought of the Metro as a modern-day Nash Metropolitan. I’d love to see someone do a full-on comparison road test.
I know of at least one person who has owned both cars. As well as a Corbin Sparrow and both a Subaru 360 pickup and an XT coupe.
matt_birchard.tripod.com/cars/cars.htm
It always reminded me of something, It certainly looks the part of a 90s metropolitan.
I’m sure I’d have to get an old Nameplate to tack on if I could one. I never noticed what the similarity was to, before this.
I almost bought one for the ex. Or, more accurately, I encouraged her to buy it…since she was working and I was not.
Think maybe that’s why she’s an ex?
Thing of it was…in most ways, she was an eminently practical girl. Great with stretching a dollar. Supportive; literally in fact. Undemanding. Not only that, she was a good shot and knew deer hunting; could even field-dress a buck.
But…she had a secret desire. She wanted a convertible.
Well…in the 1980s, affordable ragtops were rare. We were in the beer-and-crackers segment of any market, so BMW and the Volkswagen Golf ragtop were out. We looked at a Renault Alliance convertible; it had style and was affordable but her father had read a lot about the new AMC/Renault cars, none of it good. And none of it untrue, as it turned out.
Then there was the Geo. Came out just as she was ready to call it splitsville…but I suggested to her that that might be a car she’d like. She laughed – a mean laugh, unlike her; and then called me a name I’ll not repeat.
In the end, she got a VW Fox. A sedan. And me…I got her boot.
Later, much later…I went through my Metro phase, with three in succession as work cars. Money well spent; and I did secretly lust for the convertible…but somehow, I had this idea of getting the wrong kinds of looks from the wrong kind of men.
You are going to get looks from SOMEbody in that car.
Bonus points for the period correct aftermarket Enkei directional wheels on the first car!
There was a white one like these floating around my neighborhood but in the past year, it disappeared or perhaps it finally moved to another area of the city as I’ve not seen it since.
As for the Nash Metropolitan,I’ve always loved these from a design aspect and they were very interesting cars to boot.
As for the Metro/Sprint, give me the original sprint any day but I’ve have always liked their basic style event he later bubble ones from the late 90’s.
#1 the car behind the xB is a Smart car
#2 I have some very fond memories of these Metro convertibles after having one as a rental on a trip to Ft Lauderdale on year. It had 14 miles on the odometer when we got it and reminded me of a refigerator (it was white) laid on its side. It was also the perfect companion for a one day road trip to Key West & back.Cheap on the gas, & a great way to enjoy a no rush, feel the sea air & sunshine day.
Behind the Xb is a Smart car!
I was shocked at how plastic this car looked when I first saw it.
Thinking back, I can almost remember thinking …
WHO, With the money for a down parment, would buy this?
Who, wanting a convertible would settle for this “Disposible lighter” of a car?
Now , I think, Why would any bank have looked at this car, considered the depreciation,and effects of daily environments thru driving, it would be worthless when 5 of the 10,000 were still owed …
How Many were produced? Sold in the US? for what years? I wonder how many survive? Perhaps not more than 10-20% I imagine.
Instead in 89… I had traded an 85 Pontiac Grand Am Auto LS V6, for a Brown Cavalier 84, Because it was a CONV, perhaps mercifully, it was a 5 speed. Not Sure if that was better than an auto, But I suspect it was. I kept it till 98 so I cant complain too loudly, I doubt spending twice on this NEW( which I could have), would have lasted 5 years of the paces I’d have put it thru in LA.
So This car wasn’t meant for me, Its Too breakable, vulnerable looking IMo, and I like the Miata, or Did. Thats what I really should have traded up to, around 90-, but I wasted my money on other foolish things… I did ride in friends at times. TO ME in LA, In a smaller friendlier Town, being in a Metro CONV around town, or on freeways might not be so, unnerving.
I do wonder just how many people actually bought these for themselves new. I’ve been under the impression that a good chunk of Metro convertibles were sunbelt tourist rental cars, and the design might well have been commissioned to meet that end.
Paul, Behind the xB is that a. Smart? b. Mini ? …whatever it is, it’s not a FUN Color.
My sole automotive aspiration during my freshman year of college was to buy one of these things.
Well, not exactly. The new supermarket in my college town was giving away a yellow Geo Metor convertible as a means of attracting customers to their new digs. You could enter for the drawing as many times as you wished and there were about 12 other prizes besides the object of my desire.
The kicker was that once your name was drawn, you were done. Couldn’t win twice. No chance. Apparently my strategy of filling in 200 of these slips an evening for two weeks at the nearby Dunkin Donuts didn’t yield the return I wanted.
Instead of getting a free car, I would up with 25 pounds of free meat. Unfortunately I was also a vegetarian at the time.
I decided to eat decaying animal carcasses once more and bought as much veal and ribs as possible. It was a hell of an improvement over the beans, rice and spaghetti dinners (and free samples) that I had regularly devoured for most of that year.
These – HIDEOUS
Seems like whenever I see a Geo Metro or a Ford Aspire, it has an unrepaired dent or a replaced panel in an unmatched color. These are cars for people who don’t have collision insurance! It’s sad that they acquire such stigma, for Americans need to learn to appreciate small cars. The current Suzuki Swift sold in the rest of the world is a handsome car I’d be happy to own. The Peugeot 107/Citroën C1/Toyota Aygo, with its 1 litre 3-cylinder, is also a nice car.
Isn’t the current Swift a rebadged Aveo/Daewoo?
Although 4 years later: No.
It’s a B-segment hatchback. And a popular one.
I used to have a neighbor that has a red one just like pictured and it has always had a blue tarp over it because of it’s leaky top. I remember she drove me to soccer practice in it and it was a cute and quirky car to ride in.
It’s funny how frequently I still see the occasional one of these running around. There was always enough of a campy goofiness factor with these that they kind of appeal to me. Not as a car, but as a fun diversion.
But in the looks department, I have to go with the old Nash Metro. The Suzuki/Chevy/Geo version is just odd looking.
My roommate had a four door Metro in his possession for about a week before selling it off. 3-speed slushbox but oddly quick. Had a few issues that were easy enough to fix, running wise, but my god the interior was downright disastrous. Pretty much any and ever button/crank/switch was broken or crooked or missing; panel gaps random; discolored this and sagging that. Made my 87 Corolla FX look like a Spyker.
Cute little thing , were removable hard tops ever made ? .
I own a Nash Metropolitan FHC and I’m a total Fanboi however , Metropolitans were wretchedly cheap cars with $ trade offs throughout .
I imagine any old beat up Metro would be better than a 50 + year old Metropolitan but they’re so damn CUTE I’ll keep my Nash .
BTW : Metropolitans get 35 + MPG’s almost always .
-Nate
No, Nate, removable hard tops were never made for the Geo. The Nash sure is a nice car, too! Looking to get a roll bar for my Geo convertible for added safety and rigidity. I don’t know of any other car manufacturer other than Mercedes that made removable hard tops. My dad bought a Black ’99 Mercedes at an auction last Spring, 80,000 km, mint condition inside and out and he paid about $9 k for it. Gotta love auctions. He and I took the hard top off together as it is a two person job. It is awesome in that the roll bar engages at the press of a button, as does the convertible top, up or down. Nice. Unfortunately, and unlike my Geo, it is not DIY friendly-you cannot stick your little finger in any part of the engine compartment, let alone see the ground! I’m thrilled with my little Geo, as I am still waiting for dad to let me move his black beauty out of the garage, let alone take it out on the road. Spring can’t come soon enough!
Meanwhile somewhere in Ontario, Canada…
http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/oakville-halton-region/four-1991-pontiac-firefly-convertibles-for-sale/1078806645?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true
Someone has four, yes count ’em- four, of these Canadian cousin Pontiac Firefly convertibles for sale. I was browsing the used car ads a few days ago and came across it. Two of them are even yellow.
Dang that’s cute .
.
Seems to hold it’s value well too ~ $3K + for a 1991 cheap car ? wow .
.
-Nate
I remember renting one of the Geo ragtops – a yellow one – on a business trip to SoCal back in the 90s. I dropped the top and hit I-15 from Ontario Airport heading eventually to the 91 and Orange County. About 10 minutes into the trip, got hit hard on the melon (my forhead) with what I think was a June bug. It left an impression.
I have liked and wanted one of these cars for a long time. It’s one of the cheapest car ever built but you still get to enjoy a drop top. Back in the 90s several of my hyper commuting co workers had a little fleet of these buzzbombs. They reported 40mpg and terror watching the big rigs coming up behind them in the rear view mirror.
If I’m remembering correctly, the equivalent Suzuki Swift had a higher-performance version that was sold in this market for a couple of years. Can’t recall whether it was a turbo, or improved breathing/cam/etc, or if it traded the I3 for an I4. Whichever it was, they should have made that engine an option in these Metro ragtops since there was do ragtop Swift.
Well, mommy needed a new pair of shoes, so I finally got me a manual, red Geo Metro LSi convertible this past May. I purchased it from a sweet elderly man (78) in Windsor…just visiting the kids and thought I’d make the additional 45 minute trek out to see it. I bought it right on the spot! Oddly enough when I was driving it, the muffler sounded kind of ‘farty’, and the old gent just chuckled when I asked what shape the muffler was in. He told me the muffler was fine, that he used to belong to a Harley Davidson motorcycle club. He continued to say he and one of his buddies stuck a section of a Harley muffler on the end, just for the fun of it. Sounds quite sporty, actually, especially on acceleration.
I have monitored my mileage and over the last almost 2 months have consistently received 58mpg, keeping my speed around 100km/h. Passed emissions and certification no problem.
The car now has almost 95,000 miles, no rust, never driven in winter, and in immaculate shape inside and out for it’s 24+years. I looked at a high mileage Volvo convertible for less money, and a mid mileage Miata for more money, but the premium gas and poor mileage on the Volvo, parts replacement cost and insurance were huge negative factors on the lovely Swede. Miata’s were out of my price league. It costs me $20 a month to insure the Geo, $30 to fill it, parts are readily available on ebay and various car stores, and I can do basic maintenance myself. The car’s pretty much been updated, and after I put it on the ramps, I could see it was in fact, amazing shape. I normally don’t carry my ramps when I visit the kids, just casseroles, salads and desserts! Guess I was hoping…
After keeping an eye out for one of these rare lunch boxes on wheels for a couple of years, I finally found just what I wanted. I can’t begin to say how much fun or how much I enjoy driving this little treasure! October will come far too soon then into storage it goes. In the mean time I will make the best of my summer driving adventures!
Cool !
Thanx for the update .
-Nate
My Pleasure, Nate! Had I known this was going to be such a ‘mild’ Ontario winter, I would have left the Geo at home and ripped it during almost double-digit temps…and of course, with the top down! Cheers!
I have a 93 convertible for sale right now with 11k original miles. Yes, 11,000. Been stored off and on for many years. My father bought it new as a toy and then rarely took it out to play. He sold it to me and I’ve used it sporadically since 2010. Bought an Audi A4 cabrio quattro a few years ago so we stopped using the Geo too. Call or text me at two-one-seven 840-8053 if anyone is interested. It’s really almost a “benchmark” car as only the top has been changed.
I would rather have a Paseo convertible. For a few dollars more…
How ’bout a Rav4 1/2 convertible? The mullet of convertibles: Business up front, party out back.
My college buddy bought one because he like my Festiva and thought a convertible would be fun. It wasn’t. It reeked of cheapness and plastic, the engine was gutless and the convertible top was fragile. It fell apart before he finished paying for it.