When Geo set out to deliver a car that offered a high level of practicality, they weren’t fooling around, with the early Metros achieving an EPA-estimated 50 or more MPG on the highway. While these were indeed fuel-efficient, they were small and had a horsepower rating roughly equal to their gas mileage. Unfortunately, all 14 of these first-generation Geo Metro cars are presently getting zero miles per gallon, as none are currently operational. However, at $500 per unit, the cost of five grand for the entire lot might be a reasonable proposition for someone with the skills to get some of them running again. These are sitting in Gnadenhutten, Ohio, and can be found here on Facebook Marketplace. Unusual find, JDC, and thanks for sharing your tip with us!
The Metro made its debut in the United States as a 1989 model, although it originated from Suzuki roots in Japan, with production of the first-gen cars lasting through 1994. It’s definitely a plus that all the cars offered here are from the first run, which should make it easier to piece things together if the buyer’s objectives include getting one or more of these back on the road. Although an inline-4 engine became an option beginning in 1995, a 1.0-liter three-cylinder was all that could be had on the early cars, so that’s what’s under all the hoods here. All were said to be running when they got parked.
So why would anybody choose to stop using an operational vehicle that’s still running, and 14 of them at that? Unfortunately, most are said to have met this fate due to frame rust that reached a point where they were unsafe to drive. However, three are reported to still have good frames, although it’s not specified which examples. Additional good news is that two cars are convertibles, which I had long forgotten was even a possibility for the Metro. A wagon is also included in the bunch, but this larger Geo is quickly becoming one with the earth. It’s also mentioned that most cars come with a title, so that should be helpful if any are ever returned to roadworthiness in the future.
Looking around the yard, I’m curious how all these Geos came to rest in the same place, and whether the owner once had plans to resurrect some of them. There’s also no information on how long these have been here, but the post has been up for 6 years now, so I don’t think any are recent acquisitions. How do you envision moving forward with a field of 14 Geo Metros? Is it worth trying to save a few, or have they all reached the point of being just parts cars?
There is a guy around my area that bought everyone of these that he could find. At least 40 or 50 of them.
He switched to another brand of tinker toy…. Ford Festivas and the like. Has a collection of those also.
700 mpg, good one Mike. Seller won’t sell individual parts, or whole cars. And eleven of them have rusty frames. I think I understand why the post has been up for six years.
Well,if 1 is good,then 14 must be?
Kind of humorous, there actually is, or was, someone like the guy at the farm in N.Wis. I lived on. He had 4, 3 “bad” ones, and one “good” one, AND, he showed me where there were 3 more sitting. I chuckled when another friend never heard of a 3 cylinder, and boy, was he surprised. Eventually, rust claimed the “good’ one, I don’t think he ever got gas for it. It was weird, it was a 5 speed, and to be honest, you really couldn’t tell it was a 3 cylinder. Gas mileage was overstated, as always, but 40+ easy. See, thing is, the reason these were so popular in rural areas, was as businesses folded and jobs disappeared, people began driving extremely long drives to a job. Cost of gas became a major concern. These were perfect, and racked up hundreds of thousands of miles, until the rust killed them. What to do here? These are still around my little town, but the thing here is, with 2,3, even 400k, the motors are shot. Someone with the knuckles, will strip them all down, and then scrap the parts they saved in 10 years,,,
NOW, I want to say in defense of the writers, this “JDC” lambasted a writer for posting such “junk” a while back,, when so many nicer cars could be written up. Hello? This is any better? I felt bad for the author, who had to go on the defensive, and wasn’t his cross to bear. There’s room for everyone here, from dusty F-85s to a field of Geos, but please, the authors are the mere “piano players” of the site, and the old West motto, “Never shoot the piano player”,,, here’s to the writers that do an outstanding job!