May16
The environmentally friendly vehicles of the 1990s were largely unsuccessful in their time, but with gas prices approaching the $4 a gallon mark, those econoboxes of yore could be finally coming into their own. Prices for used cars such as the Geo Metro and Ford Fiesta have risen by as much as 30 percent — and more — in recent months.
According to Kelley Blue Book, most of these tiny hatchbacks were selling for right around $1,000 just a few months ago, but are now going for as much $6,000 — largely dues to high prices at the pump.
The Geo Metro is proving to be one of the most popular fuel-efficient vehicles of the ’90s, thanks to its hybrid-surpassing fuel economy. The Metro was powered by a fuel-sipping 55 horsepower 1.0L three-cylinder engine, which returned 49 mpg. An even more fuel-efficient XFi model was also available, which dropped the Metro’s power to 49 horsepower, but upped fuel economy to 58 mpg. In comparison, a $22,000 Toyota Prius can get about 45 mpg.
The Metro’s wide variety of body styles — including a three-door hatchback, a convertible and a four-door sedan — is also lending to the car’s recent success.
But what makes these vehicles so fuel-efficient should also be a cause for concern. Weight is the enemy of high EPA ratings, so cars such as the Geo Metro and Ford Fiesta did without several weight-adding safety features — including ABS and airbags. “What is your life worth for that extra 10 miles per gallon?” asks Jon Linkov, managing editor for autos for Consumer Reports.
Wow, imagine getting 58 MPG WHILE gas is only like a buck a gallon. Sounds like some good times…
In reality, though, not many people would want a 10+ year old Geo that is probably falling apart and lacks ABS, airbags, a good stereo, maybe A/C, and barely has enough horsepower to get up some hills. I’m not even sure what driving a 49 HP car would be like on highways and hills.
$6000 for a Metro WOW, that’s overkill
WOW
I’d rather walk than drive a GEO Metrosexual.
what’s my life worth? isn’t that what life insurance is for
was the Ford Aspire not a good car econocar?
Cant wait to slap a cold air intake on my Geo Metro!!!!!
I have 6 speed bicycle. Any takers: echo friendly, no fuel needed and develops muscle while commuting. Capable of 25-30 mph. Asking price $500.
The Fiesta hasn’t been on sale in America since 1980. I think LLN means the Ford Festiva.
I had a ‘93 Swift recently. They’re good little cars…tough, nippy to drive, and yes, very economical. Mine had manual steering, no a/c, no ABS, and no airbags. But its 70hp 1.3 was a great little engine, averaging me 37mpg.
I get irritated when people like this Consumer Reports guy say “Is your life worth the extra 10mpg” …as if one should expect impending doom if they drive a car older than 10 years. How did civilization get to this point with cars like the Geo Metro and Hyundai Excel on the road? We should all be dead!!!
Funny… I bought a 89 Dodge Daytona turbo not long ago that gets 25MPG around town and still has enough gusto to blow the doors off of a Civic.
As I have said before… American cars today are obese… bloated… and loaded with all kinds of crazy features and gimmicks that simply aren’t needed. Go back to a simpler automobile… one that is more basic transportation than computer controlled rolling airbag… and fuel economy will go up.
Generations of American drivers got by just fine without power everything, heated & cooled cupholders, 10 speaker stereos, 8 airbags, tire pressure monitors, backup sensors, nav. systems, voice commands, adaptive cruise control, & 20″ chrome rims. We don’t need these things… and the thousands of pounds they add to the weight of cars. Shall we focus on horsepower & fuel economy instead?
I can still fill up my ‘92 Asuna Sunrunner for $40 cdn. It’s got a neck snapping 80 hp, 4 wheel drive and a removable soft top. I’ll let it go for say…10 grand and a trip to Dollywood.
Bring these cars all back:
Ford Festiva / Aspire
Geo / Chevy Metro / Suzuki Swift
Honda Civic VX - remember the VX? (1992-93?) Wasn’t it something like 48 mpg?
Honda Civic CRX HF - remember the HF model?
Daihatsu Charade
Subaru Justy (remember the 4WD model?)
RaineMan your crazy! It’s the freakin 21 st century!!! I don’t want to drive some stripped out, rubber floor matted, cheap cloth seat covered tin can on wheels! I want power EVERYTHING! I want to be able to surf the net WHILE I DRIVE! I want my ASS massaged while I’m cruising on the ave! Infact I want a way to be biologically attached to my car so instead of pushing a button my car will intuitively know what I want!!!! Technology FOREVER! Going back to doing it my self NEVER!!!!!!!!!!
Out
The Civic VX and HF models were replaced by the HX models through the late ’90s and early ’00s. The HX was soon dropped after the Civic Hybrid came around. The Hybrid is great because it gets around 45 MPG yet has the interior space of a ’90s Accord. Once you factor in inflation, it’s not that much more expensive either.
Driven right, each of these models gets 40+ MPG in real-world driving. Note that ‘driven right’ does not mean ’slow’. To get the best mileage you have to know how and when to shift, maintain a constant velocity, mimimize braking, and most importantly OBSERVE AND ANTICIPATE TRAFFIC.
Aww… that’s too bad M… I prefer my car to be all about the driving experience. Hear the engine… feel the suspension… who needs AC when you’ve got windows. Guess I’m just old fashioned… but a lot of muscle-car addicts will agree with me.
Engine, tranny, suspension, 4 wheels, & a seat… I’m set to go!
anybody who pays 6000 for a small car from the 1990s should be hit in the face with a shovel.
Give me a CRX HF or a Civic VX over any of the hybrids. I would hate to think of the price to replace those battery packs but I bet when the time comes the price of the repair will be far more than the book value on the car (plus I am one of those crazy people who likes to shift my own gears and all the old gas misers had manual transmissions). The Metro XFi gets over 50mpg but I bet the 49 horsepower engine makes driving seem more like you lost a bet.
I’m going thru my closets for some metros and fiestas now.
O hell no. I’d rather pay $46 to fill up a kia.
Consumer Reports people are morons.
These are the same people who “recommended” the Dodge Intrepid for years when it was a proven pile of breaking-parts garbage.
There goes RaineMan again with extremely biased comments. Correction: EVERY car today is overweight whether is be Asian, Domestic, or European. In fact, BMW is the worst offender I can think of, even though they are great cars.
BTW, MercMark, many people, like me, don’t give a rat’s ass what people like you think. At least my wallet won’t be empty.
C6Racer by American cars I mean cars marketed on the American market by any manufacturer.
Cars over in the EU and Asia are tiny compared to what we have here.
**** me in the goat-ass. 6k for a Geo Metro? Buyers are delusional. For 10k you can get a BRAND new Hyundai Accent, warranty and all.
Nothing but fluff, anecdotal bull**** from the truth doctors - consumer report.
I have seen more Chevettes on the road this past couple of weeks than I’ve seen in the past 5 years.
My 2 litre 150bhp Primera had an official combined mpg of 35, so 37mpg out of the 1.3 swift isn’t that great… But around town, if you’re averaging that, you’re doing better than I was in my Primera - it had a 7,500rpm redline, and I like to have fun
Considering the Primera was a big car with ABS, Airbag (mine only had driver side but they did come with passenger also), A/C etc… Can’t complain.
better those that the false-phallus Hummer
You have to be insane or incredibly stupid to pay $6000 for a used Metro, unless it has been garaged since new with no miles and in show room condition.