Another car for MetroMPG: convertible 1991 Pontiac Firefly (Geo Metro)

[MetroMPG]

Why? Because it was there!

(Actually the truth is I've been biking / walking past this car several times a week for about 15 years, and thought if it ever went up for sale, I'd be interested. The sign went in the windshield on Tuesday afternoon and I got it Wednesday morning.)

1991 Pontiac Firefly convertible...

I don't have any pics of it, but captured this from Google Streetview:



Feel free to snoop around more, if you like: Streetview link.

Note the awesome Miami Vice era original vinyl decals! Cringingly awesome! (I'm looking for a good razor blade...)

Specs...

• 3-pot, oil changed every 4 months (says the owner)
• 5-cog
• 109,000 km / 68k original miles
• mechanically very good - only problem I spotted so far is a loud right front wheel bearing
• recent new top
• good engine - I haven't compression tested it, but it runs smooth, pulls strong, and doesn't burn oil
• good trans - no "2nd gear crunch" at all
• solid control arm mounts, but significant floorboard rust (footwell area) from convertible top water leaks accumulating puddles. It's already been patched once - nothing that can't be fixed again

I need another car like I need a hole in my head. But 800 bucks seemed OK to me for a relatively efficient toy in need of someone who can tend to it (floor).

Besides, (I rationalized), it's not going to lose any value, and I recently got a spot with extra garage parking, so I've got somewhere to keep it out of the weather.

Mods!

Yes I'll mod it too. Imagining an aeroshell style removable soft- or hardtop is fun.

The car has the worst (ie. shortest) final drive of any of the 3-cylinder Metroids, so that will have to be fixed at some point, or I have to limit my top speed to 60 km/h.

I'm picking up a set of GT side skirts this weekend from a friend who for some reason has kept a dead Swift GT for years, and I may have a lead on some lightweight (10.5 lb) 14 inch Suzuki rims too.

I am looking for some used OEM Bridgestone Potenza RE92's to put on it ... if you know of any, let me know!

No immediate plans to put it on the road though. I have a pile of other things to do. So I'll park it until later this summer, or maybe until next year. Then use it a couple months a year ... at least until Barrett Jackson comes knocking on my door demanding I put it on the block for the throngs of deep-pocketed collectors clamoring for classic Geos.

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Specifications 1990-1994 Geo Metro

2-door convertible / 2-door hatchback

Wheelbase, in. 89.2 89.2
Overall Length, in. 147.4 147.4
Overall Width, in. 62.7 62.0
Overall Height, in. 52.0 52.4
Curb Weight, lbs. 1753 1650
Cargo Volume, cu. ft. 6.4 29.1
Fuel Capacity, gals. 10.6 10.6
Front Head Room, in. 39.6 37.8
Max. Front Leg Room, in. 42.4 42.5

source: http://consumerguideauto.howstuffwor...eo-metro-8.htm

[roflwaffle]

Iono meng. I always dig period correct decals from whatever time period, they add so much character to a car. Sooner or later most people remove 'em so they're kinda rare on top of that. Not worth anything, but neat to have IMO.

[MetroMPG]

I definitely hear what you're saying. I can appreciate them too... but on other people's cars.

As a compromise: I could take lots and lots of detailed photos. That way if I ever regret the decision to remove 'em, I can have a fresh set made up. (They're far from mint - the whole car is far from mint.)

[robbiewt]

19 year old decals! That will be quite a pain to remove. I would just sand them down and start painting. But, I would probably end up with something more embarrassing.

[Frank Lee]

Blades? Sanding?

Finger nails, heat gun, and goo gone and that decal is outta there with no damage to the paint.

Now you can (relatively) easily do this!!!

[Piwoslaw]

I can't wait to see that new Metro with an aero-hardtop. AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME!!!

[PaleMelanesian]

Aeroshell was my very FIRST thought when I saw the word "convertible". Do It!

[thatguitarguy]

15 years? Your power of suggestion is inspiring!

Now that I look at the graphics, they're not nearly as horrible as you described. If you remove them there will be a shadow from sunfade underneath.

Without having a roofline dictated, an aeroshell with boat-tail and skirts incorporated would be awesome. It will be interesting to see what you come up with.

[Wonderboy]

Did someone say MIAMI VICE? That's right, if you didn't have anything better to do, here's 27 action-packed DVDs. Looks like it was priced to move at 40 bucks cause it sold out faster than than one of Don Johnson's marriages. Too bad MST3K box sets don't sell for that much.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

Now you can (relatively) easily do this!!!

Yeah - too bad about my pesky windshield!

Originally Posted by thatguitarguy

the graphics, they're not nearly as horrible as you described. If you remove them there will be a shadow from sunfade underneath.

That will be an issue. The paint is fairly oxidized though, so it's in need of a good compound/buffing treatment anyway. And fortunately, the paint differences are best hidden by white.

Without having a roofline dictated, an aeroshell with boat-tail and skirts incorporated would be awesome. It will be interesting to see what you come up with.

I'm looking forward to playing! But not in the near future - tomorrow the car is going into storage for a couple of months at least.