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