How much do you Metro owners spend annually on repair costs if any?

[Cryptinox]

This isn't including oil change. I was on another forum inquiring about Metros and I was told if I took it to a mechanic I'd be spending more on a metro than I would be on a newer car. I am open to learning about repairing cars on my own though. Are metros easy to work on? How cheap are the parts required for a repair I most likely would need to do annually?

[freebeard]

I'm in the same boat. I haven't had the XFi for a year yet. It was a mechanic's loaner and they repaired a hanger at the middle of the tail pipe when I took delivery (I forget if I paid for that). I got 4ea 95% rubber used tires for $200, mounted and balanced. That's it so far.

It looks like the first thing that will need attention is the windshield wiper buttons. It's taken to only swiping once on Lo.

It will be interesting to see what comments turn up.

[M_a_t_t]

I've never owned one, but I've pulled the engine and manual transmission out of one. It was all straight forward. There is going to be annoyances when you do certain things, but in my experience it is a pretty simple car. The big thing is that there are so many that repair tutorials are around for just about everything on the car.

[Ecky]

Disclaimer: I don't own a Metro

I see the biggest advantage of a Metro not as being that they're especially trouble-free, but that parts are inexpensive, they're relatively simple, and very easy to repair (e.g. easy to get to things, lots of clearance in the engine bay).

I've observed that (just as an example) the typical Honda engine will last quite a few more miles than a Metro engine, but a Metro engine is considerably easier to get out of the car, and considerably easier/cheaper to rebuild. That's something I'm coming to appreciate.

[samwichse]

$10

[freebeard]

You get good pricing on wiper blades?

[me and my metro]

I commuted 60 miles per day in Geo Metros for 8 years. I had several different cars and experimented with an aftermarket Xfi clone cam and +10 cam gear. I even did three cylinder into four cylinder late 4 door car 54 mpg. and an early car 93 four cylinder sohc into a 91 Metro coupe 42 mpg. The 91 and 93 are both early cars but have completely different wiring systems. I put GTI disc brakes and sway bars on the 91 and with the 1.3 sohc it was a kick to drive. I highly recommend it I surprised many a car that had just been whipped by a Metro! LOL

Now back to your question, a Metro in good shape is a great little car. There are several weak points:
Wiper transmissions
Window regulators
2nd gear synchros
BS 10mm wheel studs on the early cars.

95+ have air bags +
Automatics suck fuel- no overdrive
Watch out for front frame horn rust issues
No cam bearings so if you have issues you need to search for a good head.

Hope this helps.
Andy

[freebeard]

Watch out for front frame horn rust issues

[citation needed] As anyone posted pix of what to look for?

[me and my metro]

Not much of a problem here in Oregon, but in the North East part of the country it was a problem. So much so that the Geo Metro is rare in that part of the country.

[freebeard]

I did it for the lurkers: duckduckgo.com/?q=Geo+Metro+front+frame+horn+rust+issues&iax=imag es&ia=images

It looks like geometroforum might be a good resource.

edit: I already like MetroXFi.com. Look at this: