Notable eco-cars (old & new) spotted in the wild: post your pics!

[MetroMPG]

I've noticed the occasional thread being posted when people spot notable vehicles in the wild. Thought it would be fun if we gathered them all in one place.

(If you've already posted a thread, post a link to it here, or copy your pics over!)

I'll start off with this one spotted today. Haven't seen one of these for at least 8 years back in rust belt Ontario...

1989-?? Pontiac Firefly Turbo
(Spotted in Vancouver, BC, Canada.)






I did a double-take this AM walking past this rare beastie. So let's say in 1989 you wanted an efficient runabout, but ~55 hp from the naturally aspirated 993cc 3-cylinder wasn't enough, and you couldn't bring yourself to buy the 1.3L 4-cylinder. Turbo, it is then! With 70 tire-smoking horses!

EPA rates the 1989 n.a. 5-speed Chevy Sprint (same car): 38 MPG city / 45 hwy / 41 combined.
For comparison, the turbo car was rated: 31 / 38 / 34.
These are the 2008 "revised" figures.

From the brochure...

Fashionable, fun and fast. The Turbo Firefly sets itself apart from its fellow Firefly models in a number of ways.

Turbo Firefly boasts a turbocharged, intercooled, multi-port fuel-injected version of Firefly's 3-cylinder/5-speed manual powertrain and generates 45% more horsepower (70HP @ 5500 RPM) than the standard Firefly engine.

Turbo Firefly has been clocked at 9.4 seconds, zero to sixty, on the GM test track with a professional driver at the wheel.

Special Equipment
The car rides on P165/70R-12 steel-belted all-season radials, tires that are wider than those on the regular Firefly.

An upgraded suspension features front stabilizer bar and specific shock absorbers and spring rates.

Aero ground-effects: front and rear air dams and rocker panel skirts. Dual tail pipes.

The Turbo Firefly Exterior
To begin with, you get your choice of bright red or aquablue with colour-matched wide body-side mouldings. Other distinctive Turbo exterior touches include:

* White wheel covers.
* Body-colour bumpers and rub strips.
* Dual black sport mirrors.
* Special "Turbo" and "Intercooler" graphics on the body-side.

The Turbo Firefly Interior
As the picture below indicates, Turbo Firefly is distinguished by specific interior trim in Charcoal and special steering wheel with "Turbo" graphic. Other interior features standard in Turbo Firefly include:

* Custom Knit Cloth upholstery.
* Split-folding rear seat-back.

FROM: 1989 Pontiac Turbo Firefly - Dieselstation Car Forums

[War_Wagon]

There is a smurf blue one of those parked at the end of my block. I also had a first gen one I nabbed at an auction for $150, but the deal got cancelled as it was only supposed to be sold as parts only so I couldn't get a regi for it. It was bad, but it wasn't THAT bad lol.

[War_Wagon]

Dang eco cars cluttering up the place!

[MetroMPG]

It was probably in better shape than the last couple I've bought in Ontario!

[freebeard]

Let's see, what have I got?


Geo Metro race car transporter



Geo Metro with vortex generators

[MetroMPG]

Ha! That Metro strech looks like something the guys on Top Gear would make.

Coincidentally, I saw a YouTube vid of it a couple of days ago, filmed on the road in the wild, and the camera operator had no idea what it was. Mystery solved!

What is it about the Metro? It's the canvas for so many bizarre projects (eco & otherwise).

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Am I one of the few who actually like the Suzuki Swift/Chevy Metro??? I'd want to get one to leave it stock.

[freebeard]

I've seen one or two in metallic blue with 5-spoke mags that were just neat.

If I wasn't driving what I am; it'd probably be a Metro or a Subaru Brat with a T-top.

[mechman600]

My brother in law has seen this thing in the wild a couple of times:

Not really "ECO", but compared to a pickup truck it's probably pretty good!

[War_Wagon]

Oh my, I kind of doubt the RCMP will consider the red tuck tape to be "lighting" on that 4 foot rear bumper extension / accident waiting to happen. How has he not had that thing taken off the road yet??