Selling an Insight - looking for advice on buying a Geo Metro

[budomove]

Nevermind, just found out it's an automatic...Shi-ucks!

Thanks Anyway.

I just sold my 91 civic hatch into which Ben lovingly swapped an hf transmission almost 2 years ago. I recently bought a 2000 5spd insight, and am thinking of selling it for something cheap I can leave on the street in queens where I live. I am looking to use it on the highway to go to rural nj where my folks live, and maybe connecticut where I work half the week. What should I look for, and are these reliable cars that handle decently on the highway? Also, what trim/engine choices were there in 97? I hope it is the 3cyl!
here's the ad:
1997 Geo Metro, purple hatchback.
Compact, so good, economical gas mileage.
Good running condition; a car if you just need something to get around, especially for students or deliverymen.
Around 78,000 miles.

$1000 or best offer.

Thanks for any advice, frank

[SVOboy]

How much for the insight, ?

[budomove]

For you, a pound of cannolis, and it's yours my friend.
No, but really, I got a guy who is willing to give me what I paid for it, 7500.

It had a valve adjustment done, and I changed the mtf, cleaned the egr, and replaced the spark plugs.

It is just too perfect to keep, I miss the hatchback I hydrolocked with seafoam. I am so dumb, that car was so dreamy.

I loved the solid, simplicity of the hatchback, and am overwhelmed by the overcomplexity of the insight, and the cluttered, impossible to work in engine bay.

[MetroMPG]

Frank...

Sounds like you need a VX, if its going to be a highway runner. In my opinion, the Metros aren't that great, FE wise, at much over 55 mph (in warm weather). A VX in good tune would whoop a Metro's butt in straight up highway travel.

I hope you don't mind I changed the title of the thread a bit. I'd like to make this a generic "what to look for when buying a Metro" page because I know other people will come looking for the info.

So... the biggest things are probably:

1) Rust. The dreaded control arm mount (front) gets weak and will collapse/rip if they get too rusty. Wheels fall off, etc. They need to be really solid, or I wouldn't take the chance. The cars are prone to rust in other areas (rocker panels @ the floor pan join, inner fender wells) but the A arm area is the critical spot.

2) Synchros - manual transmission: these cars are notorious for weak synchros on 2nd gear. Can be grindy if you shift quickly. Changing to a light weight tranny oil may help (it helped my first Firefly).

3) Even compression - these cars are known to burn the exhaust valve on the middle cylinder because of a blocked EGR passage. You'll want to make sure compression is close for all 3 cyls.

Those are the biggies I can think of. Hopefully others will chime in with more. It's not like we're lacking for Suzukiclone buying/fixing experience here.

[MetroMPG]

Also watch for:

- broken door handles (int & ext), mostly on the 89-94 cars

- bent/broken window crank/lift mechanisms

[budomove]

I live in nyc, so I don't REALLY need a car, it's just nice to be able to leave on the weekends without taking buses and trains, because I do love driving. I also work in greenwich, ct half the week, and it's either a 45 minute drive, or 2 hrs of 3 different trains. The cost of train commuting, and car ownership per month are about the same. I may opt to endure longer commute times, so that I can live carfree.

I always loved the feeling that my hatch cost nothing, and that nothing could really go wrong. I just wanted something safer, that had airbags and such.

the metro is at least as unsafe as the civic, but it is just so cheap. The vx, even though it has front airbags, is really no safer than the 88-91 ef civic, and is not a cheap car when found rust free. I think what it all boils down to, is I want relative highway safety, or I will simply learn to live without a car. I wish they made another lean burn car after the vx, that had more safety. The 01-05 hx is what I was looking at when I was prompted by mom to drive a safer car, but I wanted a compact hatchback.

That 91 hatch had such great visibility, which is a memory that makes me nostalgic while changing lanes in the insight.

I will either:
keep the insight
or live without a car.

I need to think about it

Thanks Metro.

[SVOboy]

I'd trade you the CRX if I wasn't so emotionally attached (and the value was even close, ).

Go carless!

[budomove]

If you throw in a six pack of fanta, you've got a deal!

carless may be the way.

I will seek spiritual guidance in the coming days.

[Coyote X]

The front control arm mount is the only thing that really is a deal breaker I think. The exhaust valves and other stuff is not really bad if it means you can get a good price on the car. This is assuming you have a place to do it and are willing to pull the head off the engine and replace the valves without having to take it to a shop and pay them to do it.

The metal used in the control arm mounts is pretty thin and is kind of a pain to repair if you don't have a good bit of welding experience........Unless you tube chassis the car

[XFi]

Originally Posted by budomove

...
I just sold my 91 civic hatch into which Ben lovingly swapped an hf transmission almost 2 years ago...

Say it ain't so Frank That was a nice low mileage civic. (Bye HX Rims)
I say keep the insight if your monetary situation allows!