What should I offer for the Geo Metro (1989 with 55k miles)

[Ryland]

I would be straight forward with her and tell her what the NADA value is and also tell her what you can afford and see what she says, after all, if you don't buy it and if she doesn't need the money then she might give it to whatever grand child has recently turned 16 and the car will either end up wrapped around a tree or will end up with sub woofers in the back and if she doesn't have a clue on the value then she might see it as a 23 year old car that is worthless.
But if she does need the money then you've just helped her out buy letting her know if she's selling it for a fraction of it's value.

If it's an XFI trim level then I would say buy it just as an investment as the low mileage Metro XFI is the version that sold for $6,000 or more on Ebay a few years ago and if gasoline gets up past $4 a gallon this year you will see that happening again.
If it's an automatic transmission then I wouldn't bother with it unless you wanted a mint body to put a manual transmission in to or to build an electric car with.

[Janinne]

So.......if it is an automatic, don't buy it because of the age at any cost? Or the value is reduced? Would you expect the transmission to need to be replaced soon if it is an auto and if so, is that expensive? TTY!!

[Ladogaboy]

I think it is more a matter of value. Manuals tend to be far more flexible and get better fuel economy. Plus, there might be a bias: A recent poll showed that more than half the members on this site drive manuals.

[Ford Man]

At 55K miles even an automatic transmission should have many miles left in it, but if it's an automatic and you get it I'd suggest taking it in for a transmission fluid/filter change then have it done every 30-40K miles. This is not an expensive service and will help insure the transmission lasts many years/miles. Most people on this site would rather have a manual shift, after all they do get better mileage than an automatic.

[Ryland]

My reasoning for suggesting you not buy a Geo Metro with an automatic is that with the automatic the EPA mileage is 32/36 and in talking to people who have owned them they are sluggish, after all you only have a 55hp 1 litter engine, an automatic transmission just eats up to much energy and I'm not impressed enough with the build quality or comfort of a Geo Metro to put up with that kind of gas mileage, that if you do want an automatic there are other vehicles out there that would get just as good if not better mileage with an automatic.
1989 Geo Metro with a 5 speed is EPA rated at 38/45mpg.