We got a tip yesterday that Geo Metros were being auctioned on eBay Motors for prices above what the tiny cars cost new. This auction for a 1993 Geo Metro XFI with just 22,501 miles ended yesterday with a winning bid of $7,200! Why has the resale value of the Metro and other tiny econocrap cars gone through the roof? The simple answer: gas prices. Vehicles like the Metro, the Suzuki Swift on which it's based, Ford Aspire and Festiva, and Hyundai Excel were around before federal safety regulations and public pressure demanded that every car survive an impact from any angle with five stars. That kind of safety adds weight, and modern econocars are therefore much heavier and therefore less fuel efficient than they were in the early '90s.
The aforementioned Metro XFI is powered by an anemic 1.0L three-cylinder engine producing just 49 hp, but it returns between 55 and 60 mpg. Cars like this defined the phrase 'fuel-sipping' and made passing on the highway a strategic maneuver involving lots of planning. But the XFI is now apparently the holy grail for used car shoppers willing to sacrifice modern amenities and a bit of safety to save a buck on fuel. The trick is finding an example with low miles that hasn't rusted to pieces or been abused by an angry teenager who wanted a Mustang instead. If you do find one, you'll have what automakers are now just unable to offer: a cheap small car that doesn't use expensive technology to achieve incredible fuel economy. But you better willing to pay for it. Thanks for the tip, Lynn!
[Source: eBay Motors, U.S. News]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
tankd0g @ May 16th 2008 2:07PM
If this is thing is going for over $7000, then a Honda CRX HF must be going for double that.
500 @ May 17th 2008 11:07PM
Gas prices? Nah, probably just the popularity of the freecreditreport.com ad:
...too bad i didn't know that my credit was whack
cuz now im drivin off the lot in a used sub compact
Justin @ May 16th 2008 2:08PM
My coworker actually just bought one of the Chevy Prizms (Prism?).
He was thrilled, then the door handle broke off of it. Then the AC died a week later. Then the rim bent on a small pothole...
epilonious @ May 16th 2008 2:33PM
Cost to repair all those things:
$145
$100 before 12:00 on Thursdays
John @ May 16th 2008 4:56PM
New door handle, AC compressor, and rim & tire for $145? I highly doubt it.
emineid @ May 16th 2008 7:31PM
I've had the same three problems with my 93 Geo Prizm.
What it actually cost me to fix:
1. Door handle breaking
$25 for non-OEM door handle off ebay, did the labor myself.
2. Air conditioner
$750 to replace the condenser (happened twice, so $1500 total)
3. Bent rim
tire still holds air, so never bothered to get it fixed
I get an honest 27 mpg around town on my Geo Prizm. Used to get almost exact 30/36 city/highway as EPA rated.
rouse42 @ May 16th 2008 2:08PM
thats insane!
this car is worth $72 not $7200
does it have an image of the virgin mary and jesus in the paint?
Xcountryflyer @ May 16th 2008 2:13PM
Bought myself a 97 Nissan Sentra GXE with 173K miles & 5-speed manual for $2100 for a cheapo 2nd commuter car. Its in decent shape and I enjoy getting 30MPG in town and have seen 40-43MPG on the highway at constant 70MPH. What is nice is that its peppy enough with the 5M and the MPG is addictive.
RIFRAF @ May 16th 2008 2:43PM
This is no lie, my first 'new' car I bought was a 92 geo metro xfi that I paid $5300 for. No A/C, or radio no air bags if I remember right. It got an average of 58 mpg and actually ran pretty good down the streets and even on the highway. The main killing factor was no A/C since I live in Arizona. Try driving that beast in the middle of summer. Oh well I was young and poor!! Heh,, I wished I still had it now :)
rodan32 @ May 16th 2008 3:12PM
I've put 60k miles on my Metro, a 2001 LSi (the Chevy branded one). So far, I've only had to replace the alternator. Here's the deal with Metros; they're the absolute cheapest car to own. Cheapest tires, cheapest gas, cheapest parts. Very simple to work on, very good gas mileage.
It's definitely not a sexy car, but it's extremely practical.
4agze @ May 16th 2008 2:11PM
man i rather get a ford fiesta than this
Way of the Future @ May 16th 2008 2:11PM
i've been seeing a lot more of these around NYC, they are the "IT" car right now for fuel savings
Rob @ May 16th 2008 2:12PM
Give me a crx with a zc..or maybe b16a
spdracerut @ May 16th 2008 2:14PM
Mazda needs to being their diesel 2 over here. I drove one in France and it handles pretty damn well, which is to be expected of a Mazda. With only 70hp, and four adults loaded up, it definitely required a lot of strategic planning for making a pass on the mountain roads!
Gardiner Westbound @ May 16th 2008 2:15PM
A GM dealer gave one as a courtesy loaner while my real car was serviced. It was a hoot, like driving a 4-wheel motorcycle. It revved to 9000 rpm and I believe it had a chain drive!
I was happy to return it because another few hours and I would have been arrested, or killed.
Bah @ May 16th 2008 2:37PM
WHAT are you smoking?
rouse42 @ May 16th 2008 2:30PM
seeing how the metro makes max power at 4700rpm, i dont think it rev'd quite to 9k
but who's counting
1337 @ May 17th 2008 3:31PM
Gardiner,
Did it have a flux capacitor too?
Injected @ May 16th 2008 2:16PM
That's half the price of a brand new Smart car, which is going to be far more safe and better performing at only slightly less fuel efficiency.
Doug @ May 16th 2008 4:39PM
You're absolute right, this is a bargain! When you compare it to the SMART's 25mpg(!?) and a price competitive with... a Focus (which also gets better mileage)!? Wait, what is your point again?