The Small Old Cars strike back - Fuel-stingy cars are hot wheels

[AndrewGS]

Originally Posted by Ming

I've also occasionally felt the urge to buy a Geo Storm 2-door wagon for kicks. Love the look and utility of those rare-mobiles, probably could pick one up for 800 bucks or so -- then make it look pretty like this one:

I loved those things too! Back in the day a friend's dad had one in teal.

I never see Storms or Impulses any more.

I'd personally love to have a 2nd generation Metro/Swift with the 1.3L/5-speed combo and A/C. I rented an '01 Swift as a joke because I had earned a free day and I actually really liked that little car. Everything on it was miniature and cute, and the intake manifold looked homemade.

[SUPERBADD75]

Originally Posted by AndrewGS

If only they had kept building the Metro.

the Aveo is today's Metro, they even resemble each other a little IMO. the only problem is that just like everything else, the Metro/nee Aveo has gotten bigger and porkier.

[Greg Burr]

Why not put 2,000 down and finance 6,000- 8,000 on a new Kia instead for $120-150/month? It's new, has more safety equipment, things wont be breaking and you will have a warranty. You will not be doing same the amount of maintanance which you will inevitably do with any of those cars mentioned.

[SCCA1995]

Originally Posted by BigThreeForever

If the prices of such utter detritus really are rising to those levels, then the Apocalypse must be close at hand.

Look! It's the Four Cylinders of the Apocalypse!

[Wolfman01]

With all of the blathering about safety, one would think the highways were paved in blood back when these old econobox cars were new.

I had an 86 Hyundai Excel GLS sedan when I was in college. On a trip to Yellowstone, I fell asleep at the wheel, and ended up taking that car airborne off a small ravine. The car was obviously totalled, but my friend and I walked away. I had bruised ribs from the seatbelts, and he a cracked ankle.

A couple of years later, I was driving the company delivery van to pick up a P.C. to be repaired. It was a Mitsubishi van where the engine was located under the driver's seat. A woman in a Jeep Grand Cherokee (temporary tag still on the Jeep) made a left hand turn directly in front of me, causing us to collide with the majority of the hit being on the driver's side of the van. I walked away from that one with little more than a bump on the head.

It must be simply amazing that I somehow managed to not end up dead in a couple of vehicles that are considered deathtraps by today's standards. I credit seat belt use for walking away, over all of the stupid airbags that are crammed into cars today.

[Texan-CST/10]

Originally Posted by SCCA1995

Look! It's the Four Cylinders of the Apocalypse!

3 sir, 3!

(Monty python... Metro)

[t-rex]

Originally Posted by MCGARRETT

Someone refresh me whats a Mazda 808?

The 808 had the piston engine, while the Rotary-powered model was called the RX-3.

At some time it was facelifted, lost two headlights, and was renamed "Mazda Mizer" in North America.

[mobyss]

This is kind of funny, but not for the people who are trying to trade in any large SUV or pickup. According to a guy I know at a local Honda dealer, they are going down to HALF of blackbook on SUV trades now - they just took in a 2007 Nissan Armada with 6000 miles and gave the guy $22,000 towards an Accord. He said domestic SUVs like Suburbans and Expeditions cannot be GIVEN AWAY to the wholesalers anymore - they have hundreds sitting around right now.

Do you guys pay serious day-to-day attention to the oil market? Just hit $132 this morning - predicted $4 gas nationwide by Saturday. Now who in their right mind is going to buy a 3/4 ton Suburban this Memorial Day, unless they ABSOLUTELY have to for pulling a 10,000 pound trailer and hauling 7 people? Meanwhile, I'm sure the Honda dealers will be a madhouse.

Is GM prepared for a GMT900 market of 300,000 or less per year? Can they produce a million 4-cyl Malibus each year?

[AndrewGS]

This 1999 Metro with 114,000 miles just sold for $5,300.




This 1991 Metro with 53,000 miles just sold for $5,700.



This 1991 Metro with 58,000 miles just sold for $6,776.

[njtex]

$6 Grand for a Metro? Then I should at least be able to get $12 grand for my '98 Twin-Cam Cavalier! It's easy 25 city / 35 highway is good enough for me unless gas hits $10 a gallon.

We'll likely never go without a truck in our fleet because they're just too useful for too many uses. I'll bet the majority in the US do the same and just keep or add a fliver to their fleet for the majority of their everyday driving needs.

[SCCA1995]

It finally hit me today when one of our distirbutors drove up at my shop today. Instead of the 5.2L diesel Isuzu cab-over truck normally driven, they were in a 3/4-ton Chevy. Truly, the end is near.

[JBsZ06]

Originally Posted by mobyss

This is kind of funny, but not for the people who are trying to trade in any large SUV or pickup. According to a guy I know at a local Honda dealer, they are going down to HALF of blackbook on SUV trades now - they just took in a 2007 Nissan Armada with 6000 miles and gave the guy $22,000 towards an Accord. He said domestic SUVs like Suburbans and Expeditions cannot be GIVEN AWAY to the wholesalers anymore - they have hundreds sitting around right now.

Do you guys pay serious day-to-day attention to the oil market? Just hit $132 this morning - predicted $4 gas nationwide by Saturday. Now who in their right mind is going to buy a 3/4 ton Suburban this Memorial Day, unless they ABSOLUTELY have to for pulling a 10,000 pound trailer and hauling 7 people? Meanwhile, I'm sure the Honda dealers will be a madhouse.

Is GM prepared for a GMT900 market of 300,000 or less per year? Can they produce a million 4-cyl Malibus each year?

I hope this keeps up. Great time to buy a big GAS HOG!

As far as GM? I think they have hybrid Tahoes getting 20mpg in the city.That is quite an accomplishment that BMW/Chrysler and a few others are copying (licenced technology sale)

Its impressive to say the least. E85 and a hybrid getting 20mpg in the city? In a Tahoe!

That said....Buying a big luxury preowned vehicle like the Nissan Armada for pennies on the dollar is cool...I hope many many owners keep trading in the behomoths! (SP)

[solman98]

Originally Posted by t-rex

The 808 had the piston engine, while the Rotary-powered model was called the RX-3.

At some time it was facelifted, lost two headlights, and was renamed "Mazda Mizer" in North America.

Yep, mine had this front end.




1.3 69hp. 4 speed. Mine was 2 door, Sunrise Red with a black interior. The badging on the side said "Mazda 808" and the paperwork called it a "mizer". The GLC was its replacement.

I still got a pic of that thing somplace.

[BrickTamland]

Maybe this is the next bubble for all those amatuers who got into house flipping can invest their money.

[Ming]

Collect them all, like Beanie Babies, they'll just go up in value!

I do find it funny, since you could buy a 2004 Chevy Aveo, KIA Rio or Hyundai Accent for close to - if not the same price as - the price of those old Metros selling on Ebay.

Perhaps GM is underestimating the value of the METRO nameplate.