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3 cyl vs 4 cyl
Topic Started: Jul 2 2009, 11:31 AM (2,132 Views)
unadilla
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We love our '99 5-speed, 4 cyl Swift. On our weekly 300-mile round trip journey with some city, a lot of highway and some country road driving we've been averaging 43-44 mpg. The only problem is no a/c in the car, and the city part of the trip in the summer with no a/c is awful (and beyond awful when its raining!). There's a 2000 5-speed, 3 cyl Geo for sale locally with a/c and I'm wondering how big of a performance difference we're likely to notice between that and the 4cyl. I keep it to 65mph and below on the trip, but we have to contend with some serious hills and I wonder if the 3cyl would be up to it. With the a/c on in the 3cyl does it become a real pig? Would we be better off holding out for a 4cyl with a/c?

Thanks!
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iamgeo
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Big League

When you state no A/C in the car is that cause it does not work. If so, it would be far cheaper to fix that than buy another car.
Since the 3 cyl. engine has less horsepower and less torque you will notice a big difference in performance.
I have a scangauge II installed on my '98 3 cyl. with a 5 speed. With just me (175 lbs) in the car it costs (according to the scangauge) .5 cents to get to the end of my street. With my friend (220 lbs) in the car with me it costs .7 cents. And it is only a quarter mile distance. And that is coasting down 2 hills.
I live in the Hill country and there is one hill that my car has a bit of trouble on. Slows down from 65mph to about 50mph when I get to the top of the hill. And that is just with me in it. With my friend in the car we slow to about 45mph. And all this is without A/C. Add A/C into the mix and I'll be pushing the car uphill.
I do a LOT of coasting, (yes, I push in the clutch), since I see no reason to press the gas pedal when going downhill.
In my opinion I think it would behoove you to take the car on a test drive of your weekly 300-mile round trip.
That way you will know for sure how it will perform.
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unadilla
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The Swift doesn't have a/c at all- if it did and it was not working I'd get it fixed.
I'm thinking if it were just driving around town, the 3cyl would be fine (and I suppose driving around town is what these cars were originally intended for anyway), but for the trip we make, and with a/c on it would be too much. Can't totally justify another car solely for a/c, so probably we'll just deal with the heat- though I'll have to see how we feel about that stuck in city traffic in the middle of August! I think maybe I also want to get another metro/swift just because I like the one we have so much! The 4cyl is plenty peppy and 43mpg ave. is pretty good. Could up that some if I could get my wife to drive more like me- she's a bit of a lead-foot!
Edited by unadilla, Jul 2 2009, 12:22 PM.
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Bad Bent
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Facetious Educated Donkey

Have you checked out DIY Portable-12V-Air-Conditioner---Cheap-and-easy!/?

1991 Metro, 3 cyl. 5 speed. As for hills, even before I added my mods the first thing I did was install a tachometer. We have a 12 mile, 6% grade and I climbed it in third gear at 55-60 with the Wife and I in the car. I held the tach. to 5000 +/- rpm., shifted before I needed to. I stayed ahead of an F-250 with a small trailer. ^o) Guess that makes me the lead foot in the family. :lol Well, I now have the roof scoop and we will spray ourselves with a light mist of water and let evaporation cool us down. Works real well for the dog.

:hmm We do have a post about adding A/C to your car....
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Johnny Mullet
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Fear the Mullet

You are going to notice a definite power loss when comparing the 3Cyl with the A/C on and a 4Cyl without air. I bet you could even get better fuel mileage and the chillin' A/C if you drive it right!
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nerys
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Grr

I have to say I am very impressed by the 3cyl engine. I just put a down payment on a 94 Metro Xfi - I took it for a test drive. I was expected it to be a bit on the slug side and was pleasantly surprised when it got up and went when commanded. Very impressive. NOW mind you I drive like a grandma and then some. if that sign says 50mph thats how fast I go. Period. Not to avoid speeding tickets (I could care less) but to save fuel. I NEVER speed if I can help it. I95 is an exception. if you do the speed limit your a dead man :-)

I am 400 pounds and the dealer guy was at least 180 pounds so thats almost 600 pounds in the car it it took off just fine. now off course this is level ground no AC (I plan to install AC) while I can handle any heat I have almost zero tolerance for humidity.

Unless you want to get up and scoot to 65-70 mph (I never took it past 55) you should not have a problem with the 3cyl

I will report back once I take possession of the car. My work commute is 54 miles one way and always 4 people in the car total loaded mass will be about 1100 pounds people and equipment.

Will report back on how it takes that :-)
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Murf 59
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Before I removed the AC from the Rocket. It tried it once. I could walk faster up the hill. It does draw off a lot of power. But you get to be cool. And they have good air. I have a hill here like the one described above. And I get the same results, fast at the bottom, about 55 at the top. (Man its got 3cls and it uses them all)
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starscream5000
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Got 70 MPG?

Simple fix for those of you wanting to buy a G10 with A/C and are worried about the hills: Turn the A/C off while driving up the hill, then turn it back on while going down the hill, you'll make it up the hill just fine and the air will still blow cold for you while going up the hill. :rocker

I've got the A/C in mine, it never worked since the day I bought the car. I vacuumed it out, filled with 150 PAG then R134-A and tried it out, colder? Yes, but not what it should have been. Took off the front bumper and de-gunked the A/C condensore and straightened it's fins out, not much improvement, come to find out I had a bum compressor. When I get around to it I'm pull my A/C out of the car for weight savings as I can live with sweaty balls during the summer time. :)
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Murf 59
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Nicely put Starscream5000
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Coche Blanco
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Troll Certified

nerys
Sep 25 2009, 11:49 PM
I have to say I am very impressed by the 3cyl engine. I just put a down payment on a 94 Metro Xfi - I took it for a test drive. I was expected it to be a bit on the slug side and was pleasantly surprised when it got up and went when commanded. Very impressive. NOW mind you I drive like a grandma and then some. if that sign says 50mph thats how fast I go. Period. Not to avoid speeding tickets (I could care less) but to save fuel. I NEVER speed if I can help it. I95 is an exception. if you do the speed limit your a dead man :-)

I am 400 pounds and the dealer guy was at least 180 pounds so thats almost 600 pounds in the car it it took off just fine. now off course this is level ground no AC (I plan to install AC) while I can handle any heat I have almost zero tolerance for humidity.

Unless you want to get up and scoot to 65-70 mph (I never took it past 55) you should not have a problem with the 3cyl

I will report back once I take possession of the car. My work commute is 54 miles one way and always 4 people in the car total loaded mass will be about 1100 pounds people and equipment.

Will report back on how it takes that :-)
Goodness, 1,100 pounds? I wouldn't have bought a Geo.
Edited by Coche Blanco, Sep 26 2009, 12:02 PM.
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Woodie
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Really, it's a 1,600 pound car, 1,100 pounds is a huge load to be putting in it on a regular basis.
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nerys
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Grr

well I put almost 1300 pounds of critters in my metro last night to goto the mall. I was doubtful we would all fit (5 people) but we did. 2 up front 3 in the back seat tight but they did fit and were able to sit straight. Suspension held up great still had tons of acceleration. You felt the mass in the brakes but they were still firm and responsive. I am VERY impressed. thats almost DOUBLING the mass of the car.

My sister and I are steadily losing weight at a rate of 4-5 pounds a week so by next summer it will be 4 NORMAL weight people in the car :-)
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Manny
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Yes! a Costa Rican member

1.0 or 1.3 are very similar between each other, just avoid climbing while A/C is "on" and everything will be ok! Saving more gas if you have a 1.0L

However I'm considering a MPFI engine to get the 16v (horsepower) advantage...

It's all about what you want
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