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| Why cant I buy a new metro | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Mar 1 2012, 10:25 PM (2,948 Views) | |
| wildhair | Mar 1 2012, 10:25 PM Post #1 |
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I was wondering with all the interest in better fuel economy and hybrids why arent the geo metros sold in the US. Seems like the car manufacturers are trying to reinvent the wheel. My car is about 20 years old and gets 40-50mpg. The new hybrids are getting close to that in town but wont on the highway, and cost 15,000 more than a comparable traditional car. Thats alot of cash and would buy 3,750 gallons of gas @ 4 dollars a gallon. It dosent make alot of sense to me why the geo metro isnt sold. Are they unsafe in some way ? Subaru builds other cars that are sold in the US why not the metro? |
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| Horn | Mar 1 2012, 10:31 PM Post #2 |
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Getting ready for a big debate here.....Actually I think we have several topics just like this already iirc |
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| wildhair | Mar 1 2012, 10:41 PM Post #3 |
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My bad couldnt resist. |
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| allmountain40 | Mar 1 2012, 10:56 PM Post #4 |
 
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Since the metro was sold in the U.S. there have been numerous safety laws passed that require additional equipment and also higher crash standards that require more bracing. This all adds weight which makes it impossible to sell a car like the metro today that would get comparable mileage. Plus, subaru didn't make the metro????? |
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| wildhair | Mar 1 2012, 11:12 PM Post #5 |
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Oh ya your right suszuki sorry. Ford puts out a ford fiesta that gets 38-40mpg. Are there some other good runnerup cars out there? |
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| Woodie | Mar 2 2012, 06:47 AM Post #6 |
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Government meddling Ron Paul would fix this for you, support him. |
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| ascensions | Mar 2 2012, 06:53 AM Post #7 |
Je conduis une petite voiture.
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The reason is Americans don't like cars like the Metro. The Swift is still available in many countries around the world. |
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| Gasoline Fumes | Mar 2 2012, 07:14 AM Post #8 |
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Metro collector/Honda driver
  ![]](http://z3.ifrm.com/static/1/pip_r.png)
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He'll bring back the Metro?  
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| Tofuball | Mar 2 2012, 07:39 AM Post #9 |
Strange Mechanic
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Americans love the metro. It sold rather well over quite a span of years. Woodie hit the nail on the head. |
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| ascensions | Mar 2 2012, 08:47 AM Post #10 |
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Je conduis une petite voiture.
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If you could point out (cite) what government "meddling" led to its demise, I'd be glad to entertain it, but even the heads of GM admitted the end of the Geo was directly related to the culture of America trending towards trucks and SUVs. Remember that period? Ford's decision to produce a "bigger" economy car (The Fiesta) was quoted by its president as "Americans don't want a smaller car than this." referring to the Metro. The only reason Metros survived as long as it did, was its fleet contracts, mostly with Avis as a cheap rental car. The original Metros, sold well do to pricing, and some have argued was done so to offset CAFE requirements of other cars in the GM line-up. But, even if not, the price alone I think had a major effect on the sale of the original versions, which later became much more expensive. Metros were never a car people wanted (till now), they were the car you had to buy, or the one you could afford. Edited by ascensions, Mar 2 2012, 08:49 AM.
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| idmetro | Mar 2 2012, 09:55 AM Post #11 |
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Americans voted with their money - and they voted for large SUVs which coincidently carry a much higher profit margin for car companies. If you were a business focused on profit which would you build - a product that brought maybe $500-$1000 profit per sale (some argue the Metro was actually a money loser on each sale and was put into the lineup simply to boost the corporate CAFE numbers enough to be compliant) or a product that brought $5,000-$15,000 per sale (Metro vs. Full size pickup). Not a hard choice at all if you are running a business, you give the customer what they are willing to buy and lots more folks in North America spent their money on pickups and SUVs. Really simple math is the driving force here. |
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| bogs | Mar 2 2012, 11:02 AM Post #12 |
Duct tape heals all wounds
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I'm pretty sure you mis-understood the emphasis. He doesn't mean government "meddling" led to its demise, he means government "meddling" is why it would never be made again. Least, I am pretty sure that is what he means. Woodie, stop imitating Cb and use more than 2 words, dangit  But at this point, I really am curious as to what it is the op is looking for. There are cars brand new on the market that get 40 mpg combined, some get a lot more (mjs posted a video of that Sonic getting 67 mpg over 97 miles!). Some cost less than 20k. They don't have batteries. Are you griping because they are not sub 10k? It has been over 12 years since the last Metro rolled off the line, I just don't think your going to see it (but who knows, Hyundai offers cars around 13k). Are you mad because they don't have 3 cylinders? Apparently that isn't necessary for 40 mpg returns. Are you irked because not every car in production this year isn't a Metro? That would just be silly. Or is the real problem that you can buy a used car for a couple grand and get 40-50 mpg, and can't get a new car for a couple grand that does the same. I mean, that is just never going to happen. |
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| ascensions | Mar 2 2012, 03:23 PM Post #13 |
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Je conduis une petite voiture.
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There is a "people's car" aspect to Geo that perhaps the OP is eluding to. Likely, a $5,000 to $6,000 45 MPG car with A/C? And, honestly, we are void of a "people's car" like the Bug, The Metro, etc... Likely, if the TATA Nano makes it to US borders, it could become it. |
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| Coche Blanco | Mar 2 2012, 03:42 PM Post #14 |
Troll Certified
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10,000 USD in 1995 is about 15,000 USD now, remember that. |
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| mjspiess | Mar 2 2012, 03:48 PM Post #15 |
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Most Fuel Efficient Cars |
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