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Safety for '94 Geo Metro (potential new owner) - any accidents to refer?
Topic Started: Jul 2 2015, 03:20 AM (2,467 Views)
EnergyLiger
New Member
[ *  * ]
Hi there,

I have placed a down payment on a 94 geo metro. Nothing else is on the market for under $9,000 (that I prefer, I love hatchbacks and only own a kia rio 2003 to sell asap) - course I only expect paying $2,000 for this beauty from Missouri, no rust or hardly any at all, 99k miles, door needs work it's a little off and rubbing against some metal but shuts nice, everything runs well regardless.

Watching the crash test video at 40mph for the geo metro has left me quite unnerved. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkgTSaSLO6I
Obviously head on doesn't look good, while i'm not an expect, it just seems like you'd have major probability of getting a concussion or a death sentence, lol. It's not the worst out there but it's really creepy!

Is there a way under $1,000 or install air bags that wont blow up in your face insanely or something to help out to prevent a bad accident being so dangerous looking? I work with upholstery foam daily, it's great stuff, would look silly if attaching foam to a steering wheel or the passenger dash, but hey, just a funny idea!? I would of course prefer a more approved safety feature than my own ideas. Ahahahaha.

All help appreciated! And time for.....
:popcorn
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Cobrajet25
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Eh, if your are looking for a high-speed tank to drive on the freeway, it might be wise to look elsewhere. Others here will tell you Metros are as safe as the person driving them, and that is true. But there are other people on the road.

Let's say it's definitely best not to get into a freeway smack-up with one...

Posted Image

This one was broken down on the side of the road and rear-ended by a semi that drifted onto the shoulder. Happened about ten miles from my house. :shake
Edited by Cobrajet25, Jul 2 2015, 03:32 AM.
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EnergyLiger
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Cobrajet25
Jul 2 2015, 03:31 AM
Eh, if your are looking for a high-speed tank to drive on the freeway, it might be wise to look elsewhere. Others here will tell you Metros are as safe as the person driving them, and that is true. But there are other people on the road.

Let's say it's definitely best not to get into a freeway smack-up with one...

Posted Image

This one was broken down on the side of the road and rear-ended by a semi that drifted onto the shoulder. Happened about ten miles from my house. :shake
Semi Truck accidents.... They're about as worse as you can get. The smaller the car, the more it is crushed. I can't believe how some cars are crushed so bad! That looked 100% fatal as a pancake crush from a cartoon made into reality :X only a hummer would be a little more safe in terms of that degree of roadkill.....
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Cobrajet25
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EnergyLiger
Jul 2 2015, 03:44 AM
Cobrajet25
Jul 2 2015, 03:31 AM
Eh, if your are looking for a high-speed tank to drive on the freeway, it might be wise to look elsewhere. Others here will tell you Metros are as safe as the person driving them, and that is true. But there are other people on the road.

Let's say it's definitely best not to get into a freeway smack-up with one...

Posted Image

This one was broken down on the side of the road and rear-ended by a semi that drifted onto the shoulder. Happened about ten miles from my house. :shake
Semi Truck accidents.... They're about as worse as you can get. The smaller the car, the more it is crushed. I can't believe how some cars are crushed so bad! That looked 100% fatal as a pancake crush from a cartoon made into reality :X only a hummer would be a little more safe in terms of that degree of roadkill.....
It was, regrettably, a fatal accident. But it is also an extreme example. If you get rear-ended by an 80,000 pound vehicle doing 60 mph, the g-forces alone will likely kill you no matter what you happen to be driving. In terms of the amount of kinetic energy you are subjected to, it is essentially like a large bomb going off in your back seat.

One thing about driving a Metro on freeways full of semis and SUVs is that most people doing so become much more cautious and observant drivers.

And that alone can ameliorate a lot of the risk. But if the worst should happen, the end result may not be pretty.
Edited by Cobrajet25, Jul 2 2015, 03:54 AM.
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Metromightymouse
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Powdercoat Wizard

Of course that accident is probably fatal for 90% of vehicles on the road...

The truth is that the car, at the time of manufacture, met the minimum crash requirements of that time. 1995 model year brought several safety improvements so it is safer. By contrast, any year Metro is safer than an air cooled Beetle,and likely many cars built in that era, and plenty of them are still used as daily transportation. It is all a question about acceptable risk and where that line is for you. As for putting Ir bags in a car not designed for them is certainly possible. Having them work as expected without having an engineer design the system is fairly unlikely. Loads of unintended consequences with potentially fatal results possible.
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Metromightymouse
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Powdercoat Wizard

Cobrajet25
Jul 2 2015, 03:50 AM
EnergyLiger
Jul 2 2015, 03:44 AM
Cobrajet25
Jul 2 2015, 03:31 AM
Eh, if your are looking for a high-speed tank to drive on the freeway, it might be wise to look elsewhere. Others here will tell you Metros are as safe as the person driving them, and that is true. But there are other people on the road.

Let's say it's definitely best not to get into a freeway smack-up with one...

Posted Image

This one was broken down on the side of the road and rear-ended by a semi that drifted onto the shoulder. Happened about ten miles from my house. :shake
Semi Truck accidents.... They're about as worse as you can get. The smaller the car, the more it is crushed. I can't believe how some cars are crushed so bad! That looked 100% fatal as a pancake crush from a cartoon made into reality :X only a hummer would be a little more safe in terms of that degree of roadkill.....
It was, regrettably, a fatal accident. But it is also an extreme example. If you get rear-ended by an 80,000 pound vehicle doing 60 mph, the g-forces alone will likely kill you no matter what you happen to be driving. In terms of the amount of kinetic energy you are subjected to, it is essentially like a large bomb going off in your back seat.

One thing about driving a Metro on freeways full of semis and SUVs is that most people doing so become much more cautious and observant drivers.

And that alone can ameliorate a lot of the risk. But if the worst should happen, the end result may not be pretty.
That, at least, I agree with.
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ZXTjato
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bass heads

just drive fast youll be fine :lol

i was rear ended in my blue metro, my body bent the seat down to the back seat, so the impact of the other car was enough for me to fold a seat.

another member was driving his RHD metro and a snow bird pulled in front of him the front end crash was enough so his hands bent the steering wheel. i had to cut the engine out of this car.

i have a white GT (same differance) and it was in a rear quarter accident, the door wont close that well and front right window/roof beam is kinked pretty bad.

so you know your riding a motorcycle with a windshield and Air conditioning, treat a metro like you would ride your motorcycle.
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geogonfa
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Just my .02...if air bags are a concern, the only way is for a srs system from a 91-93 convertible (driver side only)... :type
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Murf 59
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That semi would have killed anyone in any car hitting it that fast.
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Bad Bent
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Facetious Educated Donkey

Welcome to your new forum, EnergyLiger! :coffee

geogonfa
Jul 2 2015, 10:06 AM
Just my .02...if air bags are a concern, the only way is for a srs system from a 91-93 convertible (driver side only)... :type


If staying alive is a concern then there are a lot of common activities that you should stop doing. :-/

You say... "Watching the crash test video at 40mph for the geo metro has left me quite unnerved."

Watching the crash test video of the 1998 Ford Expedition Sled-Rollover Crash Test has left me quite unnerved. :scared



Well, not really unnerved... actually it is kind of funny in a sick and twisted sort of way. When we lived in McCall, Idaho the invincible SUVs would all feel so safe and protected until they hit a patch of ice with their 'I can drive on anything' 4 wheel drive and they wound up in a ditch or up against a snow bank.

I'd match the driving skills of any Geo Metro Forum member against most SUV and truck drivers, and win.

Try: Front Wheel Drive tricks
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ZXTjato
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bass heads

is it sad that ive done all those FWD "tricks" the snow really helps practice those tricks its a ton more forgiving than pavement. and the skinny tires on the geo are easy to break free, especially the 12" ones, ive had less luck on 13" wheels because the brakes just arent good enough to quickly respond.
Edited by ZXTjato, Jul 2 2015, 11:24 AM.
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Stubby79
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It's safer than a motorcycle! I think...

Buy a '95+ if you want to feel a bit more secure. I certainly do in mine. Of course, the 92 'vert it replaced really was a death trap, so it wouldn't take much to improve on that.

Great confidence booster, aren't I?

Eh, look at it this way...as long as you don't get T-boned on the driver's side, you'll be fine.
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Freeman
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The Family Man

Take a defensive driving class with all the money you saved on fuel. My Metro was, at the time, the safest car I owned. Me and my newborn child survived over a year and a half in it without incident.
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68custom


98 + Metros have dual air bags and a reinforcement to the door area. all 95 and later may have this, I am not sure of that?
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Mythstae
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68custom
Jul 2 2015, 01:04 PM
98 + Metros have dual air bags and a reinforcement to the door area. all 95 and later may have this, I am not sure of that?
As far as I know, yes, 1995-2001 Metros/Swifts all share the same body style/reinforcement/airbag system.

...but even that is no guarantee...

Oregon - Fatal Geo Metro Crash

BillHoo
Aug 11 2013, 07:52 PM
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