UPDATE: Like bland cars? This immaculate, 405-mile Geo Metro will get your heart racing

Bring a Trailer/casciomotors

“I have the nicest Chevy Metro in the whole wide world.”

Weird flex, sure, but someone just paid $19,110 (including buyer premium) on Bring a Trailer for those bragging rights. The car in question is a 2000 Chevrolet Metro hatchback with just 402 miles on the odometer. It is immaculately preserved and comes with extensive documentation and service records. Standard fare for a Ferrari—but unheard of for a cheap three-cylinder jellybean such as this.

The product of a fling between GM and Suzuki, the Metro sold in North America from the late 1980s to early 2000s and could also be had as the Suzuki Swift or the Pontiac Firefly. Most people remember the Metro model with a Geo badge, but it wore the Chevrolet bowtie from 1998 to 2001.

Although a convertible model was available, the vast majority were sedans or hatchbacks, because this car was all about economy. Back in the ’90s it was about the cheapest thing with four wheels and an engine, which in the Metro’s case was a wheezy 1.0-liter, 6-valve three-banger with 55 horsepower and 58 pound-feet of torque. Enough to get up a steep driveway and, when paired with the standard five-speed manual, to manage 39 mpg city and 46 highway. Impressive stuff, even if gas was a little over a buck a gallon back then.

2000 Chevrolet Metro Coupe 5-Speed engine
Bring a Trailer/casciomotors

The reasons why the original owner stopped driving this Metro aren’t clear, but it doesn’t look like shame was one of them. Most Metros were throwaway cars and many were left out back to rot but this one is absolutely spotless. Last month it received a full fuel-system service, including a new fuel pump, so it’s presumably ready for daily-driver duty.

And if you’re one of those people who’s into bland cars, this one should get your heart racing. Underneath that grandma-white paint and unpainted bumpers are the standard three-cylinder engine and five-speed (a 1.3-liter four was optional, as was an auto ’box) driving 13-inch steelies with three-spoke plastic covers. The interior is a sea of gray, including the two-tone “Sport cloth” chairs and acres of cheap plastic. Air conditioning, rear defogger, and CD/cassette stereos are all part of the package, but you’ll have to wind up the windows yourself.

 

We’ve grown accustomed to delivery-mile vehicles selling for astronomical prices on Bring a Trailer, and even more used cars have been shown to bring premium prices there. But this isn’t a paint-to-sample Porsche or a single-owner Supra. It’s … a Chevy Metro. It is maybe the most mundane thing ever offered on BaT, but it’s also the cleanest example of its kind.

Not only is it like-new, this Metro’s price is officially more than it cost when it actually was new over two decades ago. The original window sticker from Martin Chevrolet in Torrance, California, reads $11,140. Even adjusted for inflation, that’s about $17,800. Just as the original owner of this car is something of a mystery, so too is the new one. All we know about this Metro superfan with money to spend is that they only joined BaT last month and have zero history on the site other than bidding on this car.

But back to the price for a second. It’s a little shocking, and it has us wondering how far this online auction craziness for low-mile cars can go. It does not, however, have us rushing to add Geo Metros to the Hagerty Price Guide, and it doesn’t mean your cousin’s Metro that smells like cigarettes is all of a sudden worth five figures.

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Comments

    Back in the 90’s, I was a tech for a local Chevrolet Dealer. I remember the little Geo Metro as a great little car. Seemed to never give the owner any grief. And with a low price point, what was not to like? It was a bear bones economy car that did what it was supposed to do. A commuter car and nothing more, cheap and reliable. To see one in this condition, puts a smile on my face. The amount the new owner paid, is not life changing money, so why not. Go find a another one in this condition.

    Great car.. there’s plenty of people that just want simplicity in an automobile. Have you seen the size of the screens and countless electronics that new autos have? I’m no fan of huge horsepower, complex electronics nor do I care for cuv’s and SUV’s.

    I drive a ’91 metro and love my car. It’s never gonna win any races especially uphill but I dont expect it to and I’m okay with it so that’s fine. I love not having all the electronics to go out on it etc. I love that I can work on it myself and see the entire engine etc. Wish there were more options like this available today. Looking for another motor for mine just incase though if anyone has one.. Even if needs rebuilding if the price is right.

    I have a lot of Metro spares, but I just did a block-in overhaul rather than swap engines. What do you need? I’m in Canada, so shipping may be a hassle. However, i’m still hoping to get an XFI cam from the US some day.

    I have a ’91, which is even smaller, and have a full-facility camper for one in it. See Rolling Homes by Shelter Publications. It is the first car I’ve ever done a major overhaul on, and I’m sure glad it only has six valves. Three is the lowest number of pistons you can have that don’t stop all at once.

    I have a ’92 Metro Convertible that I paid $1,200 for. I rebuilt the engine having the head and cam retooled for better fuel mileage ( 56 mpg hwy ). It’s blue with a white top, Moon hubcaps and white wall tires. I get more people commenting on it then I do on my C5 Vette. Best money I ever spent.

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