Right now, it looks like the three hottest cars on eBay are the Dodge Challenger SRT, the Shelby GT500KR Mustang and … a 10-year-old Geo Metro. Paying seven grand for an old Metro to save on gas sounds self-defeating, don’t you think?
Tiny but mighty
Here’s why I think Metros are hot on eBay: people don’t know there are better cars that also get high mileage. I’m convinced that people who don’t normally consider economical cars aren’t aware of all their choices, new and used. I mean, a used Cavalier is going to be better than a Metro. And if you want a Metro, you might do better to look for a Suzuki Swift instead. The Metro was GM’s rebadged Geo Swift; before that, it was the Chevrolet Sprint. And when GM folded the goofy Geo brand, it went back to the bowtie.
Profligate fun
Back to that point about market ignorance … remember how the general media reacted when the Honda Fit, Nissan Versa and Toyota Yaris arrived a couple of years ago? They showered attention on these cars for their fuel economy, neglecting to mention that the carmakers’ other small cars offered the same or even better mileage. That’s called lack of research or laziness. The same thing is happening with the smart. You have to read a car magazine or newspaper column to learn that a Fit, Versa or Yaris is available for the same money, and that any of those three is a far better car than the smart.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see this Metro thing get pickup in the general media. And you know they won’t bother to research even their own local markets to see what a used Corolla or Civic fetches.
Last year, I sold a 1994 Honda Civic EX coupe 5-speed with 62,000 original miles for – get ready — $4,000. I put it on craigslist in Seattle and had 30 people clamoring for it. I probably could have easily gotten another $500 if I’d had more time, but I was packing up for my move back home to New Jersey. That Civic was fun to drive, sharp looking and got 40 mpg at a steady 75 mph. Hmmm … now why did I sell it?
