Geo Metro LSi

The new Geo Metro LSi convertible is perfect for budget-minded rag-top fans who believe in worst-case scenarios and feel the Mideast situation may leave us all paying $5 a gallon for unleaded regular.
At $9,740, the two-seat Metro convertible is the lowest-priced convertible around, except for Yugo’s $8,990 Cabrio.
The Metro rag-top delivers an EPA-estimated 40 m.p.g. in the city and 46 on the highway with its standard five-speed manual transmission. With its optional automatic, the figures are 32 city, 37 highway.

Squeezing a lot from a gallon isn’t hard for the Metro convertible because it has only a three-cylinder, 55-horsepower engine, weighs 1,753 pounds and is fairly aerodynamic.
Geo Metros are front-drive mini-cars made by Japan’s Suzuki and sold by Chevrolet dealers. This year, Chevy hopes to sell about 3,000 of the cars, which are available in 10 states, including Illinois, before expanding availability in 1991.
The Geo Metro LSi convertible is heavier than Metro hardtops, which weigh 1,620 to 1,693 pounds, because it has structural reinforcements to prevent convertible rattles. The nearly new Geo Metro LSi convertible I drove had few shakes and rattles, and felt solid even on nasty roads.
The car’s size and weight will keep it off the lists of auto buyers who want to be surrounded by lots of sheet metal in case of an accident, but it does have a standard driver’s-side air bag.
The Geo Metro LSi convertible is derived from Geo’s Metro XFi, a bare-bones, two-door hatchback that is the 1990 EPA fuel-economy champ. The XFi delivers an astonishing, EPA-rated 53 city, 58 highway.
There are five Metro hardtop models ranging from the $5,995 XFi to the $7,795 LSi four-door hatchback.

Even a well-equipped Geo Metro LSi convertible easily should sell for under $12,000. Major options include air-conditioning ($670), three-speed automatic transmission ($465), AM/FM stereo ($301) and AM/FM stereo with cassette ($441). The car comes with an antenna and two speakers, but has no standard radio.
I noticed while driving a yellow, cute-as-a bug Geo Metro LSi convertible that it turned a large number of female heads, even with its rather ungainly looking, manually operated top raised.

“The car is expected to be especially popular among single women under 35 who are interested in a low-cost, low-maintenance vehicle for commuting and recreational driving,” said Chevy spokesman Tom Hoxie.

Although small on the outside with a tiny 89.2-inch wheelbase, the Geo Metro LSi convertible is a fooler. It has enough room for two basketball players. The nicely shaped, notchback-type trunk also is surprisingly large for a tiny car, and has a pass-through area to allow long objects to occupy both the trunk and area behind the seats.
The three-cylinder engine displaces only one liter (61 cubic inches). But it loves to rev, and is smoother and provides more performance than one might expect. There’s no danger of getting run over in fast-moving expressway traffic.

Though noisier than the average small auto, the Geo Metro LSi convertible is fun to drive, and its all-independent suspension provides a good ride.
The manual transmission, which helps provide better performance than the automatic, sometimes gets balky when shifted quickly, but the short-throw clutch is a snap to use.
The manual rack-and-pinion steering is heavy during parking maneuvers, but otherwise is fine. No power steering is offered.

Maneuverability is good in traffic, but the top’s rear area causes bad blind spots from the driver’s seat. The standard dual outside mirrors must be used a lot. Handling and braking are decent, but would be improved if the car’s tiny tires were replaced with larger ones.
Instrumentation is good, and controls are easy to use. The comfortable seats offer good support.
The Geo Metro LSi convertible is not designed to be a New York-to-California cruiser, but handles most other driving situations with economical aplomb.
Dan Jedlicka’s column appears Wednesdays and Saturdays.