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That looks very much like a car that has seen its share of northern winters.
It appears to have been owned by a poor college student most of its life, so it was probably never washed. And Michigan weather+road salt is not forgiving.
Looks like a few of the vehicles I've seen here in California... minus the rust! Where, in Michigan, do you live? I'm from Flint and remember the winters and the road salt well...
--Rick
Can you lift up the carpet and see the road? My old car was like that due to salt rust. :-)
My first car was like that... a '65 Falcon 2-door wagon. The original floor had completely rotted out and the entire floor under the front and rear seats had been replaced... galvanized steel had been riveted in... no carpet (yes, it was loud). The back area was the original rotted floor and with exhaust leaks and a muffler that kept falling off (I'd pull over, retrieve it and hammer it back on to the pipe)... standing and idling was an olfactory experience as much as auditory.
I kinda wish I had hung onto the car and fixed it up bit by bit over time... it would be a classic- though the task of repairing would have been daunting at best.
What year? Stick or Auto? Mine is a 93 hatchback automatic in metallic teal with less than 65,000 miles on it. I'm the second owner. Get's excellent gas mileage, and I have only sunk about $200 in repairs/maintenance (Timing belt, exhaust repairs, new tires) in it over the 5 year I have owned it. The clear coat peeled off the roof, and is peeling off the hood and hatch, and the paint is fading. Mine has very little rust on it. It gets me from point A to point B, so I don't care all that much that it doesn't look so good anymore. The 92/s and later have different noses, no hinged headlights. I'd take and post a pic, but I lost my digicam data cable, and a replacement one is on it's way. Not too many of those little Geo Storms around. It is considerd a 'girly' sports car.
Carol
Are you serious? You have one of these junkers? Haha. I truly think it's junk, but I will say that they do run forever.
Mine's a 91, 5 speed stick, GSi model. It was never taken care of its whole life apparently, and I bought it from a friend for $350. I've had it over a year now and I've only put about $300 or so in repairs. That's a pretty good deal if you ask me. Not to mention the dirt cheap insurance and the AMAZING gas mileage.
I'm aware of the different versions they made, I used to have a 92 Geo with an automatic tranny that had the rounded nose. That one blew a piston at 85k miles and the engine was junked. Shame.
Mine somehow has 172k miles on it. I figure the body and the floor will rust out before the engine dies....
Most of the repairs I've put into it are just tune-ups and small things, and new rear tires and exhaust work. I did the exhaust work myself though. They wanted like $300 to replace it all (the original exhaust on it was so rusted out, it really wasn't even there. You could even stick your whole arm through this huge hole in the muffler), instead I bought a long length of flex pipe for $30 and clamped it on myself. It doesn't have a cat though (shhh!).
Before the flowers and stuff though, I had it riced out. It used to look like this.
Somebody's junk is somebody else's necessity. I don't really see mine as junk, though. It has been one of the most reliable and ecomic car I have ever owned. Since I don't work due to disabilty, I'm a pleasure driver. It's cheap transportation, cheap gas, cheap insurance, cheap repairs. I can neither afford, nor do I want, some late model expensive car. I had my mechanic do a an inspection for me, when it was in for a repair on the exhaust, and an oil change. He said that the car is mechanically sound, and I could easily drive it for many more years. I plan too. The exhaust is the factory original, and has been repaired twice. And there is a small amount of rust below the doors. But it is in overall great shape.
BTW I love the drivers side door lock. That is just too darn funny. Never seen anything like that. My car is not nearly as sad looking. Yours wouldn't even pass Maryland inspection. Someday I'll upgrade to something newer, and I'll unload this for around $500 or so. Would make a nice cheap starter car for a teenager pressed for funds. I get comments all of the time about mine. I call it a two-seater, because that stupid fold-down seat in the back is just not big enough for an adult. The hatch is roomy enough to get my mobility scooter in it, when I need to, and I can get in it without much of a struggle. I have to buy 2-door coupes. As the door opening is not wide enough for me to get my bad right leg in with a 4-door sedan. This car met my needs perfectly, and I got it for $1000 below book value.
So, what is your reason for owning a junk car? Is it just that it's cheap to own and run? And is that your only vehicle? Are you like my brothers, who used to buy cheap Pontiacs, move parts from one to another, and equip them with stereo systems worth more than the car? ;-)
Carol
I understand that your car is in better shape than mine. They're not too bad of cars, it's just that mine looks like junk (that's part of the point of my paintjob) although it's (mostly) mechanically good.
No I don't buy junk cars and swap parts and put nice stereos in them, lol! The CD deck in this car was free, and I think I invested in some $30 speakers (music is a must!), other than that.....
Also, for a little while I had 4 cars, but I just sold one the other day. So now I have 3. The reason for owning this junker is because it gets the best gas mileage out of them all, as well as the cheapest insurance, and because it simply won't die no matter BAD it looks!!
...gotta love it! I made my own muffler for a lawn mower when I was kid - tomatoe juice cans!!
Bruce
Haha! doing stuff like that is part of the upside of having an old car. I hope that rust hasn't spread to the floor pan. You might want to have it checked out.
I wish I had a picture of the rusty Malibu that one of my old friends from HS cut the top off and made a convertible out of. It didn't last long after that. Cars that are not designed as convertibles will experience abnormal flexing without a roof, putting more stress on the drive train, causing abnormal handling, and in extreme cases, catastrophic failure (think, broken in half) fortunately, nothing like that happened.
I fear it may shortly rest in peace: Ferrous beetle having had its way.
Great mane,and pics of car, i think seriously that you should get a real car, it seems whoever owned never new a thing about cars, rust will eat away from the car time to retire and invest in a real new car.
Hey man, hehe, thanks for the comment. I own 2 other cars though. And I actually sold one earlier today, so technically earlier today I had 4... haha.
Hey there GREAT CAR!!! and that coming form a car guy! whats best about it that it shows your indivuality and style. and I bet it gets alot of looks too. Great ot be an indivual and don't let others tell you different. Great, care and great pics. Take care and take care! Heck I would ride in it LOL :)
I like what you did to the car dude!
Your hair continues to be absolutely phenomenal. It's great that you didn't cut it.
In this picture, the sun is really lighting up your golden locks, and what a happy bright smile. You're a cutie patootie! If the girls your age around there aren't hovering around you and flirting madly, something is _seriously_ wrong with them!
Carol
It looks good like that. You're looking good too, mate!
Hey Peg, the engines in the Geo line tend to be very reliable. I think the Storm has a 4 cylinder of about 1330cc. The Metro has the same bore and stroke, if I am not mistaken, but 3 cylinders and 1000cc. The engine will likely outlast your car.
Also, your hair looks great. Waist length is right around the corner. It is so good you did not cut it. Just lovely. Keep growing it for sure.
Scott
Hey Absalom,
I've heard the same thing about the engines. Mine has 172k on it and it still gets up and goes without a problem, no burning or leaking oil either. It's quite amazing, really. Same goes for the transmission.
It's a shame about the body really, but it's long gone.
Thats a very interesting car you have there my friend as it has to be several notches above the beloved Yugo of yester year!LOL.It reminds me of many moons ago when I owned a vehicle in similar condition.It was a 1973 Ford F100 Custom pickup.What made it custom you may ask? Well it had a real aluminum grille,chromed front bumper,the optional heater,and lastly front disc brakes which was rare on a pickup back then.I bought it used for $1500.00 and sold it years later for $700.00 basically due to its rusting problems.One day I slammed the drivers door and the whole lower half fell off as it turned out to be a big chunk of bondo!LOL.The truck bed was basically perforated with rust so at least it never filled up with rain water.The clincher to sell it was when the body mounts rusted out and the truck leaned off to one side as it slid down the chassis.I guess the buyer was a car wiz as it all didn't seem to bother him.One thing that was cool about it was its 3 spd. manual shifter on the steering column. They don't make em like that anymore!LOL.Wish I had a picture to post of it but that was way before digital and it wasn't worth wasting film on.Thanks for the fun post and before I forget your hair is outstanding:)) Definately don't EVER cut it or I'll have to come over there and put my foot through the side of your car! Just joking!LOL.Take care Peg.Mark(HB)
I'm the kind of guy who buys a car used and drives it into the ground so I can appreciate this one. Where I live we call these cars either "beaters" or "train station cars." These are cars that are used to drive around in, in the winter when looks don't matter (they never matter to me) and cars for short trips, like to the train station, respectively. My last car I kept for 17 years. It was a 1987 Nova, which (yes I know what No-va means in Spanish ha ha) in those days were really made by Toyota and was a Corolla clone. Because of that, it was a great car. the body panels rusted out and I plugged them with plastic grocery bags.
Once, about 15 years ago, I was in the San Francisco bay area on business driving around on Hwy 101. Out there, all the cars always look fantastic because there's nothing to harm them except perhaps some sunlight. I was there for a week seeing no cars that looked like home. Suddenly a rusted-out Mustang went by me with no hubcaps. What an ugly car! I wondered if such a car was even legal to drive around in California! As it went by I noticed it had Illinois license plates. No wonder! It was from Home! if I lived in the Bay Area I would deliberately drive the worst looking car : )
Hi Peg,
Great pictures there of your car and brilliant art work and certainly makes it stand out. I've had a few old bangers myself over but nothing decorated like that. Have you still got the "boy racer" big exhaust" on it, we have a few driving around here and it gives me a laugh. I'd say your imploding well arches are some thing to see and many MI winters as well.
You certainly looking very well in the second picture and great to see such positive pictures. Looks like I'll have to book a ride in your local taxi them!
Cheers,
John.B
One cool thing about your car is it's easy to find in a parking lot. :)
I like your car it has personality and it's not an SUV.
Your hair rocks btw
Kevin
Hey Peg: In the words of Neil Young, "Rust Never Sleeps!" Love the artwork. Bruce'ster
That rust bucket looks awesome. very cool!