I’m trying something new today. Instead of a straight Friday runoff like we’ve done in the past, or two new outrageous or expensive cars, I’m giving you the choice between one of the week’s winners, or a new, fifth car. No scenario, no criteria, just pick the one you like best.
I guess you really like the idea of a cheap extra car to mess around with, or it’s totally lost on you. There’s no in-between. For those of you who like the idea, the comments yesterday were split pretty evenly between the Mazda and the Subaru. Those who were just looking for a decent cheap car overwhelmingly chose the Mazda, giving it an easy win.
I like the idea of having something to mess around with, but I’m not sure it’s worth the extra hassle and insurance to actually buy one. If I did, though, the Mazda is the easy choice between these two. I’m not a huge Subaru fan anyway, and that little Mazda 323 just feels more honest and trustworthy. That Subaru has been for sale for a long time, and based on the reactions to it here, I’m not surprised.
So, let’s quickly recap the week’s winners, and then I’ll introduce you to the new guy.
1990 Dodge Daytona – $9,500
This basest-of-base-model Daytona is by far the most expensive car here, but it’s also by far the lowest mileage. It has just seven thousand miles on its odometer, and it sounds like most of those came from the second owner. What’s the going rate for a thirty-six-year-old new Dodge? They don’t come up for sale often enough to really establish an average price. It’s a cool car, at least I think so, but you’re either willing to pay almost ten grand for it or you aren’t.
2000 Hyundai Sonata GLS – $4,300
If your favorite flavor is “Plain” and Cat Stevens is just too darn loud for you, I think I might have found you the perfect car. This Hyundai Sonata is so inoffensive that even Tipper Gore couldn’t find fault with it. It’s in excellent shape, has low miles, and is being sold for a decent price. What’s not to like? Well, there’s the danger of falling asleep at the wheel.
1999 Isuzu Oasis – $3,200
Used minivans can be really good used-car bargains, as long as you’re willing to be seen in one, and as long as you can find one without half a box of Cheerios between the seats. This Isuzu Oasis seems to fit the bill. It’s got a lot of miles on it, but it’s a Honda in all but name, so miles aren’t much of a concern. And if you don’t need all those seats, you can always take them out and use it as a cargo van.
1989 Mazda 323 SE – $1,500
This little Mazda 323 looks like the perfect amateur rallycross car. It’s cheap, lightweight, nimble, and already a bit beat-up. It wears snow tires that would work well as all-terrain tires too, and I have a suspicion it may have been lifted an inch or so already as well. Don’t want to rallycross? No problem. Use it as a cheap commuter car.
1999 Chevrolet Metro – $2,500
Engine/drivetrain: 1.0 liter OHC inline 3, five-speed manual, FWD
Location: Cookeville, TN
Odometer reading: 120,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives “decent”
Yes, you’re seeing this right: Someone took a Metro and painted it like a Little Tikes Cozy Coupe. Cute, right? I mean, I think I’ve seen something like this before, but that’s fine. I’ve seen I don’t know how many Herbies and General Lees (Generals Lee?) over the years; there can be more than one real-life Cozy Coupe. And of course, if you’d rather just have a regular Metro, you can always take the emblems off and repaint it.
Power for the Metro comes from a suitcase-sized three-cylinder that I’ve heard can be wrestled out of the engine bay without a lift by two strong guys, or one big weightlifter. It punches way above its weight, though; no one would ever call a Metro quick, but it feels quick, and you can mash the gas pedal into the floor and hold it there as long as you need to, and this car won’t care. The seller says it runs “decent,” but that it “needs a tune up.” The check-engine light appears to be on, which indicates something might be going on. “Needs a tune up” is starting to become the new “air conditioning just needs a recharge,” I think. Bring a code scanner, and proceed with caution.
The seller says the interior is almost perfect “except headliner.” It’s falling down. But if that’s the biggest issue inside, that’s pretty good for a car as old as this. It’s a pretty fancy Metro; it has air conditioning and a CD player. There’s no word on whether either of them work, though.
Apart from the Little Tikes paint job, it’s in good condition outside. It looks like they started with a red Metro and just painted the roof yellow, so returning it to red should be easy enough if you wanted to. Or just lean into the bit and let people point and smile as you go by.
So what do you think? Is the Cozy Coupe-ified Metro a better deal than one of the week’s winners? Or are you sticking with one of your earlier choices? And if so, which one? Take the weekend to decide, and I’ll see you back here on Monday.
The Oasis or the Metro? that is the question:
Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrages against minivans,
Or to take a cozy coupe through sea of troublesome traffic.
And with opposable thumbs bend them the car horn until that can sleep
Bo more; and by a sleep we say to end
the heart-ache of worn out shocks –
That flesh is heir to: ’tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wish’d. To drive and then to sleep;
To sleep, perchance to dream—ay, there’s where the rubber meets the road.
When we have shuffled lanes because of these mortal coils,
They give us pause—there’s the respect
That makes calamity of so long a drive.
For who would bear the whips and scorns of time, behind the wheel of a minivan.
So cozy coupe it is.
Daytona! I like it the best, way more than the others; especially a damn Metro. I’ve never liked those and still despise them. My long running joke is: “3-cyl?! what a wussy lawnmower engine w/ bowling balls for wheels!” ha ha. It’s a toy car and looks like one, ha ha (I will say that’s the only positive since it’s kinda clever, and at least not greyscale)
So next it would be the 323, then Oasis; but then the Sonata and Metro would be welded together to drive as one, filled w/ fireworks, then driven off a cliff with me lighting the long fuse and jumping out at the last second, ha ha!
Maybe that van’s gonna be the one to save me.
And after all, it has seats for all.
If I went the Metro sexual route I would go all in with a Harlequin paint job and call her Harley Quinn. So I did
I chose the Mazda, but that Metro is daaaangerously close to me. Might send it to a friend who need a fuel sipper.
4:19pm: 11 votes separate first from fourth place. This has to be some sort of record.
And fifth is the Sonata.
We may not know the winner yet, but we sure know the loser of the week.
Daytona. Simplify, simplify. And it’s blue. To me it’s like finding a nice Dodge Dart Swinger with a slant six. What engine does it have? The smart one.
Unscrew up that Geo and enjoy saving money…with a line of cars waiting to pass you.
I would still prefer the Subaru from yesterday. Take it up to VT for drifting on dirt roads until it dies or use it as a winter beater.
It’s an even split between the Mazda and the Daytona for me. The Daytona would bring back fond memories, but the Mazda is the smarter buy. Both will rust if I even think about taking them into winter salt. I’m going to have to say Mazda here; buy it, put summer tires on it, and drive it like it’s a treasured member of the family.
The Metro would be a kick to drive around in, but I ended up going with the Daytona. It’s just too much nicer than the rest of them, even at that price.
Metro by a mile. Looks mint. Great fuel economy cheap and cheerful little car. Someone did a good job on it. Looks great price is right.
.
The K-tona is the one for me this week.
Odyssey nation til I die I vote Oasis
I just don’t have the nostalgia for the little tikes car. We had a VW rabbit pedal car and a smurf mobile. If it was half the price, It would be fun to throw around while I looked for a more fun engine to swap in.
Something about that 323 still just looks like the car for me though.
Listen, the 323 will be the roach that will carry me through this K-shaped economy. New Tires, and price. Daytona gets the love here, but we’re fried.
I really don’t know big of a job redoing a headliner is, but that’s about the only reason I wouldn’t buy the Little Tikes mobile advertisement. The Mazda looks like fun. It’s cheaper and roomier, so what the heck. 323 4 me.
You can remove it and just deal with it or buy a can of spray adhesive and do a competent job of it.
The Cozy Coupe is adorbs, but I’m approaching this seriously as in which car would I most prefer to own/use/drive as a daily. Which is why I voted for the Isuzu/Honda minivan even though I’ll be surprised if it wins.
The smart vote is either the Mazda (my close 2nd) or the Isuzu, but I’m voting for the Metro. I’d actually drive that; it might even be slow-car-fast fun. Lose the stickers but keep the yellow roof so people have to think for a second. And maybe do something about that exhaust tip; is it supposed to be a rain spout?
They all have their selling points, and the Mazda is basically “F*** it” money in 2026, but it’s my second choice today. I went big spender for that Daytona; it would be a hit at Radwood.
ETA, the Cozy Metro isn’t really my sippy-cup of juice, but I’m glad it exists. I hope whoever picks it up can fix its little glitches and give it a nice home.
I would love to have another Metro to play with. One that wasn’t rusted out. Prices have come up on these, so this actually isn’t a bad deal as long as the engine isn’t lunched. The engine is so small, swapping them doesn’t even require a cherry picker. A strong person can just pick the little engine up.
if shopping on a cheap wheels budget, then I’ll take the grown up Little Tikes.
The Mazda does nothing for me. It’s cheaper but not enough to sway me over the newer, more comfortable, safer and as fun to drive Metro.
But I really feel like I’ve saved up enough intenet money to go spendy this week so I’ll give myself a little treat and go high roller with the Daytona.
The Cozy Coupe and the Autozam 787bb would be a wonderful 2 car garage.
The new Metro is out due to price and check engine light.
I’m going with the Mazda as the best of the 5 when shipping on a shitbox budget and as someone pointed out yesterday it has new tires which is a big deal in this category of vehicles. The Hyundai at $4K is pricey. Not only is that getting close to the price of newer and equally boring cars but you can buy 3 Mazdas for the same price.
This would change for someone with a bunch of kids and then the minivan isn’t a bad choice but it is still the price of two Mazdas.
Yes why buy a cheeseburger when for the same price you can get 2 grilled cheese samiches
Daily question for someone shopping on shitbox budget. For about 5 years of my life a McDonalds 1/4 pounder wasn’t in the budget.
Note the name of the column is “Shitbox Showdown”. The name of the game is getting from A to B for as little as possible.
I’m a little surprised at it being a nearly 4-way tie, but that just means it’s a good spread of voices.
I’m also surprised the Hyundai has managed double digit votes. Really people? Really?
I bought a 97 Metro as a commuter and fell in love with it, I’d love to have another 3 cylinder. Unfortunately, you could not get air conditioning with the three. If that’s factory air, it’s a 4 cyl. or homemade. Either way, that pushes me into the Daytona – I could drive that for years.
I wish the government would take a chill pill. A world where one can buy a motorcycle, but not a Geo Metro – because it flunked the crash test – is a world that doesn’t make sense.
They could’ve also updated it later. Maybe GM did make AC available with the 3-cyl by 99, even if it wasn’t available in 97.
There were a few changes to the Metro during the run. For example, the 4-cyl went from 2v to 4v, and got 10 extra hp. They switched from sealed beams to composite headlights. And other small changes like that.
10 extra HP unless you had the AC then back down to regular
I just did some diligence and it looks like A/C had become a standalone option for all Metros that model year: https://www.auto-brochures.com/makes/Chevrolet/Metro/Chevrolet_US%20Metro_2000.pdf
I think r134a compressor were more efficient that they threw them on. Suzuki has always been resistant to change. They ran r12 pretty late. You could get a 660cc in Japan with AC and daihutsu had AC as on option with their 1.0 when they came to the US.