Cheap and common enough is important, but having driven up Haleakala and around to Hana in “reverse” (counterclockwise) I’d argue something vaguely sporting, or at least smallish and lightweight is also worth considering. The roads are not always crowded, and when they are not, they are amazing. 3rd gen Integra or…

Kinja doesn’t want me to post a picture, but as another form Hawaii resident, my not-so-ridiculous ridiculous recommendation is a Suzuki X-90, because it has a removable hardtop for the best of both worlds (i.e. secure your stuff, open air motoring every so often) and both sporting and off road pretensions. Further,…

“Here on Oahu the roads are okay enough for a fun car.” You mean: “There are exactly two stretches of interesting road on the entire island that can be fun to drive on with a fun car.” 4x4 is definitely useful and fun on any of the islands, but Maui has some really incredible roads for a sports car too.

You are mostly correct: Chicks dig Volvos. 

Maybe, and I like where you are going with this, but most of them didn’t come with AC. For a reason. How to turn 47 hp into 35 hp at the touch of a button. I realize there are places you literally can’t survive without it, but there you’d probably turn it off until you reach cruising speed.

Pssst: You can see from my posts that I like Geos, but I think Raphael was joking. In spite of being a Geo fanboy, I would not recommend them to any ordinary person as a commuter vehicle. It would definitely increase your Jalop credibility, though.

I do not know what that poor bank-courier Metro did to you, but I’m sorry. If it was an automatic, that wouldn’t help, and I wouldn’t drive one of those either—it sucks the joy out of what anyone will agree is already under powered. If it was yours and you had to drive anywhere interesting maybe you’d have paid more…

If that’s what you think, you don’t know how to drive. You can hate on a Metro for lots of reasons, but driving dynamics is not one of them. I’ll bet I logged more miles than you did, and I did most of them flogging them hard on back roads in Kentucky that don’t go straight. I currently race a Swift GT, and it’s true…

Here’s, (rather crappy, sorry) video from mine competing in a time trial event. I beat 47 out of 123 competitors, including a couple of Integras and an NSX. Watch the tach when you can see it!

“But that doesn’t justify claiming it is a good choice as a commuter car compared to a modern vehicle.” I’m not sure that I am—at least not for most people, and I think even Mr. Orlove had his tongue planted pretty firmly in cheek when he penned the article. If you are poor, mechanically inclined, like to drive, and…

“It is slow, noisy, and unsafe by modern standards.” Well, yes. So is a Volkswagen Beetle, but nobody is calling a Beetle “execrable”. The Metro is a vastly updated take on what the Beetle did, which is hardly what Americans want now, and was a pretty small niche even in 1989. But that doesn’t make it a POS. I’ll guara…

You’re just trolling. Which is fine, and I suppose if you are primarily concerned with creature comforts, you might be on target, but it’s obvious you’ve never actually driven a Metro. Suzuki products are cheap and simple, yes, but they also are nearly indestructible and loads of fun, on par or better in both of…

The Vitara was pretty close, and sold pretty well, but the popular CUVs you mention are all FWD (at base) cars with lift kits and tall-ish greenhouses so that they look a bit truck-like. The Suzukis were actually little trucks! With all the pros and cons that suggests, particularly in terms of handling. The Sidekick…

Well, my family has had enough of them (I think we’ve gone through 9 of them over the years) to have seen the aftermath of some accidents—my father wrecked three of them, 2 of them rollovers. He walked away, but he was also very lucky. I also own a Volvo wagon, and there’s no question which one I’d rather be in in an…

Don’t trust Car and Driver on handling: “Not only is the Metro low on grip, but it also feints and hunts in turns—making it unpleasant to drive briskly.” Let me translate: “The Geo turns in sharply and takes a set in the corner, exhibiting a willingness to rotate on lift-throttle or trail-braking completely unlike…

What? I’m a certified Suzuki fanboi, and those markets are FAR from hot right now. I wish.

Geo Metro: It’s safer than a motorcycle.

A vehicle so ugly that a hideous body kit is actually an improvement. There is no redemption for this, however, CP.

Fixed it for you: Now the you have the money and maintenance budget to buy a more interesting used manual wagon or modify the current one :)