- It has just been listed on the Bring a Trailer online auction site as a 2000 Chevrolet Metro with only a few hundred miles on the odometer.
- Even though there are only six days left until the end of bidding on Thursday, November 4, $9000 has already been offered, and it is expected to rise even further.
- Perhaps on the way up: This pristine hatchback is a modern classic in its own right.
This 2000 Chevrolet Metro was originally purchased with less than 400 miles on the odometer, and that fortuitous decision has resulted in a fortuitous opportunity for Metro collectors everywhere: an as-new Metro is currently up for auction on Bring a Trailer, and you can bid on it right now.
Opportunities like this don't come along every day, to be honest with you.
This particular Metro is a second-generation model, which first appeared in 1995. The iconic two-door hatchback body style was phased out for the 2000 model year, with only the four-door sedan remaining on the market for the final model year of the decade, 2001. This was also the final model year for the three-cylinder engine that had become so synonymous with the Metro's design.
This coupe is powered by a 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine that produces exactly 55 horsepower and 58 pound-feet of torque as a base model for purists (the Metro LSi got a 79-hp 1.3-liter four-cylinder). It's mated to the preferred five-speed manual transmission, which has been praised for its EPA fuel economy of 39 mpg in the city and 46 mpg on the highway, according to the EPA.
The white over gray Sport cloth livery of the Metro is a nice contrast to the classic lines of the vehicle, and it is believed that the paint is factory-applied, although no paint-depth readings are provided. The 13-inch steel wheels with factory three-spoke wheel covers will attract the attention of keen observers.
It's important to note that this Metro still has its original selling dealer license-plate frame from Martin Chevrolet Geo in Torrance, California, and that it comes with key fobs that are stamped with the dealer's logo. Collectors will delight in the trove of documentation, which includes dealer brochures, service manuals, and the original sales paperwork, among other things. This vehicle also comes with a factory window sticker that states that the MSRP was $11,140 ($17,745 in today's dollars). This Metro, according to Monroney, is loaded with options, including air conditioning, an AM/FM cassette stereo, an electric rear-window defroster, and the Preferred Equipment Group 2 package (easy-entry passenger seat, color-keyed carpet mats, and body-side molding).
However, despite the fact that Chevrolet has not yet established a factory-refurbishment program for the Metro, this vehicle has benefited from a mechanical refreshment performed at a local dealer that cost more than $1000. This work included a new fuel pump as well as a fuel-tank cleaning.
As a result of the recent service, this Metro has been transformed into a modern classic that the new owner can use every day—although doing so would increase the mileage and potentially reduce the car's value as a historical piece. For the new owner, this will present a difficult quandary, but it is unquestionably one to be envied.