quick question
im looking into purchasing a used car, its a (like the title says) automatic 1989 firefly for 1,500 CAN
just wondering what you guys may know about the general troubles, etc.
is it a good starter car?
common problems you may know about?
is it worth it? haha

i've been looking around but i couldnt find much on them.. besides good gas milage.
anything you guys have for input would be greatly appriciated!
thanks!
(sorry if there's another post that addresses this car, i searched and couldnt find anything specifically in this forum about this make)

[Edit] i havent gone to see the car, im just looking into it first. see if i should put my time into actually showing interest (:

Does it have the 1.0 3-cyl, or the 1.3 4-cyl?

They're by no means cool cars, but I think they're supposed to be reliable. Use it in town because they're tin cans! I have a friend with a 3-cyl Metro which has 220,000 on it, and it's treated him well. I got to try it, and it wasn't bad. The fuel mileage is out of this world, expect 40-ish mpg in town.

I think Suzuki made both powertrains, and they're decent. The fit and finish is a bit shoddy, but if you can deal with surface rust and a saggy headliner then so be it. And the looks. On the upside, they are reliable and efficient.

$1500? Whereabouts are you in Canada? If you're in ON/QC you should be able to do way better - I saw a Suzuki Swift GT (a hell of a car actually - awesome-handling, and the GT-spec 1.3 can rev to 9000 w/ a chip and run 16s) for $1300 in TO. If it's in the prairies or BC $1500 sounds more like it, but still try to barter a bit.

BTW, I forgot to mention... my buddy's Metro was a stick, and even w/ the 5-spd it was really slow. Don't consider a 3-cyl car without a stick, and even with the other engine you'd probably prefer a 5-speed.

They aren't rare or particularly desireable, so you shouldn't have problems finding another if you're close to a big city. Also consider Dodge Colts, same deal... japanese powertrain, american badge, decent econocar, poor resale.

haha yah im in BC.. im not really exactly near a bigger city. kelowna/kamloops is a couple hours from here.
im not big on a cool car haha im definitely a lover of the unwanted (:
im not sure on if its a 1.0 3-cyl or a 1.3 4-cyl, i still have to phone to get all the info
im not big on a stick, im overly comfortable now with the automatic situation and enjoy that haha. i've done stick, and just never completely got the hang of it.

im actually looking for something thats somewhat highway reliable. but you know wont kill my small bank account
thanks so much for your input!
once i find more info out ill update i guess, give you guys more to work with

if it's just a 1.0, you don't want it. since you'd be getting the auto that is. with an auto you lose a lot more hp and speed, milage also. the auto has 3 gears while the manual has 5. if it's a 1.3 you might be ok, be a little faster than the 1.0 stick i think. milage won't be as good. i have a 99 metro 1.0 stick, i get in the high 20's if i stick my foot in it real bad, and over 50 if i granny the crap out of it. i'd expect 40's easy. also, i'm not sure but i think some of the fireflies can come 1.0 with a turbo. i think the milage is the same if not better than the regular 1.0. it's pushing 7.5psi stock, only like 60 or some hp but 105lbs of tourque i think. i think the 89 would weigh in around 16 or 1700lbs, so 105ftlbs is gonna be plenty