1991 Geo Storm Hatchback | Retro Review

If only available in GSi
trim...

[@Motorweek]

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[@user-gd2sf3ee2f]

Thanks

[@judethaddaeus9742]

Even rarer and more obscure is the related Isuzu Impulse Wagonback, which debuted at the same time.

[@tercelfish00]

Lotus suspension very cool. My friend in high school had one. Only one I've ever seen.

[@RichTexas82513]

@@tercelfish00 there's one out in a feild behind me

[@SP84Fanatic]

And unlike the Storm Wagonback, the Impulse Wagonback came with the DOHC 16V engine as standard.

[@notaslav]

@@RichTexas82513 Try buying it and fixing it. Very rare car.

[@stoneylonesome4062]

I don’t think Isuzu ever offered a shooting-brake hatchback version.

[@chaseman94]

It looks like it could've been a Saturn.

[@austinpoeppelmeyer2174]

@@Thugman98 It was an Isuzu actually. Saturn SC and such were produced by Saturn.

[@theKevronHarris]

The Geo Storm hatchback looks very cool, nostalgic car of the 1990s.

[@markfitzpatrick6692]

Kevron Harris I had the regular storm in 1990-93 didn’t know they had a hatchback

[@theKevronHarris]

@@markfitzpatrick6692 I was born on July 16th, 1994 and one of my female cousins who was in the air Force used to have a 2+2 Geo storm. There is a pink Geo Storm sitting with the OG wheel covers sitting at a mechanics shop just a few blocks away from my pediatrician's office in Orangeburg, SC.

[@markfitzpatrick6692]

Kevron Harris happy early birthday I am July 13, 1964 saw the storm at the auto show and had to have it .

[@vector6977]

It reminds me of a tiny camaro of the same years.

[@Turshin]

Fwd Camaro hatch

[@VerticalMARS1]

I test drove the 91 Storm GSI and was disappointed at how cheaply made it was. Bought a 91 Laser RS and absolutely loved it. Remember installing a CD player and amp buying my first CD for it. Yes ...it was Nirvanas Nevermind. 😀😎

[@bingobango170]

You are lying. It was probably four non blondes or something ever gayer than that. Your story sucks.

[@RoadCone411]

@@bingobango170 Uncalled for.

[@VerticalMARS1]

decembrist Yes They were all over the road in the early 90s though. There was a Chevy/GEO dealership near me that had a row of fully loaded GSIs with $12450 on the windshield. So...

[@VerticalMARS1]

Bingo Bango Who hurt you?

[@RallyLancer95]

Hell yeah. I still have my 90 Eclipse GSX. Love the 1G DSMs

[@usergonemad]

Tried to buy one of these when they were available as new cars. Geo dealer laughed at me, insisting that Geo didn't make such a car. It had been in production for over a year at that time...

[@JDMHaze]

Doug Mare Well it being a Geo the guy probably didn't even know LOL

[@HWolfeIII]

I believe it. It's frustrating when you know more about a product than the salesman...

[@lancairw867]

I have been watching Motorweek since it was on Sunday tv 📺! I use to record on my Dads VHS 😄

[@UKnowMeIMURDaddy]

My ex-wife and I owned this exact model. We loved that little car.

[@tormenta2254]

This was my first brand new car. They didn't mention that the rear widows came off which made cruising the So. Cal. beaches really cool.

[@tkewrestler2662]

I love the Retro Reviews!

[@boosted2.4_sky]

I had one of these in 1992.. I bought a Yellow 91 Geo Storm from the previous year... I drove the hell out of that thing and honestly it ran great... I really liked that car at that time.... there were Clips on the back window that you could disengage and take them completely off...I put a set of Chrome Cragar Hammer Wheels and Pirelli P500's on it and tinted the windows black...Lol... The 90's

[@MrSksnow]

I have a 93 Geo Storm HatchBack, looks very cool! its stanced

[@austinpetemo]

The picture looks sick!

[@wendysremix]

Thanks for ruining a rare car

[@thealaskancamper8439]

I've got this 1991 Wagonback and love it. My friend rebuilt it for me and stuck in the GSI motor & tranny, GSI seats and GSI body kit. He put a sunroof in too, but I'm not sure I like it. Disrupts the natural lines of the Wagonback roof. Always loved the little flip up covers on the headlights. Love your car too man 😎

[@BurtSampson]

The rear end of that hatchback model looks great.

[@NeoVoodooTech]

Nostalgia! This was my first car it really was not that slow (Only 100 horsepower with a cold air intake filter swap) but it feels like a normal sub compact until you get above 3000 rpm or steep climb. That is exactly what the engine sounded like! Sort of a cross between a compressor and an angry sewing machine. To be fair it got 28 mpg all day and was smooth to drive. The interior was legit for the price. In the review they did not tilt the rear windows out! The two side rear windows pop right out it was super cool at that time. The shape of the hatch and glass had an awesome acoustic effect and I put two 12" subs with a 2000 watt amp back there in a band pass box and it would literally shake the rear view mirror off.

[@adriancarty612]

Summer time going to the lake my side windows was always out!

[@Lrules364]

I drove a new nissan versa for a week as a rental. And I can say, without any doubt, that I would have preferred a Geo Storm of any kind over it. These cars were awesome economy cars, and saved a lot of people some serious money in the gas department. And they were sporty to boot. I havent seen one in about 10 years though. And I have never seen a hatchback in person. Not even in a junkyard. Its such a shame too. Its a nice little car with a lot of potential. Id swap a Quad 4 in there without hesitation.

[@hobbymanx9200]

Great news, I drive a Storm coupe in 2022. It’s been restored and modified for now. Not even in a junkyard.. because it’s in my garage ;)

[@hobbymanx9200]

Seen a hatchback in my neighborhood btw. It’s crazy

[@MichaelOKeefe2009]

It's actually a 2 door station wagon...er...Shooting Brake.

[@NFS4LFE]

I think the official term is Wagonback

[@scottbogfoot]

Yeah I was thinking it looked longer the the Canadian sold geo storm, which was pretty much a Chevy sprint which was pretty much a Daewoo or Suzuki or something

[@lloyd_3656]

There is no D pilar so it is considered a hatchback.

[@NFS4LFE]

@@lloyd_3656 The standard Storm is a hatchback. That one is referred to as such. This one, while also being a hatchback technically, is officially called a Wagonback so's to not confuse between the two.

[@fernandorocha-dx1wv]

@@NFS4LFE Very nice this Geo Storm

[@Bubblun1]

Saw one of these in same color driving around Portland today while on vacation. They were rare when new!

[@tmseh]

Unicorn.

[@whoohaaXL]

I had a 93 base model. I put a Pacesetter header on it, a GSI throttle body Port matched, a two and a half inch header back exhaust, a legit cold air intake, and after I blew the head gasket I had to head shaved and did a 3 angle valve job. With only 90 horsepower to begin with I figure I had maybe 110 to 115 after all was said and done and that car broke a lot of hearts I remember people laughing at the line and then getting beaten by at least a car length or more. Civics, some V6 Camaros prior to 93, an automatic Isuzu impulse, and a Hyundai Elantra all come to mind. I lusted-after a GSI but just couldn't find one in my area. The redline alone on the 4X E1 dohc in the GSI was worth the price of Entry, 7750 RPM.

[@kimwashingtonofficial6041]

I had one.. it was my first brand new car. I loved it.

[@jacklo325]

I remembered back in my late middle school days, a girl who was a couple yrs older than me bought a new yellow storm. However, never knew they had actually made a hatchback out of it.

[@captainchaos0666]

The crazy thing I remember is that my 1992 Geo Storm owners manual mentioned that the 2 door Storm was a hatchback. Subsequently, the true hatchback was referred to as a wagon.

[@jeepguy95]

These things were awesome... kinda rode the line between a large hatchback and a small wagon. :)

[@cadsux]

The good 'ol mini Camaro wagon!

[@nlpnt]

You could get the 125hp DOHC engine in this body as an Isuzu Impulse, but they had a yet-hotter turbo version that was only in the coupe.

[@johnnymason2460]

That turbo 1.6 liter inline four should have been available in the Storm. They could have sold more turbo models through the larger Chevrolet dealer network.

[@shaggybreeks]

I own one and drive it daily. It has never let me down. The paint is like new even though it's never had a garage, and I live in a very sunny location. Performance is very good right off the line, like at a stoplight, and good for cruising at 80+ MPH. Getting onto the freeway, I do have to push it, but it has excellent performance at 70+. Comments ridiculing it are from people who have never owned one. Those who have owned them, tend to love them.

[@Audiostories-fx6fp]

That was so cool finding this we had a white one just like that back in the day it was actually a really good reliable car

[@tmseh]

This car popped up in my feed today. Haven't seen one in decades. Started looking online for any for sale and very few out there and most sitting in junkyards. I would grab one of these in a heartbeat.

[@goclunker]

Who else thinks of that video of a Storm having its rear end ripped off and dragged through a snow bank when watching this?

[@RobertSmith-le8wp]

That’s a classic internet video

[@5thgearouttahere]

brah, you gotta link those, brah

[@84gssteve]

I told you many times......stop, stop! Ah, memories!

[@garrencarter4344]

Thought that was a MR2.....

[@wallybeegone]

Really cool styling. Geo reminds me of Scion. Pushing limits and offering wacky styling for young buyers with lots of features.

[@landyachtfan79]

I just thought of a GREAT idea a little while ago for a Retro Review that you could do either tomorrow or in the very near future. A memorial tribute to Lee Iacocca over clips of the various Chrysler products that you tested over the years that were built under his direction.

[@TurboMan942]

My girlfriend had a Geo Storm back in the day. If you wanted to take an uphill highway on-ramp on a hot day, you knew the drill..A/C OFF. Man, I miss her juggs.

[@scottkrafft6830]

LOL!

[@landyachtfan79]

The coupe was dead sexy, the hatchback was practical AND dead sexy!!!!

[@GalenlevyPhoto]

I remember seeing a quite few of these back then. Nice styling underpowered sporty car. Also the Nissan Pulsar as well. Don’t forget the VW fox. Huge 2 door wagoback.

[@yungmarsupial]

Just when I thought the impulse couldn’t get wonkier, the rug gets pulled out from under my feet

[@Sanpedranoazul]

That hatchback looked like an aftermarket kit on the Storm

[@dbrxsdgo]

These were built by Isuzu using the Impulse platform. I had the Isuzu sedan version, "Stylus" ( which replaced the iMark). It was quite fun for a 21 year old. 😂

[@brianedwards9616]

There's a green Storm Hatchback in my area and it's the only one I've seen in my life.

[@andrewsmactips]

Best looking car I’ve never heard of.

[@adriancarty612]

One of my first vehicles. Loved it

[@joshuac4772]

Never seen one in person, or otherwise. I didn't even know this was a thing.

[@kippaseo8027]

Given The Choice back then I would have definitely opted for the Geo metro LSI. It was built by Suzuki and proved to be far more reliable. In fact there are still more than a few little Suzuki built Geo metros zipping around town here in Miami. We nicked name them the "Japanese beetles" because of how easy and inexpensive they were to keep on the road. The biggest problem with the metros wise severe body rust in the northern States due to the ice and salt but not really a concern here in Florida. These little Geo storms were throw away pieces of garbage. At 1 time these Clear the roads all over the place. They were a huge seller but much like the Chevy spectrum And other garbage that was plopped on the docks from Isuzu They didn't last very long.

[@zakyum]

The guy that they show sitting/messing with the car is he still alive? What's he doing now job wise?

[@LearnAboutFlow]

I don't know about the hatchback, but I rented a Storm coupe with the auto (obviously, American rental agencies don't rent manuals) and it was a blast to drive. A very impressive car, which is no surprise since it's basically a much-lauded Isuzu Impulse underneath.

[@erinfreize4717]

Am I the only one who wondered, hmm if they only made a Camaro hatchback, similar to those Corvette custom wagon conversions? Even a Beretta GTZ would've been cool.

[@aharrington080611]

It's the headlights, almost identical to the same year Camaros

[@mrpoohbearlvr]

I LOVED my Geo Storm HB!! I had that green one they showed here. (Mine had the next style of fixed headlights, bummer!) It was a 92', and had the 3speed auto. Man I loved that car. Made by Toyota/GM, so it had the Toyota quality, and so few HB's like this on the road back then, everyone had the Storm coupe. Blacked out the windows for privacy, and it was just fun to drive, hugged the road like it was on rails!! One of the cars I stupidly traded in on a NEW car, this was just a 2yr old used car. But never a problem. Other than that terrible mileage.

[@davidg4026]

The Storm is a -Mitsubishi- Isuzu. The Geo Prizm is a Toyota.

[@mrpoohbearlvr]

@@davidg4026 Really??? What Mitsubishi was it based on? I KNOW I saw a 'Nummi' tag on the car, on the door jamb, that was the name of the 'Toyota/GM' car company. IF it was a Mitsubishi, what Mitsubishi car was its twin??

[@davidg4026]

@@mrpoohbearlvr Sorry, I meant to say Isuzu. The Storm is a twin to the Isuzu Impulse.

[@mrpoohbearlvr]

@@davidg4026 Hmmmm. I still recall a 'Nummi' badge on the car. That was the Toyota/GM 'company'. But it does resemble the Impulse. Must be why I bought it. GM was with Isuzu for a long time, so I guess it could have happened. It was a long time ago. I just keep seeing that 'Nummi' badge on the car in my mind. Oh well, I'm nuts I guess:)

[@aaronshensky9385]

A whopping 95 horsepower. Whoa hang on haha. Imagine 100 degree summer heat ac on and car occupied by 4 large adults that 1.6 would struggle

[@jareknowak8712]

In the '90 in Europe we had many cars with 45-60hp. Back then horses were stronger.

[@GT6SuzukaTimeTrials]

Today's econoboxes aren't much better. Hyundai Accent and Honda Fit have around 130 hp. Put four 200-lb adults in one of those with the a/c on and they're slow as dog shit.

[@Bubblun1]

We really haven't come that far considering Mitsubishi sells a Mirage with a 1.2 liter 3 cyl that puts out a whopping 78hp. Well "sells" being a relative term when it comes to Mitsubishi, that is.

[@MrBlaze256]

@@Bubblun1 the mirage is like todays geo metro. they get close to 50mpg. 78hp is plenty i drive a 98 hyundai with 80hp and a kia koup with 180. not much difference really for normal driving

[@GT6SuzukaTimeTrials]

@@MrBlaze256 You must not drive in a congested area where you'll get rammed from behind if you pull onto a main road and can't hit 60 mph in under 9 seconds.

[@robsrandomness7824]

I had a teal '91 coupe w/ the auto. That 3 speed would turn 4300 RPM on the highway at 75 mph. Really needed an overdrive gear. Other than that, I liked the little car.

[@BrownBomber92181]

I'd imagine with the 3 auto it took about a day to get to 75 lol

[@robsrandomness7824]

@@BrownBomber92181 I don't remember it as being bad at all, but it's no race car. Remember, it doesn't weigh anything.

[@kerokerobonito3664]

Would buy this anytime, even if it’s a shell

[@brandondavis7695]

wow motorweek, i actually forgot this car existed, and i know cars like the back of my hand..

[@HWolfeIII]

Yes, me too, but I remember the Geo Storm quite well...

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

Ahhh! The start of the crossover vehicle's! Well sort of!

[@albear972]

The Geo drizzle. Storm? not so much. 😂 I admit, it looked sorta' cool back in the day.

[@truckernation7886]

I didn’t know this thing existed. 2 door wagons are just cool!

[@iroquoispliskin6077]

Never seen one before this video but it looks really great. My favorite Geo by far.

[@tientrinh943]

Now that’s a rare car

[@justposted3524]

I had one and loved it

[@ChiefRickyRC]

Coolest Saturn i think i would choose back in time

[@alfamonk]

dash looks cool even now

[@nlpnt]

This car's biggest problem was the higher-end Honda Civic hatchbacks which weren't as overtly sporty-looking but had quality you could feel in the showroom and were a blast to drive. I'm not sure if 12k was Si money in '91 but it can't have been much more than that.

[@patsgarage8593]

That motor sounded terrible when the hood was up lol

[@alastairward2774]

Almost like a diesel.

[@dudeman2644]

Yes it was noisy but at least it's a freewheeling engine. Now days engines are powerful and smooth quiet but if the timing belt or chain breaks or jumps time engine is trashed. I rather have a noisy engine but be freewheeling not interfurrence like most shit now days.

[@palebeachbum]

I test drove a '93 Geo Storm coupe back in the late 90's. I loved the looks, but it was all hard, brittle plastic inside, underpowered with the 1.6L and 5-spd manual, and had tons of interior noise. Can't imagine living with that car as a daily driver.

[@adamtrombino106]

Yep, so did I. I loved the look, especially in black. In 1993 I had just graduated HS and was in the market for my 1st new car. On the test drive liked the 5 speed's feel, but the thing needed another 100 HP. I kept saying to the salesperson that it was too bad it was so slow. He kept saying " Yeah, but the mileage.. Think of the mileage.." To which I finally said, "How can it make mileage if my foot has to be in it all the time?" I didn't buy it...

[@kylemas2005]

Good thing the Mirage is back on the scene!

[@halohunter5217]

10.9 seconds was a pretty average 0-60 time in 1993. Not sure what you're comparing it to as far as it being slow.

[@palebeachbum]

@@halohunter5217 10.9 was perfectly respectable back then. The problem is the tiny engine had no toque low down, so you had to wind up the engine to get the power out of it.

[@GABRIEL_CRAFT]

✨✨It would be sweet to put the impulse front end on the Storm wagon ✨✨✨

[@Trance88]

This is another one of those cars you NEVER see anymore in Michigan. Unfortunately, a lot of these cars never even survived into the new millennium.

[@zanderal75]

Mich. Here back in the 90's Chevy corsicas, Berettas we're EVERYWHERE!, Along with the storm. They are all gone now. The other day I seen a old z24 for sale near Clarkston. It was a convertible looked like a 1986 model, in mint cond.

[@DougsCars]

Basically a two door station wagon...these were pretty rare back then!

[@JDMHaze]

Doug's Cars Imagine how rare it is now, I nearly cream my pants every time I see the Nissan version of this

[@DougsCars]

Keye T Yep can’t be more than a few left!

[@pl5624]

Parts for these or any Isuzu are nearly impossible to get now.cant imagine many storms impulse or stylus cars left at all.

[@Torch70]

Bought my '90 brand new and still own it. Yes, parts are unobtainium. As far as condition, mine simply refuses to age. It's like Christine. There's a real short video on my channel with a link to some current pics too.

[@aaronbays4]

Was GM really that big back in the early 90's??? I mean they had 4 cars in this sporty entry level coupe catergory(the Storm wagon is an oddity and didn't sell well). Chevy Cavalier, Pontiac Sunbird, Geo Storm, Saturn SC. If you spent a little bit more $$$$ you could get into a base model Camaro, Beretta, Olds Cutlass Calias coupe, or a Grand Am coupe. Seems like they had A LOT of product overlap. That was fine in the 50's/60's/70's, when GM's market share was over 50%, but man they had a huge slide in quality, design and market share during the 80's/90's, seems silly to offer that many cars to the same buyer demographic IMO, especially on something that doesn't make much $$$

[@marmitacopalpexo9220]

Look alike volvo 480, and the colt CJO back part.

[@thooke222]

I'd like to place an order for 2 of these fine automobiles.

[@JDMHaze]

thooke222 "fine" ?? lol

[@thooke222]

@@JDMHaze so fine!

[@clintonlyle7922]

thooke222 the finest!

[@JDMHaze]

Clinton Lyle lmao😂😂😂

[@bbc_junior4863]

Has a sleek look

[@guitarhole]

Did I really just watch a Motorweek retro review of a Geo Storm Hatchback ? I really need to get a life .

[@hank1556]

we're here for you, Ill be your friend

[@captainknuckles6421]

Same here

[@mackcummy4976]

We had these here in Canada but have never seen a hatchback.

[@pauloararaquara]

What a crazy and joyfull small car!!!

[@badopinion]

Bring me back!!

[@jamiedriscoll9781]

Im 51 and have never seen one of these in the wild

[@immature1990]

Throwback from the 90s

[@maxyorkshire5930]

I learned to drive the stick on the coupe version as my first car. I also got to first use my stick in the tiny backseat with a girl after wooing her with handbrake turns.

[@kerokerobonito3664]

ITS BEAUTIFUL!!!

[@FraggleRagaraga]

Thanks Motorweek, very cool.

[@thetruthhurts3316]

That's a nice Saturn SW2 you got there. Oh, wait.....

[@adelaideautowashes]

It's a massive shame that Geo and Saturn were killed off.

[@CJDiecast]

Once again, I've never seen this before on the roads. A lot of these old econoboxes I've never seen even when they were fairly new.

[@alans.4167]

These were pretty rare even compared to the regular Storm. A couple reasons for the econoboxes not being around is simply cheaper cars are used and abused more, but also the idea of 4 cyl engines with timing belts as regular maintenance was still kinda new in '91 for Americans. By time econoboxes needed their 2nd timing belt, 200k+ miles, people would sell them for under $500, or give them away, usually to teenagers. Once the timing belt snapped they'd just junk that car and buy another econobox for a few hundred.

[@rezboadog369]

I LOVE THESE!

[@skullettrump3424]

I crashed my geo metro into a tree when I was high on angel dust that day I was so pissed I cut my mullet off.

[@TyEiraMarieMorrisonOsteen]

You say Storm GSI Wagonback? *Impulse XS Wagonback has entered the chat*

[@erinfreize4717]

In 1994 when you could buy these used for $7-8K I bought an '89 Grand Am SE with an Isuzu 2.0L turbo and 5 speed for $4700. Wonder if they considered that for this car, or an upper level GSI, like the Impulse here or Piazza globally? 70 more HP was a lot in those days!

[@303nitzubishi4]

The Opel "big block" engine you're referring to wouldn't have fit in a Storm. Block is way too tall. There were a couple other options for the Impulse/Storm to increase power. Lotus twin cam head, turbo, etc. That said, the engine in your grand am was a screamer when running right, but unfortunately they came out of the factory with an oil-cooled turbo (no antifreeze passages) and no intercooler. I had a buddy that built a couple of them in the late 90s and had his Sunbird running well into the 14s at elevation with a few basic mods.

[@thetreblerebel]

I'd drive one today

[@zr71offroad20]

I want this car, I do not know why I just need it!

[@Gogogordy1]

What is that handle with the knob on it on the inside of the door? :^)

[@BluRadoZ71]

2019 Wranglers still use those thingys. :-/

[@bh2236]

I always thought it looked like a camper shell from a small pickup truck.

[@user-dw1ls3rp1l]

25 mpg for a sub-100hp car with a low drag coefficient? What went wrong there?

[@hemingsgarage]

Babes dig this car all day.

[@asdfghjqwertyu1858]

I'll like to see a Motorweek review of a 1992 to 1996 Camry.

[@MandusahRamirez]

DSTY just look it up. They have one. For the SE 5spd too

[@JDMHaze]

They do, I think it's the 1993/1994 model And it might be the coop

[@joskjj3625]

Nice

[@Questchaun]

You are nice Lil Stuart!

[@joskjj3625]

@@Questchaun why thank you

[@camlife6930]

Wow this review is nearly 30yrs old. And that young man in the video is probably over 50yrs old by now 🙂

[@daniels7862]

It’s kinda sad when you put it like that. Aging sucks

[@karoltakisobie6638]

I would buy car like this. No Econo sports still sold on Canada afaik.

[@NFS4LFE]

I have an unnatural desire for one of these and to plop a K20 into it

[@henryjohn2218]

i want one now where can i buy now

[@jasontylersloan8196]

I love this car

[@rodmunch69]

I have no memory of this car - was it ever actually put for sale?

[@sacredf8]

1991 Geo Storm Hatchback: The official car of you want a Honda Civic Type R, but you have a stiff budget.

[@zzoinks]

It almost looks like the headlights would be hideable like on some Chryslers if I'm not mistaken.