Just because no one is making the Geo Metro anymore doesn't mean no one wants it.

With gas prices levitating around $4 per gallon, a three-cylinder engine that gets more than 40 miles to the gallon may sound alluring to the motorist with a light wallet.

Economy cars built in the mid- to late 90s "have seen a dramatic increase in the number of consumer searches," according to www.cars.com, a Web site that searches dealerships for a motorist's most desired mode of transportation.

Cars like the Geo Metro and the Geo Prizm have risen by more than 200 percent the last couple of years, also driving up prices from a book value of about $1,300 to more than $4,000.

Vogler Ford in Carbondale had a 1996 Metro on its lot for more than $3,000 which used car manager Ken Weshinskey said has become popular.

"There is a lot of interest in this car," Weshinskey said.

Michael Price, a manager at Koenig Chevrolet in Carbondale, said as the price of more fuel efficient cars are going up, the price of trucks and SUVs are shifting into reverse.

"A lot of trucks and SUVs are dropping in value," Price said. "If someone wants to buy a pickup truck or SUV, now is the time."

He said used Aveos and Cobalts are very popular, but some of the older cars are not so lucky. Owners of gas-guzzling boats that once were masters of the interstate are finding themselves hard pressed to find an offer.

"Everyone seems to be going to fuel economy, which is understandable," Price said.

While the interest in older fuel efficient cars has risen, Weshinskey said it is rare to find anyone trading in an SUV or a truck for something like a Metro. He said most of the people who buy such cars are just looking for a second car that can save some money.

While the money saved on gas with the older cars may add some breathing room to household budgets, the news release from cars.com warns that those looking to burn less fossil fuels may find themselves in a less-safe vehicle.

"While they may save money on gas, many of these cars can bear greater costs when it comes to safety and reliability, which is part of the reason these cars weren't popular when they were first introduced," senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder said.

"Over time automakers have both changed the way they construct vehicles and added safety features not found in earlier models, improving crashworthiness across the board."

codell.rodriguez@thesouthern.com

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