subject: Geo Storm - China Playground Tropical Series - Playground Napoleon Series [print this page] Versions Versions
The most common body style for the Storm was a three-door hatchback. The 1990 and 1991 hatchbacks were produced in two trim packages, but all Storms shared front disk and rear drum brakes and had an anti-sway bar to tighten the front suspension. The base model was priced at $10,390, and the GSi was $11,650.USD
The base model's SOHC I4 engine produced 95hp (71kW) and had a 9.1:1 compression ratio. The more powerful 1990-1991 GSi used a 1.6L DOHC engine that produced 130hp (97kW) and had a 9.8:1 compression ratio. The GSi package also included driving lights, a spoiler, a rear anti-sway bar, and a transmission with a gear ratio that was slightly better for acceleration than the base model's manual transmission.
1992 Geo Storm wagonback
For 1991 and 1992, customers had the option of purchasing a two-door station wagon body style, also called a wagonback. The base price of the station wagon was $11,450, and it was never offered with the stronger GSi engine. Oddly, the station wagon was marketed as a "hatchback" and the normal Storm - an actual hatchback - was marketed as a "coup".
In 1992, the Storm was restyled to have a smoother front fascia without the pop-up headlight covers on earlier models. The 199293 base models retained the same engine, features, and price that were on the earlier car, with slight interior changes such as different stereos, revised rear speaker locations, and interior trim and upholstery. The GSi version from these years cost considerably more ($13,64514,560) but this price included a larger 1.8L 140hp (104kW) engine.
Performance
1990 Geo Storm GSi hatchback in autocross
Modern sport compacts have faster acceleration and better handling, but the performance figures for the Storm were quite respectable for an economical compact car from that era. AutoWeek's 1990 review of the storm was titled "Slick, Quick And Inexpensive", and described the car as "a good performer" that "handles better than the average new car." When Road & Track compared ten sport compact cars they said the Storm had "the highest skidpad rating (0.85 g), sticks like pine tar to the autocross course, is second-quickest through the slalom and stops shorter from 80mph (130km/h) than many highly respected sports cars".
Skid pad test figures ranged from 0.81g to 0.85g, meeting or exceeding those of the Mazda RX-7 convertible. Sport Compact Car listed the Storm as number three in their "Top Ten of 1992". Hot Rod Magazine's Jeff Smith drove a Geo Storm that was set up for SCCA Super Production racing and declared it to be "every bit as demanding and fun" as racing a Trans-Am series car.
Two different Geo Storm Celebrity Races were held in 1991, the first on July 13 in Des Moines, Iowa, and the second on August 24 in Denver, Colorado. Although they are not the most common type of race cars, modified Storms are still occasionally used to compete in road racing, drag racing and autocross. One of the 2003 entries in the Grassroots Motorsports Challenge was a Storm GSi.
Model
0-60mph
Topspeed
1990"hatchback" wagon
10.0seconds
108mph (174km/h)
1990 GSi
8.0 seconds
130mph (210km/h)
1992 GSi
7.1 seconds
125mph (201km/h)
Reviews
The Storm sold well and was popular with owners, despite getting mixed reviews from automotive magazines. The body styling was "mildly controversial". Kevin Smith of Car and Driver used phrases like "Planet Zarkon" and "space-capsulish" to describe the body, which he listed as one of the best and worst features of the Storm. AutoWeek said that college-aged people tended to "shower the Storm with attention", but that baby boomers tended to "think that at best, the Storm is unusual looking, at worst, odd."
The shape of the body was not the only thing automotive journalists criticized. The engine was described as a "buzzbomb" or "just plain noisy". A few reviewers disliked the suspension, saying the Storm has "above average body lean and needs more rebound control". Some complained about the small cargo area, visibility and the absence of headroom for backseat passengers.
Other aspects of the Storm were more popular with magazine test drivers. Many praised the wide power band of the engine. AutoWeek said, "It revs quickly and easily. Running up to the 7600rpm redline can be a delight." Automobile Magazine liked the handling, saying, "It's a delight to negotiate twisty...roads with its firm yet compliant suspension."
Year to year changes
1991: A "hatchback" (station wagon/wagonback) model was added, other than that, the Storm carried on unchanged.
1992: All three models of the Storm got a new headlight cluster, tail light, and front clip. The GSi version also got a new spoiler and a larger DOHC engine which offered 10 extrahp.
1993: The wagonback was dropped, and thehp rating of the base model dropped from 95 to 90 which would be the Storm's final season.
Overall, there were six versions of the Storm; the GSi, station wagon and base models were all produced with both the original flip-up lights design and with the smoother look of the 1992-1993 model years.
References
^ History of the Gemini series of cars from Isuzu.
^ a b c d e f g h Geo Storm GSi. (includes related articles) (evaluation). John Phillips III, Larry Griffin, Nicholas Bissoon-Dath and David Kunkler. Car and Driver v35.n11 (May 1990): pp61(5). (2378 words)
^ Geo Storm Specifications
^ a b Geo Storm Hatchback. (evaluation). Phil Berg. Car and Driver v36.n10 (April 1991): pp165(2). (836 words)
^ a b c d e f Slick, Quick and Inexpensive, Autoweek, April 16, 1990 (includes their own review, as well as quotes from owners and from the staff of other magazines like Motortrend, Car and Driver, and Automobile magazines.)
^ a b c d "Little squirts: ten sporty point-and-shoot cars for a price that won't soak you. (includes related rating information from six reader/testers) (Evaluation). Kott, Douglas. Road & Track 44.n9 (May 1993): 56(12).
^ "Top Ten of 1992; #3 Geo Storm". Alan Paradise. Sport Compact Car. August 1992. P. 27-28.
^ SpeedWorld's explanation of Super Production cars and the World Escort Challenge
^ Storm Warning; Customizing Chevrolet Geo Storms for Racing. Jeff Smith. Hot Rod. November 1991. P. 60-62.
^ Information on Geo Storm Celebrity Races
^ photos from the 2003 GRM challenge
^ The Bonsai GTs. (comparison test of the Nissan NX2000, Geo Storm GSi and Mazda MX-3 GS) (includes article on the retirement of the Honda CRX) (evaluation). Richard Ceppos. Car and Driver v37.n5 (Nov 1991): pp112(7). (1941 words) From Professional Collection.
^ "Eleven for thirteen. (quality sports cars under $13,000) (evaluation)." Smith, Kevin. Car and Driver 35.n12 (June 1990): 46(13)
^ Consumerguide review on the Geo Storm
^ This site has pictures of all storm versions
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Geo Storm
Geo Storm History
Storm pricing and specifications
In its first year, the Geo Storm outsold GM's Cavalier, Sunbird, Corsica, and Beretta
Geo Storm Owners Club/Forum
Racing
Isupage
Steve Lockett's Storm configured for SCCA Improved Touring (ITB) Road Racing
Video: Steve Lockett's 10.9 pass beats a camero at the drag strip
Geo Storm autocrossing.
vde
previous Chevrolet, a division of General Motors, road car timeline, United States market, 1980sresent
Type
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0
Subcompact
Monza
Sprint
Geo Metro
Geo Metro / Metro
Aveo
Chevette
Spectrum
GeoStorm
Nova
Geo Prizm
Compact
Citation
Geo Prizm
Prizm
Cobalt
HHR
Cavalier
Cavalier
Cavalier
Mid-size
Malibu
Corsica / Beretta
Malibu
Malibu
Malibu
Celebrity
Lumina
Lumina
Full-size
Impala
ImpalaSS
Impala
Impala
Caprice
Caprice
Personal
MonteCarlo
MonteCarlo
MonteCarlo
MonteCarlo
Sports
Camaro
Camaro
Camaro
Camaro
Corvette
Corvette
Corvette
Corvette
Categories: Compact cars | Front wheel drive vehicles | Hatchbacks | Sport compact cars | Front wheel drive sports cars | 1990s automobiles | Station wagons | Geo
