1993 Rover - Austin Metro 1.1c with mods 1.1

Summary:

A great first car that is better than the rivals of the same year!

Faults:

None to date. But there is a flat spot when cold and the choke is put in too early! Nothing should go wrong with such a low mileage car for a long while!

General Comments:

For a 1.1 this car is very nippy and does not hang about. Its faster than the other 1.1's around. Its also gives a great mpg.

My car started life out as a 1.1c, but this being the bottom of the range model ment it did not have things like a Rev counter, clock or fag lighter. But when visiting a local scrap yard for parts for my friends Nova I found the parts listed above in higher spec Models. The clock plugged in fine and the fag lighter and Rev counter also fitted in with no problems, but needed to be wired up, but that was not that hard :-)

The interior was good as standard, but the GTi version is so much better so I fitted that in.

There lots of little bits of class with this car that makes my friend want one over his Nova. The very large door pockets, the rear window wiper washer jet is on the wiper itself so moves over the whole window and the interior does not look too dated like the others.

I have a GTi body kit to fit when I have the time and also some MPi alloys.

The Rover dealer has been very good as I asked if there was any discount on oil and new standard air filter and he knocked 60% off just like that!! Theres no harm in asking.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 10th November, 2002

1993 Rover - Austin Metro 1.1S 1.1

Summary:

Fun to drive car with a tendency to dissolve

Faults:

Fuel gauge stopped working - broken sender unit.

Sump replaced when garage ruined plug threads.

Various (expensive) suspension parts replaced.

Horrendous rust.

General Comments:

Really liked the car when I first bought it.

Nice looking car, looked fetching in red with green tinted glass and interior was very attractive with sporty red seat belts.

K series engine very smooth and quite respectable performance.

Quite nippy, but fuel economy terrible for such a small car - no more than 35mpg on motorway with anything as low as 27mpg in town!! Small tank meant a range of no more than 200 miles.

Good comfort in the front, but absolutely no space in the back.

Eventually started to rust everywhere - especially wheelarches (which fell away in great chunks!!), doors, sills, tailgate - no excuse in this day and age.

Sold the car because it was rusting so badly I was worried it would fail the MOT because of structural rot. Took almost a year to sell the car and I ended up disposing of it through the family (after a degree of bribary).

Shame Rover has no car suitable to use the excellent K series engine now.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 10th September, 2002

1993 Rover - Austin Metro L 1.1

Summary:

A cheap fun drive!

Faults:

Timing belt changed at 64,700 Miles through choice. Cost £130 as I put it though an authorized dealer for the warranty as I consider this a very important part.

Bad rust on back 2 rear wheel arches. Severe rust along the very front of the bonnet. All has now been repaired by myself (very easy, I'm hopeless with cars!) and look as good as new. Cost around £30 in total (Body filler + spray paint).

General Comments:

Buying this car little over 2 months ago, I managed to pick it up cheaply second hand. Being 18, a car with low insurance was required which was one of the main points of buying this car.

Although its not too hot in the looks factor, I find my car more comfortable, nippier, economical, cheaper to run and more fun to drive than my friends 106's, 306's, Clio's, Passat's and Nissan Sunny's.

If anyone is looking for a cheap little runabout, I strongly suggest a Rover Metro as long as you can keep it garaged. Rust is a nightmare!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 3rd September, 2002