1994 Rover - Austin Metro L 1.1

Summary:

Absolute terrible

Faults:

Rocket box gas kit seal blown at 51000 miles.

Passenger side suspension damaged at 54000 miles.

CV boot joint passenger side at 53000 miles.

Never idles properly. Car has to be run on small amount of choke all the time.

Really bad corrosion on the back wheel arches.

Drivers side back axle looks like it's buckled, and now looks a pull by the police.

Breaks beginning to be very spongy.

Front slam panel seriously corroded

General Comments:

After previously owning a Metro several years, loved the car, however after my old metro failed an MOT and it was time to part company, This particular Metro I bought was at the time a bargain, and it's taken me 2 months to figure out why.

This Metro had 1 owner from brand new and the owner had spent a fortune on it, as she had kept all the service and the repair receipts. I bought the car and have had nothing but trouble with it. Definitely will not be buying another Metro again because it's very rare now that you can get one in a really good condition. I've just bought a Ford escort 1.8d and the Metro is getting scrapped.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 15th April, 2008

1994 Rover - Austin Metro Nightfire 1.1 petrol

Summary:

Great first car

Faults:

A little welding underneath required for MOT.

General Comments:

Great fun to drive, it's really nippy around town for such a small engine!

Nightfire model, so gets shiny metallic paint!

Handling very good, especially on country roads.

Starts up first time and runs well.

Very frugal on petrol, although the fuel tank is rather small.

However:

Rust on rear arches goes without saying.

Struggles up steep hills, or when there's more than one passenger.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 20th June, 2007

1994 Rover - Austin Metro Rio 1.1 spi

Summary:

Another great Rover!

Faults:

The main problem I have had with this car is the gearbox that packed up after about a month (However I had been pushing the car).

I need to replace the rocker cover gasket for just ten pounds.

All the Rover/Austin Metro's I have driven seem to have quite bad brakes.

General Comments:

Other than the problems I find the car to be quite a nice first car however after a while it fells a bit slow, but it can surprise. Even cars such as a Renault Clio and Ford Fiesta have no chance from the lights.

Non the less if you have more than one passenger in the car it becomes slugglish.

But if it wants to take off it can take sharp bends with the back hardly stepping out of line. (Not recomended for legal reasons.)

The seats as long as you have a safety belt on will hold you well.

The dash is very gloomy (There's not even a rev clock, normal clock or lighter.)

My brakes are dodgy they ever over work or they leave it until the last possible moment before activeating which makes the car very fun to drive.

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

Review Date: 21st August, 2005

8th Aug 2006, 09:32

I have to say that while a 1.1 K series powered metro might have a 1.1 HCS fiesta from the lights, the metro isn't a patch on a fiesta, or as I call it, a real car! the metro is terribly built, with godawful suspension and brakes, the fiesta feels like a larger car miniaturised, the metro feels like you are driving a biscuit tin. having had both, the metro is clearly the worse car.

19th Jan 2007, 18:11

Nothing wrong with the brakes that a good service engineer can't fix I have a 1993 Rio 1.1 and it is a great little car best I have ever had and I have had quite a few over the last 40 years.

30th Apr 2009, 09:24

My wife's 1994 Rover Metro Tahiti finally died of electrical faults (no garage would look at it for less than £150) and the council towed it away thank god.

Just replaced it with an Audi A3 diesel TDI. Now that's a real car.