Cooling fan replaced.
Exhaust manifold replaced (twice).
An orchestra of squeaks and rattles from the interior.
Constant care required to keep the rust at bay.
This car came with full service history, 63,000 miles on the clock, and is immaculate inside and out.
It has performance air filters and an up-rated exhaust, produces 130 HP at 5,000 RPM, and 148 lbs/ft torque at 2,800 RPM.
It cost me £400!
This is by far the quickest, most responsive, best handling car I have owned.
If you can find a good one, then you're in for some very rewarding motoring.
There's plenty of spares (at the scrap-yard!) and running costs are low considering the performance.
The only annoyance is the layout of the controls. The rear wash/wipe and the heater controls are obscured by the steering wheel.
Good review. I own a 2.0i MG Maestro in targa red, it's E reg, has 146.000 miles on the clock, some minor rust, but otherwise OK until October 27th 2001.
Then she met a Metro who pulled out straight in front of her from a junction and smashed up her o/s front wing, bonnet, headlamp, indicator and spoiler .Never mind eh. Hopefully the insurance pays out soon and she will be back on the road, getting bored with a 1.4 GL Escort.
Best thing that could have happened I think, hopefully these dreadful cars, will all be totally off the road soon, thank god they came from the factory with rust!!!
Know nothing fool!!!
Search for New and Used Rover - Austin Maestros available in the UK
Click here to advertise your car
I had a late 1988 (one of the first of the "facelift" model) 2.0 EFi MG Maestro which was affectionately christened "The Beefburger" by all my mates. This was partly due to the square edged styling and partly due to the red stripe around the car's midriff looking just like the layer of ketchup in a burger.
As for the car itself, I remember it as a cracking hot hatch. Quick, torquey, much much better handling than the Astra or Escort of the time, and remarkably reliable. And shock horror, despite having no nostalgic fondness for the crap churned out by Austin Rover, I still think the MG Maestro looks superb. Angular styling always works best with bodykits and flared arches.
At least it was a nice motor, until it was stolen and burned out by joyriders in 1993. I then ended up with sensible company cars right up until last year. Driving past a used car dealership on my way back from a meeting last year, I spotted an immaculate 91 (H) BRG MG Maestro on sale. One owner, 62,000 miles, full Rover history, HPI clear, and just £395 sold "as seen". After a test drive, I bought it on the spot. My wife went mental, but even she now concedes it's actually a decent car to drive. No matter which of us drives our 2003 Golf GTI 1.8T and which drives the Maestro, the Golf is appreciably slower along a good B-road.
A stupid "nostalgic" purchase, but I felt 20 again!
Saw these being raced at Donnington once. Great fun. Hilarious too. And to be fair, they don't hang about!!
Note: A Comments RSS Feed is available. New comments appear in the Members Area before the main site