1991 Rover - Austin Maestro MG Turbo review from UK and Ireland
"Such a laugh to drive you won't care about the badge"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
A couple of electrical gremlins - rear light cluster, instrument illumination.
Small oil leak from rocker cover gasket - fixed for pennies.
Clutch started slipping at 62,000 miles.
General comments?
What a car! Rarer than any BMW (only just over 500 were ever built and less than 250 are thought to still be on the road), and it will still kick the backside of any of today's hot hatches away from the lights. 0-60 in 6.7 seconds (Performance Car road test in 1991) and 145 mph top end. The car was developed by Tickford and is a much more capable machine than its Montego Turbo cousin.
It's reliable too. Apart from the clutch crapping out two years ago, the last problem I had with it was an instrument panel light failure in 1994. Finish is a bit crappy here and there, but no worse than most cars of its era.
The Maestro's performance is incredible. From 2,500 RPM the turbo engine delivers a huge wave of torque which propels the car forward with eye opening speed. Handling is OK - better than the Astra GTE 16v I had before (not saying much) but it's no Pug 306.
A cruelly underrated car which after 10 years of ownership can still plant a cheesy grin on my face every time I drive it. Standard ones are appreciating due to their rarity - it's already worth more than I paid for it, which is why I have kept it. It comes out on sunny days and gets caned purely for pleasure. My 306 Rallye will whip it in the twisties, but by the time it even gets to the twisties, the Maestro will be home and dry.
Brilliant car. Don't mock it till you've tried one.
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| First year of ownership | 1992 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.0 turbo petrol Manual |
| Performance marks | 10/10 |
| Reliability marks | 8/10 |
| Comfort marks | 8/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 10/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 7/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 2500 miles |
| Most recent distance | 89000 miles |
| Previous car | Vauxhall Astra |
| Date of Entry | 20th May, 2003 |