1988 Rover - Austin Maestro Mayfair review from UK and Ireland

Alternator back fed meaning the warning light remained on despite the ignition being off.

Crankcase breather system blockage leading to oil pressurisation and leakage (just needs me to give it a big service).

Before I owned it, the front suspension collapsed and it had numerous wheel bearings replaced.

Corrosion is taking over on the offside rear wheelarch but apart from that it looks really good.

I bought this car at 75,000 miles and it has been very reliable so far. It is extremely easy to do DIY service and repairs on, which is just as well because it needs looking at soon.

Another good feature of this type of car is the relative ease by which they can be upgraded or improved, because the scrapyards are full of them (lots of Maestro/Montego's are abandoned by the roadside too). I've fitted electric windows and will be adding electric mirrors and sunroof control shortly. Even power steering is relatively easy to fit.

You can actually buy new Maestros, built from repatriated export knock down kits from a firm in Herefordshire. There is even an owners club for them, to which I belong. People might not be impressed by my choice of car, but there's no depreciation, it's cheap to run, it's comfortable and it keeps up with the traffic.