1989 Rover - Austin Maestro Clubman from UK and Ireland - Comments

New Battery, Battery Cables

Replaced Bonnet with a Scrapyard one due to front piece falling into the Grill due to rust!Car now has an interesting appearance it is Maroon sunfaded Red with a Mint Green Bonnet!

Luckily the Green Bonnet has been thoughtfully Tagged in nine places by my local area grafitti artists!

Replaced one Head Gasket and two Engine Mounts.

Radiator replaced with a Scrapyard unit for Five Pounds.

New Radiator cap.

Oil changed every 30,000 Miles.

I have also welded new metal into both Front Wings and Sprayed Grey Primer over the Welds. Not very pretty on a Red Panel, cheap though.

Various replacement Scrapyard Wheels/Tyres.

I periodically remove the Wheel Bearings and Regrease them.

All in all I must not moan. I have done almost 130,000 miles in a Car that I paid Two Hundred Pounds for.

I have only spent Three Hundred and Fifty Pounds on Repairs.

This is not a reliable car and the roadholding is appalling. I have had it up on two Wheels before.

It rattles and smokes a lot. Still the look on peoples faces when they first hear then see this aging smoking pile of Rust being thrashed senselessy past them makes it all worthwhile. I will keep it on the road as long as I can.

You will never be short of Beer Money when you have no Car Payments.

I'm amazed it even got from one oil change to the next under its own power if you really changed the oil every 30k.

Onslow would be proud of you.

Mrs Bucket.

Yes I do live in a Caravan for those wondering.

To the Geantleman who made the first Comment. The reason I change my Oil each 30,000 miles is because it leaks so much that the Oil is constantly being renewed. I realise that the Oil Filter would suffer this way. That is why Each 10,000 Miles I remove the Oil Filter then soak it overnight inside a Bucket Of Petrol.

You're obviously a highly-trained automotive engineer.

Just think of how much money you save by keeping the same oil filter.

Bugger all.

Actually I save 15 Pounds over 3 Years by using the Same Filter. The price of the petrol is included in that figure. People may think I am tight, but I do like to keep my living costs down where I can.

You are not only tight, you're bonkers, and probably proud of it, but good luck to you if it works for you.

Over 30 years you would save 150 pounds - enough to take your wife on a good night out.

Or maybe, being tight, you don't have a wife and just borrow someone else's now and then.

I have a Wife and 7 children, thanks for asking.

Seven children?

And there's me thinking you spent all your time on the car.

Well done.

How do you fit them all in the car, or do you have 2 cars and travel in convoy?

How do you get 9 people in the car?

In reference to your last comment We own two vehicles. I also own a 1982 Ford Cortina Crusader, my wifes chariot. They both give their fair share of trouble, but seeing as we are both Unemployed we are not under much pressure to get to any place on a deadline. I use the Ford Cortina to tow our 6 berth Caravan, not the Mobile home we live in, down to Bognor Regis twice each year. We seem to have a lot in common, would you care to give me your Email Address?

Are you a Gypsy?

So you actually admit to holidaying in Bognor? Is your name Harold Steptoe by any chance?

You also authored "Dirt Cheap Set of Wheels" for an '89 Montego, didn't you?

Same story-line.