1985 Rover - Austin Maestro Vanden Plas from UK and Ireland - Comments

Front wheel bearings needed replacing.

New clutch plate.

New steering rack.

New brakes - front and rear.

Constant electrical problems.

Trip computer never worked.

Rusted badly in the time I had it (like all Maestros).

Various other problems I can't remember.

This car cost me £750 (in 1994) and I had to spend another £700 during the year I had it just to keep it on the road.

The only redeeming feature was its engine, which never required any attention and was fairly quick (and thirsty - 25mpg).

The most amazing thing was when somebody went into the back of it and wrote it off - I got £800 back from the insurers when it wasn't even worth £200!

Having also owned an old Metro my advice is to steer clear of any old Austin car like a Metro/Maestro/Montego, even if they are being given away as they are all rusting piles of scrap that you will need to take a mortgage out on just to keep them running!

I own a 1985 Maestro Vanden Plas, and while it's true that just about all Maestros have a tendency to rust, if they're well looked after they will give you years of reliable running. I've had mine for 2 years now, and apart from bodywork, have only needed minor things doing to it in that time.

I find the engine is nippy and reliable, with great fuel economy (30-40mpg on motorway journeys) and with virtually no emissions at the last MOT. I've had the odd electronic niggle with temperature sensing, but this was easily cured with the replacement of the fan switch.

On the whole, I would recommend a Maestro as a reliable, roomy and well-performing family car. Given the TLC that any car deserves, there is no reason why your Maestro should not give you many, many years of pleasure, and who knows, in 5 years time yours may be a shining example of what could all-too-easily become a rare breed.

PS My car was recently at the NEC classic car show with the Vanden Plas Owners Club - another benefit of putting a little effort into a deserving car.

My K reg, 1.3 Maestro Clubman cost me £200. It never breaks down (although it does need a new driver-side drive shaft), it has rust aplenty but who cares and ALWAYS does at leat 35mpg. Name me another car that can do all this for so little money!!

Just a word of warning though... lift off oversteer is exciting once you've learnt how to handle it, but my Meastro breaks off into it faster tha my dads Porsche 911 Turbo. I have warned you!

Austin Maestros are clearly not a upper class car, yet they are reliable and they are economical, and in the case of a 1.6 Van den Plas with electric windows, sunroof and leather seats, can be pretty sexy too.

Austin cars do have thin metal, but looking after the bodywork carefully will ensure that rust is not an issue. If you have rust, it means you havnt looked after it properly!

Original reviewer replying to the above comments:

I'm sorry but I have to disagree with you on the issue of rust, fair enough if you are over 70 you have the time to wash and wax them everyday, but even if you wash them once a week without fail they will still turn into garden sheds (look at the last of the line M plate models, all rusty as hell!).

With regards to running costs yes they can be cheap to maintain if you know what your doing, but if like most car owners who know virtually nothing about repairs you have to rely on expensive garages (budget for front wheel bearing replacements every 10k, at least £150 if garage does it).

Of course if your looking for a cheap car even the newest one's can be had for a couple of hundred quid.

To the last comment, Sexy? A Maestro? Don't think so!

I bought a C Reg Maastro City X from a scrappy in January 1999 for 250 pounds. It is not pretty (rust on the doors). It had 8 months MOT on it for some reason, so I thought it was worth the risk. Since then I have got it through 2 MOT's for 75 pounds total including the tests.

What surprised me at the last MOT, I was having to put a pint of oil in it a week since it smoked rather badly on overun. It passed just by tweeking the carb.

I think they are a good practical cheap car. For example the back seat comes out easily since it is attached only with four bolts. There is stacks of room for transporting stuff once the seat is out. Performance before looks.

I bought a 1.3L maestro from a local scrap yard for £20, taxed for two months and MOT'D for five months. It was O. K for a while before I noticed a small patch of rust on the drivers door. three months later that small patch of rust went from the size of a 50p to the size of a football. I took the door off to replace it with another one and when it was sitting in the street it was burned. It cought fire to an Audi A4 beside the Maestro and it was burned too. My point is is that if I had it for any longer it would have rusted away anyway.

She was my first car! Bridgit! she cost 50quid and we did 11500miles together! she was named after a rather nice dyke I once knew, the kind of girl who'd ware dungarees all year round occainaly swapping between sandles and Doc Martins! we crashed into all sorts of things houses cars people etc, but she just kept going! we got stopped by the police 28 times and asked the question "dose this thing have an MOT?" we both had irritating habits mine were driveing flat out not neseceraly on 4 wheels and bumping into things. her short comings were breaking down loosing gears apart from second and 4th and lights going out! it was the best summer of my life! now she rots in a feild because noone wants to buy her! and I feel so guilty!!! the only reson I bought Dafny (posh dull golf) was because she kept over heating and then refusing to start, the gear linkages went as well along with the ring gear and the theromostat. but I still love her, but no one wants her why???

I will give you twenty Pounds for her mate.

Email me at..Jsmithy@oxynob.net.