A cheap, reliable runabout only let down by unstoppable rust
Starter motor after 1 month.
Carb flat spot cured with a spoonful of oil in the dashpot.
Dirt cheap to run.
Totally reliable (so far!)
Seats leave a bit to be desired.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 28th February, 2001
Little pocket rocket
OK here we go:
Thermostat at 111k.
Coolant pipes (metal) 111k.
Head gasket at 111k.
Water pump at 111k.
A very comfortable car for its size. 16v engine takes some winding up and has to revved hard, but due to it's size and weight it is very similar to a turbo car.
It handles like nothing else removing the need to slow down for corners and the gear box is very neat.
I have not been impressed by the head gasket going, but I did not have to pay for the repair so I don't care! The only advice I can give is that never buy one of these that has been sat for more than 2 months. It kills them and yes, that is what happened to my head gasket!
Oh and one more thing, don't bother with the SPi, it is nothing like the MPi and you still pay the same insurance. The SPi has an intake pipe over the engine, the MPi does not! Plus the MPi has 7 spoke alloys, the SPi has cross spoke.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 2nd February, 2001
Love it
Not much, only failed to start once due to a battery.
Cylinder head gasket needed replacing at 70,000.
A super little car, looks good, drives well and is quite fast for the engine size.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 12th January, 2001
Very slight coolant leak.
A very likeable, cheap to own little car, lacking in rear space, but great to drive.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 18th October, 1999
Needed new exhaust at 26k; suspension needs pumping up every year or so (especially if you live in an area with lots of speedbumps). But that's about it. It's got a bit of rust on the rear wheel arch lips - it's been repaired but a year later it was doing it again. Seems to be a design fault - the lips are kinked which weakens the metal. Replacement tyres (65-profile) not cheap.
Bought by my mother at 8 months/5000 miles, it's now got 30,000 on the clock, of which about 10,000 are mine! K-series engine a smooth delight, apart from slight flat spot. Gearbox (5-speed) excellent. Handles like a go-kart, but gas suspension can float and bounce on back-road crests. Big grin factor. Not as economical as it should be. Rust (see above) on a 5-year old garaged car (well looked-after) unacceptable.
Front cabin great - 800-series front seats make all the difference. Rubber mat on dashboard top pointless; it slides all over the place if you go fast round corners. Rear accomodation (even on our 5-door) silly. The Metro is now too small for our needs; we'd look elsewhere for a replacement, as I'm not convinced about Rover's "quality" reputation and pricing (with particular reference to the rust).
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 12th January, 1998
Yeah, what is the rubber mat all about? I just laughed when I bought mine.
Still have the old Metro, although I've moved on to other cars. Got to admit it's been quite tough though - it's stood the abuse that both my brother and I dished out while learning to drive and the couple of years afterwards before we bought our own cars.
Now has 48k on the clock. Rear wheel arches were repaired 2 years ago for about £200, but surface rust is coming back. Also bubbles have appeared on the sills between the join of the rear and front doors - very similar to Rover 200's. Still, it has done us well. And it's still fun to drive, even though my usual chariot now is a 136bhp Audi Quattro.
22nd Jan 2002, 10:00
What do you expect with a little engine which has done 111K miles?