1986 Rover - Austin Metro City X from UK and Ireland - Comments

Engine/gearbox, front CV joints, ball joints, distributor, leaking radiator, oil contaminated clutch, seized brake calipers. You name it, it went wrong!!

The car was a pile of crap. Using ONE LITRE of ENGINE OIL every 150 - 200 miles. Kept jumping out of 2nd gear. The bloody thing was in for repairs more time than on the road. It had only covered 65,000 miles when I sold it for £200. £50 more than I paid (not including the £500 I spent on repairs).

I owned 3 Mini Metro's and they had similar problems: rust, clutch judder, brakes, although for the rest I had luck.

The car I own now is a Volkswagen Golf 1.3 from 1983 and compared with the Metro it is a boring car because everything works and if not, it's easy to repair due to the clever design...

I don't have any comments, but I wonder if you know about the mechanicals? If you know, I want to ask you if I can fit a Turbo in my car (Austin Metro City X 1.3) and if I can, where I can find it?

Thanks a lot.

I had 2 metro's both yellow one was a 1.0 HLE and the other was a 1.0 City the hle died because it was parked on long grass so the bottom rusted and the other lasted a year the only parts needed replacind was the clutch and exhaust. I had no problems with the car apart from oil leaks which all A series engines do I got 85mph it had AP Racing 4 pot callipers and really wide tyers I lowered it got stuck on a speed bump in Mc Donalds no other problems good reliable car. Good for learning in because it could take a few hits no problem. I would buy another.

I had the 1.0 City model for 7 months which I bought for £10 for my wife to learn to drive in - I changed the oil, adjusted the tappets, serviced the brakes and spent nothing else on it. When it refused to start 2000 miles later I just towed it to the scrapper.

My conclusion - great car as long as you don't pay more than £100 for it or spend more than £50 on any repair.

I own an Austin Metro City x 1.3, and I love it. It is the same age as me (18 yrs old) and the only major rust has been under the wheel aches. I spent £200 on it which is nothing compared to the insurance £600.

I bought a Metro City 1 litre (1986) for £180 with 40,000 miles on the click, have since taken that to 52,000 miles with £35 of repairs. Rust never needed addressing, £20 putting new clamps on (i discovered the exhaust had been replaced for me). £5 cos I got it stuck in reverse because I went too quickly backwards, but merly bruit force was the solution. Great fun to drive, will cope with 85mph although it feels like take off at 75mph, I believe I get 35 miles to the gallon.

Only downside is that it's a bit dangerous with such skinny tires, stopping distance surprises me in the wet.