1989 Rover - Austin Montego LX review from UK and Ireland

We Bought this car in 1997 and have had some major work done.

Head Gasket has now blown 5 times, although luckily we can fix that for around Eighty Pounds each time.

Have had 2 Starter Motors, 4 alternators, 3 clutches. Complete rear bushings and both set wheel bearings.

Engine mounts twice, new radiator. That is all we have spent for nearly 200k miles of motoring.

I did back it into a loaded skip one evening so the back end is two feet shorter then it should be.

The boot is now held shut with 3 bungee cords.

Because of the accident we have to keep gaffer taping the rear lenses in place each week or two.

As this accident happened over three years ago the caved inwards back end of the car is now a complete rust colour.

Luckily our local graffiti artists have decided to put about 15 tags on it, so it is almost a work of art.

It may look like a complete wreck on wheels and make you feel like complete trailor trash, but it sure does make for dirt cheap motoring.

I have mini cabbed it to death, delivered pizzas in it also and still it starts and runs.

It gets its fair share of police attention because of the bodywork.

I have recently sold this to my Brother for twenty pounds, who has decided to make it a Montego Turbo lookalike.

The suspension has never been replaced so it is like a boat trip each time we drive this wreck.

The look on peoples faces when they first hear then see this aging smoking pile of rust being thrashed mercilessly past their newer unpaid for cars makes it all worthwile.

In short if you are an extreme tightwad, as I am then take the plunge and buy one. You will never be short of Beer Money when you have no car loan.