RE: Shed Of The Week: Rover Metro
Discussion
GrizzlyBear said:
I really want some examples of this to survive – mainly to remind people of the absolute 
produced when Politicians waste tax payers money propping up failed companies that should be allowed to go to the wall rather than given endless cheap money.
There is an example of that, kind of why there are so many war museums about. produced when Politicians waste tax payers money propping up failed companies that should be allowed to go to the wall rather than given endless cheap money.However, it came out in 1980 (I thought it was 82, but just checked), I was nine, I remember it, I got a Dinky toy Metro, the Metro release was a big deal back then, it was meant to be a new dawn for Austin Rover and to be fair, it got pretty decent reviews, 35 years ago !
It made efficient use of space, the cabin was light and airy, it had a decent ride and the handling was better than the other cars in the class, the engine was the A series at launch, which was pretty ancient even then but it did the job. Safety was better than a Mini and on par with anything else at the time. They rotted, but then, pretty much everything did back then.
The main problem was mismanagement and letting what was basically the same car go on for 18 years, ok, they reskinned it, put some new engines in (which were a lot better) and even changed its name but the basic shell was pretty much as it was in 1980, by then it was a comparatively dangerous way to travel compared to the newer superminis, but when safety comes up people usually say they "died ten times" etc etc.
GranCab said:
J4CKO said:
You dont really get SOTW do you ? it isnt real, it is to stimulate debate, we all know you can get a worthy but dull, newer car than this Metro, does anyone have an opinion either way on a black Clio 1.2 ?
Last weeks could have been a grands worth of Mondeo 1.8 LX, but a 740i is much more of a talking point.
So an old Metro isn't dull ??? Yes I do get S.O.T.W., sometimes it creates a hornet's nest of activity sometimes not. This week's is just P.O.S.O.T.W.....Last weeks could have been a grands worth of Mondeo 1.8 LX, but a 740i is much more of a talking point.
not really singling you out but.....
It's a nice example of a rapidly disappearing car
I've driven a few and they drove and rode nicely - sure they aren't going to be a sought after car for the masses but that doesn't mean they automatically a POSOTW
They are a million times better than a old mini (which I do not understand the love for them but if so many people like them they must have some merit)
How many have you owned or driven to take such a polarised viewpoint?
I had a Rover Metro GTi some years ago and it was a great little thing to whizz around London in. Nippy, very light steering and gear box and was actually rather good fun. Used to drive around without using the clutch quite easily. Wouldn’t have wanted to have had a crash in it though as it felt very fragile.
The SOTW though looks horrible.
The SOTW though looks horrible.
GranCab said:
J4CKO said:
You dont really get SOTW do you ? it isnt real, it is to stimulate debate, we all know you can get a worthy but dull, newer car than this Metro, does anyone have an opinion either way on a black Clio 1.2 ?
Last weeks could have been a grands worth of Mondeo 1.8 LX, but a 740i is much more of a talking point.
So an old Metro isn't dull ??? Yes I do get S.O.T.W., sometimes it creates a hornet's nest of activity sometimes not. This week's is just P.O.S.O.T.W.....Last weeks could have been a grands worth of Mondeo 1.8 LX, but a 740i is much more of a talking point.
I really like this little metro. My view is that any car in this condition and of that age should survive. When I win the lottery this evening I intend to set up the 'twilight home for not particularly important 80's motors'. I will be the professor xavier benefactor.
I've always had a rose tinted love of vanilla cars from the 80's.
I've always had a rose tinted love of vanilla cars from the 80's.
I see you have one in your garage Jacko ....
Maybe the Clio 1.2 was a boring ( hastily researched ) choice ... this is more like it - I guess most of them have already rotted away or written off ...
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C543326
Maybe the Clio 1.2 was a boring ( hastily researched ) choice ... this is more like it - I guess most of them have already rotted away or written off ...
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C543326
How is this any worse than its 1980's rivals:
Renault 5
Citroen Visa
Ford Fiesta (better image admittedly)
VW Derby (ditto above but much more £)
Fiat 126
Nissan Micra
We love to bash our own products so much - but remember the Metro 6R4. At least it looked vaguely similar to this and boy was it good!
Shed of the Week isn't always about electric windows and leather for 50p price tags, it is mostly about a car that offers cheap fun which this would do in spades.
Renault 5
Citroen Visa
Ford Fiesta (better image admittedly)
VW Derby (ditto above but much more £)
Fiat 126
Nissan Micra
We love to bash our own products so much - but remember the Metro 6R4. At least it looked vaguely similar to this and boy was it good!
Shed of the Week isn't always about electric windows and leather for 50p price tags, it is mostly about a car that offers cheap fun which this would do in spades.
DUMBO100 said:
My Granny has a 94' M 3 door 100 Rio with the vinyl sunroof, collecting dust in her garage, it's only done about 15000 miles but I guess no one here would be interested in it
No, not for the PBCD's on here, but that is pure gold over here,http://retrorides.proboards.com/board/12/readers-r...
Honestly, go on there it is amazing, kind of the car equivalents of a mix between bottom feeding fish and those little flying robots that build stuff from tin cans and other bits in that old film, "Batteries not Included".
A survivor for sure. I can remember my mum bought a new 1.0 City in a delightful shade of dark brown. The most basic model you could get but we all loved it for its nippiness and good handling (compared to her previous cars - Escort Mk I, Triumph Toledo, Allegro MK3 etc etc). Fuse for the headlights kept blowing for some reason but apart from that, seemed to do the job without much fuss. It was later replaced with a breadvan VW Polo which was obviously better built but just didn't have the perky, fun character of the Metro.
Possibly the only one with a bit of love for the Metro then here...
My first car in 2000 was a J-reg 1.1c although I told everyone it was a 1.2 because the V5 said it was a 1192cc engine!
Few 'great' memories in that car:
- It stunk of old woman piss and took a few months before it smelt of anything else. Probably replaced by the smell of weed.
- The rear arches had been caked, and I mean absolutely caked in some thick black tar to try and curb the rust. It didn't work. So my dad kindly paid for new arches. They didn't last the full 12 months that I had it either.
- Several car audio places told me that a standard car radio wouldn't fit in because there's wasn't enough space in the dash depth wise, I then spent a few months trying to find a 'shorter' radio whilst driving round with a mates Wallace and Gromit radio for company. I eventually found someone who knew what they were talking about and fitted a stereo, without issue! It promptly had a wooden bass box added to it in the boot for the full 17 year old effect.
- I couldn't afford alloys so I painted the steelies black and bought a set of 5 spoke Halfords wheel trims, you couldn't tell, honestly!
- A mechanic mate of mine let one side of the suspension down one night. Thanks for that. Had to tow it to a garage to get re-gassed.
- One day when trying to eek out as much performance as possible I pushed the accelerator too hard and it pushed the thing on the carb (technical term) past its end stop and I was then stuck with the throttle fully open, queue massive panic, an attempt to gear down (which nearly blew the thing up) before turning the engine off and rolling to a stop in a side street, kicking a massive dent in the wing for nearly killing me.
Overall very fond memories of that first car and would still have a VVC powered one as track day sleeper today!
My first car in 2000 was a J-reg 1.1c although I told everyone it was a 1.2 because the V5 said it was a 1192cc engine!
Few 'great' memories in that car:
- It stunk of old woman piss and took a few months before it smelt of anything else. Probably replaced by the smell of weed.
- The rear arches had been caked, and I mean absolutely caked in some thick black tar to try and curb the rust. It didn't work. So my dad kindly paid for new arches. They didn't last the full 12 months that I had it either.
- Several car audio places told me that a standard car radio wouldn't fit in because there's wasn't enough space in the dash depth wise, I then spent a few months trying to find a 'shorter' radio whilst driving round with a mates Wallace and Gromit radio for company. I eventually found someone who knew what they were talking about and fitted a stereo, without issue! It promptly had a wooden bass box added to it in the boot for the full 17 year old effect.
- I couldn't afford alloys so I painted the steelies black and bought a set of 5 spoke Halfords wheel trims, you couldn't tell, honestly!
- A mechanic mate of mine let one side of the suspension down one night. Thanks for that. Had to tow it to a garage to get re-gassed.
- One day when trying to eek out as much performance as possible I pushed the accelerator too hard and it pushed the thing on the carb (technical term) past its end stop and I was then stuck with the throttle fully open, queue massive panic, an attempt to gear down (which nearly blew the thing up) before turning the engine off and rolling to a stop in a side street, kicking a massive dent in the wing for nearly killing me.
Overall very fond memories of that first car and would still have a VVC powered one as track day sleeper today!
This is ours,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rOPtxAD32M
Driven by my youngest, then eldest, with my poor old dad in the passenger seat.
Its still there, stuck in an outbuilding, suspect its a bit manky by now.
That one was my grandads, it replaced a blue diesel one we had, that some poor sod had done 140,000 miles in before retiring it to field activities.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rOPtxAD32M
Driven by my youngest, then eldest, with my poor old dad in the passenger seat.
Its still there, stuck in an outbuilding, suspect its a bit manky by now.
That one was my grandads, it replaced a blue diesel one we had, that some poor sod had done 140,000 miles in before retiring it to field activities.
Well I think that it's fantastic. Look at those seats!
I do Like old BL and Rover stuff though.
I think it would be a lovely way to drive to work. Hydragas suspension is so comfortable and as I said, the seats look great.
A grand though? No thanks. £500 and I would have it, it looks mint.
I do Like old BL and Rover stuff though.
I think it would be a lovely way to drive to work. Hydragas suspension is so comfortable and as I said, the seats look great.
A grand though? No thanks. £500 and I would have it, it looks mint.
J4CKO said:
You dont really get SOTW do you ? it isnt real, it is to stimulate debate, we all know you can get a worthy but dull, newer car than this Metro, does anyone have an opinion either way on a black Clio 1.2 ?
A bog stock Clio would likely be more fun than this Metro! I owned one in 1986, it wasn't particularly refined, fast back or special in the handling department back then.Great cars. One of the best shed ones Pistonheads have ever done.
JOKE!
They were truly crap.
I passed my test in one and had one as a company van. It was shockingly tinny.
They are so bad my wife got rid of one for a Skoda Estelle THATS how bad they were.
The P.H. O'Meter needs a negative scale.
JOKE!
They were truly crap.
I passed my test in one and had one as a company van. It was shockingly tinny.
They are so bad my wife got rid of one for a Skoda Estelle THATS how bad they were.
The P.H. O'Meter needs a negative scale.
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