Rover Metro GTi
Discussion
I'm surprised there is much enthusiasm for these, although they are quite rare now.
There's a very low mileage one from a dealer for £12.5k
https://william-thompson.com/cars/1991-rover-metro...
which say to me that a run of the mill one privately will be worth rather less than £8k.
Once you've done 'stuff' to a project car, it will no longer be 'original' in the way that anoraks like.
Cars are partly there for spending money on, but what do you want from it?
To me, £8k is a lot to spend on a project with uncertain resale potential.
There are plenty of project minis for less.
I quite liked the Metro, I remember being impressed when I cadged a lift from Bristol to London in one when they were pretty new.
A real step forwards from the actual mini as a civilised car.
But as a hot hatch, they were a bit of a me-too item, people wanted XR fords or Golfs really.
My sister in law had one for a while and enjoyed it as a cheap car, but it's not somewhere to go back to.
It's just another hatchback from a mediocre era.
An actual mini will always be iconic.
If you want a project car, there is a world of choice on facebrick or gumtree for throwaway money.
There's a very low mileage one from a dealer for £12.5k
https://william-thompson.com/cars/1991-rover-metro...
which say to me that a run of the mill one privately will be worth rather less than £8k.
Once you've done 'stuff' to a project car, it will no longer be 'original' in the way that anoraks like.
Cars are partly there for spending money on, but what do you want from it?
To me, £8k is a lot to spend on a project with uncertain resale potential.
There are plenty of project minis for less.
I quite liked the Metro, I remember being impressed when I cadged a lift from Bristol to London in one when they were pretty new.
A real step forwards from the actual mini as a civilised car.
But as a hot hatch, they were a bit of a me-too item, people wanted XR fords or Golfs really.
My sister in law had one for a while and enjoyed it as a cheap car, but it's not somewhere to go back to.
It's just another hatchback from a mediocre era.
An actual mini will always be iconic.
If you want a project car, there is a world of choice on facebrick or gumtree for throwaway money.
edc said:
Do you want a Rover or a Mini?
I did originally want a Rover Mini. These:https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202603110...
OutInTheShed said:
I'm surprised there is much enthusiasm for these, although they are quite rare now.
There's a very low mileage one from a dealer for £12.5k
https://william-thompson.com/cars/1991-rover-metro...
which say to me that a run of the mill one privately will be worth rather less than £8k.
Once you've done 'stuff' to a project car, it will no longer be 'original' in the way that anoraks like.
Cars are partly there for spending money on, but what do you want from it?
To me, £8k is a lot to spend on a project with uncertain resale potential.
There are plenty of project minis for less.
I quite liked the Metro, I remember being impressed when I cadged a lift from Bristol to London in one when they were pretty new.
A real step forwards from the actual mini as a civilised car.
But as a hot hatch, they were a bit of a me-too item, people wanted XR fords or Golfs really.
My sister in law had one for a while and enjoyed it as a cheap car, but it's not somewhere to go back to.
It's just another hatchback from a mediocre era.
An actual mini will always be iconic.
If you want a project car, there is a world of choice on facebrick or gumtree for throwaway money.
Any suggestions? I’m just after something that will be enjoyable to work on. Can actually be used and will still be worth something. I’m looking to keep it as original as possible. There's a very low mileage one from a dealer for £12.5k
https://william-thompson.com/cars/1991-rover-metro...
which say to me that a run of the mill one privately will be worth rather less than £8k.
Once you've done 'stuff' to a project car, it will no longer be 'original' in the way that anoraks like.
Cars are partly there for spending money on, but what do you want from it?
To me, £8k is a lot to spend on a project with uncertain resale potential.
There are plenty of project minis for less.
I quite liked the Metro, I remember being impressed when I cadged a lift from Bristol to London in one when they were pretty new.
A real step forwards from the actual mini as a civilised car.
But as a hot hatch, they were a bit of a me-too item, people wanted XR fords or Golfs really.
My sister in law had one for a while and enjoyed it as a cheap car, but it's not somewhere to go back to.
It's just another hatchback from a mediocre era.
An actual mini will always be iconic.
If you want a project car, there is a world of choice on facebrick or gumtree for throwaway money.
Justadreamer said:
Any suggestions? I m just after something that will be enjoyable to work on. Can actually be used and will still be worth something. I m looking to keep it as original as possible.
What is it about the Metro that appeals specifically?Do you like Rovers, is it the "small tinny hot hatch" thing?
Justadreamer said:
edc said:
Do you want a Rover or a Mini?
I did originally want a Rover Mini. These:https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202603110...
Justadreamer said:
edc said:
Do you want a Rover or a Mini?
I did originally want a Rover Mini. These:https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202603110...
If you want a Mini and are keen to do bits yourself, OP, I would avoid one of those late Coopers because they are now expensive (as the example you posted demonstrates) and in lots of ways ruined the original formula - they have big, wide, heavy wheels which required those fat arches, silly overloaded interiors (with e.g. front seats that don't properly fold forward to access the rear because of the headrests) and are more complicated because they are injection.
I think you'd be better off buying something older and cheaper on a carb which you can then modify and improve at home. It doesn't even need to be a Cooper unless you're fixated on originality - the beauty of the original Mini is that there's still a huge market for modifications which are easy to fit and can dramatically improve performance.
The killer is rust, so thoroughly check absolutely everywhere when looking and be prepared even then to pay for welding down the line.
I think you'd be better off buying something older and cheaper on a carb which you can then modify and improve at home. It doesn't even need to be a Cooper unless you're fixated on originality - the beauty of the original Mini is that there's still a huge market for modifications which are easy to fit and can dramatically improve performance.
The killer is rust, so thoroughly check absolutely everywhere when looking and be prepared even then to pay for welding down the line.
How about an A-Series Metro? Essence of Mini but the equivalent is a lot cheaper, they’re simple to work on and are a great laugh.
If you want something a little more modern & British, a Rover 200 is a bit of a step up in terms of refinement & handling prowess, whilst still being easy to work on and a good project. You won’t be spending £8k unless it’s a concours one, either.
If you want something a little more modern & British, a Rover 200 is a bit of a step up in terms of refinement & handling prowess, whilst still being easy to work on and a good project. You won’t be spending £8k unless it’s a concours one, either.
Justadreamer said:
Any suggestions? I m just after something that will be enjoyable to work on. Can actually be used and will still be worth something. I m looking to keep it as original as possible.
Mountains of rust and hydrolastic suspension will very quickly be not enjoyable. I had 3 metros after I had passed my test plus another two for spares. One was a 1275cc that swapped then engine in to my 998cc one weekend. The other was an accident damaged mpi gti that I broke for spares.
They all had terrible understeer and lift off oversteer.
Go on YouTube and watch some videos of them crashing….
I had a brand new Metro GTi in Flame Red back in the day.
Picked it up mid afternoon and it disappeared overnight from my house in Cowley (Oxford).
Luckily it was recovered the next day having been abandoned in the morning by two lads in school uniform who disappeared into the playground of a school in Headington.
Only damage was a small hole next to the door lock so I soon got it back. Didn t bother running it in and I drove it like I had stolen it for the next few months. Used to drive home from my girlfriend s (now Mrs 595) in Ascot to Cowley in the small hours and was basically foot to the floor along the whole section of the M40. Fun times
Picked it up mid afternoon and it disappeared overnight from my house in Cowley (Oxford).
Luckily it was recovered the next day having been abandoned in the morning by two lads in school uniform who disappeared into the playground of a school in Headington.
Only damage was a small hole next to the door lock so I soon got it back. Didn t bother running it in and I drove it like I had stolen it for the next few months. Used to drive home from my girlfriend s (now Mrs 595) in Ascot to Cowley in the small hours and was basically foot to the floor along the whole section of the M40. Fun times
Edited by 595Heaven on Sunday 29th March 18:06
Justadreamer said:
Any suggestions? I m just after something that will be enjoyable to work on. Can actually be used and will still be worth something. I m looking to keep it as original as possible.
I'm not sure what I'd want, to be 'as original as possible'.To have a car truly factory original, it wants to be a looked after, low mileage example, which in some ways is the opposite of 'project'.
To truly restore a car to how it left the factory is a lot of work for often no reward.
To my mind, most cars and bikes are to be driven, so a 'project' to modify and improve appeals.
It used to be easier to buy cheap cars, keep driving them and do lots of work to improve them and make them last a bit longer.
These days, I think the vast majority of cars are not in that game.
I never really got 'into' hot hatches, I had mates with Golf GTIs and the like back in the 80s and 90s, but I was into bikes, or wanted an estate or van for other interests. So I'm maybe the wrong person to ask. Are you set on the 80s/90s era?
If I had £8k to spend on a fun runabout, I'd probably look at an i3.
Proper PH answer, there's a 3.2 V6 Alfa 147 on ebay.....
MattsCar said:
I think you need to...chill...
You've gone from wanting an Audi 80, a wafty, solid, but kind of dull car to an £8k (which is absurd price wise) Metro GTI in 24 hours.
Unless you are a BL obsessive, then I think you'd be very disappointed dropping that money on that car.
The Audi has gone. The Metro was merely an idea. I am open to suggestions. I’ve looked at the MX5 and Z3. They are not that rare, or unusual. You've gone from wanting an Audi 80, a wafty, solid, but kind of dull car to an £8k (which is absurd price wise) Metro GTI in 24 hours.
Unless you are a BL obsessive, then I think you'd be very disappointed dropping that money on that car.
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