RE: Shed of the Week: Rover Metro
Discussion
Low mileage 1 owner metro's always used to turn up, they were never worth anything even when they were like new (although they always seems to have rust in the front wings).
I could be tempted by a nice GTa if one turns up as I have the complete running gear from a Rover 600 ti turbo here, I think a Metro with 200 bhp could surprise a few people!
I could be tempted by a nice GTa if one turns up as I have the complete running gear from a Rover 600 ti turbo here, I think a Metro with 200 bhp could surprise a few people!
? Brings back memories of never wanting to go out in the car with my Nan.
Also memories of the two lads who were lucky to survive after then thought their 1.1 metro would be capable of overtaking a bus going up a hill, then protecing them when they realised the error of their ways shortly before being t-boned by my mums Passat on the brow of said hill. The passenger suffered life altering injuries because the car basically crumpled round that heavy five cylinder block of iron at the front of the passat.
Dispised them before I saw what happened to them in a crash. Now I feel strangely drawn to the idea of putting a silly engine (and lots of bracing) in one.
Stop it.
Also memories of the two lads who were lucky to survive after then thought their 1.1 metro would be capable of overtaking a bus going up a hill, then protecing them when they realised the error of their ways shortly before being t-boned by my mums Passat on the brow of said hill. The passenger suffered life altering injuries because the car basically crumpled round that heavy five cylinder block of iron at the front of the passat.
Dispised them before I saw what happened to them in a crash. Now I feel strangely drawn to the idea of putting a silly engine (and lots of bracing) in one.
Stop it.
r11co said:
Dave Hedgehog said:
just dont crash it 
Or any car designed in the '70's/early '80's, or any pre NCAP car for that matter. In fact ANY car at all as crashing isn't a good idea.
(I didn't think this would make it past half a dozen posts without that old canard getting mentioned).
Don't look if you intend to drive a metro into a wall
My wife's had a low-speed rear impact. The other car sustained light damage, and hers was written off due to a rippled boot floor, amongst other things.
Nice curio shed. That would make a good long terms investment for someone.
But the memory of once bumping into a 5 door at very low speed still makes me shudder. Busy dual carriageway, two screaming toddlers in the back and a terrified mum just frozen in the driver's seat giggling at me. Bl--dy rear doors had crumped enough to be stuck fast, and the front door handle came off in my hand when I tried to get to her.
Thankfully, a police motorcyclist arrived on scene...took a few notes and then promptly rode off without helping!
But the memory of once bumping into a 5 door at very low speed still makes me shudder. Busy dual carriageway, two screaming toddlers in the back and a terrified mum just frozen in the driver's seat giggling at me. Bl--dy rear doors had crumped enough to be stuck fast, and the front door handle came off in my hand when I tried to get to her.
Thankfully, a police motorcyclist arrived on scene...took a few notes and then promptly rode off without helping!
In the 80's I drove a 1.3 to Skye and back.
I'd normally do that drive in a Alfa but I was doing some mates on bikes a favour. Once I got used to the bus-angle steering wheel it was surprisingly good fun. You could really lean on it in "high speed" corners and make all four skinny tyres squeal for the entire bend.
I'd normally do that drive in a Alfa but I was doing some mates on bikes a favour. Once I got used to the bus-angle steering wheel it was surprisingly good fun. You could really lean on it in "high speed" corners and make all four skinny tyres squeal for the entire bend.
Hateful little car!
My dad had an Austin Metro City X (lord know how basic the City was, as the City X was a barren as the Employee Quarter), the worse car he has ever owned. And he’s had bog basic Escorts mk5&6, an auto Xsara, 900cc Fiestas. The Metro was cramped, noisy, uncomfortable, got beached on speed bumps, rushed to hell - it made my 106 seem like an S-Class by comparison.
My dad had an Austin Metro City X (lord know how basic the City was, as the City X was a barren as the Employee Quarter), the worse car he has ever owned. And he’s had bog basic Escorts mk5&6, an auto Xsara, 900cc Fiestas. The Metro was cramped, noisy, uncomfortable, got beached on speed bumps, rushed to hell - it made my 106 seem like an S-Class by comparison.
I have soft spot for Metros. Cars don't have to be good for you to like them.
Billed as BL's make or break car in 1980, people raved about them at the time. A classic example of BL hitting on something good and then not developing it. E.g. 10 years before the Range Rover got 4 doors. The Mini in production largely undeveloped for decades.
All the b
ks about it being dangerous is just that. Clearly next to a modern carr it would be hopeless in a crash, but so would a 1980s Volvo, Jag, Escort. Or anything else from that time. It's probably a horrible car to drive around in as a sole means of transport, but as a classic runaround or a curiosity to have for giggles, then why not?
As for the comment about the rusty bonnet catch. Really?
We never had Metros. My mate had a 1982/3 Turbo in 1989 and it was great fun. Maybe rose tinted glasses are obscuring the view but I like that the 5 MGF and TFs I've had over the past 11 years are related to the Mini Metro.
Now if you hate Metros, you'll hate this. Crazy price but I love the idea of Mum's shopping car filled with posh interior fittings. It's bonkers! I think it's gorgeous and clearly the person who bought it at auction this month agrees.
https://angliacarauctions.co.uk/classic/results/re...
Billed as BL's make or break car in 1980, people raved about them at the time. A classic example of BL hitting on something good and then not developing it. E.g. 10 years before the Range Rover got 4 doors. The Mini in production largely undeveloped for decades.
All the b
ks about it being dangerous is just that. Clearly next to a modern carr it would be hopeless in a crash, but so would a 1980s Volvo, Jag, Escort. Or anything else from that time. It's probably a horrible car to drive around in as a sole means of transport, but as a classic runaround or a curiosity to have for giggles, then why not?As for the comment about the rusty bonnet catch. Really?
We never had Metros. My mate had a 1982/3 Turbo in 1989 and it was great fun. Maybe rose tinted glasses are obscuring the view but I like that the 5 MGF and TFs I've had over the past 11 years are related to the Mini Metro.
Now if you hate Metros, you'll hate this. Crazy price but I love the idea of Mum's shopping car filled with posh interior fittings. It's bonkers! I think it's gorgeous and clearly the person who bought it at auction this month agrees.
https://angliacarauctions.co.uk/classic/results/re...
I had a slightly later 114 Gta - looked very similar to the older Metro style wise but was a much improved car.
At under 900kg it was pretty nippy, cornered on rails, great in town as you could shoe-horn it into any parking space, boxy shape and tailgate meant that load carrying was impressive - unlike many modern "hatchbacks" and was easy to maintain.
Just a pity that a mini-cab decided to use the rear end as a brake.
At under 900kg it was pretty nippy, cornered on rails, great in town as you could shoe-horn it into any parking space, boxy shape and tailgate meant that load carrying was impressive - unlike many modern "hatchbacks" and was easy to maintain.
Just a pity that a mini-cab decided to use the rear end as a brake.
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