Should I buy a Metro to teach my kids spannering?

[manmaths]

I was thinking of purchasing a (very) cheap classic car just to tinker at, and as a vehicle (pardon the pun) for some father son bonding with my 3 young boys.

What would you choose for around £1k?

It would need to be:

Cheap to buy
Cheap replacement parts
Easy to work on
Classic insurance eligible (when road worthy)

I was searching the classifieds and…I know…I know…but… Metros are cheap as chips. I’m assuming they are as easy to work on as their mini counterpart (which was my 1st car), although unlike the mini of course, are entirely unappealing in every way possible – which may be part if not all of the reason they are so cheap. (Will they be cool one day?)

Any other suggestions?

[julian64]

I bought a £500 saxo for the same job

[Davie]

The slight issue may be that by today's standards, Metros are utter relics and thus very old systems and probably rotten too... and if it's a car for them to use on the road eventually, they'd be safer sat inside an industrial mincing machine than a Metro. I think for the budget, I'd be getting something a little more contemporary to learn on and thus, more in line with today's tech and also less like to explode on impact with anything bigger than a decent sized wasp.

[strain]

plenty of cars that are a bit better which you could actually enjoy?

Puma, MX5, 172/182, could probably get a cheap fiesta ST focus St170 in there?

Could have a look at a cheap off roader Jimny?

I grew up with my dad owning a string of rover 114's and although they done nothing for me and I have often thought about buying one to restore, I just couldn't imagine owning one

[996TT02]

I would not, a bit cramped in there. Then again what isn't except something like a Triumph Spitfire where you can sit on the front wheel and admire at least one side of the engine top to bottom and spanner away while having breakfast.

Which quite conveniently brings me to - why not do something at least worth doing, like such a Spitfire?

[Superchickenn]

Im currently looking to do the same thing, I was looking at sub 1 liter micra... mainly because if he then wanted to rally this when he gets to age 14 there is a rally class that some other PHer get his son doing... (my boy is 8 but wants a car lol)

[Howard-]

Davie said:

The slight issue may be that by today's standards, Metros are utter relics and thus very old systems and probably rotten too... and if it's a car for them to use on the road eventually, they'd be safer sat inside an industrial mincing machine than a Metro. I think for the budget, I'd be getting something a little more contemporary to learn on and thus, more in line with today's tech and also less like to explode on impact with anything bigger than a decent sized wasp.

This. They're not going to learn anything useful about more modern technology by tinkering with an ancient Metro. It would be pointless for them to learn about how to replace hydragas spheres and distributors and carburetors unless they're actively interested in classic cars because otherwise, they're not ever going to buy a car that has these things. A Fiesta of some sort, or similar, would be a better bet. But unless they're approaching the age where they can actually drive it, I can't help but feel it'd be a bit pointless to do this rather than just get them help you work on your own car or something?

Edited by Howard- on Friday 23 March 15:40

[FN2TypeR]

If the classic insurance isn't a necessity then a petrol Volvo 850 could be good; parts are cheap, the cars are sturdy and there is acres of room in the engine bay so it's easy to work on.

[vixen1700]

Thinking about it, there isn't really much for £1k or less that can be described as easy to work on, basic (like a Metro) or eventually eligible for classic insurance/status.

Just looked at old Anglias, Austin 1300s & Minors and they're all well past the £1k mark.

Could be a good call with a Metro, but don't bank on them to become cool.

[LuS1fer]

The Metro has complicated and expensive hydragas suspension so I would by something more traditional.

Also A-series is ancient but great and the K-series has head gasket issues.

Personally, I would have no hesitation in buying the last model Fiat Panda - cheap parts on ebay, simple to fix and it will be (relatively) cheap to insure.
They seem to be able to rack up the miles.

I bought my daughter one as her first car after having several as hire cars in foreign climes.

Edited by LuS1fer on Friday 23 March 15:52

[captain_cynic]

julian64 said:

I bought a £500 saxo for the same job

This first. If they like repairing a 90's econobox, then maybe the next project can be more ambitious like restoring an old Mini.

[hornmeister]

Yes.

I've owned 3 in my life and I've found them to be reliable cheap and actually quite fun to drive.

Rust on the early ones is an issue. The latests Rover ones only suffer from looking outdated and a pensioner image, actually they're quite well sorted.

I had an A reg Yellow Metro City 1.0 with brown seats, rusted to bits but was my first car and lived for a good 10 years after I got shot. Was passed from My Grandad to my mum to me, then to my cousin who blew the engine but replaced it with a 1.3. Must have gone like a rocket after that becasue I'm sure it was the fastest car on the road when I had it with a 1.0.

After that a K reg Rover Metro Nightfire. It was actually so desirable it was stolen but later recovered.

I then had a Rover Ascot. This was when they tried to get away from the Metro Image and go a bit up market. It had carpet on the doors for under foot comfort when you roll it. What's not to like about that?
The only issue I had with that car was when I took it to the garage for new tyres they had to order them in becasue "we don't stock them this small anymore".

After 3 painful of years Polo GTI ownership I wish I'd never got rid of that Ascot.

[Seesure]

K11 Micra...

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

[hornmeister]

LuS1fer said:

The Metro has complicated and expensive hydragas suspension so I would by something more traditional.

Pretty good system though. You just needed to get it pumped up at a service every couple of years. Cost a tenner each time. Got to be better than replacing parts.

[bitwrx]

Peugeot 106, Citroen AX, Saxo may be good. Dead easy to work on, don't rust badly (although most cars that age will have a bit), and great fun to drive, even the slow ones. If you get an old one you'll even have things like carbs and distributors and ht leads that throw up the odd fault diagnosis challenge, while still being very reliable.
(Experience based on running a 954cc 4 speed base spec S1 106 for 4 years while at uni.)

They'd also be good for long distance trials and nav rallies that youngsters can join in on as navigators.

ETA not quite a classic, but then neither is a metro.

[geeks]

Bunch'o'killjoys, crack on OP that's what I say, so what if it isn't relevant technology wise, the basic principles are the same (lefty loosey, righty tighty)

"the crankshafts connected to the, flywheel; the flywheels pressed against the, clutch plate........" etc

Also what ever happened to to understand where we are going you must know where we have been!?

Also there is a Metro Racing series #justsayin

Why the fk not?

Even if they just learn the basics then its a lesson worth having!

(although my personal choice would be a K11 Mirca or something like a Fiesta, but ultimately who cares )

[TooMany2cvs]

Do they actually want to learn to spanner...?

And do they actually give a toss about a <whatever>?

If you want a project, goferit. But if they don't give a toss, they're not going to get involved.

(and, with the Metro suggestion, do you want to teach 'em to spanner or weld?)

[geeks]

TooMany2cvs said:

Or a 2CV?

[J4CKO]

My kids had two, a diesel one that never really worked, the only spannering was putting a battery on it, their comntribution was to vandalise it witrh spray paint and dent every panel, then we scrapped it.

Then My granddad gave up driving and gave them his,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rOPtxAD32M&t=...


Then, we lost our storage so it got sold after three years in a barn and being hammered round a field and gained a fresh MOT !

It wouldn't be my first choice to learn on, as mentioned, the hydragas is unusual and requires specialist tools.

A Volvo 340 if you can find one is more traditional mechanically, trouble is anything simple and RWD is now a classic, would avoid anything with a multi link suspension system for a first try, prob best to just see what comes up locally and get the cheapest thing you can.

[Superhoop]

If you want cheap to buy, simple to work on, but not uber old mechanicals reliable as a reliable thing on a reliable thing on a very reliable day and also cheap to insure...

The Mazda Demio.. About as appealing as a metro (OK maybe slightly more appealing, but not by much) but it ticks all the boxes..