Rover metro as first car?

[jusxusfanatic]

I will be at university if I'm buying a car, so my main problem is rust, and I have no intention to weld myself, so will metros need welding fairly often?

[steveo3002]

choose something else unless you can find an unused museum piece

i was in the motor trade when these cars roamed the earth, they needed welding for the first mot

[chrisch77]

Do yourself a favour and find something else that wasn’t designed in the 1970s. Even without rust, the most recent derivative of the Metro platform performed miserably in crash tests...

https://www.euroncap.com/en/results/rover/100/1547...

[Dave Hedgehog]

chrisch77 said:

Do yourself a favour and find something else that wasn’t designed in the 1970s. Even without rust, the most recent derivative of the Metro platform performed miserably in crash tests...

https://www.euroncap.com/en/results/rover/100/1547...

agreed there are plenty of cars that are more reliable, less prone to rust and far far safer for the same money

[Martyn76]

The Metro was a heap back in the day, Shirley you can get some more up to date and safer?

[pidsy]

Of all the 40 year old cars out there I wouldn’t pick a Metro.

That’s coming from me and my first car was an MG Metro.

It’s reg was ARK 261Y 1982. I had it in 1998 - it was great fun but a pile of ste back then.

Whilst I admire your desire - I wouldn’t touch one now even if you can find one.

[romeodelta]

I had a 1.1 K series as a first car at Uni about 15 years ago.

It was a good car, but had crusty arches even then when it was about 10 years old. Head gasket killed it in the end.

Not sure there is any reason to go for one now, unless you specifically want a Metro. There are much better, way more modern alternatives available now.

[fido]

Metro 1.4 GTa is a classic - 75PS (8v) k-series so quite gutsy for a light car without GTi insurance.

[itcaptainslow]

If you’re planning to “use” it properly as a car, i.e. all year round, I wouldn’t. Whilst they really do go and handle well, are characterful and aren’t expensive to maintain, they rust for fun, even the later 100’s.

If it’s to be used sparingly as a cheap, fun, accessible modern classic, they’re great.

[spreadsheet monkey]

How about a Rover 25 (as featured as Shed of the Week recently) instead?

Much nicer way to run a cheap Rover with a little bit of retro novelty value.

https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-features-sheds...

[drmike37]

Metros needed welding when they were new!!
Even then you needed to ask if it was worth the effort.

[DailyHack]

Can't remember last time I saw a Rover Metro on the road...suppose it would be different, but not sure I would feel safe in one these days.

You can drive defensively of course (I drive a 60's Beetle occasionally), but I don't think the Metros were particularly well regarded for safety...?

Good luck trying to find a nice one as they rust before your very eyes!

[robemcdonald]

Ignore the nay sayers. If you find one now it’s going to around thirty years old. If it’s rot free now chances are it won’t disintegrate during your ownership.

Nice little cars handle very well, good left field choice for a first car. Much better than the obligatory fiat 500 with a emissions kit strangled fire engine in it.