I just drove a Metro and think liked it :)
Discussion
My grandad gave his K reg Metro to my kids for driving round the fields at the in laws, its a petrol 1.1 and I just drove it and it was pretty good fun, ok, its a right old banger but even old bangers sometimes do things better than newer more prestigous stuff, no dual mass flywheels, drive by wire throttles and other electronic stuff that gets in the way means it felt quite characterful.
The visibility is amazing, maneuverability is also great and it has a really willing and perky engine, the ride is really good and the handling is quite good fun, around town its is way better than my Saab.
We had the hallowed Peugeot 205 for the same role (1.1) and its way better than that ever was.
I feel dirty now......
The visibility is amazing, maneuverability is also great and it has a really willing and perky engine, the ride is really good and the handling is quite good fun, around town its is way better than my Saab.
We had the hallowed Peugeot 205 for the same role (1.1) and its way better than that ever was.
I feel dirty now......
I am hoping the kids dont ruin it, mainly as it was my grandads and also, there arent that many left and I kind of like it and when money allows I would like to make it a "project" as apart from one rusty arch the shell is very good, could soon fit a repair section.
Before I bin the Diesel one that is there at the moment, is there anything worth nicking off it like Gearbox or Rad or anything ?
Before I bin the Diesel one that is there at the moment, is there anything worth nicking off it like Gearbox or Rad or anything ?
Just took it out to nip to the local shop for some Dolmio, normally would walk but like a kid with a new toy, tragic I know but I love the way it drives, went up the road at the side of the shop, was in first and put my foot down, into second and slowed down, didn't get above 20 mph but turned round to park and the local "road captain" came rushing out with his 5 million candle power torch and shone it right in my face, couldnt see a thing ! this is a tragic individual that goes in the local, about 70 odd in a white shell suit that has been there done it, bigger, better, faster, for example had a nice Beef roast and went to the pub, he was there and came over to "chat", being polite I engaged and we got onto Sunday Roasts, apparently mine was crap as it wasn't some specific beef variety and the veg wasn't homegrown and shop bought Horseradish is evil.
So, this is about the third time he has objected to my driving, last two were in a MK2 Golf GTI, with a Magnex exhaust, never have I exceeded the speed limit or driven dangerously but it seems he sits there waiting for an opportunity to berate somebody based on noise output, can go past in my Saab flat out and he doesnt notice as its practically silent but a Metro with a slight exhaust blow is fair game.
I really need to have some fun at his expense !
So, this is about the third time he has objected to my driving, last two were in a MK2 Golf GTI, with a Magnex exhaust, never have I exceeded the speed limit or driven dangerously but it seems he sits there waiting for an opportunity to berate somebody based on noise output, can go past in my Saab flat out and he doesnt notice as its practically silent but a Metro with a slight exhaust blow is fair game.
I really need to have some fun at his expense !
TheLurker said:
If the car is to be driven round a field, I dont think it will last for long. I had a fiesta firld car, and it was great, but doing 80 over a rough field sideways does take its toll...
I will be supervising, they are 11, 13 and 15 so wont be letting them go mad, let them have some fun and then get a project going and put a bigger K series in itFunnily enough, with the K series HG issues I reckon battering it is the way to go, I really looked after my BRM and warmed it up carefully and used top quality oil and the HG went, I had a Metro GTi and it was a bin I bought in haste, body was very manky, interior whiffy and an air of misery about the whole car, the radius arms were on there way out and that coupled with ditchfinders meant it was a car you didn't trifle with in the wet, so apt was it to swap ends. I wanted rid of it, not because of what it was as they were a decent little car, but because it was clapped out and embarrassing, the wife as usual wouldnt listen to my case for changing it so was stuck with it, I hatched a plan and decided to destroy it.
The issue was that the MOT was coming up and I could see a weekend changing Radius arms and welding, probably needed £200 or £300 spending and the wife would let me do it, as it avoids changing the car (female logic), so in the three weeks to MOT time I drove the doors off it, absolutely zero mechanical sympathy on its 100,000 mile engine, my thinking was I could scrap it if the engine or box went, so tricks like hammering it from cold and my favourite, bouncing it off the rev limiter in third through the airport tunnels at Manchester, all the way without changing gear (when it was quiet), was like when my three year old has a go on Gran Turismo when it is set to manual gears and he cant get his head round shifting.
So, net result to my efforts, fuel economy of under 20 mpg, the slight flatspot went and the bloody thing was running sweeter and faster than it ever had, did the Radius arms, got an MOT and kept it another two months, assumed, given the scrote that bought it that it wouldnt see the remaining MOT out, so, I was surprised when I saw it fly past me, thoroughly bazzed up and pursued at speed by a Saxo VTR that was getting a pasting through Trafford park, this was two years later !
The issue was that the MOT was coming up and I could see a weekend changing Radius arms and welding, probably needed £200 or £300 spending and the wife would let me do it, as it avoids changing the car (female logic), so in the three weeks to MOT time I drove the doors off it, absolutely zero mechanical sympathy on its 100,000 mile engine, my thinking was I could scrap it if the engine or box went, so tricks like hammering it from cold and my favourite, bouncing it off the rev limiter in third through the airport tunnels at Manchester, all the way without changing gear (when it was quiet), was like when my three year old has a go on Gran Turismo when it is set to manual gears and he cant get his head round shifting.
So, net result to my efforts, fuel economy of under 20 mpg, the slight flatspot went and the bloody thing was running sweeter and faster than it ever had, did the Radius arms, got an MOT and kept it another two months, assumed, given the scrote that bought it that it wouldnt see the remaining MOT out, so, I was surprised when I saw it fly past me, thoroughly bazzed up and pursued at speed by a Saxo VTR that was getting a pasting through Trafford park, this was two years later !
SlowStig said:
Jacko, where abouts do you live then? I assume near manchester by you mentioning trafford park and the airport! If you are ever in Southport then let me know and you can come and have a go in mine to see the difference between standard and improved handling/speed is!
Cheers Stig, thanks for the offer, not down there that often but will bear it in mind !As for the guy who's sister traded his Metro in, trade her in, what a git !
It just had its first run ours, been tearing round the field all afternoon and it performed very well, kids had great fun, youngest can now jump in and drive, change gear, do emergency stops, really took to it and did his first handbrake turn
car was cleaned off and put away, hopefully they will not break it and leave it intact enough to be still worth doing the conversion.The old diesel one goes on Saturday, scrap man said he would give me £80 for it, that will keep them in petrol for a while !
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