17 replies to this topic

[daveholman]

Right, bit of a wierd request this one. I'm in the process of doing my mini, whilst I get it roadworthy I have a 205 GTi everyday driver but after yet another problem with it I'm thinking off getting rid. In a moment of pure madness, I've decided that I might quite like a Rover Metro, around a '98 vintage. I've seen a few which are cheap as chips and haven't got astronomical milage. I actually can't believe I'm saying this but I quite like the looks of the metro and think that if it was lowered a bit on a set of 13inch revolutions (which will go on the mini after) then it'll look pretty good. I'm only after a 1.1 but have seen a few of the 1.4 GTAs as well.

I was just after people's opinions on them really, not really on the looks, image or how I'll look driving it, more on the technical aspects and reliability. I'm assuming that people around here may have had some experience of them. I basically need something to get me to work every day which will be cheap, reliable and economical. I also realise the image the Metro has got, with the whole old person thing, but I think that with a few choice modifications I could make it into a fairly good little motor.

And before the ridicule starts, I realise that the metro isn't the coolest, fastest or best looking car but I think they've got a quirkiness about them that I like.

[Mort]

You can tune them up to do astonishing things. Hell they have a rover minis heart in a diffrent (and in my view fugly) skin. They are prone to rust and the suspension is rubbish. But hey, you can pick one up in "good" condition for around £900.

[Guess-Works.com]

£900

wow cars are dear where you live !

if you can get hold of a 16v 1.4... then when you're bored of the metro you've got a great engine for a 16v conversion...

Only downside is the reputation of K series engines and headgaskets...

Edited by GuessWorks.co.uk, 15 May 2008 - 03:57 PM.

[Broomer]

£900

wow cars are dear where you live !

if you can get hold of a 16v 1.4... then when you're bored of the metro you've got a great engine for a 16v conversion...

Only downside is the reputation of K series engines and headgaskets...

The A series isnt much better though. a good quality head gasket and you will be sorted for a long time anyway.

[Guess-Works.com]

£500 notes ovno 1997 metro 1.4 16v GTa...

http://search.autotr...mp;max_mileage=

[Ethel]

Much better than their reputation or price suggests. The K series ones are a bit different - you won't be able to knick its wheels for your Mini, different pcd.

[MrMini]

My brother had a nightsbridge, the rear arches rusted out and then the suspension collapsed and damaged some brake lines at 60mph. Needless to say the car was sitting in a scrap yard shortly after.

[RetroRacer21]

Rover Metro GTI - 16v
£225 Mot & Taxed for 3 months.
was from a car dealer.

is now my main car (gets me to work)
gave it a wash, and been excelent since.
only thing I done to it in around 4 months is, wash, oil change, emisions. new alternator, and thats it.

think my rear wheel bearing is going, (after a hand brake turn I might add)

but been really good, and very very quick.
goes to 6K rpm, and done 115.

didnt want to go anymore, might take it on a track day soon

Edited by Mini-Herbie, 15 May 2008 - 06:00 PM.

[Jammy]

Get one and put a 1.8 VVC (ala Elise) engine in it!

[oli8925]

dont know much about the technical side of them but i think the rover metros are (or at least can be made) cool. all my friends disagree tho but no i like them, think mini-herbie's looks lovely!

[daveholman]

See it's one like mini herbies or a bit later that I'm after. That looks pretty cool. I think with a couple of tasteful modifications you can get a fairly unique look from a cheap car. There was one for sale with an MGF engine in which is similar to the one in the elise isn't it? The only thing was it needed a bit of work to get it road worthy and as such wasn't really what I was after. I'm only gonna use it for about 6 months or so then I'll sell it on. I'm now spending more time and money keeping the 205 on the road than I am on getting the mini done.

[Sam]

Keep the 205, more fun, practical and just better then a Metro.. and they don't rust (but metros do... lots) Although saying that I'd quite like a 160 VVC metro..

What kind of problems are you having with the 205 ?

[daveholman]

Keep the 205, more fun, practical and just better then a Metro.. and they don't rust (but metros do... lots) Although saying that I'd quite like a 160 VVC metro..

What kind of problems are you having with the 205 ?

All sorts of problems with the 205, in the last month, it's had a new alternator and clutch cable. In the past year I've replaced all the fuel and brake lines, all the brake pads and disks, all the tyres and the handbrake cables. It's also had the engine partially rebuilt in the past 5000 miles. It still needs some welding doing in the corner of the drivers door frame, it's probably needs a new clutch at some point in the next year or so, it's also leaking oil like a demon, it's leaking water from the heater hoses which means that every now and then we have to cut them and remove the leaky bits. And I suspect that the rear beam has seen better days, it's sagging quite alot at the minute, it looks like it's been lowered but given that we have virtually every reciept since the car was new, I'm pretty sure it hasn't.

The problem with the pug is that it's first owner lived in blackpool so all the natural weathering of components was made worse by the salty air, now that it's 21 years old that weathering means that components are starting to fail prematurely. The other issue is that I drive through traffic in Manchester to get to work everyday and when the weather gets warmer, it overheats frequently. I just fancy a change to be honest. I don't really need a practical car either, my dad's got an estate so if I need extra space I take that. I actually started doing up all the bodywork on it but ultimately decided I'd rather keep the mini and as such now I'm looking for a nice reliable cheap car to get me to work.

Edited by daveholman, 15 May 2008 - 08:32 PM.

[Sam]

Sounds like you've got a bit of a lemon Shame really as they are generally very reliable cars and really rewarding to drive.

[daveholman]

I think that it's a bit of a friday afternoon car. Don't get me wrong, when it goes, it's the best car I've ever driven but it just doesn't work enough for my needs. I'll see what happens, I've now fixed the clutch cable and I'm going to give it one more chance, next time it breaks down, I'll fix it and then sell it on, there surely can't be much that can still break on it though cause everything's pretty much new.