I'm an American who was stationed in England in the early 1990s. While there I had an E- reg, 1988 Metro City. Mine had the 1.0 liter A+ engine so was not as well equipped as the one in this video. No headrests, no rear wiper, and a manual choke. I remember that loud gear whine and mine had a very bouncy ride. It also went through a lot of tires. On the motorway the engine seemed like it was screaming above about 60 mph with that 4 speed. It was a cool and quirky little car! I was in Cambridgeshire so used it to drive down to London frequently and further afield as well. In the summer of 1994 I drove all the way down to Spain (and back) in it. An inappropriate car for the trip but I was young then and it was an adventure.
@Madmark504845 жыл бұрын
Daniel Reigada not as impressive but I drove my Rover 100 from Southend to Glasgow and back in a day only stopping for fuel!! As you say the worst car for the job but as you say young and stupid these things have to be done!
@Tallandcharming5 жыл бұрын
Ha ha, good story thanks for sharing.
@infrasleep5 жыл бұрын
The thing is; the Metro was British Leyland's answer to the Ford Fiesta and the Renault 5 . That's like coming out with "6" when someone asks what's E= MC2
@andyfield36145 жыл бұрын
When you said "sorry Andrew" - I said "that's ok" 😁😁😁 Have you done a review of Roots group cars. I had a MK2 Humber Sceptre. - classy !
@andyfield36145 жыл бұрын
I wonder what score Doug DeMuro would give the metro 😂😂😂
@MartysWhiteSuit5 жыл бұрын
A woman friend of mine - a lady novelist, living in Central London - bought one of these twenty years ago and is still running it. Drove all the way to North Wales to see me in it. Still going strong.
@MartysWhiteSuit5 жыл бұрын
@The Passionate Ponce Yes. It completes the picture and broadens the scope of those perceived buying one.
@MartysWhiteSuit5 жыл бұрын
@The Passionate Ponce Your view - enjoy it.
@electroid81197 ай бұрын
A true environmentalist keeps a car forever!
@weaton255 жыл бұрын
Nice to see someone not slagging off older british cars some of which are not at all bad despite what people like to say about them.
@andrewthompsonuk15 жыл бұрын
I never understood that. These cars were nicer to drive and ride in than most other competetors.
@chrisredfield32405 жыл бұрын
@@andrewthompsonuk1 do you mean the metro was nice to drive ?
@andrewthompsonuk15 жыл бұрын
@@chrisredfield3240 for its price and class it was.
@chrisredfield32405 жыл бұрын
@@andrewthompsonuk1 i had a fiesta it did drone but was much better to drive than the metro. Steering was much nicer and road over bumps better (not saying much metro's and bumps in the road did not get on well) also the fiesta's never seemed too burn any oil. All the metro's almost used a 50/50 fuel too oil ratio.
@andrewthompsonuk15 жыл бұрын
@@chrisredfield3240 I never drove a Fiesta from that period, people liked them. The BMC FWD cars were perhaps an acquired taste , I liked most of them.
@boilerhousegarage5 жыл бұрын
I like seeing people using their indicators correctly.
@trimester15 жыл бұрын
Time machine. Takes me right back. The ‘Back To The Eighties’ sticker on the rear glass is very fitting......
@jaggass5 жыл бұрын
The old A-Series engine is bullet proof. The gearbox whine in 1st brings back alot of memories.
@nigeh53265 жыл бұрын
Depends on which one the 1100 had a long stroke and liked to go bang if u revved it hard. My personal cheap A series favourite excluding the 970 and 1071 Cooper S was the 998.
@Hai_da5 жыл бұрын
Gearbox is made of paper though
@nigeh53265 жыл бұрын
Hayden 2nd gear was the weakest the synchro would give up. In the 60s and 70s BL did have a Special Tuning division who sold to the public you could get straight cut fears that were stronger but whined and we're best off road.
@Hai_da5 жыл бұрын
@@nigeh5326 I know lol, the synchro for second is going in mine currently and is a pain.
@jaggass5 жыл бұрын
@@nigeh5326 The MG Metro Turbo and the Mini ERA Turbo had the gearboxes that had straight cut gears. It was probably made by BL's tuning division.
@moochincrawdad5 жыл бұрын
For a C reg Metro its in amazing condition, a lot of owners just ran these into the ground or just let them rot away 😕
@forestdad5 жыл бұрын
It was in good condition until Ian rallied it
@Knaeckebrotsaege5 жыл бұрын
@@forestdad Got a link or something? Doesn't sound good :(
@mortallious12345 жыл бұрын
My Dad sold a Cortina mk5 estate to buy one of these, he wasn't well.
@mortallious12345 жыл бұрын
@@fenrichlee2867 I thought so, my mother used the word berk.
@jazzhenry28973 жыл бұрын
You didn't borrow it much then lol
@robinturner23005 жыл бұрын
Oooh a non leaky sunroof. Nice change for you Ian. We had an MG metro, handled like a go cart, real fun...
@woooster175 жыл бұрын
I was 17 in 1989 when I passed my test..and my friend had an MG Metro with..red seat belts, I was blown away! Look at the A pillars, so narrow.. you can hide a bus in some today..or motorbike.. My first girlfriend had a blue 1.0L Metro as her first car. I remember I spent a whole Saturday T cutting and polishing it! Lol Memories...
@ChrisFEJackson5 жыл бұрын
a polish for a polish eh ;)
@anderschristensen1065 жыл бұрын
at 7:21 "who doesn't love a characterful whine"............... you should have heard my former mother-in-law she had a (constant) characterful whine ;)
@jaggass5 жыл бұрын
Even in 1st gear?
@anderschristensen1065 жыл бұрын
@@jaggass I don't think she ever got out of first gear
@robw65055 жыл бұрын
LOL!
@RWBHere5 жыл бұрын
No whines from our Metros, and almost none from MIL. 😉
@usernamechris25252525 жыл бұрын
HI from Canada.... the hubNut reporter for this segment is Ian, I think.... I love his segments... very calm, very methodical, and very respectful of the cars he reviews... he finds the positive things and puts a realistic perspective , that is balanced... many of the cars are , what some would call humble, but I would call interesting and entertaining in their own right. All cars have flaws, but a lot of auto journalists are too quick to fall into the “negativity pit”. (Yes, Jeremy Clarkson, I’m talking about you, LOL)... Ian shows that it is not all bad, even with many cars that are so maligned. Like the Skoda video, I watched several videos from owners in Czechoslovakia area, and thise owners go for family drives, picnics, keep them in garages, they get a lot of quality use. If we were to take all the negativity at 100% , we would pass over certain cars, when they are for sale, even at a great price. The car might not be a great rev machine, but it got lots of low end torque for cruising , maintains its speed in gear, zippy atound town, then for many of us, that is all we really need. Thank you Ian, for showing us another way 👍👍👍👍👍
@joemengler16665 жыл бұрын
This is a real review, you should be on top gear, I might watch it then 😊
@smudger6715 жыл бұрын
That's what I was thinking...
@stevethatsallimsaying40415 жыл бұрын
Lovely! 15 - 20 years ago there were still a considerable number of these knocking around, all be it on their last legs by that point. They'll only ever appreciate in value now!
@michelod.i.y.52025 жыл бұрын
Another great vid. So frustrating when I see car development and engineering in this country. In Europe and Japan they where so innovative in their approach, while we were raiding the shelves for old parts. It's hardly surprising that the car industry collapsed in Britain. My mate had an identical one to the one you tested in, last time I saw it the front suspension was collapsed. Nice to see someone keeping one going.
@iainmclaughlan15575 жыл бұрын
Michelo D.I.Y. My rear suspension went and then the front suspension on my 1984 Mk.1. I replaced it with a Micra but wish I fixed it now....
@E92M3Guy5 жыл бұрын
I passed my driving test in a brand new 5 door metallic gold metro vanden Plas back in 1988 ,the brown plastic trim, the transmission whine, the joystick wing mirror adjustment all bring the memories back . My elderly instructor used to drop the " ELECTRIC" window , (very novel back then ) and flick his Nuttalls Mintoes wrappers out of it , amazing what you remember. !! I would love one now .
@richardgregory89645 жыл бұрын
Very light and airy interior on metros compared to there rivals! Love them! Good video as always ian! 👍
@robw65055 жыл бұрын
Yes! I remember the Metro being airy and quite fun to drive.
@jeroenjansen27095 жыл бұрын
It is airy because the roof is rusted through.
@rrrripbing5 жыл бұрын
No car review would be complete without a mention of 'the triangle of doom'. Brilliant. Better than anything on the TV.
@Jamcam995 жыл бұрын
The good old A series unit powered the nation and commonwealth for decades.
@jusb10665 жыл бұрын
it did, and the sound, and we all knew how to fix anything on them, but they should have pushed themselves for a 5 speed box, and to improve the engine sooner (the k? series was way too late and a bad design) as well as suspension and rust issues, the overall design i dont mind, they werent cutting edge but also went 'out of fashion' a lot slower
@EdgyNumber15 жыл бұрын
@@jusb1066 The K-Series was a sound design but it was poorly executed. The idea of sandwiching the engine in this way was not a new thing as it had been used in racing and motorcycles before. One thing that killed it was the stretch to 1.8 - It was designed as a small engine programme from the outset and when the government and/or BAE refused to give money for the large engine programme (to replace O-Series derived units) they had to push the K-Series to do what it was wasn't really designed for. If they had been able to test the engine more, they would have fixed the headgasket issues by strengthening the bottom end and reducing it's tendency to beam and twist.
@neil7545 жыл бұрын
I took my driving test in an MG metro. Loved it, it handled like a go kart
@TheCounty905 жыл бұрын
I remember in year 9 or 10 in school ('96 I think) my friend who I sat next to in French had a Austin garage in the family who was forever breaking Metros. I asked him to bring in two headrests in Brown and a Lucas ignition switch, we exchanged a tenner and my French teacher was bemused to see car parts on my desk in class. I went home and fitted the switch with my dads tools and got it going again. My first repair. Kids won't have that sense of satisfaction with modern bangers.
@mjames21175 жыл бұрын
The day I passed my test in a newer metro 1.3..my instructor drove us the back home hitting 105mph top speed. I had a pretty quick 1.3HLE had fantastic brake system especially once bled and Handbrake adjusted correctly.. problems were always SU carb tickover, leaking suspension. As stated the expensive tyres with the wheels that prevented catastrophic loss of tyre. Also gearbox sharing engine oil (I think) resulted in oil shear 10W40 and engine life around 100k before wear really started to be noticable. Hydragas suspension was a dealer job and 40/ 50quid a time.. hydragas was never good because every re inflation could mean the car handled completely different.
@neodonkey4 жыл бұрын
Ah so that that was the Metro driven by a driving instructor that tried in vain to not let me pass in my Kia Pride at 105mph. I did pass him in the end and he wasn't happy.
@moonhogg4 жыл бұрын
Dad had a 1.3 HLE when I was a kid. I had a real moment of nostalgia when you were in the back, then folded the seat forward to get out!
@ColinPrince5 жыл бұрын
Nicely kept car for its age, very impressed. That would make for a nice city car, even today.
@neodonkey4 жыл бұрын
A very tidy example. The suspension is perhaps not on top form though, I don't remember the ride being quite that crashy but that could be the passage of time.
@spectralcav5 жыл бұрын
An '86 5 door 1.0 City was my first car. 52,000 miles, £300, bright red with brown cloth interior. The front wings had fist-sized rust holes (DIY replacements fitted), the interior had been eaten by UV but the rear bodywork was AOK :-) Drove it hard for 2 years - the only way you could drive it really! - and it never broke but leaned down on one side like a 70's Nascar by the end. Scrapped it for £150. Fond memories!
@mandolinic5 жыл бұрын
I had a few metros in my time during the 80s. I really loved those cars. The split rear seat was brilliant. But I'm disappointed you didn't mention the factory fitted oil leak. EVERY metro I had developed an oil leak after 1 year. It was never very much, just a drop or two over 24 hours, but it was enough to ensure that my garage and drive always had a small oil slick!
@williamrance50865 жыл бұрын
I bought my wife one of these metro's in 1982/3? It was brand new, finished in light blue metallic. The first week I had it, a terrific wind blue the garage door down upon the car roof - leaving a razor edged scratch across the length of the roof. Mortified, I foot-legged it around town pricing up a respray. One chap advised me to forgo the paint job and get a black vinyl roof fitted. It looked great. At the same time he advised having the car weather-proofed with a Swedish company product called 'Tuff-coat' (a wax-injection into all the hidden spaces around the car). I had the car about six years, then sold it on. My wife loved that car. but we needed something a bit bigger. It was another 8 years or so when that little Metro re-appeared in the village that we lived in. An ex policeman and his wife had bought it from me for their six foot daughter who was also in the police. All three of them were visiting friends, and sat proudly in the car outside a shop. There was not a scratch on the car, no paint blemishes, and no rust. I asked the chap if he had resprayed the car, he said, no. it was as when he had bought it from me - and his daughter was reluctant to change it as old as it was. I must admit, it was still a little eye-catcher with the vinyl-roof. It proved one thing to me, if BMC had wax-injected their range of cars - things may have turned out differently. Especially the mini-subframes and valences.
@CheckMySix5 жыл бұрын
Learnt to Drive in one of these, many driving schools had them in the 80's
@tiakontikiadventures15365 жыл бұрын
Wow! What a treat! Brings back fond memories of my F reg Austin Metro Mayfair....in white with tan interior. First camping trip away in it with friends! That gearbox musical noise! Got the wings changed on the front and gas suspension reset. She looked the beez kneez, till she went for an MoT. The dredded tin worm! She was a mover, well when she got going! Snow driving was another story! 👌
@nw80005 жыл бұрын
I passed my test in a late model Metro. Loved it
@ChrisFEJackson5 жыл бұрын
I enjoyed that thanks! I grew up with BL too and learnt to drive in a metro. I still own a BL car (Triumph) TR7 drophead. People say they are s**t, I can't disagree, but say that's what I like about them. If it wasn't for these type of cars and the continual maintenance (corrective) required, then I wouldn't have learnt anything. Plus having to troubleshoot at an early stage in life bode me well for my later professional career, so thank you BL!!
@nickfensome88555 жыл бұрын
Great stuff ian keep them coming as me my daughter lucy are glued to your videos you should make a TV series I would watch and so would many others
@northdevonwildlifewithandy7885 жыл бұрын
I loved my metro.
@grahamariss21115 жыл бұрын
The suspension issue relates to the decision by Spen King to not link the hydrogas suspension units to simplify things, he wanted to do it away with it all together but it was too late to change it. This was addressed on the Rover Metro, apart from the Gti, which they hobbled with some additional dampers, which quite simply buggered it up. Sorry you just said this.
@chucky23165 жыл бұрын
You can individualise the hydrogas cans ;) very easy to do. There is also a small rod inside which you can shave a few mm off transforms the suspension on these. I did this on my rover 100 I also pulled the 1.4 litre engine out and fitted a 1.8 out of a mgf :). I used to love hanging on the back of imprezas lol. But mine succombed to Rot. But you can convert and do the suspension in well one day
@stewartbrown43945 жыл бұрын
Brilliant, brings back good memories. Had 1.0 l 5 door when passed my test in 1993, had it for 2 years. Then my brother had it for a while when he passed his test, I was gutted when he wrote it off.
@brianiswrong5 жыл бұрын
We should,as a nation be proud of the metro. A British car British people wanted to buy.
@stuartwilkie48874 жыл бұрын
Even if it's shit?
@neodonkey4 жыл бұрын
I wouldn't go that far. British people ditched it in spades for the Fiat Uno, Citroen AX, Renault Clio, Ford Fiesta and Peugeot 205. And not forgetting the Japanese were making big inroads. The metro might be retroactively charming (I still have fond memories of it), but it wasn't competitive or well liked compared to the competition at the time.
@stuartwilkie48874 жыл бұрын
In 1993 I probably could have bought any new one of the above at a stretch. In retrospect (or Metrospect) the Metro was the best built. I think build quality is actually very undervalued in reviews (especially when it is fashionable to BL bash). With a K series engine and 5 speed (3 door for me) I guess I could have lived with one. The huge drawbacks for me with the Metro were the driving position and heavy steering. I'm not too familiar with the K, but the A just wasn't as free-reving as offerings from it's European competitors. So, for the most you got a sit on driving position with half dead steering, handling reactions and a wheezy engine. The Renault 5 Campus would have been a good budget choice, or a last model Uno. Not sure about the 205. Was it gone by '93? The car I actually had at that time was a 1985 Fiat Regata. I done it's bottom end in and spent quite a lot it fixing it. Shortly after it's last repair sadly it caught fire. I strongly suspect foul play at the garage. The car may have lasted till 2000 - no particular reason to the contrary. One thing is for sure. Cars of the 80's to 90's didn't have huge amounts of trouble free years in them. With a budget car you could pay over 4 years (on a young person's salary), but by 6 it's all down hill.
@stuartwilkie48874 жыл бұрын
Does anyone know what £7,500 would have got you at the dealer in 1993? - except laughed at. I think we missed the 106 and the Nova, Starlet, Ibiza, FSO 125p, Polonez, Lada Samara or Yugo Sana.
@GA-wq8xq4 жыл бұрын
The metro was competitive for most of its life. Also the Japanese did t get too far - Toyota’s market share is only 1-2%.
@spainter19855 жыл бұрын
That sound takes me back, my first car was a 1.0 Metro City in Gold. I liked it more than I would've normally due to the fact it was a first car, but it soon went after trying to jack it up and the jack went into the sill. Would four wheel drift around roundabouts and dump its fuel out of the filler on hard cornering.
@pugman2055 жыл бұрын
Just mentioning the Peugeot 205 makes me miss the one I had as a first car that I bought in 2004 for £110. J908 KNS. an 1124cc Style, 4 speed manual with a carb. I remember the cold mornings with that car, pulling the choke out only a smidge to get it started. The day I was going to fix the heater matrix in it, was the day that a woman in a Mazda 323F wrote it off by reversing into it. I was gutted to say the least. Got £350 back from the insurance though.
@vasili12075 жыл бұрын
205 is my favourite car ... I still have a Peugeot antres ecosse body kit for one 😊 I owned X's 1.4 1.6git 1.9gti and a convertible cc at the same time 😁 I really had a pug bug in my youth ....Max Power!!a
@kevinsmith62695 жыл бұрын
My Granddad had an 87 E reg 1.3 city Automatic. Very basic spec no stereo, no clock, no nearside mirror but had an "Automatic" badge on the boot, not sure why. As you said Ian it wasn't the best auto. His went through the gears upto third then stayed there. This made acceleration less than rapid out of junctions etc. His local Austin-Rover dealer just dismissed this as "normal."It would happily do 90 mph on the motorway though. Still a lovely little car with so much personality. Love the distinctive blocky interior of this era Austin-Rover too, so many happy memories :)
@shifty27555 жыл бұрын
I dont know what looks more 80's. You or the car?
@ben26925 жыл бұрын
I've restored my 1983 MG Metro. Thing to bear in mind about the Hydragas units are that they suffer from depletion of the nitrogen gas in the top of the unit. This makes the ride rock solid. If you get the nitrogen gas recharged it makes the ride 100 times better. Mine is so much nicer to drive compared to how it was
@timothysimpkins36645 жыл бұрын
I toke a first & pass my driving test in a Metro in Garretts Green, Birmingham. I brought a Metro City with my dads company scheme, from Rover Group.
@robc59555 жыл бұрын
What a smashing Sunday, 3 videos from hubnut. Now then the metro oh fond memories, my mum bought a 1.3 hls new in 82, a 1.0l new in 87 (which I learnt to drive in, though took my test in a fiesta) and then a 1.1s in 1990, which I wrote off.... all 💩by today’s standards but I liked them, my brother bought a city model in 89 almost new in ‘lapari’ blue! My mate had an MG metro and we thrashed it relentlessly god I loved that it refused to die btw this one you had has an MG tail pipe, no idea what difference it made but it make them sound a bit more throaty. Thanks for the memories ooooo chocolate brown......
@bretwaldablahblahblah35785 жыл бұрын
I'm not driving a Mini Metro, I'm not driving a Mini Metro, I'm not driving a Mini Metro!
@this_is_a_tiny_town4 жыл бұрын
They've re-badged it you fool!
@mrlister20005 жыл бұрын
I had 4 of these! The Austin 1L City & 1.3 GTa, then the Rover 1.4 GTa & the 1.4GTi. I absolutely loved driving every one of them. The Austin's cornered like they were on rails in the dry, but in the wet they resembled a dog on an icy pond. The Rover's handled much better, and the GTi went like poo on a shiny shovel. An ex had the GTi MPi version, and that was fast! Great review and brought back alot of happy memories!
@themadcoachman5 жыл бұрын
I love metros , ive had 3. A W reg 1.0 l followed by a x reg 1.0 HLE and then several years later a Rover 1.4 si Auto . Really enjoyed this video it bought back memories
@douglasclark88255 жыл бұрын
Thanks for another well done road test. Only been to the UK a few times but did drive the original Mini in NZ 41 years ago and have always wanted to have a chance to drive more UK built vehicles. In 1990 on my first trip to the UK I got to drive a Vauxhall Nova, which for me was fun. I should add I love the scenery for your road tests. Last year I got down to Cornwall and Devon in rented Ford Kuga (manual, diesel) and really enjoyed the experience. All the best from California! Keep the videos coming!
@Elstro19885 жыл бұрын
I drive a Vauxhall Nova as a daily now. Great wee cars though a Metro handles a lot better.
@marknc96164 жыл бұрын
I had a 1981 Toyota Starlet in the US which was remarkably similar to this car. It had the 5 speed manual transmission which was wonderful. Many of the little complaints that you had about this car were not relevant to the Starlet. It was a good car.
@STITCHWA5 жыл бұрын
Brings back great memories of my grandmas metro when i was a young fella, she used to put newspaper ontop of the engine to keep it warm for the next day so it would start easier hahaha
@max794445 жыл бұрын
Drove shed loads of these from first incarnation up to Rover 100. Not bad actually. You could chuck them around like nobodies business. My wife owned a 85 B reg 1.3, a 92 K reg and 97 R reg 100 Kensington. The B reg had the A series 1.3 whilst the later two had 1.3 K series and the head gaskets went on both at 90 to 100k. All our vehicles had the tdx tyres fitted and there’s wasnt such a good choice available, however a firm called challenger based over Wolverhampton way made them at a reasonable price.
@kb90723 жыл бұрын
Drove a 1.1 Litre back when they were still produced. What I liked is you really learnt how to drive. You could feel everything. Also you could drive it like you stole it. Cars are so quick now that is simply not advisable.
@DuncWilson4 жыл бұрын
I learnt to drive in a 1990 Clubman 1.3L... one of the last Austin badged models. I later (in 2003) bought a ‘94 GTA and ran it for a couple of years. Loved them both. My mates and I also played a ‘Met-ro’ spotting game for many years. 1 point for a Met-ro, 2 bonus points for a brown one, cabrio or a van, 2 bonus points if it’s special (saw one towing a trailer with sheep in once), 9 points for a stretched (limo) version (I claimed this once too)... have all the rules written in a document somewhere... playing around the roads of Birmingham/Solihull as late as 2008 was an incredible experience since there were still so many running there! It’s a dead game now, though, sadly. Especially living in Auckland, lol. I think there’s still two on the road here, but rarely see them!
@stul715 жыл бұрын
I learnt in a 1.3 City X and loved it. Fond memories chucking it round Welsh country roads with the 'L' plates on and my dad quite relaxed in the passenger seat. Amazing how nippy and gutsy the 1.3's were!
@Radfordperson5 жыл бұрын
Nice review, pretty accurate. Sitting here is my late Father's 1986 Metro VDP 1300 automatic, 5 door. I bought it for him when it was about a year old. It still has the metric wheels and tyres on it. VDP has sunroof, electric front windows, central locking, rev counter, nicer trim etc etc.
@Radfordperson5 жыл бұрын
I might add, even though a year old when I bought it, it had a replacement power unit fitted under the warranty. I suspect at it's first service the oil filter was not replaced properly, power unit then lost it's oil with nasty consequences. The replacement power unit was poorly assembled, ended up removing it, and fully rebuilding including the auto gearbox, not an easy task. However, after the rebuild car ran very well for the years that Dad used it, then I used it for some more years. Started the engine about a year ago, all seemed to be OK. The Auto has an oil cooler as standard. Perhaps in a year or two, might get the car back on the road.
@GREYHOUND18745 жыл бұрын
for some strange reason there seems to be a Halfords and a Mcdonalds always next to each other..same in Edinburgh..i must presume that once you have been ripped off by Halfrauds then you go into Mcdonalds to calm down and have comfort food and get ripped off again .... thank you for the video...love it
@Adam-jf6gs5 жыл бұрын
That is true. It the same around Derby and Mansfield. Mc Donald's and Halfords are never far apart from one another..
@klwthe3rd5 жыл бұрын
I never realized the Austin name was still being used even in 1985. Love poverty spec cars really. Less to break down and simpler to work on. Why do people who save these all original cars always ruin the interior with aftermarket stereos and ridiculous speakers? 😟 Great video.
@simcroy76485 жыл бұрын
It had an awful mw/lw push button radio. This car was being used daily and I needed a Bluetooth stereo for making calls etc. The other benefit was that the stereo could take my USB for those longer journeys. I still have the original and pop it when I go to shows etc
@simcroy76485 жыл бұрын
Further more, the speakers on the shelf are 'period' and suit the car really well. It only had one speaker from the factory but now has a whopping 4! 😂
@Yesterzine5 жыл бұрын
Yeah they took the name off the cars in 1997 and sold the weirdly "marqueless" for a few years before they made the Metro a Rover and stopped making the 2 bigger cars.
@simcroy76485 жыл бұрын
Dudley, in 1986 they ceased branding the cars as austin as this was when rover group became the norm. Strangely enough though the austin logo remained on the grill badge of some cars with 'metro' over the top. By 1987, the cars had ceased all austin branding and the new rover shield badges were used on the montego and metro with their names on respectively. The maestro never had the shield badge and stayed with the oblong variant. By 1990 the metro was then known as the rover metro and carried the rover shield badge right up until 1997 when the rover 100 ceased production.
@williamstroker68055 жыл бұрын
Great to see this little car in such fine condition, especially the engine bay. I like your camera position too, with a good view of the road, the dash and yourself (in profile, showing your best side).
@____stu____5 жыл бұрын
Dashboard mat from a rover 100, unnecessary luxury! 😂
@HubNut5 жыл бұрын
Couldn't save the Rubik's Cube!
@AndySnap5 жыл бұрын
@@HubNut I seem to recall the rubber dash' mats were standard in the Metro van, but not all cars?? I certainly bought one from an AR dealer for my Metro. May not save Rubik's Cubes, but was just right for parking change.
@peter76242 жыл бұрын
I drove a 1 litre Metro hire car to the Lakes in the 'eighties during the Winter, and coming back decided to take the Kirkstone pass, just as it was starting to snow. We made it to within about 100 feet of the summit when it lost traction on the snow and wouldn't go any further. Ended up reversing back down! Good job there were no other cars on the road (they all had more sense) Seemed a decent enough little car if a little "tinny" with a few rattles and squeaks.
@ralphups77825 жыл бұрын
I would love to see Britain. Buy back all the tooling and machinery from India, and continue to build and produce the Morris Oxford - ambassador.😃
@solidstate05 жыл бұрын
Why stop there? Morris Marinas with BMW running gear and power train - reinforced roof pillars so that pianos could land on it all day, and revised body shape that Ital design would go mad for
@HighHoeKermit5 жыл бұрын
I'm not driving a Mini-Metro, I'm not driving a Mini-Metro, I'm not driving a Mini-Metro. No, no, no, it's different. It's called a Rover Metro now. They've rebadged it, you fool!
@MrBannystar5 жыл бұрын
There's no point finishing the sentence, HighHoe Kermit, I'll just speak over you. Go on, try and finish the sentence and see what I do.
@mattridgley90955 жыл бұрын
Power sappingly mundane!
@PhattSpicer5 жыл бұрын
"Lynn, I'll just speak over you"
@TILTHENEXTTIME5 жыл бұрын
@@mattridgley9095 not my words...the words of top gear magazine
@Mister_H5 жыл бұрын
What happy memories this brings back to me. I had a very early 1980 miniMetro 1.3s, then an MG Metro, then another MG Metro and some time after that a Rover Metro 1.1S and I loved every one of them. The whine of the early cars is a joy and take me right back to my youth 👍
@grahamlamb54455 жыл бұрын
‘The car to take on Europe’ ! I seem to remember the glass rusted.....
@jo05dk5 жыл бұрын
You don't see many Metros looking this good. TBH you hardly saw Metros looking this good, back when they were new. I have googled the 9X and the ADO74, and am looking forward to reading about them. Thanks for the heads up Ian :) ..oh and yeah.. That old A-series engine and gearbox.. LOVE the sound of those. This was a nice throwback :)
@dangaAgadanga5 жыл бұрын
My first car back in 1997. Had it for six months and passed my test in it. The revving sound really brings back memories, I felt like I was driving :-)
@outandaboutwithphil9414 жыл бұрын
This was the first hubnut video I saw, then I was hooked
@fodsaks5 жыл бұрын
That dashboard immediately zoomed me back 20 years. My old Metro finally said goodbye to this world halfway back from Brighton one Sunday afternoon in the '90's. I'm finding these reviews so much more entertaining and interesting than the latest Top Gear wannabe gushing over some quarter of a million pound supercar.
@shepshepherd5 жыл бұрын
My family's only car from 1983 to 1990 was a 1982 miniMetro 1.0L. I'll never forget its transmission whine and its galloping body corrosion.
@azimuth21425 жыл бұрын
Had a Metro but the later K series engine. I loved it. A right little belter.
@alexsmall68505 жыл бұрын
Past my test in a Metro, have had 3 and loved all them. Amazing handling cars with an epic amount of space inside.
@davefrench67645 жыл бұрын
Lovely to see a Metro still in decent nick and giving a good showing of itself. Passed my test in one back in 83 - KNO99Y. A neighbour had one as a hire car in 1980 - I remember being impressed by how big it was inside for a small car.
@SpikeXtreme5 жыл бұрын
I learnt to drive in a Austin Metro and it was marvellous!. Also the female instructor wasn't too bad herself !
@simonc8585 жыл бұрын
This brings back so many memories!! My grandfather had a W reg, bright orange Mini Metro 1.0L, he forever mourned his Austin 1100!! The mini metro was replaced with a Rover Metro in later years! We had BL cars in our family too, mini van, Marina Coupe, an Ital and two montegos! I live in sunny (today) Ceredigion too. Great test drives, I enjoy watching the videos.
@Runeakb5 жыл бұрын
I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed details like number of doors on a car model as a seven year old boy. There is hope for us 😁
@ur2c85 жыл бұрын
I drove an Austin Metro once: it was a courtesy car. Fortunately, I only had it a few days as it was bloody awful: noisy and really unpleasant to drive. I was glad to get my Ford Fiesta back.
@waltham11005 жыл бұрын
Love the rear parcel shelf speakers! Who didn't have a pair as a teenager back in the day !
@martinwilkinson23445 жыл бұрын
Nice to see an objective and informed review! Never had a Metro; started on an Allegro then 2 Dolomite 1850s - now they needed carb/points fiddling with almost every weekend!
@mirrorimage35775 жыл бұрын
My wife and I had a Volvo but we added this Mini to our two-car stable. We loved the Mini ! Easy to repair and maintain, cheap to insure etc, the ideal car for the city (in our case, north London)
@enpeemac5 жыл бұрын
Like many who've commented, I too learned to drive in a Metro, a 1.0l City X. My best memories of these cars though was from a year or so later when it transpired that my best mate at uni had been given by his parents an almost new MG Metro, I think maybe for passing his A levels. Actually a very characterful little car, sounded gorgeous as it came on song and red seatbelts! Must've been quite desirable at the time (or he lived in a bad neighbourhood) as I recall it was stolen at least once and was left on bricks with the wheels nicked on another occasion!
@scrapyardwarriorvlogging5 жыл бұрын
The gearbox whine and front wiper layout ❤️ what a machine!
@Ratty_Rex5 жыл бұрын
Brings back so many memories of my GTa. That had tyres only Pirelli or Goodyear made. 185.55.13 if I remember rightly. "Secret" storage under the year seats. I sat on the back seat and put all 3 seat belts on at once..... I was solid. Wheel offset by about 2 inches and pedals by 1 inch. "Driving on the huh" as we say in Narfolk.
@JeeGee1145 жыл бұрын
After my Pirelli's were gone on my Gta I bought four Toyo's. They were significantly better on the "wet". My first car.
@paultaylor96525 жыл бұрын
Lovely Jubbly, I learnt to drive and pass my test in one in 1983.
@MrScootmcg5 жыл бұрын
My first car back in 91. RIP LVH456W ur wiv da angelz now.
@allosaurusfragilis77825 жыл бұрын
We used these when i worked at BSM during the eighties. We used to get a new one every 6 months and we would go to a service station on mway to pick them up off a transporter, which took our old cars back, what was left of them. We immediately thrashed the new ones back home and try as you might, couldnt get them above 60 mph ! Once the engines had bedded in, they went faster of course. Up to just over the ton. Between pupils we sometimes took them to large spaces, like empty car parks to throw them about, handbrakes turns, j turns etc. They were quite good fun. Might not be how people imagined their driving instructors behaving lol
@stevehillier70184 жыл бұрын
Can’t beat leyland transmission whine. Marina 1.8 being driven hard makes me smile 😊
@rogercliftonville-acton15745 жыл бұрын
The city version (automatic) was what the elderly all drove before Honda introduced the Jazz. Not sure what they drove in the late 90s, when their metro's had succumbed to rust, but the Jazz wasnt yet out. Rover 200's i guess. It was a terrible thing to be stuck behind a Austin Metro city in 1989, though, that I do remember.
@pauldickson53875 жыл бұрын
Fantastic video featuring the mighty roads of South Wales and the luscious Leekes Of Llantrisant 👍🏻
@idriveaclassic5 жыл бұрын
So pleased you featured a metro! If you ever want to give a very early 1981 mini metro a spin to compare, let me know 😂
@turbostream79255 жыл бұрын
My metro memories: 1. Going to Western super mare in my school mates mums W reg 998 in the outside lane all the way! 2. Learnt to drive in mums 998 x reg mk1 metro 3. Passed my test in a C reg 1.0l 5 door in metallic blue 4. My 3rd car was a 1.0L 3 door on a E plate, shortly followed by a MG metro on an E plate which failed its 1st MOT on rust! 5. My brother had a Q reg MG Metro turbo mk1 which saw its demise on the Aston expressway one morning after he swerved to avoid a roll of carpet on the carriageway. Happy days!
@jusb10665 жыл бұрын
failing 1st mot on rust, so unheard of these days
@turbostream79255 жыл бұрын
@@jusb1066 true indeed, when did you last see a rusty modern car?
@leonardotaylhardat963 жыл бұрын
Lovely view of some of England's highway ambiance trough the windshield
@andrewmoorhouse6875 жыл бұрын
I learned to drive in a Metro 1.0L, BSM’s finest at the time. A few years later and my first car was a ‘posh’ Studio 2 Limited Edition with sports seats and the 1275cc 63bhp engine. Not bad overall, though the spoiler was prone to rusting and mine suffered from clutch judder, which a new clutch at 10,000 miles failed to fix. A GTi 16v Rover version followed, which someone kindly wrote off for me at just 3 weeks and a little over 1000 miles old. It’s stood up pretty well to the three-quarters head-on smash. Certainly better than her Renault 5. I walked away with a banged knee, whiplash and cuts and bruises, but it could have been a lot worse. The garage thought I’d been killed when they saw the car. Brings it home to you, stuff like that. It’s replacement had a fair share of issues, but it was a quick, economical and good looking car. A 1.4S followed that in ‘93 and this was by far the best built of the lot. 4 years and 60 odd thousand miles later including holidays to Germany, the South of France and over the Alps into Italy proved Rover really had (perhaps too late) sorted the Metro into a refined and reliable quality product. I don’t think overall they deserved the reputation the general public attributed to them (most of which hadn’t owned one). The suspension was a bit complicated, being Hydragas and needed special maintenance, which many didn’t realise. Looked after properly, they weren’t bad by any means, especially the Rover versions.
@markpirateuk5 жыл бұрын
I had a 1981 1.0l, It was fun to drive, was massive in the back with the seats down & never let me down. Only problem was it rusted like a Lancia!
@jasonclarke74225 жыл бұрын
I love the mini metro,it brings back happy memories, I passed my driving test in my mum's metro,28 years ago, I now have a Suzuki celerio, which is a bit like a modern version of the metro, without the flaws.
@shand19675 жыл бұрын
I had one of the last 1. 3 A series Metros. A 1989 G reg Metro Advantage. This was the first to be badged as a Rover. It had the standard 1.3 A series engine but it had a MG Metro Turbo chassis. The handling and grip was awesome but the ride and refinement wasn't much to write home about. A few years later I had a Rover Metro 1.1S with an 8 valve K series engine. It was an absolute honey and way better than the A series Metro. The handling, ride and refinement was light years ahead. Sadly I only had it a month when some urchin pinched it and stripped it for parts.
@usernamechris25252525 жыл бұрын
Hi from Canada... how nice to kniw that the 4 cylinder engine , was the basic same engine as an Austin A40 ... my grandfather had the Austin A40 pickup, back in 1952 .... it was a good machine, that did a lot if work for his farm.... good times...
@TheTrueVoiceOfReason5 жыл бұрын
Amazing it's still around. And running, too!
@Mariazellerbahn5 жыл бұрын
A Mini Metro pulled out in front of my 1977 Cavalier many years ago. The Metro folded up like a cardboard box. My Cavalier suffered a twisted bumper and a slight dent in the front panel. I didn't even break a headlight.
@chrisredfield32405 жыл бұрын
I think the metro's safety was based on a folded cereal box. The only structural part was the subframes.
@robfuller78415 жыл бұрын
Registered in the very month the 'C' plate released; August 1985 albeit on the 30th. At least the original owner wasn't a plateaholic! Nice car. Learnt to drive in an E (87) Metro! The whine brings it all back!
@mrjones295 жыл бұрын
Cracking little car. Got me back and forth during my college years. Although this 1.3L wasn't the model I had (mine being the Turbo version) these were simple cars to use and fix.
@Elstro19885 жыл бұрын
That gearbox whine! My aunt used to have one and I remember it so well. I still would own one in a heartbeat - meant to be excellent handlers. And having had two Vauxhall Novas, 1992 and 1989 - the Metro definitely wasnt the only supermini still stuck with a 4-speed box even by the early 90s!
@andiparker37332 ай бұрын
I haf an old X reg mk1 as my first car! Indicactors and sidelights in the front bumper. Way back in 1997! Great little pocket rocket!