Real Road Test: Austin Metro 1.3L

[@danielreigada1542]

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.

[@Madmark50484]

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!

[@Tallandcharming]

Ha ha, good story thanks for sharing.

[@infrasleep]

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

[@andyfield3614]

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 !

[@andyfield3614]

I wonder what score Doug DeMuro would give the metro 😂😂😂

[@MartysWhiteSuit]

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.

[@MartysWhiteSuit]

@The Passionate Ponce Yes. It completes the picture and broadens the scope of those perceived buying one.

[@MartysWhiteSuit]

@The Passionate Ponce Your view - enjoy it.

[@electroid8119]

A true environmentalist keeps a car forever!

[@weaton25]

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.

[@andrewthompsonuk1]

I never understood that. These cars were nicer to drive and ride in than most other competetors.

[@chrisredfield3240]

@@andrewthompsonuk1 do you mean the metro was nice to drive ?

[@andrewthompsonuk1]

@@chrisredfield3240 for its price and class it was.

[@chrisredfield3240]

@@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.

[@andrewthompsonuk1]

@@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.

[@boilerhousegarage]

I like seeing people using their indicators correctly.

[@trimester1]

Time machine. Takes me right back. The ‘Back To The Eighties’ sticker on the rear glass is very fitting......

[@jaggass]

The old A-Series engine is bullet proof. The gearbox whine in 1st brings back alot of memories.

[@nigeh5326]

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_da]

Gearbox is made of paper though

[@nigeh5326]

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_da]

@@nigeh5326 I know lol, the synchro for second is going in mine currently and is a pain.

[@jaggass]

@@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.

[@robinturner2300]

Oooh a non leaky sunroof. Nice change for you Ian. We had an MG metro, handled like a go cart, real fun...

[@PhilofBristol]

I had two Metros over a thirteen year period, the first was a 1980/1 (W) 1.3S, the second was a 1989 (G) 1.3L. A gulf of difference between them in terms of trim, build quality, etc. The G-reg had a nice light interior. Both however sounded like a Morris Minor when pulling away in first gear. I always felt there should have been a fifth gear, and often found myself trying to change into a gear I didn't have!! After borrowing my father-in-law's Escort I decided that I needed to look at something bigger, and part-exchanged the second one after seven-plus years for a Fiat Tipo.

[@moochincrawdad]

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 😕

[@forestdad]

It was in good condition until Ian rallied it

[@Knaeckebrotsaege]

@@forestdad Got a link or something? Doesn't sound good :(

[@markwhitehead1658]

Hi. I worked for Austin Rover when the Metro was in production they were great little cars .we loved road testing the MGs and turbo versions. The earlier ones had shocks they were deleated on later models . The factory didn't send out a memo and we thought the first one was a miss build. Great memories I had an 84 VDP loved it all electric ,leather steering wheel. Wood capping so ect. The one to find now would be the super rare VDP500 lovely black paint with Grey leather upholstery. 👍

[@anderschristensen106]

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 ;)

[@jaggass]

Even in 1st gear?

[@anderschristensen106]

@@jaggass I don't think she ever got out of first gear

[@robw6505]

LOL!

[@RWBHere]

No whines from our Metros, and almost none from MIL. 😉

[@usernamechris2525252]

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 👍👍👍👍👍

[@mortallious1234]

My Dad sold a Cortina mk5 estate to buy one of these, he wasn't well.

[@mortallious1234]

@@fenrichlee2867 I thought so, my mother used the word berk.

[@jazzhenry2897]

You didn't borrow it much then lol

[@woooster17]

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...

[@ChrisFEJackson]

a polish for a polish eh ;)

[@sunderland97]

The metro does have a wonderful Sound when your driving takes me straight back to the wonderful amazing 80s thanks for putting the metro on lovely car my dad had a bright orange one back in the day

[@I-T-S-M-E]

We used to get transported to school if we were lucky!! in an Orange (flame Red?) Metro Mk1

[@sunderland97]

@@I-T-S-M-E lovely bright orange wonderful

[@Roadwarrior92]

@@I-T-S-M-E same here

[@christastic100]

Learned to drive and passed my test in a Metro.used to get the back window cut out or smashed and back parcel shelf nicked complete with speakers . Another trip to Halfords for speakers and a trip to the scrap yard for a parcel shelf .

[@leerobinson8709]

My parents had a 1.3 metro in the late 80's. Same colour as my Grandad's hearing aid at the time. A source of jokes and possible embarrassment. Great memories though.

[@ChrisFEJackson]

Now that is funny, with the colours :)

[@E92M3Guy]

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 .

[@stevethatsallimsaying4041]

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!

[@rovergsi2011]

And after watching it again, I chuckled at the sky man 😂 “makes me glad I’ve never spent a penny with sky” class!

[@joemengler1666]

This is a real review, you should be on top gear, I might watch it then 😊

[@smudger671]

That's what I was thinking...

[@TheCounty90]

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.

[@shifty2755]

I dont know what looks more 80's. You or the car?

[@moonhogg]

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!

[@michelod.i.y.5202]

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.

[@iainmclaughlan1557]

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....

[@neilwilliams2907]

This is the first video I've ever seen of yours and I've subscribed. Informative and interesting. My uncle used to have one of these and it was great to hear the whine once again. I think you must be the closest KZbinr to me I've ever found as I'm in Cardiff. Looking forward to seeing what other cars you've reviewed. Keep up the good work. Neil.

[@mandolinic]

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!

[@neil754]

I took my driving test in an MG metro. Loved it, it handled like a go kart

[@borderlands6606]

I remember seeing a Metro in the West End, the day they came out. It looked impossibly modern for a British car. Under the bonnet it's still a ration book motor.

[@jusb1066]

mini with square body, simple as

[@borderlands6606]

@Leonard Carr The OHV A-series is a 1951 design. Food rationing ended in July 1954.

[@HubNut]

A30 was the first car in 1952, closely followed by the Morris Minor Series 2.

[@rrrripbing]

No car review would be complete without a mention of 'the triangle of doom'. Brilliant. Better than anything on the TV.

[@mjames2117]

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.

[@neodonkey]

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.

[@nw8000]

I passed my test in a late model Metro. Loved it

[@grahamariss2111]

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.

[@chucky2316]

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

[@ben2692]

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

[@richardgregory8964]

Very light and airy interior on metros compared to there rivals! Love them! Good video as always ian! 👍

[@robw6505]

Yes! I remember the Metro being airy and quite fun to drive.

[@jeroenjansen2709]

It is airy because the roof is rusted through.

[@gosportjamie]

I learnt to drive in (mostly) a 1300 Metro. A bit newer than that one as an F-reg, it was one of the run-out special editions so it had the 3-spoke steering wheel and the moulded plastic/rubber gear leaver with the square knob. But my driving instructor's father, also a driving instructor, had a red 1.0L 3-door, also a C-reg, which I did a few lessons in and that was just lovely to drive, by far the best of the three (my driving instructor's wife was also a driving instructor, also with a black 5-door F-reg Metro 1300 so it was a family affair.) So, although the red car had a grey interior rather than brown, that interior is incredibly familiar to me. Good times...

[@ColinPrince]

Nicely kept car for its age, very impressed. That would make for a nice city car, even today.

[@neodonkey]

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.

[@robc5955]

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......

[@CheckMySix]

Learnt to Drive in one of these, many driving schools had them in the 80's

[@Capriboy1972]

Hi Ian, just discovered your channel, this will keep me busy for ages 😀 what a wealth of videos! My first car was a 1982 beige model with go faster stripes. I had 3 metros, ripped the crap out of all of them. 😅. Even the 1.0 was spritely given a heavy right foot 🤪

[@anthonyholland2669]

This takes me back , just a great video ! I've always loved these cars , you could always tell one was coming with the distinctive gearbox whine - I miss Austin and british Leyland cars ( build issues aside! ) I'd love to see a new affordable British car brand start up in near future - who knows ?

[@williamstroker6805]

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).

[@pugman205]

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.

[@vasili1207]

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

[@stul71]

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!

[@ChrisFEJackson]

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!!

[@nickfensome8855]

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

[@spectralcav]

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!

[@Jamcam99]

The good old A series unit powered the nation and commonwealth for decades.

[@jusb1066]

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

[@EdgyNumber1]

@@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.

[@ctmac9404]

wow, great review! Took me back to my January 1982 driving test, I remember there was quite a lot of snow on the roadsides..

[@williamwebb6178]

In 2020 it will be 40 years since the Austin Metro was launched.

[@the.internet]

My god.

[@kevinsmith6269]

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 :)

[@timothysimpkins3664]

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.

[@tiakontikiadventures1536]

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! 👌

[@vikingraiders4138]

Must say i did like the Vanden Plas version of everyday Austin cars.

[@chrisredfield3240]

4 electric windows ?

[@BarryAllenMagic]

Bodywork looked very good. Seemed to pick up well and was relatively quiet (nothing wrong with a bit of 80's transmission whine)! Also, looked to handle the bomb craters pretty well. All in all, yet another example of a decent British Leyland car; a company that many 'car enthusiasts'(?) seemingly love to have a dig at. Thanks for another entertaining test drive Ian.

[@notmanynamesleft]

I remember these sounding like they were in reverse when going forward 😂

[@keithphalp6229]

My mum had a 1.3 metro, which I also had after her. I always thought it was great to drive, particularly in town. I always liked the A series anyway, having had a couple of allegros too. Great to see these being appreciated.

[@the_monza_man]

That looks and sounds like an MG exhaust (bassy rumble). MG engine too? I had an MG, did you know you could get a washing machine in the boot UPRIGHT if you fold the seats? Try THAT in a modern supermini.......

[@Allan9966]

Yes, the standard engine had a pressed steel rocker cover whereas the MG version had an alloy one like in this video.

[@the_monza_man]

@@Allan9966 Although no sign (I think) of the anti-shunt tie rod or the anti-run-on valve in the vacuum line.....Was the standard 1.3 A+ engine painted red too?

[@Allan9966]

I am pretty sure that the only engines finished in red are the MG ones.

[@TheLeylander]

I loved the MG metro , my brother bought one brand new (In silver with grey front bucket seats with the MG emblem in red embossed into the back of the seats ) through the Leyland motors buying scheme and he got quite a bit of % of the new buying price too ,I was only a teenager when I drove it and it brought a massive smile to my face .

[@brianiswrong]

We should,as a nation be proud of the metro. A British car British people wanted to buy.

[@stuartwilkie4887]

Even if it's shit?

[@neodonkey]

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.

[@stuartwilkie4887]

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.

[@stuartwilkie4887]

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-wq8xq]

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%.

[@spainter1985]

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.

[@bretwaldablahblahblah3578]

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_town]

They've re-badged it you fool!

[@whiteloafers9658]

Had a drive a few years back in an early Vanden Plas. Had more equipment on it than my newer e28 BMW 5 series including such luxuries as a leather-wrapped steering wheel, digital clock, AM/FM radio and of course, wood trim. Had the early switch placement you mention. The switches of course had been labeled by the original owner using a Dymo label maker. Brilliant.

[@321bytor]

...I had a Metro that should have been sent to Coventry

[@dontcallmetracey]

I too had a metro, it should have been sent to Dresden.

[@STITCHWA]

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

[@klwthe3rd]

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.

[@simcroy7648]

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

[@simcroy7648]

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! 😂

[@Yesterzine]

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.

[@simcroy7648]

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.

[@simonc858]

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.

[@____stu____]

Dashboard mat from a rover 100, unnecessary luxury! 😂

[@HubNut]

Couldn't save the Rubik's Cube!

[@AndySnap]

@@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.

[@douglasclark8825]

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!

[@Elstro1988]

I drive a Vauxhall Nova as a daily now. Great wee cars though a Metro handles a lot better.

[@ralphups7782]

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.😃

[@solidstate0]

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

[@RichieRouge206]

This is instantly my favourite HubNut video of all time. Brings back very fond memories of A191WDM - my gran’s Primula Yellow 1.3L with brown interior. That first gear whine is heaven, I’d buy one for that noise alone. I will own another Metro one day.

[@veritasvincit2745]

I had a ropey MG version for about a year which turned out to be ideal for the commute four junctions down the M6 and a bit of city driving at the end. The one thing that sticks in my mind about the Metro in general is the local media hype building up to the launch. This was in the Midlands so understandable. They showed sheet covered examples on the local news as a teaser and all that kind of thing. I was a child interested in cars too so remember it well. The week it was released I was with my parents at the then new Savacentre supermarket in Oldbury and there was one belonging to a customer in the carpark and people were standing around and rubber necking it because of the hype and newness. People probably would not do that for an exotic supercar nowadays.

[@Mister_H]

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 👍

[@dangaAgadanga]

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 :-)

[@WritewheelUK]

I had one of these one of these as a supervisor's car when I was a uniformed inspector in a police force. It was very reliable, probably as I checked the oil every now and again. It had a surprising turn of speed for a 1275cc car, and you could take it around corners with an abandon that would scare the driver of the rear-wheel drive cars we had as patrol cars. It seemed to need new tyres more often than petrol. The seats were surprisingly comfortable and the ride was smooth for the size of car. The interior was brown and it did the opposite of grow on me. I had a handcuffed prisoner pull the handbrake on at speed and the Metro behaved impeccably. It snowed one winter and there were inches of snow on the roads. My Metro took it all in its stride, unlike the Sierras, their front airdams shovelling snow into the air intakes. I discovered that it didn't take to off-road attempts too well and I had to be pushed out of a bridleway with deep ruts once. The gearchange was a bit of a lottery, with about the same chances of winning. It was put in for a service and when it returned it was never quite the same. It seems it thrived on being abused and the unaccustomed bit of care had startled it. It was great for observations as even experienced criminals ignored it. I had a prisoner refuse to get in the car as he felt it was beneath him. I pointed out that he'd been nicked by an inspector so he should really reconsider his career choice. It convinced him to get in but I had to remove his handcuffs in order for him to get out of the back seats at the nick. I liked it a lot but was never tempted to buy one.

[@williamrance5086]

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.

[@davefrench6764]

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.

[@DuncWilson]

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!

[@IOWPCV]

Passed my test in a BSM metro . Worked on many over the years good vid !

[@mrlister2000]

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!

[@SilverfoxJB]

Actually a much better car than you would expect. For a few years I worked with a guy who drove one. He used to pick me up in it most days and I was always impressed at how spacious the interior was and the engine seemed ok.

[@jo05dk]

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 :)

[@usernamechris2525252]

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...

[@stewartbrown4394]

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.

[@jamesporter4749]

My dad had 3 metros back in the day. A reg austin metro in gold, D reg mg in white and G reg rover clubman metro in dark blue. I just love the heater matrix controls, the chunky square switches, the massive gearbox rubber gator boot which looked like it was off a lorry, the exhaust tailpipe how the end is cut diagonal, the low down fuel filler and miss the manual choke and the illuminated choke on symbol on the dash. Bloody Great they were. Just a shame they were very popular for the joyriding community and my dad had both of his stolen. Happy days looking back.

[@nasiranwar9776]

My first car. Brings back a lot of memories. I would love to sit in the driving seat of one of these again.

[@rickrichards2829]

My Dad had a Metro Van which I used to borrow after passing my test in the early 90`s . The space in the rear was great could fit a Marshall 4x12 speaker cabinet and head for band practice in it, many happy hours blasting out Iron Maiden on the tape deck! Happy days indeed.

[@PaulSGraham69]

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-jf6gs]

That is true. It the same around Derby and Mansfield. Mc Donald's and Halfords are never far apart from one another..

[@00kirbyd]

As an Austin Rover nut, and a Metro lover, I can' t fathom why I've never owned or driven one. The gearbox whine is delightful, could listen to it all day. I wonder how knackering these are on a long journey.

[@firebladerider7050]

My first car! Bought it for £80 in 97. FFC 28Y in blue, managed to buy an mg turbo and swapped all the interior over because I couldn't get insured on the turbo. Red seat belts and carpets lol love the vids 👍

[@chrisredfield3240]

One of my friends did the same thing. The turbo was no faster really only had 4 speed box and if i remember it red lined around 90mph. Did get there fast though. The 1.0 cars did get to 90mph eventually.

[@MrNaKillshots]

Classic! I had one that needed a replacement starter motor, but drove to Scotland in it, keeping the motor running.

[@grahamgedge2185]

That engine/gearbox noise is amazing, reminds me of my younger days!

[@alexsmall6850]

Past my test in a Metro, have had 3 and loved all them. Amazing handling cars with an epic amount of space inside.

[@martinwilkinson2344]

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!

[@idriveaclassic]

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 😂

[@scrapyardwarriorvlogging]

The gearbox whine and front wiper layout ❤️ what a machine!

[@1daddyDA]

My first ever car when I was a Driving Instructor with BSM before our boys were born. We picked them up from a massive lot just outside Birmingham. They’d had the dual controls already fitted. My late Father had the W Reg HLE I think it was as a l later with the Austin A Plus engine.i loved the square headlights (halogens as well) and it was the first car he had ever owned with a Radio. Learnt to drive in a BSM metro and drive Dad’s little Green HLE as the first car I had ever driven solo. Car brings back loads of happy memories. They had good al round view and made good tuition cars. No power steering. Didn’t get PS until I moved to another company (Acclaim) and got my first Diesel 205. Although divorced many years now my first Wife loves Citroen and has a DS which only our boys have been driven in...We had loads of Citroen’s, starting wit( the saxo, the C3 and last my favourite the C4, with automatic transmission. That was one of the best cars I have ever driven. It went back in the divorce. Only fault was the Radio CD but thumping it made it work. (Tended to hurt my hand as well)

[@grahamlamb5445]

‘The car to take on Europe’ ! I seem to remember the glass rusted.....

[@nobbynobbynoob]

Thanks for the massive nostalgia trip! My Mum bought one of these brand new, light metallic blue, only it was the 998cc version rather than the much peppier 1275 you have on display here. My music teacher had a white MG turbo, which was, well, a little more fun. :)

[@paulbennell3313]

Mate of mine had a Metro. I drove it a few times. The way it scampered around corners was hilarious!

[@General.Longstreet]

I remember back in the 80s and 90s Metros were everywhere. Now they are a rare sight indeed!