No Budget Reviews: 1991 Montego Estate 2.0 Countryman - Lloyd Vehicle Consulting

[@Nimmo1492]

The estate was a much more coherent design than the saloon, and it showed that sometimes Austin Rover could get it absolutely right.

[@simonhodgetts6530]

It won a Design Council award

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

They had a bit more time to sort this out than the saloon, and it really shows.

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

Great looking Car, one of my friends friend had one of these a few years ago, and brought it to a car meet, most people were like What's a Montego but there was a few who knew what it was. The front of this has very similar styling Q's to the R8 and I forgot it had that extra row of seats in the rear. A very practical good looking car. Thank you once again for another slice of British Motoring.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Thank you, Mr Watters! We do like Montegos on this channel. They are fast fading from the cultural memory, however, it would seem. I was privileged to have driven one of these.

[@frothe42]

What's not to like about this vehicle? Practical, versatile, and attractive.

[@lucyellenroe6029]

I couldn't agree more. I've had 'Hetty' for a whole year, I have 2 children so its perfect.

[@frothe42]

@@lucyellenroe6029 I think Hetty is absolutely lovely! A modern classic that fits in with more modern vehicles. I think the best part is the visibility, which I'm sure you agree, and it is a proper car, not a CUV truck!

[@lucyellenroe6029]

@@frothe42 thank you. The visibility its excellent, never miss anything 😂

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

It's surprisingly nippy as well, the performance was pleasingly strong.

[@frothe42]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting Even better, it more than keeps up with modern traffic!

[@David_H-73]

The wood really lifts the interior. They were very well regarded in their day. I liked the GSi as it had slightly less chrome than the VDP and looked a bit more modern. I can remember it winning a twin test in What Car against the 405 so it can't have been that bad.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes sir, the GSis are very rare now, rather like the Vanden Plas. The Montego Estate was a pretty good car, even many years after it was launched.

[@MattysCars]

My dad had one of these. He told the story on one of my videos about how he broke two rear screens at the scrap yard without realising they're bonded in and couldn't be removed

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Oh dear, sir... That sounds less than desirable. Yes, this was one of the first cars on the market to use bonded glass.

[@adamtoms2726]

Aww this is lovely sir. Really like the style of these facelifted ones. I can't recall the last time I saw a Countryman in the flesh but must of been the late nineties. They were incredibly popular and unlike the saloons where these were overshadowed by your Sierra and Cavalier, the estate didn't suffer quite the same fate. If I recall correctly, I think the Montego Countryman in British Racing Green was in Emmerdale and was driven by one of the Sugden's. Another great review.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, British Racing Green was the classic colour for a Countryman and the mother of one of my friends at school had one. They were surprisingly popular for such an old basic design. There are still some around. Not sure about the Emmerdale connection, I am afraid...

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

Very nice MR Lloyd, I remember the rather smart looking Vanden Plas 2.0 EFI spec, unfortunately I think only velvet upholstery was available on the estate no leather option.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

I think that you are correct, sir, I would have to double check that, though. The GSi which came later may have had a leather interior on the estate.

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting I'm sure MR Lloyd would insist on having leather in his Montego EFI VP estate.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@paulie-Gualtieri. , you know what colour the leather would be as well....

[@alansimpson835]

I agree. The facelifted nose looks really good on these. I remember when they were all over caravan sites, back before people decided you needed an SUV to tow a caravan. I do remember the external doorhandles being a weak point though. I saw quite a few that had snapped off

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

That's absolutely right, sir! The Montego Estate was the car of choice for many who wanted to tow. The facelifted front end does seem to suit the estate particularly well, doesn't it?

[@chrisfrob]

That's a heck of a lot of car for the money. Another great car in its day. Comfortable, oodles of space and again...........felt like they were carved out of a block of granite. I could quite happily live with a Countryman right upto this day. Great review.

[@lucyellenroe6029]

I was very lucky. I paid £1200 which included 4 doors and the 2 odd bumpers 😅

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

We enjoyed it very much, sir! Prices are going to rise for good Countryman estates, I think.

[@lucyellenroe6029]

I love my Countryman. I'm so glad I bought this last year as my family car. Thank you for reviewing her

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

I thought it was brilliant! I can see why these were so popular thirty years ago. They definitely make excellent family cars, don't they?

[@upturnedkangaroo]

My grandfather had one of these, and he'd take us down to the beach in it every week of summer. i would love to actually drive one

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Montegos are actually surprisingly nice to drive, particularly with this 2.0 O-Series and PG1 gearbox. Thank you ever so much indeed for watching and commenting, many nostalgic memories of cars like this!

[@markonmotoring]

It's easy to forget there was a time when estate cars were designed to be functional above all else, the Monty may not be as sleek as more modern estates but is still a handsome design and looks incredibly capacious. There is something very Volvo about it, a thinking man's choose perhaps. The wood trim really lifts that interior giving a much more premium appearance.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, these were a rival for the Volvo 240, if you can believe it! The functionality is brilliant, once you work out how to fold the rear seats. The design is actually award winning!

[@PlanetautoUK]

A cornucopia of Rover, MG… we do love an estate, well done Joseph

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Thank you ever so much indeed, Mr Quirk!

[@michaelstaley2241]

Very popular with the police in the area where I am. Very good presentation.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Thank you ever so much indeed, glad you enjoyed the video!

[@trabali5168]

The late 88 facelift montego was a vast improvement, but the cavalier mk3 had also just been released at around the same time and was an instant success. Then the 90s came and NEW montego's were getting scarcer, till they only sold the estate. The model you tested (countryman| estate) was very popular with the green wellies set in rural britain (hence countryman) especially in d****l form!!

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Very good, sir, we do appreciate a bit of self-censorship. The Countryman appealed to a completely different audience from the rest of the Montego range for some reason.

[@tz6414]

So good to see such amazing survivors. Looks fresh and modern. I would love a classic, sadly my wife does not share this idea. Dont know how people find these condition cars.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

I am very blessed to have an incredibly understanding lady wife, and we both drive our 2003 Rover 45 V6. I am not allowed more than two cars, though. If one looks hard enough, stuff like this Montego turns up!

[@kjellhmyhre2374]

The greatest car in its class back in the 90's - it's so adorable! "I bought British" ❤

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, the Montegos with this 2.0 O-Series petrol engine are surprisingly nice to drive. Thank you ever so much indeed for watching and commenting!

[@danvitesse]

Great video and what looks to be a nice example. I am currently trying to acquire a Montego Estate to add to my fleet of Austin/Rovers.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Sir, we very much enjoyed this lovely Montego Countryman! Surprisingly nice cars to drive.

[@petersimpson5859]

Identical seat fabrics as on the '91 214si I learned in. First car I drove on my own. Serious dose of nostalgia. The Montego estate was definitely the best looking of the LM10/11 range.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, I used to have a 1991 216 SLi Automatic myself. It actually appeared in an early episode of No Budget Reviews about eighteen months ago. The seat fabrics must have been rationalised just after the launch of the R8 in 1989.

[@petersimpson5859]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting I also had a pair of novelty fluffy stuffed dog slippers at the time which had the exact diagonal patterned material as their soles. I can vouch for the toughness of said fabric. Nothing more 90s than a restrained diagonal pattern.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@petersimpson5859 , definitely a nostalgic fabric from three decades ago in that case.

[@malcolmcowan9554]

These were better built .i think landrover built the countryman everyone who owned them sware by the countryman was superior montego

[@lucyellenroe6029]

I couldn't agree more. I am glad I have the pleasure of using this as my daily

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

Lots of farmers had the Countryman along side the Land Rover Defenders.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

We do like a nice Countryman on this channel....

[@badbooks476]

Great review Sir. Wonderful that cars like this, are been saved

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

It's quite a survivor, sir, isn't it?

[@mattw8332]

That's nice. My old 1990 Mini Racing Green that I owned 20 years ago was registered in the same area (H885 JJN).

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, Essex registration, I believe! Funny how the Mini was a similar plate.

[@a11csc]

owned two had the pleasure of using 1 time to time as a company car and delivered carpets for them to cowley

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed the video! I saw them being made at Cowley in the early 1990s, actually. I was part of a factory tour when I was very young.

[@a11csc]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting got an impromtu viewing of acclaims being made when i missed a delivery slot and had to wait for night shift

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@a11csc , we would like to review an Acclaim on the channel at some point...

[@Pmjs]

Alf Roberts in Classic Corrie had a blue Montego Countryman.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, they were quite common cars back in the day. Not any more, this is a rare survivor.

[@stevew3817]

I think the seat back in the boot is upside down. The opening at the top should be at the base, and I believe the belt buckles should sit in there.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, quite possibly! It's been a while since I filmed this...

[@seancooke7332]

This is a fine car. Maybe you should take a punt on a 1990s gem like this, or possibly yourself and Mr Coleman could go halves in a joint purchase. A comfortable, perky, practical and good looking car. Never really got the whole Non Rover Maestro and Montego badging issue.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

That is not a bad idea, sir, but we don't have the space or finances for such a remarkable enterprise at the moment. Don't get the impression that we haven't thought about it, though....

[@alaricbragg7843]

Good to hear that you are OK. Love these Montego reviews! Car looks very roomy for its size! Facelift reminds me of a Renault from same era. Rear seating arrangement interesting. I think that some Mazda 626/Ford Telstar wagons from that era came with that option.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, seven seater estates were relatively common at the time. The space inside a Montego Estate is very good.

[@alaricbragg7843]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting Yes this was before the minivan trend really took off!

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@alaricbragg7843 , you are correct, sir!

[@hoddy121john]

Very nice car sir, just as practical like a modern suv , maybe better.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

That's one of the reasons why people loved them back in the day!

[@chrisbateman8534]

What I find strange about the post 1988 Metro,Maestro and Montego, is that if they are the higher spec models with the Electric windows, they have blanking plugs where the keep fit winders would normally be whereas pre 1988 higher spec models dont have blanking plugs ! its a really, really strange decision to add the blanking plugs later in the range's life! I cant think WHY theyd do this! Regarding this model, I'm sure Countryman Estate models were pretty much L spec! It looks like the electric windows were a purchased extra by the original owner as the mirrors/sunroof were manual !

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

The Countryman had standard electric windows, that much I do know as I used to travel in one about 25 years ago. In terms of the post-1988 dashboard, the heater controls are in a much better place, but I can't really comment on all the blanking plates.

[@darrenmeears4667]

Love montegos I remember taking my bosses Monty for its mot the mechanic came out and said I've got good & bad news bad first well that car will never see another mot good news one of the mercanics wants to buy the diesel engine my boss was nearly crying she loved that car 😢😢😢😆👍👌

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Well sir, we shall to have to refrain from talking about that particular type of engine, but back in the day, the value of these was quite low...

[@jdnrotterdam2150]

What a brilliant car with those seats in the back! I never saw them in holland! I don’t know why because i’m sure that people here would loved because of those extra seats and the price

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Not sure, sir, I think that they did sell the Montego Estate in Holland, clearly they just weren't particularly popular.