Sensible Secondhand Classics: 1989 MG Metro 1300 Mark II - Lloyd Vehicle Consulting

[@seancooke7332]

Yes I am also a fan of these later A+ Series Metros. Love the dashboard, the little steering wheel, the flush headlights, the little mudflaps that are basically under the rear bumper, of course the better seats and new colours. I really can see you happily owning a Vanden Plas version Mr Lloyd. I know this model is on your list for someday.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Sir, we did like this MG Metro, although a nice high specification late Vanden Plas with the same engine would be even better. Sadly, they are very rare and quite expensive now!

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

Absolutely lovely car, such a credit to the owner. I must admit I'm getting more of a nostalgic appreciation, for the Metro now. As the years have passed, I'm nothing little design details, which I quite like.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, this had all sorts of little details which made it very, very appealing indeed. Everyone seems to love it! Thank you again for watching, sir.

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting I think it comes with age, getting older and seeing things differently as we did as children. I certainly wasn't excited by Metro back then when it were current. The XJ40 was the first car I remember being released new in 1986, and being mesmerised by the trip computer and the part digital dash gauges. Nowadays I appreciate lots of humdrum and everyday cars, which were everywhere for people our age growing up. The upcoming Cavalier video, is more interesting to me than yet another AMG whatever drag race on Carwow.

[@brianjohnson5789]

Yea I looked underneath a few brand new and the underneath was covered in rust even then, so to get to this age the underneath must have had some work done.

[@brianjohnson5789]

@@paulie-Gualtieri. I worked in Browns Lane when XJ40's were made, indeed lots were made before the public release. So remember a lot of the details. I remember masses of them being parked up without bumpers, seem to remember the bumpers were late. So many bits of info tucked into my brain about them. Happy days.

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

@@brianjohnson5789 That's excellent, I've owned a few myself over the years, really good cars, never had any major problems bar the odd electrical issues, the engines were brilliant and absolutely bombproof.

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

A rather lovely example of a MG Metro Sir, very well looked after. A excellent review as always.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Thank you, Mr Watters! It is a lovely car, just needs that gearbox sorting out. Glad to have tried one of these.

[@Koulis_]

Beautiful little cars these. I love the fact that they were still mini compared to rivals at the time.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

An amazing car. Bit tricky on the gearchange for some reason, but I absolutely loved driving it nevertheless. Thank you again for watching!

[@mattw8332]

These post 1988 revisions of the Metro are the nicest. Same goes for the Maestro and Montego as well. In the late 1980s the What Car? journalists used to criticise the Metro for not having a 5th gear.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, even the Mark II Fiesta had an optional five speed gearbox, although it was not available with five doors, unlike a Metro, so I suppose one had choices to make in that respect.

[@roygardiner2229]

I really like that. Even down to the glove-box taking your secret mission documents.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Glad you enjoyed it, sir! We did like the fact that these did fit in the glovebox.

[@TrevorBuick]

Lovely MG Metro, saved BL (for a while) 👍, looking out for updates on your strike Rover 45 🤞

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Well sir, the 45 has had a new part collected for it, and I am going to have to wait to have it fitted. The MG Metro was indeed amazing.

[@jimmycoupe8021]

I still miss my old white C reg MG Metro. They had a bad reputation but everyone that owned an MG Metro loved them for what they were. Not sure as it was a long time ago but the switched blanked on the dash will likely be fog lights if you had the Turbo. The wheels are not standard, pretty sure G plates models were cheapened and came with MG hub caps. Those wheels looked like they came off a Metro GTA. Very common upgrade back then was to put a Turbo kit on the 1300 with the GTA wheels, always looked good 🙂

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

This is the fourth Metro I have driven, and it was really good, apart from the heavy steering due to the larger wheels compared with other Metros. I would still prefer a Vanden Plas, though... Thank you very much indeed for watching and commenting!

[@willswheels283]

I’m with you on the late A series Metros, and that MG Metro is very nice indeed. I think the late A series Metros, the basic models and the MG and VP’s had nicer trim than the early ones, that doesn’t mean I dislike the early ones, on the contrary but I just prefer the late ones on an E, F, and G reg.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Sir, as you know, the best Metros ever are the late Vanden Plas ones, as far as this channel are concerned, especially as they were available with a beige leather interior.... The manuals had the same engine as this MG too!

[@brianjohnson5789]

D reg had the new dash etc

[@ianjenkins4641]

My Mum had a Black 1988 one of these on a E Reg. When I blew up my Series 1 Escort RS Turbo she very reluctantly let me borrow the little MG to get to work. Well a week later a blew 3rd gear. She wasn’t at all pleased 😬

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Oh dear. That sounds less than desirable. I expect that she wasn't too impressed that both cars were damaged within the space of a week.... Thank you ever so much indeed for watching and commenting!

[@brianjohnson5789]

I bent one of the valves in mine thrashing it. but boy was it thrashed.

[@mpersad]

Oh, sir! The car I always wanted, but could never afford! Terrific review again.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Glad you enjoyed it, sir! These are starting to become unaffordable again, I am afraid....

[@brianjohnson5789]

there was a big employee discount :)

[@chrislockey7706]

Neat little car, I always liked the Mayfair trim level.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

We prefer the Vanden Plas, sir, but the Mayfair is also pretty good.

[@eamol]

A lovely example of a sporty(ish) Metro.. A great review as ever Sir.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Had to do the video quite quickly, but it was absolutely worth it. Three more episodes of Sensible Secondhand Classics coming up in the space of the next week, sir!

[@brianjohnson5789]

they could go round corners very quickly, not so good in a straight line

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@brianjohnson5789 , the handling is excellent, even the 1.0s (and I have driven a couple) are quite lively, but probably only the MG Turbo could be classed as actually fast, I imagine.

[@davidgibson4840]

Wheels are on a GTA metro . You got white ones on an advantage trim for Wimbledon tennis

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

That's right, I remember the Metro Advantage. Thank you ever so much indeed for watching and subscribing.

[@zpower6231]

Actually these wheels where standard on the late ( 1990) MG Metros sold here in Denmark

[@Dantianblue]

Lovely car. Red piping reminds me of the ARX I had.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, the ARX and GTA were quite similar in a way, weren't they? Thank you very much indeed for watching.

[@jezlucas3878]

Loved mine ..rotted out

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, happened to so many of them back in the day. Thank you very much indeed for watching and commenting!

[@brianjohnson5789]

I had a D reg mg metro new, and worked for rover. That's the closest to the real thing I have seen recently. The wheels are not correct, you cannot buy TD tyres now so everyone swapped to wheels from earlier or later cars, those wheels look like rover 100 jobs with different centre's.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, two of the other A-Series Metros I have filmed on the channel before have been changed from the standard steel wheels to something else which is easier to get the tyres for, so I would not be surprised if these are slightly different from the norm.

[@brianjohnson5789]

It's not chain driven it's pushrods moving the valves

[@brianjohnson5789]

Cannot remember what the switch which is blanked out would be, that'll drive me nuts

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@brianjohnson5789 , it is an OHV engine, but it definitely also has a timing chain.

[@brianjohnson5789]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting history of TD wheels and tyres is a story all of its own, I had a blow out with them on and they did their job very well. Shame they have been cost managed out of existence.

[@jjefferyworboys8138]

I don't do sensible !

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

I did an MG ZT 260 a couple of months ago. It wasn't sensible at all.

[@nickyboy.]

9th

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Did you enjoy it, sir!