Honestly one of my favourite 80s cars. We had an A-reg 1.3L (in Primula Yellow) - and the A-series is a fantastic engine. The noises are so familiar - that first gear whine is THE single best thing about it. That whine is from the 3 gears that transfer the power to the gearbox in the sump - you don’t get this noise on RWD A-series applications! I’d honestly kill to own another one of these. Great review Matt
Hi i'm french and it was was mi first car in 1993 i bought a silver one with digital dashboard. then i bought 3 mini austin and one with metro turbo engine : good memories. I remeber once. when i was at a gas station to fill up my pocket bullet people laugh on a my small car but in my car we were 3 and all. we're around 100. 110 kg and these people stop laughing when me and my friend go out ! As my ex girl friend said SIZE DOESN'T MATTER! Thanks England ! and God save the Queen !
Personally, I love the MG Metro - especially the early models. Lovely little cars, with a superb interior. From memory MG Metros were available in black, white, red, silver, moonraker blue, zircon blue (they look great in this colour) and opaline green. Oddly, I think the MG Metro Turbo was available in an odd shade of off-white - almost an old English white. Later MGs were also available in a metallic BRG, which was rather fetching with the lattice wheels and red badges.
I test drove a very early (black interior) MG Metro in that opaline green - it always struck me as an odd colour for a sporting car, so I ended up getting a Cinnabar(?) red one. I remember the creamy white colour - one of the local MG Owners Club people had a non turbo MG in that shade.
Not trying to be funny I'm being serious imagine the wheels gold in the centre with silver outside it would look nice it does like this and maybe abit lower not dropped on the ground just a sporty kind of lower and abit of power would be a nice car to have and maybe a cool car to have I mean turn up to a show might get people liking it like maybe some younger people about my age like 17 year olds I'd drive one like that or completely stock if there weren't massive x5s about this probably wouldnt survive against an mx5 or new suv unfortunately tho with the gold I mean like right to the edge of the wheel like i think people do with mk2 golfs with the bbs wheels also saw probably an early 90s late 80s fiesta 3 door today so that was interesting too in my opinion also imagine the a series with a turbo in a 60s mini would move along nicely then possibly put turbo in 80s font on the side of a nice really clean mini like cleanly modified like nice wheels clean body maybe a lip spoiler on the back all the chrome bumpers and grilles cleaned up really nice maybe bucket seats or nicely restored mini seats I guess red seat belts british racing green mini white roof nice exhaust lowered on coil overs I guess maybe small wheel arch extensions like wide arch but not crazy but molded into the body cleanly and maybe comedy stickers on the back window like on clarksons mk2 golf gti on top gear would be allright I guess and grippy tires
I haven't seen one of these on the roads for so long! Back in the mid 90s I was part of the (original) mini tuning community and so many of these Metros were stripped for bits from scrapyards - especially the engines..... The Mg Metro 1275 would drop straight into a Mini - not as powerful as an original 60s/70s Cooper S, but still a big improvement. For some reason neither the heads or cam were as hot as on the Cooper S - maybe the Metro was made to a stricter budget - less flow work on the head etc?
Had an A reg in metallic blue. Changed the exhaust for a twin pipe. Ported the head a bit, just to make gasses flow better. K&N barrel filter and a proper cold air intake. Made a small box to fit infront of the central dashboard speaker, with oil pressure & oil temperature gauges. A pair of 6" spotlights on the front. And decent air horns Put in a radio cassette and a 100w graphic equaliser / amp, a long with 6 speakers. 2 X front door, 2 X rear panel, 2 X rear parcel shelf. Got from some Toyota a front air damn. That when on, lowered the front valance by 50mm. Looked not unlike the air damn on the Turbo versions. Painted it the same as the car to give the look of a much lower front end. Wife liked driving it. I had a works van, so was for weekends only for me.
I owned a 1983 Turbo which was really quick and handled beautifully. It was red with black lower panels, really eye catching. For some reason it warped the front discs repeatedly and was eventually sent back to Longbridge for investigation and resolution. As an aside ADO stands for Austin Design Office rather than Amalgamated Drawing Office ...
I was given a yellow 1.0 Metro and I used it as my to and from work car. I really enjoyed driving it. A mate like it too, so much so he bought the MG version.
My first car was a low mileage 1984 Austin Metro City X, Oporto metallic with brown plastic interior and brown cloth seats. All very basic with a 4 speed 'box and a pull out choke which didn't always stay in place so had a wooden clothes peg to hand for those times! The car was standard for a while but after the head gasket blew and thrust bearing went I had a few subtle mods during rebuild. These included camshaft, air filtration and carburettor which was finely tuned. Also found a set of MG wheels in a locally salvage breakers, which I think took metric tyres. I've no idea of output but she would comfortably see off several of my mate's motors including a Fiesta XR2. I'd almost forgotten about the car until this video popped up, so thanks for producing and making me grin at the memories.
I remember. selling a white MG metro turbo to a lady, the car went to Cosworth for upgrades, before delivery. I was lucky to drive it later with permission never driven a car that revved out so quickly, that must be at least thirty years ago, but still fresh in my mind. All the best to John at Priests of Chesham.
My first car was a primrose yellow Metro (“like dog piss in the snow” as one of my friends described it) with a poo brown interior. Loved it! I had the MG alloys on it and let the suspension go flat, it was ace to drive… just as long as I put a pint of oil in it every weekend lol
I have a black 87 MG Metro. It's a great tool. I have the rectangle fog and driving lights plus window pods. Always brings a grin to folk when I drive it about.
Passed my test in a silver one of these and ran it for a year as a 17yo. Loved the whine of that gearbox, thanks for posting, a nice flashback to the 80s!
Great review Matt! Screams 80s, love it. And red seatbelts, it was it's time a head. Peugeot and Fiat adopted it in the late 80s and 90s with the Rallye and Sporting.
Learned to drive with BSM (remember them?) in 1983 in a Metro. Good visibility out of one with those lovely slim pillars and, to be fair, it was a nice car to drive. It was easy to drive, too. In comparison to my Dads Hillman Hunter, sitting in the Metro was like sitting in a greenhouse with such a large area of glass! Not seen one for years, so its great to see this one so lovingly cared for. You have a new subscriber!
A neighbour of mine had a D-reg MG Metro in white, which I went in as a kid. I recall going round my mum's 20 years later and seeing it in the street, still in immaculate condition.
The whine in 1st gear is because the gears that make 1st gear are straight cut. Even though the Mini gearbox gained synchro on 1st gear during it's long history, the actual gears remained straight cut. All the rest are helical cut. Yet another nifty and fun little car that didn't make it to Australia. The interior is great. I did own 3 different Daihatsu Charades though, so close and arguably better, particularly the G102 with the 1.3ltr 4 cylinder engine. Thanks for the drive. :-)
Our first car. Always something to fix, so a great boredom alleviator 😀. We bought it at around 8 years old in 94. Beautiful rust free paintwork, in that light metallic blue. About 6 months later, little rust dots started appearing in random places. You could almost see them grow if you stood n watched 😂. But it was great to drive. It seemed happy enough to do 90 on the motorway 👍
Very nice takes me back , my brother had a brand new MG metro mk1 which I prefer with that earlier design , and this was the coolest car I had ever driven , but it was one of the first I had at that time I was only 17 yrs of age and not long past my driving test , as I drove it I felt so cool and brought a massive smile to my face . Thank you for sharing , great video 👍
Original Metro was a A reg standard metro, A92 TNH, if memory serves, then part exchanged it for a B reg MG Metro. Around town, was fast, when in tune, was brilliant, really really quick. Lived in Bedford at the time, so traffic was a thing. As a relief manager for Unwins Wine Merchants, drove it a lot darrrn sarrrf. Did the job, but I guess there's also nostalgia, I'm from a generation that believed in buying British, and putting up with the occasional eccentric driving experience. Memories, damp winter weather, taking the distributor cap off and spraying with WD40, to get it to start and running evenly. Drivers side window smashed while parked in Ware (Stevenage), driving home in December with the icy wind and rain howling through the window down the A6. Rolling it on a hill just outside Ampthill, (I hate that hill to this day), and writing it off Nice car though, wonder what I'd think of it now.
These little cars are so often more than the sum of their parts. US viewer here and I had an early 90's Geo Metro XFI. Now that one was geared with long legs for fuel economy. Of course, I don't think it shares any lineage with this Metro, but it was a good example of cheap and cheerful. And at over 200K well-loved miles, it was still running strong.
I have an identical example although the owner painted the targa red bumpers, mirrors and door handles grey - a preferred look he couldn't get on a new one. Great review, loved it. You certainly undertand Metro appeal. When I was a kid in the 90s I really wanted one. It took a long time to get around acquiring one but my dream came true last year! P.s. the rear windows do pop out on these!
Great video, it brought back memories! I had a vanden plas "A" series metro and a city "K" series, both were great cars. British Leyland did do a hearing aid brown colour for the MGB they called it Harvest Gold..
I love Metros , my parents owned a vdp for a little while in the 80s...really nice. I owned a 1.0 in 1992 when on holiday in England, was a great car until the clutch went....Great footage of seven mile lane also...makes me homesick.
My Mum had a white F-plate from brand new. Those lattice wheels are options - it came as standard with TD steelies with full width white trims. Sadly I parked it upside-down in an orchard but because Mum bought it on the Employee Car Scheme she actually made a grand on the write-off value (40-50% Employee Discount in those days!)
I had this model, used it everyday in my job as a community nurse never failed me. I drove it with my partner and younger sisters to Braganza in Portugal and return via France it was so reliable oh now I miss it
A family friend had a w reg base model in yellow from new, wonderful little buzz box, it had absolutely no bells or whistles, but as a city car it certainly fitted the bill.
Hired one on holiday in Isle of man when I was a kid. Loved the bright red seat belts and carpet. Pretty nippy. Enough room for kids in the back. I definitely wouldn't want to be in a crash in one but thats the same with most 80s superminis. I knew immediately what it would sound like. That gearbox whine in 1st and 2nd is pure Austin/MG
Great video .proper retro car. Just purchased a metro 1.3L ...33k miles . Mint condition so will bring back memories of my black mg metro, One of my first cars in the late 80s. Even remember the Irish plate reg...sij 998. Is it still out there I wonder. Great memories indeed.
What a great channel , I have only just recently found - Your captivating enthusiasm and energy is what makes it work for me. Thanks for the ride,. Happy Motoring.
Superb i really enjoyed your feature on the MG Metro. Not watched videos on the Metro before. Remember this car very well in the 80s. Used to read about these in the Auto Magazines. I was and still am a big BL Rover Fan in spite of all their Disasters. Only wish if BL Rover could have got it right. 😁
My first car was a MG Metro G reg, which was slightly updated again to the one shown here. High level flush fit petrol filler, lager MG graphics and I’m quite sure it automatic choke and a five speed box but I’m happy to be corrected on that! Oh and different seat fabric. I remember feeling the seats were really sporty compared to other cars like the fiesta and such like.
My very first car at 17 was a Targa Red Metro City. By the time I was 21, I had my MG metro, although not for long as Rover brought out the Rover Metro GTI. Happy days, and very fond memories of my first few cars from over 30 years ago. Thanks Matt for a great video as always!
My Mum had the same car Targa red with mudflaps. E673MAB. The driver's heel mat is standard. They need to get some protective mats in quick. Think the fabric is called 'houndstooth'. Rear windows do tilt open. Those alloys are wrong, they are from the later GTa model
Learnt to drive in one passed my test in one dads was red metro van and his business partner had a white metro van! Dad upgraded to the 5 door Vanden Plas until he wrapped it into a tree pushing the passenger door to the centre of the car! He escaped with a few scratches! They were great car!
Happy Friday from Cornwall! I fondly remember these from my early motoring days, this ones an absolute beauty. Any chance you could do the 1991 Range Rover Classic they also have in stock, that would be a real treat and what a lovely combo those two would make.
I like the Metros, all of them. We used to have a Metro L, bought second hand, and it served us well. The floor pan rusted eventually but I still have very fond memories of it. Somehow the overall design, including the interior, appeals far more to me than the modern cars I see (e.g. the new MG3).
Great video, love the joys of the alloy wheels welding themselves to the cast iron brake shoes, such a joyous benefit of coming from a British Leyland source.
Loving that. That's in super condition. My first car was a 1.0 henley blue city. Would love to have a drive again sometime in an a series powered Metro. Do love 80s motors. Currently have a 1982 Granada and BMW 525e but a metro would be a hoot to drive and own.
I had a silver MG Metro - C reg. It had a matt-black rear surround spoiler which looked great against the silver. I then had a white MG Metro Turbo which disintegrated with rust. My previous MG never had any rust issues - but the Turbo just ate itself. The standard MG was pretty nippy. The Turbo had pretty quick acceleration but used to drink petrol pretty quickly!
Great video 👍 reminds me of the rover metro gti I had in the 90s - loved that car. I guess I have the modern equivalent of that now. An ABARTH 595 (it even has red seat belts).
Me too!!!!!!! 30mph in first gear and stuck to the road like glue!! 72mph resulted in deafness and fillings rattling out. 185/55 r13 the tyres if I remember rightly. Dunlop & Michelin the only companies.... £80 a tyre..... back in '98!!!! Loved that car. It hated the rain though.....
I had the Advantage which like your GTA, had the turbo chassis but the non turbo engine. It also had white powder coated lattice alloys which were a pain to keep clean. It was a great little go cart that on North Yorkshire country lanes was a hoot to hoon about.
I had so many metros thru my hands i forget how many, i used to buy repair resell them, biggest pain was welding the jacking points front floors, i was well adept at engine/box swaps out the back lane
The one I had (a y reg, in about 92) was fairly rust free, apart from the front wings. Fairly sure it was on its second pair, and they were bubbling under, about 3 inches behind the headlamps.
The gearbox was in the sump as in the Mini. I loved the look of the early MG. The face-lift looked a bit soft. I had a few go's in a friend's black version in the day, great fun. We probably shouldn't have raced together with my 1275GT quite as much as we did though. Naughty boys.
I had the mini metro GTA they changed the badge to keep the insurance down ad I loved it. Same alloys, I’m bright yellow and the A series with the 77 Bhp engine and it went like the clappers. It pulled solid right up to 100mph and would do more than the 104mph top speed they claimed. Bit naughty but I got mine up 115mph on the M5 one years driving down to Gloucester. And in the two years I had the little girl, she never let me down once, not too mention me and the old man would service her myself on the drive. Oil changes, engine repairs, brakes pads even fitted a new exhaust myself, but you could back then as cars were so simple to work on. I wouldn’t dare touch my VW Passat now, it’s all laptop jobbie when it goes in.
Fond memories of a family friend who had one of these the red seatbelts I remember as a young lad! Also brings back recent memories of when I reviewed a Metro City X for my channel. Great review as always and someone is a lucky person to get the keys to this!
Was lucky enough to drive a couple and the Turbo, none were terribly fast but they were good fun, I always liked the look of the Metro and think its aged quite well.
It's the Mini gearbox, hence no 5th gear. Those wheels are off a turbo. Also, the rear windows do pop open. You even showed the handle. I used to sell these and had a white one as a company car.
Yes, it was a bit of a compromise, using the existing design with the gears in the sump & the engine oil etc. They couldn’t squeeze in another gear or two.
@@84Bazza84 I think there was an option for pepperpots. I pillaged a set off an MG to fit to my 'Studio 2', mainly to get rid of the daft metric wheels.
You could have the lattice Turbo wheels as an option on the later cars. Definitely no 5th though unless you wanted to spend a hideous amount of cash via JKD or KAD!
Great to see a metro on the road, takes me back, more importantly it was made into the 6R4 group b rally car,, what a beast, and to see it in that red reminds me of the colour of the auto plas 6R4 found on you tube, Great video
My mum had a MG Metro and I learned to drive in it as a teenager. I remember it being quite exciting to drive. Good acceleration although I didn't have much experience other than a diesel Fiesta.
I hired one of these shortly after I got married. We packed my SD1, to go on holiday, and it wouldn't start. An MG metro was the only car Avis had available to take away. It was cheaper than a divorce and we're still together
I had a C plate one of these in this shape and I cant remember those alloys . Loved that car but along came kids and it went . Later one the wife had a Metro GTA I think they were called . Didnt have the buzz the MG had , great seats and being so young the red belts made it feel so much quicker
I had a Metro 1.0L back in 1986 ( a 1982 model ). It got me down to the South of France via Switzerland and Italy. On the Mountain passes ( at night ) I was being overtaken by some exptic cars on the straight, but the good old Metro nore than held its own in the corners. A real hoot
I suspect, with that car showing a little over 50,000 miles on the clock, that the interior is going to be largely original. Certainly the red carpets were very much standard MG and Turbo fayre, and the carpet doesn't look as fresh as you'd expect on a car just out of restoration so I'm guessing the MG logo embossed into the heal pad probably is original, which isn't a great surprise as they really did go wild with the MG branding on these later Metros to make them stand out from the cooking Austin variants, and Rover Group interior trim material quality was actually pretty good at this point in its' history so it is far from unusual to see very, very tired cars that still have very decent interiors... I must admit, this is definitely a bit of a memory for me as I learnt to drive in this era of Metro, not MGs and a bit newer than this one with them being at the end of Austin Metro production before the switch to the Rover Metro, but still with the1300 engine so the interior of one of these is still very familiar to me as you never really forget what you learned to drive in... From way back in the day when I was at school, I remember the local Austin-Rover dealer did have an early MG Metro on an X-plate in stock that was hearing aid beige, so you could get them very early on but I think it got dropped very quickly as almost no-one, apart from the original owner of this car, bought them so the car was restricted to the more dynamic colours in the range. The car, unsurprisingly, did become something of a fixture on their used vehicle forecourt Metallic silver did seem to be a very popular colour choice for these later MGs in my area, though at the time they were around in numbers I always preferred the black as it really made the side stripes and the red interior trim features pop out...
I passed my test in my own (mk1) MG Metro. Had 3 over the years. I can honestly say that they are the most fun car I've ever driven. More like a toy than a car. I drove and owned the car I passed my test in for 5 yrs (with other cars) and after about 4yrs my mate pointed out that the steering wheel is offset to the seat . Once told it really annoyed me lol. Thanks for a trip down memory lane
My MG that I passed my test in, I believe I would still have today if it was not for a brand new mini roundabout and a dozy female beemer driver that did not give way to the right as I went across the roundabout and turned my beloved car into a banana.
Lovely condition and great colour.a brother in law used to have a turbo one of these in black but i think they we're overstressed,his was allways blowing up turbos,engines and gearboxes.think he drove it pritty hard mind you lol.guess these would be a bit less temperamental.lookin forward to seeing more on the rovers.
Great vid, thanks. In 1989 I bought a brand new gta metro which was a hybrid of the mg metro & the turbo but cheaper than either. It had the wheels & wheel arch kit of the turbo but the normal mg engine. I loved it but as you've said, it really did want a 5th gear. The gta & I think the turbo metro actually had harder suspension, shock absorbers at the front as well as the hydragas units. Gta was in red, blue, solar yellow or steel grey that I had.
The gearbox is the same as Mini i.e. in the sump and that is why it didn’t get a 5th gear even if it needed it. . Another car that brings back memories, my mum bought a 1988 MG Metro in 1993 (the year after I passed my test) so being on the insurance I had great fun in it.
In the day had a B plate with different wheels from this one but otherwise pretty much identical, same colour, same trim so brought back a lot of fun memories. Thanks for a great video.
Sister in law had one of these in black. Never seemed to sit evenly on the road and sagged. However, it had character and personality and was fun to drive. Great little car.
These late 1980s MGs looked very smart indeed, lightly revised iirc. When this Metro was brand new my parents had just bought a used silver MG Maestro 1600 (ERW 333Y). Edit: this couldn’t have a 5sp gearbox due to the gearbox in sump design iirc. Although I think a company did offer a modification to accommodate a 5sp gearbox from the 1990s on Minis.
At 17:55 on the subject of a yellow Metro, I believe they did the later Metro GTA in yellow for a period of time! There was one up for sale a couple of months ago, looked beautiful, the Metro is becoming more retro!
The GTA was the sort of run out model for the late 80s to early 90s. MG Turbo body kit, with contrasting black arches, valences and bumper inserts, Turbo lattice wheels, MG Metro 1275 and gearbox, and likely the same suspension set up. They also definitely had vented front discs as per the MG models. I only ever remember seeing them in black white, red or yellow and I always loved the way they looked!
My godfather had an almost identical one to this in the early 1990s. It was a red MG 1300 just like this, although I think that the wheels were lower specification than this. I remember the red seatbelts and those stalks!
Once saw one in a station car park in British Racing Green, not sure if it was a respray which I doubt as it was less than a year old, could have been a special order as the dealer sticker belonged to a former MG specialist dealer. British Racing Green was an option on MGB's and Midget's. Even went as far back as the T series and original Midget.
I had a D Reg white MG Metro Turbo. Unfortunately I bought it with a dodgy gearbox. I knew this, but was desperate to take it out for a blast on the road. I got about 2 miles out of town & the gearbox packed in & the car had to be towed back to town the following day. It then laid in my parents driveway for months until I could afford to buy a replacement gearbox. I ended up choosing the pub & girls instead of repairing the thing...I was only 19, lol. I've regretted it every day since as it was a lovely looking car. On the plus side, I ended up selling it to a mate for £200 more than I paid for it, even with a broken gearbox! Best pub sale ever! 🤣 I still miss it though, and wish I'd got it back on the road instead of p*ssing my money up against the wall 😣👍
@@varolussalsanclar1163 They have to be made big, heavy and bloated these days because of all the airbags in every corner, crumple zones and other safety nonsense, then there’s all the ecomentalist shit they have choking them up these days. The current mini is the biggest joke because the bloody thing is huge and lacks all the character that made the mini what it was and don’t even get me started on the horrid SUVs plaguing the roads like automotive cancer at the moment!!! I’m afraid the golden era of cars and motoring is now behind us although I’m trying to keep the flag flying for proper old cars with my 1988 XJ40 at the moment!!!
Had a couple. The 1.3 sport was loads of fun. Quick on country roads as some of my mates will testify to. Lucky I never ended up in a hedgeback mind. Pushed a 2.3 Merc hard but let down by the brakes. Left a 1.6 vectra well behind though. I like to think driving ability came into it on the main but that little car handled great and was a lot of fun!
I must admit the MK2 Nissan Micra is the only reason I (and my son) are here to tell this tale after hitting a snow drift at 80 mph. Kept my foot to the floor and the wheel pointing to the road instead of the trees (while shouting 'shit, shit, shit!) but she saved me and served me well until the rust got the better of her. That little 998 was brilliant!
The rear windows did 'open' on a cantilever, they just didn't wind down. The glass sunroof was also removable and came with a carpet-lined sleeve to store it safely in the boot. The blanking plate was for a switch to control optional items, such as auxiliary lights, that were the fashion back then.
Honestly one of my favourite 80s cars. We had an A-reg 1.3L (in Primula Yellow) - and the A-series is a fantastic engine. The noises are so familiar - that first gear whine is THE single best thing about it. That whine is from the 3 gears that transfer the power to the gearbox in the sump - you don’t get this noise on RWD A-series applications! I’d honestly kill to own another one of these. Great review Matt
They are lots of fun, you forget how simple and enjoyable these are
Hi i'm french and it was was mi first car in 1993 i bought a silver one with digital dashboard. then i bought 3 mini austin and one with metro turbo engine : good memories. I remeber once. when i was at a gas station to fill up my pocket bullet people laugh on a my small car but in my car we were 3 and all. we're around 100. 110 kg and these people stop laughing when me and my friend go out ! As my ex girl friend said SIZE DOESN'T MATTER! Thanks England ! and God save the Queen !
God this takes me back to my youth!!! I absolutely love that A series whine, it’s my formative years in a sound!! Great video thanks 👍
Personally, I love the MG Metro - especially the early models. Lovely little cars, with a superb interior. From memory MG Metros were available in black, white, red, silver, moonraker blue, zircon blue (they look great in this colour) and opaline green. Oddly, I think the MG Metro Turbo was available in an odd shade of off-white - almost an old English white. Later MGs were also available in a metallic BRG, which was rather fetching with the lattice wheels and red badges.
Love that off white one, I almost bought one years ago and still regret it 😄
I test drove a very early (black interior) MG Metro in that opaline green - it always struck me as an odd colour for a sporting car, so I ended up getting a Cinnabar(?) red one. I remember the creamy white colour - one of the local MG Owners Club people had a non turbo MG in that shade.
My first car was an x reg MG metro. It was great!
Not trying to be funny I'm being serious imagine the wheels gold in the centre with silver outside it would look nice it does like this and maybe abit lower not dropped on the ground just a sporty kind of lower and abit of power would be a nice car to have and maybe a cool car to have I mean turn up to a show might get people liking it like maybe some younger people about my age like 17 year olds I'd drive one like that or completely stock if there weren't massive x5s about this probably wouldnt survive against an mx5 or new suv unfortunately tho with the gold I mean like right to the edge of the wheel like i think people do with mk2 golfs with the bbs wheels also saw probably an early 90s late 80s fiesta 3 door today so that was interesting too in my opinion also imagine the a series with a turbo in a 60s mini would move along nicely then possibly put turbo in 80s font on the side of a nice really clean mini like cleanly modified like nice wheels clean body maybe a lip spoiler on the back all the chrome bumpers and grilles cleaned up really nice maybe bucket seats or nicely restored mini seats I guess red seat belts british racing green mini white roof nice exhaust lowered on coil overs I guess maybe small wheel arch extensions like wide arch but not crazy but molded into the body cleanly and maybe comedy stickers on the back window like on clarksons mk2 golf gti on top gear would be allright I guess and grippy tires
I have the same feeling with a Daihatsu Cuore :)
I haven't seen one of these on the roads for so long! Back in the mid 90s I was part of the (original) mini tuning community and so many of these Metros were stripped for bits from scrapyards - especially the engines..... The Mg Metro 1275 would drop straight into a Mini - not as powerful as an original 60s/70s Cooper S, but still a big improvement. For some reason neither the heads or cam were as hot as on the Cooper S - maybe the Metro was made to a stricter budget - less flow work on the head etc?
Mum had a D reg, black MG Metro from new that lasted for fifteen years before it was traded in.
Hours of fun borrowing it.
Had an A reg in metallic blue. Changed the exhaust for a twin pipe. Ported the head a bit, just to make gasses flow better. K&N barrel filter and a proper cold air intake. Made a small box to fit infront of the central dashboard speaker, with oil pressure & oil temperature gauges. A pair of 6" spotlights on the front. And decent air horns
Put in a radio cassette and a 100w graphic equaliser / amp, a long with 6 speakers. 2 X front door, 2 X rear panel, 2 X rear parcel shelf.
Got from some Toyota a front air damn. That when on, lowered the front valance by 50mm. Looked not unlike the air damn on the Turbo versions. Painted it the same as the car to give the look of a much lower front end.
Wife liked driving it. I had a works van, so was for weekends only for me.
I owned a 1983 Turbo which was really quick and handled beautifully. It was red with black lower panels, really eye catching. For some reason it warped the front discs repeatedly and was eventually sent back to Longbridge for investigation and resolution.
As an aside ADO stands for Austin Design Office rather than Amalgamated Drawing Office ...
I was given a yellow 1.0 Metro and I used it as my to and from work car. I really enjoyed driving it. A mate like it too, so much so he bought the MG version.
My first car was a low mileage 1984 Austin Metro City X, Oporto metallic with brown plastic interior and brown cloth seats.
All very basic with a 4 speed 'box and a pull out choke which didn't always stay in place so had a wooden clothes peg to hand for those times!
The car was standard for a while but after the head gasket blew and thrust bearing went I had a few subtle mods during rebuild. These included camshaft, air filtration and carburettor which was finely tuned.
Also found a set of MG wheels in a locally salvage breakers, which I think took metric tyres.
I've no idea of output but she would comfortably see off several of my mate's motors including a Fiesta XR2.
I'd almost forgotten about the car until this video popped up, so thanks for producing and making me grin at the memories.
I remember. selling a white MG metro turbo to a lady, the car went to Cosworth for upgrades, before delivery. I was lucky to drive it later with permission never driven a car that revved out so quickly, that must be at least thirty years ago, but still fresh in my mind. All the best to John at Priests of Chesham.
That Metro looked like it just came off the assembly line.
I don't think the paint was ever that good when new !!
@@stevenharris4498 with the rust😂 Tbf I had a MG metro but in white and it was a great little car. Quick and handled like a go kart!
It's been a year since this video was posted. It Could be a pile of rusty dust on the owners drive by now lol
That MG Metro is in pristine condition! I've always been a fan of how they look.👍
My late mother had one of these in black in the early 90s. F plate. Steel wheels and the different sized MG decals on the side. Loved that car.
My first car was a primrose yellow Metro (“like dog piss in the snow” as one of my friends described it) with a poo brown interior. Loved it! I had the MG alloys on it and let the suspension go flat, it was ace to drive… just as long as I put a pint of oil in it every weekend lol
I have a black 87 MG Metro. It's a great tool. I have the rectangle fog and driving lights plus window pods. Always brings a grin to folk when I drive it about.
Passed my test in a silver one of these and ran it for a year as a 17yo. Loved the whine of that gearbox, thanks for posting, a nice flashback to the 80s!
Great little hothatch I loved the Metro.
Great review Matt! Screams 80s, love it. And red seatbelts, it was it's time a head. Peugeot and Fiat adopted it in the late 80s and 90s with the Rallye and Sporting.
Learned to drive with BSM (remember them?) in 1983 in a Metro.
Good visibility out of one with those lovely slim pillars and, to be fair, it was a nice car to drive. It was easy to drive, too.
In comparison to my Dads Hillman Hunter, sitting in the Metro was like sitting in a greenhouse with such a large area of glass!
Not seen one for years, so its great to see this one so lovingly cared for.
You have a new subscriber!
A neighbour of mine had a D-reg MG Metro in white, which I went in as a kid. I recall going round my mum's 20 years later and seeing it in the street, still in immaculate condition.
The whine in 1st gear is because the gears that make 1st gear are straight cut. Even though the Mini gearbox gained synchro on 1st gear during it's long history, the actual gears remained straight cut. All the rest are helical cut. Yet another nifty and fun little car that didn't make it to Australia. The interior is great. I did own 3 different Daihatsu Charades though, so close and arguably better, particularly the G102 with the 1.3ltr 4 cylinder engine. Thanks for the drive. :-)
Our first car. Always something to fix, so a great boredom alleviator 😀. We bought it at around 8 years old in 94. Beautiful rust free paintwork, in that light metallic blue. About 6 months later, little rust dots started appearing in random places. You could almost see them grow if you stood n watched 😂. But it was great to drive. It seemed happy enough to do 90 on the motorway 👍
Hi Matt,what a cracking video,it's a blast from the past,The MG cars had pepper pot alloys but these are smart.
I had a silver one of these as my first car. Loved it. Went like a little rocket I thought. People always commented on the red seatbelts!
I’m loving that iconic gearbox whine. Brilliant. Pete 🇬🇧
Very nice takes me back , my brother had a brand new MG metro mk1 which I prefer with that earlier design , and this was the coolest car I had ever driven , but it was one of the first I had at that time I was only 17 yrs of age and not long past my driving test , as I drove it I felt so cool and brought a massive smile to my face .
Thank you for sharing , great video 👍
Love a Metro. We had one that never failed us, kids came along so it had to go. The one car we wish we'd garaged & still had.
Original Metro was a A reg standard metro, A92 TNH, if memory serves, then part exchanged it for a B reg MG Metro.
Around town, was fast, when in tune, was brilliant, really really quick. Lived in Bedford at the time, so traffic was a thing.
As a relief manager for Unwins Wine Merchants, drove it a lot darrrn sarrrf. Did the job, but I guess there's also nostalgia, I'm from a generation that believed in buying British, and putting up with the occasional eccentric driving experience.
Memories, damp winter weather, taking the distributor cap off and spraying with WD40, to get it to start and running evenly.
Drivers side window smashed while parked in Ware (Stevenage), driving home in December with the icy wind and rain howling through the window down the A6.
Rolling it on a hill just outside Ampthill, (I hate that hill to this day), and writing it off
Nice car though, wonder what I'd think of it now.
These little cars are so often more than the sum of their parts. US viewer here and I had an early 90's Geo Metro XFI. Now that one was geared with long legs for fuel economy. Of course, I don't think it shares any lineage with this Metro, but it was a good example of cheap and cheerful. And at over 200K well-loved miles, it was still running strong.
I have an identical example although the owner painted the targa red bumpers, mirrors and door handles grey - a preferred look he couldn't get on a new one. Great review, loved it. You certainly undertand Metro appeal. When I was a kid in the 90s I really wanted one. It took a long time to get around acquiring one but my dream came true last year!
P.s. the rear windows do pop out on these!
I owned a 1300 Metro for four years. I loved it - it went like a rocket propelled skate board.
Great video, it brought back memories! I had a vanden plas "A" series metro and a city "K" series, both were great cars. British Leyland did do a hearing aid brown colour for the MGB they called it Harvest Gold..
I love Metros , my parents owned a vdp for a little while in the 80s...really nice.
I owned a 1.0 in 1992 when on holiday in England, was a great car until the clutch went....Great footage of seven mile lane also...makes me homesick.
Was driven down that road in a Rover tomcat turbo at terrifying speed,, thought I was going to die lol.
@@stuarthall2180
They were more than a little rapid! I had the Tomcat's big brother, phase 2 620ti.
I'll always have a soft spot for the Austin Metro as I passed my test in one. The MG Metro looks lovely in red.
My Mum had a white F-plate from brand new. Those lattice wheels are options - it came as standard with TD steelies with full width white trims. Sadly I parked it upside-down in an orchard but because Mum bought it on the Employee Car Scheme she actually made a grand on the write-off value (40-50% Employee Discount in those days!)
I had this model, used it everyday in my job as a community nurse never failed me. I drove it with my partner and younger sisters to Braganza in Portugal and return via France it was so reliable oh now I miss it
A family friend had a w reg base model in yellow from new, wonderful little buzz box, it had absolutely no bells or whistles, but as a city car it certainly fitted the bill.
Hired one on holiday in Isle of man when I was a kid. Loved the bright red seat belts and carpet. Pretty nippy. Enough room for kids in the back. I definitely wouldn't want to be in a crash in one but thats the same with most 80s superminis. I knew immediately what it would sound like. That gearbox whine in 1st and 2nd is pure Austin/MG
Great video .proper retro car.
Just purchased a metro 1.3L ...33k miles .
Mint condition so will bring back memories of my black mg metro,
One of my first cars in the late 80s. Even remember the Irish plate reg...sij 998.
Is it still out there I wonder. Great memories indeed.
What a great channel , I have only just recently found - Your captivating enthusiasm and energy is what makes it work for me. Thanks for the ride,. Happy Motoring.
Indeed it is one of the finest! Pray for rain and dig into the back catalogue.
Awesome, thank you!
@@cornishrider Sounds like an excellent idea to me , Thanks.
Had a Turbo for about 6/8 weeks before it got nicked. Loved it.
Superb i really enjoyed your feature on the MG Metro. Not watched videos on the Metro before. Remember this car very well in the 80s. Used to read about these in the Auto Magazines. I was and still am a big BL Rover Fan in spite of all their Disasters. Only wish if BL Rover could have got it right. 😁
Loved these little beasties back in the 80’s
Thanks 🙏 from Australia 🇦🇺
My first car was a MG Metro G reg, which was slightly updated again to the one shown here. High level flush fit petrol filler, lager MG graphics and I’m quite sure it automatic choke and a five speed box but I’m happy to be corrected on that! Oh and different seat fabric. I remember feeling the seats were really sporty compared to other cars like the fiesta and such like.
My very first car at 17 was a Targa Red Metro City. By the time I was 21, I had my MG metro, although not for long as Rover brought out the Rover Metro GTI. Happy days, and very fond memories of my first few cars from over 30 years ago. Thanks Matt for a great video as always!
My Mum had the same car Targa red with mudflaps. E673MAB.
The driver's heel mat is standard.
They need to get some protective mats in quick.
Think the fabric is called 'houndstooth'.
Rear windows do tilt open.
Those alloys are wrong, they are from the later GTa model
Learnt to drive in one passed my test in one dads was red metro van and his business partner had a white metro van!
Dad upgraded to the 5 door Vanden Plas until he wrapped it into a tree pushing the passenger door to the centre of the car!
He escaped with a few scratches!
They were great car!
Lovely little motor. Brings back lots of memories of my youth 😁
Had a new mg metro in 85, great little car
What a splendid example! Needless to say, we never saw the Metro here in the USA; but I would very gladly park that Metro alongside my Midget.
Happy Friday from Cornwall! I fondly remember these from my early motoring days, this ones an absolute beauty. Any chance you could do the 1991 Range Rover Classic they also have in stock, that would be a real treat and what a lovely combo those two would make.
I hope to when its ready
Ahh the good old metro. After passing my test, my 1st car was a 3 year old 1985 metro turbo. I was the talk of the college at that time.
I like the Metros, all of them. We used to have a Metro L, bought second hand, and it served us well. The floor pan rusted eventually but I still have very fond memories of it. Somehow the overall design, including the interior, appeals far more to me than the modern cars I see (e.g. the new MG3).
Great video, love the joys of the alloy wheels welding themselves to the cast iron brake shoes, such a joyous benefit of coming from a British Leyland source.
Loving that. That's in super condition. My first car was a 1.0 henley blue city. Would love to have a drive again sometime in an a series powered Metro. Do love 80s motors. Currently have a 1982 Granada and BMW 525e but a metro would be a hoot to drive and own.
I had a silver MG Metro - C reg. It had a matt-black rear surround spoiler which looked great against the silver.
I then had a white MG Metro Turbo which disintegrated with rust. My previous MG never had any rust issues - but the Turbo just ate itself.
The standard MG was pretty nippy. The Turbo had pretty quick acceleration but used to drink petrol pretty quickly!
Great video 👍 reminds me of the rover metro gti I had in the 90s - loved that car. I guess I have the modern equivalent of that now. An ABARTH 595 (it even has red seat belts).
I had a gta red a black same wheels, they had a bodykit suspension and brakes from the turbo. No top end but unbeatable on the bends
Me too!!!!!!!
30mph in first gear and stuck to the road like glue!! 72mph resulted in deafness and fillings rattling out.
185/55 r13 the tyres if I remember rightly.
Dunlop & Michelin the only companies.... £80 a tyre..... back in '98!!!!
Loved that car.
It hated the rain though.....
I really liked the styling of the GTa.
I had the Advantage which like your GTA, had the turbo chassis but the non turbo engine. It also had white powder coated lattice alloys which were a pain to keep clean. It was a great little go cart that on North Yorkshire country lanes was a hoot to hoon about.
All show and no go
Unbeatable in the bends? if you were comparing it a Marina, an Allegro or a 2CV, then yes, you were unbeatable. 😁
I had so many metros thru my hands i forget how many, i used to buy repair resell them, biggest pain was welding the jacking points front floors, i was well adept at engine/box swaps out the back lane
The one I had (a y reg, in about 92) was fairly rust free, apart from the front wings. Fairly sure it was on its second pair, and they were bubbling under, about 3 inches behind the headlamps.
Reminds me of my Horsham days in the late 80s early 90s going around in a sliver MG metro looking very cool 😎👌
I used to live in Horsham. The one in Victoria, Australia. I hope that Horsham in the U.K. is not as much of a toilet as the town in Australia.
@@pablojones5613 the one in England 🇬🇧 is a beautiful place very expensive to live in West Sussex
@@pablojones5613 been mentioned on highway patrol the Horsham in Australia 🇦🇺 which I watch over here in England 🇬🇧
Thats where my Volvo came from!
@@furiousdriving yeah would have came from fisher's garage in broadbridge heath I remember that volvo garage not far from Warnham in Horsham 👍
The gearbox was in the sump as in the Mini. I loved the look of the early MG. The face-lift looked a bit soft. I had a few go's in a friend's black version in the day, great fun. We probably shouldn't have raced together with my 1275GT quite as much as we did though. Naughty boys.
Yes, adding a 5th ratio wasn't an option in that box.
I had a similar situation with a friend who had an MG Metro NASP versus my early Mk2 XR2 1.6 :) not much of a battle really.
I had the mini metro GTA they changed the badge to keep the insurance down ad I loved it. Same alloys, I’m bright yellow and the A series with the 77 Bhp engine and it went like the clappers. It pulled solid right up to 100mph and would do more than the 104mph top speed they claimed. Bit naughty but I got mine up 115mph on the M5 one years driving down to Gloucester. And in the two years I had the little girl, she never let me down once, not too mention me and the old man would service her myself on the drive. Oil changes, engine repairs, brakes pads even fitted a new exhaust myself, but you could back then as cars were so simple to work on. I wouldn’t dare touch my VW Passat now, it’s all laptop jobbie when it goes in.
Go's? Missed class quite a lot, huh?
@@markfox1545 Yeah, two bizzy racing me mini.
Fond memories of a family friend who had one of these the red seatbelts I remember as a young lad! Also brings back recent memories of when I reviewed a Metro City X for my channel. Great review as always and someone is a lucky person to get the keys to this!
You (and/or the sellers) do a great job cleaning all of these old cars, they always look really clean both on the inside and outside 👌🏻
Was lucky enough to drive a couple and the Turbo, none were terribly fast but they were good fun, I always liked the look of the Metro and think its aged quite well.
It's the Mini gearbox, hence no 5th gear. Those wheels are off a turbo.
Also, the rear windows do pop open. You even showed the handle. I used to sell these and had a white one as a company car.
...yep. I had a white MG Metro, the wheels were steelies with white trims and MG logo
Yes, it was a bit of a compromise, using the existing design with the gears in the sump & the engine oil etc. They couldn’t squeeze in another gear or two.
@@84Bazza84 I think there was an option for pepperpots. I pillaged a set off an MG to fit to my 'Studio 2', mainly to get rid of the daft metric wheels.
You could have the lattice Turbo wheels as an option on the later cars.
Definitely no 5th though unless you wanted to spend a hideous amount of cash via JKD or KAD!
Great to see a metro on the road, takes me back, more importantly it was made into the 6R4 group b rally car,, what a beast, and to see it in that red reminds me of the colour of the auto plas 6R4 found on you tube,
Great video
Red & Grey interior reminds me of a travel bag my dad had in the late 80's. A colour combination very much of its time.
My mum had a MG Metro and I learned to drive in it as a teenager. I remember it being quite exciting to drive. Good acceleration although I didn't have much experience other than a diesel Fiesta.
I hired one of these shortly after I got married. We packed my SD1, to go on holiday, and it wouldn't start. An MG metro was the only car Avis had available to take away. It was cheaper than a divorce and we're still together
An SD1 that would not start.......can’t believe that. 😉
@@peterriggall8409 yea. And it was a 2300
Bit of a size difference between an sd1 and a metro 😳
I had a C plate one of these in this shape and I cant remember those alloys . Loved that car but along came kids and it went . Later one the wife had a Metro GTA I think they were called . Didnt have the buzz the MG had , great seats and being so young the red belts made it feel so much quicker
Same age metro as the one I passed my test in; that was only a City though. Great nostalgia nonetheless. Cheers.
I used to think the MG Metro & MG Metro Turbo were the business, back in the day. Great looking car!
How pokey was the Turbo version? I almost went for a test drive in one but it wouldn't start!
@@wildbillharding
Lots of lag... then warp speed! Terrific fun!
My Mum drove the one with the wide arches and the solid alloys like a octagon style. Was like a Metallic apple green colour. Wish it was still about.
I had a Metro 1.0L back in 1986 ( a 1982 model ).
It got me down to the South of France via Switzerland and Italy.
On the Mountain passes ( at night ) I was being overtaken by some exptic cars on the straight, but the good old Metro nore than held its own in the corners.
A real hoot
Very neat video, Matt. I have come to appreciate the Metro. They are nippy cars. That sound is so distinctive. Some day I would love to drive one.
I suspect, with that car showing a little over 50,000 miles on the clock, that the interior is going to be largely original. Certainly the red carpets were very much standard MG and Turbo fayre, and the carpet doesn't look as fresh as you'd expect on a car just out of restoration so I'm guessing the MG logo embossed into the heal pad probably is original, which isn't a great surprise as they really did go wild with the MG branding on these later Metros to make them stand out from the cooking Austin variants, and Rover Group interior trim material quality was actually pretty good at this point in its' history so it is far from unusual to see very, very tired cars that still have very decent interiors...
I must admit, this is definitely a bit of a memory for me as I learnt to drive in this era of Metro, not MGs and a bit newer than this one with them being at the end of Austin Metro production before the switch to the Rover Metro, but still with the1300 engine so the interior of one of these is still very familiar to me as you never really forget what you learned to drive in...
From way back in the day when I was at school, I remember the local Austin-Rover dealer did have an early MG Metro on an X-plate in stock that was hearing aid beige, so you could get them very early on but I think it got dropped very quickly as almost no-one, apart from the original owner of this car, bought them so the car was restricted to the more dynamic colours in the range. The car, unsurprisingly, did become something of a fixture on their used vehicle forecourt Metallic silver did seem to be a very popular colour choice for these later MGs in my area, though at the time they were around in numbers I always preferred the black as it really made the side stripes and the red interior trim features pop out...
I passed my test in my own (mk1) MG Metro. Had 3 over the years. I can honestly say that they are the most fun car I've ever driven. More like a toy than a car. I drove and owned the car I passed my test in for 5 yrs (with other cars) and after about 4yrs my mate pointed out that the steering wheel is offset to the seat . Once told it really annoyed me lol. Thanks for a trip down memory lane
My MG that I passed my test in, I believe I would still have today if it was not for a brand new mini roundabout and a dozy female beemer driver that did not give way to the right as I went across the roundabout and turned my beloved car into a banana.
This was the car I had to have as soon as I passed my test at 17. I wanted an all white MG Metro Turbo, but insurance premiums in 1990/91 were crazy.
Lovely condition and great colour.a brother in law used to have a turbo one of these in black but i think they we're overstressed,his was allways blowing up turbos,engines and gearboxes.think he drove it pritty hard mind you lol.guess these would be a bit less temperamental.lookin forward to seeing more on the rovers.
Great vid, thanks. In 1989 I bought a brand new gta metro which was a hybrid of the mg metro & the turbo but cheaper than either. It had the wheels & wheel arch kit of the turbo but the normal mg engine. I loved it but as you've said, it really did want a 5th gear. The gta & I think the turbo metro actually had harder suspension, shock absorbers at the front as well as the hydragas units.
Gta was in red, blue, solar yellow or steel grey that I had.
The gearbox is the same as Mini i.e. in the sump and that is why it didn’t get a 5th gear even if it needed it. . Another car that brings back memories, my mum bought a 1988 MG Metro in 1993 (the year after I passed my test) so being on the insurance I had great fun in it.
In the day had a B plate with different wheels from this one but otherwise pretty much identical, same colour, same trim so brought back a lot of fun memories. Thanks for a great video.
Sister in law had one of these in black. Never seemed to sit evenly on the road and sagged. However, it had character and personality and was fun to drive. Great little car.
A colleague gave me a lift in his MG Metro many years ago. It seemed a lot nicer inside than my Mum's standard model.
Reminds me of my college days. I had a blue mg metro. It was so much fun.
These late 1980s MGs looked very smart indeed, lightly revised iirc.
When this Metro was brand new my parents had just bought a used silver MG Maestro 1600 (ERW 333Y).
Edit: this couldn’t have a 5sp gearbox due to the gearbox in sump design iirc. Although I think a company did offer a modification to accommodate a 5sp gearbox from the 1990s on Minis.
Being the 80’s the blank switch was for the optional death ray for the annoying slow poke blocking your way
I love how industrial everything looks, I really would love one. Even a low spec model.
At 17:55 on the subject of a yellow Metro, I believe they did the later Metro GTA in yellow for a period of time! There was one up for sale a couple of months ago, looked beautiful, the Metro is becoming more retro!
Ill do a google, Id like to see one
Solar yellow
The GTA was the sort of run out model for the late 80s to early 90s. MG Turbo body kit, with contrasting black arches, valences and bumper inserts, Turbo lattice wheels, MG Metro 1275 and gearbox, and likely the same suspension set up. They also definitely had vented front discs as per the MG models.
I only ever remember seeing them in black white, red or yellow and I always loved the way they looked!
Lunchtime viewing, remember a family friend had one of these, so be good to have a look at one of these again.
My godfather had an almost identical one to this in the early 1990s. It was a red MG 1300 just like this, although I think that the wheels were lower specification than this. I remember the red seatbelts and those stalks!
I think there was a British racing green option too, which with the red piping looked fab.
Once saw one in a station car park in British Racing Green, not sure if it was a respray which I doubt as it was less than a year old, could have been a special order as the dealer sticker belonged to a former MG specialist dealer. British Racing Green was an option on MGB's and Midget's. Even went as far back as the T series and original Midget.
I had a black one i bought in 1995 for £300, hands down the most fun car i ever owned.
My 1st car was a red MG Metro , earlier model to that with pepper pot alloys , i loved it .
I had a D Reg white MG Metro Turbo. Unfortunately I bought it with a dodgy gearbox. I knew this, but was desperate to take it out for a blast on the road. I got about 2 miles out of town & the gearbox packed in & the car had to be towed back to town the following day. It then laid in my parents driveway for months until I could afford to buy a replacement gearbox. I ended up choosing the pub & girls instead of repairing the thing...I was only 19, lol. I've regretted it every day since as it was a lovely looking car. On the plus side, I ended up selling it to a mate for £200 more than I paid for it, even with a broken gearbox! Best pub sale ever! 🤣 I still miss it though, and wish I'd got it back on the road instead of p*ssing my money up against the wall 😣👍
when small cars were actually small.
I know what you mean. The current Renault Clio looks about the size of a Megane.
@@edwinreid8355 Twingo is what you are looking for. :) There are still small cars about -- Up!, Aygo, Celerio etc. :)
Oh there are like. In fact, I just happen to own a Red 2017 67 Reg Toyota Aygo. Had the previous Aygo model too.
@@TassieLorenzo yeah, those are still probably bigger than the mark1 golf.
@@varolussalsanclar1163 They have to be made big, heavy and bloated these days because of all the airbags in every corner, crumple zones and other safety nonsense, then there’s all the ecomentalist shit they have choking them up these days. The current mini is the biggest joke because the bloody thing is huge and lacks all the character that made the mini what it was and don’t even get me started on the horrid SUVs plaguing the roads like automotive cancer at the moment!!!
I’m afraid the golden era of cars and motoring is now behind us although I’m trying to keep the flag flying for proper old cars with my 1988 XJ40 at the moment!!!
Had a couple. The 1.3 sport was loads of fun. Quick on country roads as some of my mates will testify to. Lucky I never ended up in a hedgeback mind. Pushed a 2.3 Merc hard but let down by the brakes. Left a 1.6 vectra well behind though. I like to think driving ability came into it on the main but that little car handled great and was a lot of fun!
I must admit the MK2 Nissan Micra is the only reason I (and my son) are here to tell this tale after hitting a snow drift at 80 mph. Kept my foot to the floor and the wheel pointing to the road instead of the trees (while shouting 'shit, shit, shit!) but she saved me and served me well until the rust got the better of her. That little 998 was brilliant!
The rear windows did 'open' on a cantilever, they just didn't wind down. The glass sunroof was also removable and came with a carpet-lined sleeve to store it safely in the boot. The blanking plate was for a switch to control optional items, such as auxiliary lights, that were the fashion back then.
Are you sure you didn't just get that from a museum??? Mega clean!