A high performance bargain
Hydro gas suspension and the starter motor. Not much really.
Lovely car to drive, and takes a good thrashing in 3rd gear.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know
Review Date: 10th August, 2000
An excellent bargain car if you get a well maintained one
Rear brake shoe hydraulic cylinders (both sides)that set me back £10 each, easy to install though. Also slightly rusty.
I bought this car from a lady at work after a unfortunate accident with my previous car. She was under the impression that the automatic transmission would "go" after 48,000 to 52,000. I paid £200 for it. I was told by a mechanic friend that if the engine oil and filter was changed regularly i.e. 4000 to 5000 miles (transmission uses the same oil as the engine) it would last "forever". I've followed this advice and it's still going! There is a slight slip from 3rd to 4th but it's done this ever since I've had it and doesn't seem to have got worse. I think the engine and transmission will no doubt outlast the bodywork. This has been a great investment (you can't go wrong for £200!) I was fortunate to get a low mileage 2 women owners one. I keep saying I'm going to get a new car but it's still going so I see no point other then for vanity reasons.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know
Review Date: 4th May, 2000
I got hold of a 1litre for a £5, I've owned it for 3 years and its never gone wrong. metros are the way forward.
Yes, yes, I remember them well.
Here's a tip: instead of using ordinary oil, use Shell Rotela; it's made for older diesel engines. Older engines need a good zinc level in the oil; modern synthetics do not have any zinc in the oil because it damages the cat converter. Older pushrod engines need zinc in the oil. Your mate is right about changing the filter on a regular basis with those BMC mini units. It's also good to flush it out now and again; flush it before putting the Rotela in, and the Rotela will keep it cleaner inside as well!
Engine/gearbox, front CV joints, ball joints, distributor, leaking radiator, oil contaminated clutch, seized brake calipers. You name it, it went wrong!!
The car was a pile of crap. Using ONE LITRE of ENGINE OIL every 150 - 200 miles. Kept jumping out of 2nd gear. The bloody thing was in for repairs more time than on the road. It had only covered 65,000 miles when I sold it for £200. £50 more than I paid (not including the £500 I spent on repairs).
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 28th February, 1999
I owned 3 Mini Metro's and they had similar problems: rust, clutch judder, brakes, although for the rest I had luck.
The car I own now is a Volkswagen Golf 1.3 from 1983 and compared with the Metro it is a boring car because everything works and if not, it's easy to repair due to the clever design...
I don't have any comments, but I wonder if you know about the mechanicals? If you know, I want to ask you if I can fit a Turbo in my car (Austin Metro City X 1.3) and if I can, where I can find it?
Thanks a lot.
I had the 1.0 City model for 7 months which I bought for £10 for my wife to learn to drive in - I changed the oil, adjusted the tappets, serviced the brakes and spent nothing else on it. When it refused to start 2000 miles later I just towed it to the scrapper.
My conclusion - great car as long as you don't pay more than £100 for it or spend more than £50 on any repair.
I own an Austin Metro City x 1.3, and I love it. It is the same age as me (18 yrs old) and the only major rust has been under the wheel aches. I spent £200 on it which is nothing compared to the insurance £600.
I bought a Metro City 1 litre (1986) for £180 with 40,000 miles on the click, have since taken that to 52,000 miles with £35 of repairs. Rust never needed addressing, £20 putting new clamps on (i discovered the exhaust had been replaced for me). £5 cos I got it stuck in reverse because I went too quickly backwards, but merly bruit force was the solution. Great fun to drive, will cope with 85mph although it feels like take off at 75mph, I believe I get 35 miles to the gallon.
Only downside is that it's a bit dangerous with such skinny tires, stopping distance surprises me in the wet.
Everything!
Gearbox, cylinder head, water pump, thrust bearings, waste gate, clutch, starter motor solenoid, alternator, etc, etc!
Worst car I have ever owned! Poor performance, woeful reliability, horrendous running costs and awful dealers, need I say more, avoid like the plague!
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 17th January, 1999
Intermittent fault with electrical feed to starter motor caused a few non starts.
Over the four years I have had this car, it has only failed on me twice. Not bad for a 12 year old car! Very cheap to run too. Thoroughly recommended for a first car or cheap runabout.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 10th February, 1998
New gearbox at 17K; two exhausts in three years; rust after 1 year.
Good in its day; glad I got rid of it though.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 23rd August, 1997
28th Sep 2001, 04:36
I got a 1.3 automatic for £40, it slips sometimes between 3rd and 4th, but it goes well. Tyres are expensive.