1989 Rover - Austin Montego L 2.0 petrol

Summary:

Unbeatable econmy and power, from a family saloon

Faults:

Rear bushes from the axle to body were worn.

Engine mounts are badly worn.

Usual rust problems on doors and rear arches.

Steering rack needed replaced for mot.

Radiator had no bars left and fan was finished.

General Comments:

Rear bushes from the axle to body were worn. Very dangerous when driving at speed. This wasn't picked up on an mot test.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 6th June, 2004

1989 Rover - Austin Montego GSi 2.0

Summary:

A quick, cheap to buy car

Faults:

Auto gearbox had to be rebuilt at 65,000 (no drive).

ECU replaced at 70,000.

Cooling system inadequate - prone to overheating.

When the car required tuning, the diagnostics were difficult and expensive at a Rover dealer - always felt you were being conned.

Usual rust problems associated with this vintage of Rover.

General Comments:

When everything was running right the car was a fast, comfortable mode of transport.

Big boot and fairly spacious in the cab. All four doors had electric windows which was useful.

Local private hire taxi companies love them.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 6th September, 2001

1989 Rover - Austin Montego L 1.6

Summary:

Responds very well

Faults:

In general the vehicle has been perfect except from the gear box (which broke up), but it's now all perfect plus I've had a new clutch fitted as well as another gearbox.

General Comments:

When driving the vehicle it's a pleasure to drive it also has a great performance,and a good view. Relatively comfortable when sitting on front seats, rear seats are mediocre.

In general drives very well, a strong recommendation - forget your XR3s and XR2s, it has strong performance. Insurance is not very cheap though worth while, you can pick them up reasonably cheaply these days. It would take £1,000 to sell my pride and joy. EMAIL ashmaster@btinternet.com to make a bid and leave details.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 12th August, 2000

1989 Rover - Austin Montego L 1.6

Summary:

A potentially good car, let down by poor build

Faults:

Stutters from low revs, windscreen cracked due to poor bonding.

Rust, Rust, Rust.

General Comments:

Totally unresponsive steering, slow, poor fuel economy, oh, did I mention the rust?

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 22nd May, 2000

1989 Rover - Austin Montego Turbo 2.0

Summary:

Very quick car for not much money

Faults:

Nothing much went wrong with the car. PAS never did work properly, rust started to appear on the rear wheel arches but nothing substantial. Passengers' side central locking sometimes got stuck. Excellent engine and turbo, I used fully synthetic oil < 10K between changes.

General Comments:

Very very quick car! 0-60 in a neck snapping 7.2 seconds, left everything standing at the lights and watch GTi's disappear in the rear view mirror. MPG was terrible for short runs. Suspension needs to be stiffened considerably to aid cornering. I put 205 tyres on it but watch out for torque steer.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 19th May, 2000

1989 Rover - Austin Montego MG 2.0 petrol

Faults:

Central locking can be a problem in cold weather, remote petrol flap release needs repeated adjustment.

General Comments:

These cars are vastly underrated. I bought this particular one as an insurance write-off two years ago, and apart from the problem of matching the metallic paintwork it has given no real trouble at all in the 26,000 miles I`ve covered in it. It regularly returns 31mpg on unleaded in every day driving and will cruise at 100mph all day. These cars do not deserve the reputation they have, although I have to admit, the rust resistance seems variable from one car to another.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 12th December, 1999

16th Oct 2001, 04:17

The MG Montego I have will go off the clock. They are very good cars. I have had no problems with it and they are very underrated.

16th Aug 2002, 14:08

Strange how some Montego's rust badly and some not at all, I've had three all MG's one was a real rust bucket and no matter what I did it just rusted more and more, whereas the other two remaianed virtually rust free throughout their useful lives.

27th Feb 2004, 19:36

My dad had one of these which I really enjoyed driving, especially the stonking acceleration at any rpm.

The car was very reliable, the worst problem was the depreciation from £12k to £800 in 7 years. And the other problem was a 20 year old son rearranging the front end :-)

- not too bad, I got all the bits off another one at a scrappy for less than £100.

21st Mar 2006, 08:40

The montego's were great cars - well ahead of their time. I owned a 1989, 1.6L saloon for 4 years and found it to be a nippy, reliable, cheap form of transport. Pitty they rusted so badly.