1979 Rover - Austin Allegro HL Estate 1.5 petrol from UK and Ireland

Summary:

A reliable, comfortable car, unfairly derided

Faults:

The clutch wore out, but this was just fair wear and tear.

The clutch slave cylinder failed suddenly leaving no clutch operation at traffic lights in busy traffic.

Weak engine mountings caused clutch judder.

One of the displacers had a leak in the connection between the actual displacer and the fluid hose, causing the car to sag on one side.

Constant velocity joint on the near side wore out, causing knocking when turning right.

General Comments:

The car seems to use a lot of oil, although it doesn't seem to burn it and it doesn't leak when it's stationary; I've no idea where it goes.

Apart from the faults listed, the car is totally reliable and moderately comfortable. It's my 5th Allegro and I wouldn't hesitate buying another one.

Build quality could be better, and the flimsy plastic creaks inside the cab.

I have had no major problems with corrosion, although it has needed minor welding over the years.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 11th March, 2004

1980 Rover - Austin Allegro 1.3 1.3 a series from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Get a manual and you'll have a great car

Faults:

Transmission self destructed at 55k which wrote off the car.

Otherwise, it was great!

General Comments:

I loved my little allegro... 200quid, for a rust free car... it started every time, and never let me down as a daily driver for work.. 100 miles a day in city traffic.

Sadly, its Achilles heel was the automatic transmission... it melted down in Scotland on the motorway, and I had to have the car towed home.. I was quoted 700 to have it fixed, so I had to say goodbye.

Lovely ride, nice interior, quirky styling... I'd have it today if the tranny didn't go.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 11th January, 2004

1977 Rover - Austin Allegro 1500 Super 1.5 petrol from UK and Ireland

Summary:

The Most practical and cheap classic car

Faults:

The radiator fan switch failed at 59,000 miles.

General Comments:

These cars are seriously under valued, I paid £100 for this car from our local scrap dealer.

Since I bought the vehicle it has sailed its MOT test and provide perfect service at little more than the cost of the fuel.

The Austin Allegro must be the cheapest car on earth to own, it uses the cheapest size tyres, It costs a very small amount to insure and parts are available from most motor factors at giveaway prices.

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

Review Date: 6th January, 2003

30th Jan 2003, 17:27

GET REAL! I must admit as a british car fan I liked the look of the Allegro, i never owned one, but I owned 5 Austin Maxis,1 good,4 awful,4 Montegos, all good, apart from rust, but on the whole, if i`m honest, the Allegero was not a quality car, if buying an Allegro you must be aware that they cannot run on unleaded and for the prices being asked of old Allegros, you really MUST be missing a penny.

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1977 Rover - Austin Allegro HL 1.3 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Warning, stay away from this car

Faults:

Brakes failed, head gasket blew, faulty electrics, clutch worn, carburetters broken, the list is a mile long.

General Comments:

Absolute shed. Never before have I seen such a useless wreck, even my previous car, a "Lada", was more reliable.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 29th June, 2001

7th Dec 2001, 03:06

OK, well what do you expect for a car over 24 years old with over 100,000 miles on the clock? I mean, a re-con engine and you would have addressed all your problems, as with any car. The fact it has survived that many miles and 24 British winters is a credit to Leyland. Don't see many Mk II Escorts with that history, do you?

6th Feb 2002, 17:02

I don't think that's any credit to Leyland - the car's got less than 200,000km on the clock - it shouldn't need a re-con yet, whether that mileage has been done in 5 years or 25. There is no excuse for faulty electrics, either - this is either poor workmanship or poor design. Whether or not you see other cars of this vintage around or not is irrelevant - it's absolute quality that counts, not relative quality. No wonder the British car industry is dead.

2nd Oct 2002, 15:39

I agree with the the first reply 200K km (120K ml) is pretty good, what do you want from an (Almost) free car, Blood?

21st Jan 2003, 19:02

Now lets see 24 years & 100000 miles, so it`s been used for a lot of short trips which would wear the clutch, time & British winters would finish off any electrics & the head would suffer from old &/or incorrect antifreeze mixture! DOH! What do some people expect for the money a rolls?

5th Jul 2006, 21:53

Everyone knows that the Allegro had its problems, but you cannot deny it's a great little design with bags of character. I particularly liked the estates, we had an R reg harvest gold example. My dad hated it, he jokingly named it 'Rustin Allegro'. But despite the bad build quality it was a great car. After we sold it I'd often see it around for many years. I hope to get one soon!