Austin Metro 1.3

Now I am a mini owner and I think there is some essential advise that all potential mini buyers should know. If I had known these tips when I had bought my first mini I would have saved myself a lot of hastle. So here it is. If you are planning on buying a second hand mini cheaply there are a few areas which you need to be careful. If the mini is of a significant age then there WILL be rust, do not be decieved by a nice new spray job, there are several ...
...- the most important thing to consider with rust is how much it could cost you. You have to be careful, if there is rust within 30cm of the subframe then it needs to be repaired before it will pass its MOT. That means you havnt got a choise whether you want to repair it or not. You can repair rust by welding or by using a fiberglass compound. but only welding can be used when repairing key areas on the car near the subframe. - Firstly look under ...

danielhills 15.02.2001 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this car review on average: very helpful
Review of Austin Metro 1.3

...I saw a 1984 1.3 Austin Metro for sale in my local free-ads for just £350, I was exstatic. I remember my best friend owning one from new and he had said that it was the best small car he had ever purchased. My wife needed a new car for work, and so I decided to investigate. Two weeks later I had haggled the owner down to £330 and I was the proud owner of this stunning blue pocket rocket. I'm making no false pretence that this is a fast car, however ...
...around 65bhp on tap. Fuel economy is excellent, returning 45+mpg on a long run, and about 35 around town (perfect for negotiating the confusing one way systems of inner bournemouth cheaply...), and fuel efficiency is not the only money saving aspect of this car: After 3 weeks it appeared that the seal had gone in the petrol cap, a short trip down to my local Rover dealership sorted me out with a brand new cap, and I only had to hand over £1.45!!! ...

Tonyoverdrive 19.01.2006 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful
Review of Austin Metro 1.3

My brother is Mini mad. When he passed his driving test, he bought a Mini straight away. His first Mini was a Blue W reg model. The trouble was we had just moved from Southport to Glossop, and he had left the car in Southport. Therefore, we had to drive him back to Southport. When we arrived, he tried to start the car, but it just would not start, after an hour he turns round and says, "It hasn't got no petrol in it." So I went to the petrol station ...
...drink before heading off home, so we pulled into a pub, on the outskirts of Southport. When we come out he then says, "The car hasn't got any oil in it." Therefore, we had to go to Halfords and get some oil. We then set of home, my god it was a complete disaster, the headlights went out on the motorway and he almost collided with another car. It a wonder he got home in one piece. Two months later and he arrived with another Mini this one was an x ...

mandyco 13.03.2001 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful
Review of Austin Metro 1.3

I owned an F reg metro from new. I brought it in 1989 and it gave me 10 years old faithful service until i decided to get rid of her. I like the metro, and in my opinion is certainly one of the better small cars around. The metro, like any other car has its good and bad points. First bad points, lets get them out of the way! Bad points... seats - the seats are quite rigid but dont seem to support the back very well and can lead to backacks on long ...
...the beginning of the 80's so safety isnt exactly up to todays standards, infact the so unsafe when they crashtested the car they had to invent a new catagory for it, basically a deathtrap!! Performance - there not racing cars! Ths engine is a bit whiney and my car only had 4 gears and there are other 1.3 cars which perform much better than this. Oil, oil, oil.. the car does have great handling because it has a low centre of gravity, i.e its body ...

djp110 13.04.2003 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful
Review of Austin Metro 1.3

...present I recieved a 1972 Austin 1300 GT. This was not really my car of choice, but i loved mini's and my dad is a classic car freak so he'd found me this little Austin. We spent months doing my "Polly" up, she got the full works, new interior, new carpet, respray..everything. She had a genuine 80,000 miles on the clock. I loved my car, and have to say was very surprised when I finally got behind the wheel at how fast she shifted ! May have been ...
...board I would buy an Austin 1300GT. She was a star. Unfortunately a few weeks ago someone thought it would be amusing to burn my car. I woke up on the Sunday morning to a funny smell, and when I opened the front door there she was on the drive still smoking. I would just like to say if I ever caught the ******* that did this, I would chop his hands off. Long live the Austin 1300GT ...

austinhead 10.08.2000 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful
Review of Austin Metro 1.3

Let's get off to the right start - I learnt to drive in a Mini. It *is* my car of choice. It's nimble, compact and can be fast. If you get a good one, it really can start to reflect your personality. It's a great little car, the insurance is ridiculously cheap, and even with a top end fast model, you can often fit into the lower tax bracket. That said, however, I learnt to drive in my Mini. 'Nuff said. It's a great first car, but for a day-to-day ...
...and hates the wet (the flooding killed mine). They can rust easily if not looked after and the driving position is very compact, in comparison to any modern supermini. If driving a Mini is something you haven't yet experienced, you really must, it's wonderful. The car always feels 100% under your control, and nothing else rides like it. But keep it as a hobby car, something to build up and enter into showcase events. It really wouldn't survive daily ...

Kouros 31.12.2000 (07.07.2002) · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful
Review of Austin Metro 1.3

I'm not joking. I had my bike licence for 5 years before work made me pass my car test, shortly afterwards myself and other half (who only has a bike licence) needed to move house. Enter George. George is a blue G-reg austin/rover crossover 1.3GS, and he's a fantastic drive. With the suspension aged to perfection (i.e. the front of the car is lower than the rear) he goes round corners like he's on rails. acceleration isn't bad - for a car - and his ...
...keep binding on. He can certainly see off alot of other cars in the local area without too much hassle....much to their annoyance. The engine is sweet as a nut, the only problem is bad rust round the right rear wheel arch and passenger door, which may yet be a cause for his demise. Although if his body does give up I'll be on the look out for a replacement body shell as the rest of the car is that good. I like the fact I can hear the engine, the ...

cloudfire 11.06.2003 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful
Review of Austin Metro 1.3

My son is 21 years old and has been driving for four years, and for the first three years he always drove Mini's. But after always having trouble with them starting and always breaking down he decided to buy a new car, he bought one that was only eighteen months old, and after driving it for a year he now says he wishes he had bought a new one four years ago. He goes to work every day and always knows it is going to start first time, unlike mini's, ...

sillygilly 17.03.2001 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful
Review of Austin Metro 1.3

The Metro is the car that saved longbride factory in Birmingham and the car that was meant to replace the mini but didnt quite suceed but had a good innings from 1980 to 1990. It is quite a good looking yet simple car with a neat body design and basic but well laid out interior. The 1300 engine has about 65 bhp about the same as ford Ka and does about 35 to the gallon around town. You have to be carefull though because only the Metro's with the higher ...
...to be specially converted which will cost about £80. There are loads of parts available cheeply but the cars suffer badley from rust. They are a nice car to drive if a little crude but they have good handling and easy for the DIY mechanic. Security is a problem they are on the goverment list as easy to break into so make sure you get an immoberliser and alarm. ...

zef 21.09.2001 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this car review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of Austin Metro 1.3

...The first range of Austin Metros were released in 1981 billed as "A British car to rule the world" and although not quite living up to this slogan they have become very useful small vehicles. They are based on the same design as the mini so perform pretty similar. However they have more space and are actually quite comfortable to drive and be a passenger in. I would recommend this car to first time drivers and people with a low budget or as a 2nd ...
...for around £400 and are normally easy to fix up if there are any problems. The METRO car has gained cult status with many people and me and friends have gone as far to invent a game around this wonderful economic piece of machinery. We are avid fans of the METRO car no matter which model or company it is. It is the perfect small car for any new driver. A few years ago whilst my friend owned a METRO we invented a game for long journeys where you ...

forestparks 16.03.2003 (17.03.2003) · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this car review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of Austin Metro 1.3

I am truly passionate about mini's. I mean what other car could look good with a union jack roof or in a range of different colours. The Mini has kept it's stylish looks for decades now and its appeal is ever growing. I bought my car as a cheap started car and it has proved reliable, economical and of course very easy to park. What other car could fit into a small space with such agility and excellent handling. Although there is not that much space ...

liver 29.07.2000 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this car review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of Austin Metro 1.3