1991 Rover Metro - Long Term Review 

As I said to Ed on his Twitter account, it is really nice to see well-done and knowledgeable videos about cars that the average person can afford. I used to love Top Gear but then it just became a program showing cars that none of us could afford - those "dream cars" for some. For me, my dream car is one that I can pay for and not worry about. I am 62 and have owned more cars than I can possibly count, and there were times in my life when I wanted a BMW. I have owned a few and they're great - until they break down and the costs of repairs made them prohibitive. Small affordable cars are often maligned, but they can be so much fun and when a repair is needed they rarely break the bank. Two suggestions: One - no need to apologize for your videos - they're great and we all know you're on a budget (as so many of us are). Secondly - It would be fun to see you and Steph from I Drive a Classic do a video together. Oh, and as an American, I have owned Rovers, Triumphs, MGs, and Austins. So, obviously, I like my little British cars.

Old trick to stop the rear seat catch rattling is to wrap a few turns of insulating tape so the catch is actually firmly seated. Self adhesive felt tape is your best bet to stop other trim squeaks & rattles.

Had one.The main thing i remember was the high quality fit out,it was like a comfy room.Like your vids mate,thumbs up.If i had a test car i would trust you with it(high praise). cheers

Great little video on these metros👌

Lovely little car

you need to drive a real mini , your smiling driving the metro , you will never get the grin off your face if you drive a mini , ive owned both , had a very early austin metro , loved the visability and it sounded like i was driving a mini, had a rover 114 cabriolet great car then a rover 100 ascot took a while to get used to , felt like i was driving a boat and did feel like i wanted to be sick , but i got used to it great cars

You Know you've bought the right car when you smile when you give it a good rev

Having lived thru their era where they mainly went unloved, it's great to see young people appreciating them :) And yes, apart from thr improved suspension, it feels very much like a Mini

That young people know classic Alan Partridge quotes gives me hope for the future.

The metro is the most misunderstood small cars ever it's the best basic car ever I remember that it was the chosen car of meny driving instructors for years a

Great video Ed, the grin on your face whilst driving speaks volume 😀

What a legend, keep up your energy mate.

I like your pure British Young Spirit. Regards Al +

Absolutely brilliant video and a fantastic car! The Metro reminds me a lot of my own little Aygo- simple back to basics fun that costs nothing to run!

Ed, you mentioned the 205 and how people say how good it is to drive.. ok... I never drove one but let me she'd some light: When I was in the Azores I bought a second hand cheap Ax and it was great. Everyone there went for a used 205 as they were very popular and so, cheap and reliable and no problems getting spare parts or a mechanic that was used to the car. I rode on them often, they whent well, plenty of space, comfortable... All fine and dandy but...... It all felt apart when there was side or crosswinds. The 205 was terrible with crosswinds, being tossed from side to side and being very hard to hold your lane with side wind, having to constantly adjust the steering. Of course the Azores is a strange place, a strange place where everyone told me the Fiesta Mark 3 was totally unreliable (they were famous for being reliable in the mainland) and everyone praised on how reliable the AX was when in the mainland everyone said it was a terrible car in terms of reliability, so it might so happen the 205 is better outside the islands 🤣

Wow, this example is in such good condition! How?!! Great video, I'll look out for more :-)

Great honest review!! Your right about if you don't give your car a glance as you walk away, then its not for you!! I do this everytime with my honda jazz.👍

I had an early L model with a 4 speed. Nippy little thing. I loved it and I miss it. It got nicked.

Do you love Melvin by any chance?

I do miss my pov spec Citroen saxo forte, my mum had a couple of these metros when I was a kid and yeah the cupholder issue my 2003 3 series don't have any either XD

One just came up for sale near me might just spend £700 to get it bought What kind of fuel does it use

I passed my test in an Austin Metro & my 1st car was an Austin Mini 850cc 1978S.

Very nicely kept little car, you obviously love it to bits, good on you!

You rally should try an original Mini. Find a decent dry chassis car and you will have huge fun. They are not refined by even basic modern standards but, oh hell, they are soo much fun.

Did you blacken the bumpers? If so, how?

I love that car. Love the poverty spec and simplicity

Excellent video & a lovely little car. I thoroughly enjoyed watching it.

Why would you want cup holder? It is illegal to drink and drive :).

Another Great Video Mate keep them coming :)

What's the LED below the rear fog light switch, is it an aftermarket alarm? Just bought a 1993 Quest Edition which doesn't have one (doesn't have much else either...!)

Lol it's crazy that there is a SU carb on a 1991 car. Still, this is an awesome motor. If you look up the performance figures, as with all older cars, they don't do the car justice in relation to how it feels on the road. Always felt the Metro / 100 was underrated, whatever that means (though strangely I feel the A-series Metros were overrated in their day). Great review mate. Subbed.

Hi Ed, really like this video! Your enthusiasm for this Rover Metro is infectious! I love how you describe it in such detail and with such passion!! You're clearly a petrol head - good on ya m8! Just one thing - you describe the metro as such a fantastic car to drive!! May I invite you to drive an Alfa Romeo and then have a rethink!!! no offence I just think you can do much better than a metro! Just try an Alfa or even a Fiat!

It shows you love the metro. Your smile says it all. That's all that matters. The engine sounds so sweet. Lovely sound.

I'm in the US but I want to echo a couple of other commenters here by saying that I love the reviews of regular cars that regular people can afford. Ed's my favorite new car guy on YT 😊

Somebody I knew had one of these types of windows but the rear window was the slightly bigger one compared to the later models - lovely car it was 🙂. I can't help but wonder but was it designed to compete with our favourite style of Mini Cooper? I haven't watched all the video but at the start, the dashboard / speedometer reminds me of the blue 54-reg LDV Convoy at Fitzwaryn School in Wantage. Edit (20/08/20): Excellent video 🙂👍! It sounds like the Rover Metro is one of those cars that has a lot of enjoyable features but any negatives you think 'Yeah but what is perfect in life 🙂?" I remember roughly a few years ago (4 maybe) seeing, in relatively short periods of time, latest generation Ford Transit vans being towed. No more than a few altogether though. Volvo buses and coaches of the 1980's and 1990's I know were rock solid (and I'm only 27). The only problem was the higher floor.

A genuinely good channel

Still think it's an attractive looking car, and they are certainly good to drive. One of the most impressive versions I drove was the CVT automatic - goes like sh*t off a shovel. I've always wanted, but have never driven, a GTi 16v MPi. I couldn't afford one in 1991 (when I was about your age) because they were about £12k, but I did buy a Citroen AX GT..

Rover seats always very comfortable, I have a 1999 620SLi and still so comfortable even against much more modern Mercedes, BMW , Ford, Vauxhall and Peugeot. BL and Rover given an unjust bad name because of poor management of the group many moons ago, just so unfortunate they were allowed to sink to its death in 2005 😢

60hp is very good for that car, I had the Ax 1.1 RE 55 HP, 4speeds for a while and it was pretty fast. Let's face it, the design, dimensions and weight of this car are very comparable to the AX so I think that 60hp will be more than enough for this car, either for city, roads or even a bit of motorway

I love your enthusiasm for the K series Metro and it reminds me of a friend that had one, who really thought it was the nuts back in 1996. A proper late night urban road race over about 6 miles, showed it was no match for my £80 early 5 door Mk3 1.3 Escort. Shame that the K series engine is a great design, yet poorly implemented. Head gaskets were always a problem and widespread knowledge of that caused cars so equipped, to depreciate fast. I had a Rover 115D in 2008 (another £80 purchase) which was brilliant, if you can find one now.

Love the video as always, your passion and knowledge alone make for a brilliant video. The Alan Partridge reference had me grinning. I suppose the Metro has a couple of quotes on its own ... "THEY’VE RE-BADGED IT YOU FOOL!!!”

I’m 13 and I’ve got a red 1995 Rover 111 Kensington. It didn’t start as the flywheel was buggered, got that fixed. Then found out the filler neck had a split in it as it was corroded badly, got that replaced, then found out there was a hole in the top of the fuel tank. Got that replaced, but put the pipes the wrong way around, so swapped them around. It was annoying, but my god I still love that car. The seats are so damn comfortable, although the driver’s seat squeaks, gearbox ratios are close which I like, and it feels like you’re doing 100 miles an hour when you’re doing 20. Drove it on a bit of abandoned runway and my god it handled well too. Bloody brilliant car, wouldn’t ever wanna get rid of it.

Mate I want to tell you how jealous I am of you. One you have a metro and two it’s not rusty and three you still have it!! I had a 1.4si L reg and it was amazing soo quick! But it was rusted to hell! And I traded it in for a rover 200! Only just discovered your videos keep them coming

Recognise the Ring o bells pub now closed pal. Best Rovers i owned was Rover 400 1.6 Honda engine very nippy very comfy. Next was Rover 200 1.4 K series very reliable and comfortable Past my test in the Metro 1.3 its sporty and had all the trim grey and red. Would like to own a Rover p5 but a decent one is very pricey. Great vid.

60bhp from a 1.1 is actually pretty good. The 1.0 A-series engines produces 40bhp. The 1.4 K-series was a nippy little unit. People often criticize the K-series for its head gasket issues but once those have been addressed, it's a really good revvy unit. The K-series won a design award. Many years ago in 2002, my boss had a Rover Metro 114CTi in dark green. He asked me if I wanted to buy it but being 22 at the time, I was thinking the insurance would be quite high. In hindsight I wish I had bought it because I'm certain they are quite rare now.

0:18 - brings a smile to my face. Seeing that Choke Warning light lite up. Reminds me of my 1st car Red Rover Metro Quest. Would like have that experience again. Maybe on day!!

My ex had a 114 GTI back in the nineties. That used to really fly. The handling was great, and I couldn't believe it didn't have PAS. But, by the time it was just 6 years old, it was almost unroadworthy with the rot underneath, and the rear arches were disintegrating before your eyes.

I love your metro. Pete uk

So I remember you on a previous video saying this car had a PSA gearbox, so citroen AX? I’ve had several of those, 1.1 both 4 and 5 speed, and a 1.4 AXGT. Both boxes would give you the same top speed, but the 5 speed spread the ratios out better, making it easier to live with. If you really want to have fun, you must try out an AXGT.... the most fun you can have in a car with you clothes still on!

I like the new camera angle, especially with blue sky visible through the sun roof. Ref Alan Partridge mentioned @6:24, I remember the "I'm not driving a mini metro" sketch, his PA tried to persuade him it's now called a Rover Metro, he wasn't convinced though.

I've driven a Rover 100 1.1 GSi, surprisingly nippy & not bad at all to drive, really reliable too. My mate took me out in her 1.4 & that thing had quite a bit of poke.

Excellent video, passed my test in one of these back in 1993. Don't know if you remember but we have met back at the Mawdesley Classic car show at the end of May, I was having a chat with you about your car and also Mr Hubnut.

Great review! Rover Group at a pleasant high in 1990. The fact that this is an evolution of the A+ engined Austin Metro and managed to offer a car that was well received is pretty good going

I once got a speeding ticket in a 1.0 Metro.

The K series engine was massively better than A series , a lot of fun yes

If you dont glance back at your car you dont love it ..that's so true ..have an 89 corsa and I love ..great videos ..keep going. Stay safe ..Robert

That engine is great when it blows its head gaskets every 5,000 miles

Hello mate. I really admire the passion you have for your Metro, and I agree, the handling of the early Rover Metro's -- once the suspension was finally interlinked -- was pretty good when compared to the competition.

Awesome drive test. You really should make up a "Show video" and submit it to a few TV Motoring shows. You have great potential !!

The Metro was good enough for Lady Diana Spencer!! 👍👍 I used to drive a Metro van which was great fun.

My mate had a 1.1 Metro at uni a few years ago. I had (still have) a classic Mini. They both handled quite similarly and very well! He did have the advantage of 5 gears but I had a slight power advantage for the twisties!

another fab video, what u said about owning a car makes u happy and if u dont look back u got the wrong 1 sooo true as i got my sierra and always look back and driving it makes me smile every time, i would love to drive a metro but i dont know anyone with 1, and like u, i wouldnt sell my sierra for love nor money i love it too much and im 35

Can’t remember when I last saw a Metro or 100 here in Ireland. Scrappage schemes killed off cars like these years ago

Mmm...I guess England in November is as cold as Alaska...nothing too much going on...

You have the same stereo as I've just fitted in my A2. You should try fitting the column-mounted remote too, it's excellent.

Absolutely fantastic video once again, I'm dying to get one asap and I'll be honest watching your videos hasn't helped 😂

Really enjoyed that, I have a soft spot for these (I'm 37 so remember them being really common) I'm also enjoying your thread on a certain sweary car forum :)

My first car was the same year/spec as this but in red. Great car and memories. Very reliable too 😀

I love the smile on your face its showing us how much you love your Metro sorry (Melvin)

You teach many lessons Ed, some are even about cars! Carry on.

Drove mini this afternoon and agree with everything said. Well said.

Very nice car!hay what about stest drive a datsun blue bird coupe?

Really great to see your enthusiasm whilst driving 😁

Love your wheels looks great

Lovely looking car, you clearly love him.

I really want one of these. Think they are a fantastic car!

Great video, your affection for the metro is clear to see. I had three metros an 83, 87 and a 96 .loved them all but suprisingly I found the driving position in the rover one the most awkward.

Hiya new subscriber, gonna have a binge watch today

Great stuff, had no idea you had a YT channel.I met you at the HubNut social and POL 2019 (with the wedgewood blue 75), so nice to see this great little car again and well done on the videos. You planning on going to POL 2020?

on top gear they said it "rolls like a drunk on breaking and acelaration"

They've rebadged it you fool!

Love these videos, the knowledge and passion is fantastic. Reminds me of me back in the day......sorry!

I like these, but the best Austin rover for me is the maestro , I had both A series and later 0 series 2litre efi. I preferred the metro with the A series engine. But at least the 8v K series is the most reliable of the k's - mg metro seats are very plush, the same ones fitted in the maestro, and if you want to beat most cars for comfort you're welcome test drive my top of the range rover 600. They're softer and more comfort than most. Great review!