Jozza

After many years of thinking about it and a few weeks of avid research I'm now the proud owner of this:
 

 

 

 

 

 
49,700 miles, 3 previous owners, full Citroen and specialist service history. On the original chassis but fully Waxoyled from new.
 
It needs a new foglamps (already got one on the shelf) and there's a leak in the silencer but apart from that it's top notch. I've only done a handful of miles in it so far but in terms of smiles-per-mile it has the Landy beaten hands-down !

Are you sure someone hasn't got something wrong when they put the luxury MG dash in, and somehow wired the fan sender switch into the warning light? I can't think how you'd do that but it seems an awfully convenient set of symptoms

Just a quick update for you guys,
 
I spoke to the garage that the Metro was recovered to today, and the initial results don't sound good. To quote the person on the end of the phone 'the front end's all stove in...it certainly isn't driveable...no bumper, no grille, a smashed headlight.'
 
Given the near-zero worth of Metros I'm pretty sure it'll be a write-off from the insurere's point of view. I'll just have to go along and see it to gauge whether I reckon it's worth repairing myself. I doubt the work itself is that difficult, it's the time required to source parts. In my experience getting any parts for old Metros that aren't also used on Minis is next to impossible, even through the Club.
 
On the (slightly) upside, the police have charged the guy caught driving/crashing it with aggravated vehicle theft and he'll be up before the magistrate tomorrow morning.

Just a quick update for you guys,
 
I spoke to the garage that the Metro was recovered to today, and the initial results don't sound good. To quote the person on the end of the phone 'the front end's all stove in...it certainly isn't driveable...no bumper, no grille, a smashed headlight.'
 
Given the near-zero worth of Metros I'm pretty sure it'll be a write-off from the insurere's point of view. I'll just have to go along and see it to gauge whether I reckon it's worth repairing myself. I doubt the work itself is that difficult, it's the time required to source parts. In my experience getting any parts for old Metros that aren't also used on Minis is next to impossible, even through the Club.
 
On the (slightly) upside, the police have charged the guy caught driving/crashing it with aggravated vehicle theft and he'll be up before the magistrate tomorrow morning.

Just a quick update for you guys,
 
I spoke to the garage that the Metro was recovered to today, and the initial results don't sound good. To quote the person on the end of the phone 'the front end's all stove in...it certainly isn't driveable...no bumper, no grille, a smashed headlight.'
 
Given the near-zero worth of Metros I'm pretty sure it'll be a write-off from the insurere's point of view. I'll just have to go along and see it to gauge whether I reckon it's worth repairing myself. I doubt the work itself is that difficult, it's the time required to source parts. In my experience getting any parts for old Metros that aren't also used on Minis is next to impossible, even through the Club.
 
On the (slightly) upside, the police have charged the guy caught driving/crashing it with aggravated vehicle theft and he'll be up before the magistrate tomorrow morning.

Since I'm the owner of said Metro (who really doesn't get on here as much as I should):
 
1) Thanks to everyone for the support and for spreading the word (especially to Ian for starting the thread).
 
2)
 
This is exactly how it went. You get a strange surreal feeling walking out your door to find only an empty parking space. If it wasn't for the two patches of 10w/40 on the tarmac I couldn't have believed it was ever there. In fact I was more willing to believe that I'd done something immeasurably stupid like popped up to the corner shop in it and then walked back (something I've never done and could never actually see myself doing) than that it had been nicked.
 
3) Yes, it has been recovered, with 'some RTA damage'. Which could mean anything. They actually collared someone driving it, though, who apparently refused to stop and led the Old Bill on something of a chase (!) If it must be irredeemably damaged I'd much rather it went out fighting in the finest tradition of an early 'Nineties episode of Police, Camera, Action than being dumped in some Fenland drain, to be scooped out 20 years later.
 
I'll know more about its exact state tomorrow. They'd better not have pranged the radiator - I spent six months last year trying to find what must be the only Mk2 1.3 Metro radiator left in the country...
 
4) As for the lack of steering locks etc., chalk it up to complacency, pure and simple. I've had easily-stolen vehicles (Land Rovers and 2CVs, mainly) and lived for years in cities with far higher car theft rates than P'borough and I've got away with it. It was always a case of "you know, I really should get a disk-lok for the car..." but it never happened. If you gamble you'll eventually lose, and now I've lost. Needless to say the rest of the shite fleet will be getting steering/pedal locks (as appropriate), pronto!
 
Thanks again - it's great to know the Autoshite community will pull together like this, even for those of us that are here only occasionally!

Since I'm the owner of said Metro (who really doesn't get on here as much as I should):
 
1) Thanks to everyone for the support and for spreading the word (especially to Ian for starting the thread).
 
2)
 
This is exactly how it went. You get a strange surreal feeling walking out your door to find only an empty parking space. If it wasn't for the two patches of 10w/40 on the tarmac I couldn't have believed it was ever there. In fact I was more willing to believe that I'd done something immeasurably stupid like popped up to the corner shop in it and then walked back (something I've never done and could never actually see myself doing) than that it had been nicked.
 
3) Yes, it has been recovered, with 'some RTA damage'. Which could mean anything. They actually collared someone driving it, though, who apparently refused to stop and led the Old Bill on something of a chase (!) If it must be irredeemably damaged I'd much rather it went out fighting in the finest tradition of an early 'Nineties episode of Police, Camera, Action than being dumped in some Fenland drain, to be scooped out 20 years later.
 
I'll know more about its exact state tomorrow. They'd better not have pranged the radiator - I spent six months last year trying to find what must be the only Mk2 1.3 Metro radiator left in the country...
 
4) As for the lack of steering locks etc., chalk it up to complacency, pure and simple. I've had easily-stolen vehicles (Land Rovers and 2CVs, mainly) and lived for years in cities with far higher car theft rates than P'borough and I've got away with it. It was always a case of "you know, I really should get a disk-lok for the car..." but it never happened. If you gamble you'll eventually lose, and now I've lost. Needless to say the rest of the shite fleet will be getting steering/pedal locks (as appropriate), pronto!
 
Thanks again - it's great to know the Autoshite community will pull together like this, even for those of us that are here only occasionally!

Just a quick update for you guys,
 
I spoke to the garage that the Metro was recovered to today, and the initial results don't sound good. To quote the person on the end of the phone 'the front end's all stove in...it certainly isn't driveable...no bumper, no grille, a smashed headlight.'
 
Given the near-zero worth of Metros I'm pretty sure it'll be a write-off from the insurere's point of view. I'll just have to go along and see it to gauge whether I reckon it's worth repairing myself. I doubt the work itself is that difficult, it's the time required to source parts. In my experience getting any parts for old Metros that aren't also used on Minis is next to impossible, even through the Club.
 
On the (slightly) upside, the police have charged the guy caught driving/crashing it with aggravated vehicle theft and he'll be up before the magistrate tomorrow morning.

Since I'm the owner of said Metro (who really doesn't get on here as much as I should):
 
1) Thanks to everyone for the support and for spreading the word (especially to Ian for starting the thread).
 
2)
 
This is exactly how it went. You get a strange surreal feeling walking out your door to find only an empty parking space. If it wasn't for the two patches of 10w/40 on the tarmac I couldn't have believed it was ever there. In fact I was more willing to believe that I'd done something immeasurably stupid like popped up to the corner shop in it and then walked back (something I've never done and could never actually see myself doing) than that it had been nicked.
 
3) Yes, it has been recovered, with 'some RTA damage'. Which could mean anything. They actually collared someone driving it, though, who apparently refused to stop and led the Old Bill on something of a chase (!) If it must be irredeemably damaged I'd much rather it went out fighting in the finest tradition of an early 'Nineties episode of Police, Camera, Action than being dumped in some Fenland drain, to be scooped out 20 years later.
 
I'll know more about its exact state tomorrow. They'd better not have pranged the radiator - I spent six months last year trying to find what must be the only Mk2 1.3 Metro radiator left in the country...
 
4) As for the lack of steering locks etc., chalk it up to complacency, pure and simple. I've had easily-stolen vehicles (Land Rovers and 2CVs, mainly) and lived for years in cities with far higher car theft rates than P'borough and I've got away with it. It was always a case of "you know, I really should get a disk-lok for the car..." but it never happened. If you gamble you'll eventually lose, and now I've lost. Needless to say the rest of the shite fleet will be getting steering/pedal locks (as appropriate), pronto!
 
Thanks again - it's great to know the Autoshite community will pull together like this, even for those of us that are here only occasionally!

Just a quick update for you guys,
 
I spoke to the garage that the Metro was recovered to today, and the initial results don't sound good. To quote the person on the end of the phone 'the front end's all stove in...it certainly isn't driveable...no bumper, no grille, a smashed headlight.'
 
Given the near-zero worth of Metros I'm pretty sure it'll be a write-off from the insurere's point of view. I'll just have to go along and see it to gauge whether I reckon it's worth repairing myself. I doubt the work itself is that difficult, it's the time required to source parts. In my experience getting any parts for old Metros that aren't also used on Minis is next to impossible, even through the Club.
 
On the (slightly) upside, the police have charged the guy caught driving/crashing it with aggravated vehicle theft and he'll be up before the magistrate tomorrow morning.

Since I'm the owner of said Metro (who really doesn't get on here as much as I should):
 
1) Thanks to everyone for the support and for spreading the word (especially to Ian for starting the thread).
 
2)
 
This is exactly how it went. You get a strange surreal feeling walking out your door to find only an empty parking space. If it wasn't for the two patches of 10w/40 on the tarmac I couldn't have believed it was ever there. In fact I was more willing to believe that I'd done something immeasurably stupid like popped up to the corner shop in it and then walked back (something I've never done and could never actually see myself doing) than that it had been nicked.
 
3) Yes, it has been recovered, with 'some RTA damage'. Which could mean anything. They actually collared someone driving it, though, who apparently refused to stop and led the Old Bill on something of a chase (!) If it must be irredeemably damaged I'd much rather it went out fighting in the finest tradition of an early 'Nineties episode of Police, Camera, Action than being dumped in some Fenland drain, to be scooped out 20 years later.
 
I'll know more about its exact state tomorrow. They'd better not have pranged the radiator - I spent six months last year trying to find what must be the only Mk2 1.3 Metro radiator left in the country...
 
4) As for the lack of steering locks etc., chalk it up to complacency, pure and simple. I've had easily-stolen vehicles (Land Rovers and 2CVs, mainly) and lived for years in cities with far higher car theft rates than P'borough and I've got away with it. It was always a case of "you know, I really should get a disk-lok for the car..." but it never happened. If you gamble you'll eventually lose, and now I've lost. Needless to say the rest of the shite fleet will be getting steering/pedal locks (as appropriate), pronto!
 
Thanks again - it's great to know the Autoshite community will pull together like this, even for those of us that are here only occasionally!

Since I'm the owner of said Metro (who really doesn't get on here as much as I should):
 
1) Thanks to everyone for the support and for spreading the word (especially to Ian for starting the thread).
 
2)
 
This is exactly how it went. You get a strange surreal feeling walking out your door to find only an empty parking space. If it wasn't for the two patches of 10w/40 on the tarmac I couldn't have believed it was ever there. In fact I was more willing to believe that I'd done something immeasurably stupid like popped up to the corner shop in it and then walked back (something I've never done and could never actually see myself doing) than that it had been nicked.
 
3) Yes, it has been recovered, with 'some RTA damage'. Which could mean anything. They actually collared someone driving it, though, who apparently refused to stop and led the Old Bill on something of a chase (!) If it must be irredeemably damaged I'd much rather it went out fighting in the finest tradition of an early 'Nineties episode of Police, Camera, Action than being dumped in some Fenland drain, to be scooped out 20 years later.
 
I'll know more about its exact state tomorrow. They'd better not have pranged the radiator - I spent six months last year trying to find what must be the only Mk2 1.3 Metro radiator left in the country...
 
4) As for the lack of steering locks etc., chalk it up to complacency, pure and simple. I've had easily-stolen vehicles (Land Rovers and 2CVs, mainly) and lived for years in cities with far higher car theft rates than P'borough and I've got away with it. It was always a case of "you know, I really should get a disk-lok for the car..." but it never happened. If you gamble you'll eventually lose, and now I've lost. Needless to say the rest of the shite fleet will be getting steering/pedal locks (as appropriate), pronto!
 
Thanks again - it's great to know the Autoshite community will pull together like this, even for those of us that are here only occasionally!

Since I'm the owner of said Metro (who really doesn't get on here as much as I should):
 
1) Thanks to everyone for the support and for spreading the word (especially to Ian for starting the thread).
 
2)
 
This is exactly how it went. You get a strange surreal feeling walking out your door to find only an empty parking space. If it wasn't for the two patches of 10w/40 on the tarmac I couldn't have believed it was ever there. In fact I was more willing to believe that I'd done something immeasurably stupid like popped up to the corner shop in it and then walked back (something I've never done and could never actually see myself doing) than that it had been nicked.
 
3) Yes, it has been recovered, with 'some RTA damage'. Which could mean anything. They actually collared someone driving it, though, who apparently refused to stop and led the Old Bill on something of a chase (!) If it must be irredeemably damaged I'd much rather it went out fighting in the finest tradition of an early 'Nineties episode of Police, Camera, Action than being dumped in some Fenland drain, to be scooped out 20 years later.
 
I'll know more about its exact state tomorrow. They'd better not have pranged the radiator - I spent six months last year trying to find what must be the only Mk2 1.3 Metro radiator left in the country...
 
4) As for the lack of steering locks etc., chalk it up to complacency, pure and simple. I've had easily-stolen vehicles (Land Rovers and 2CVs, mainly) and lived for years in cities with far higher car theft rates than P'borough and I've got away with it. It was always a case of "you know, I really should get a disk-lok for the car..." but it never happened. If you gamble you'll eventually lose, and now I've lost. Needless to say the rest of the shite fleet will be getting steering/pedal locks (as appropriate), pronto!
 
Thanks again - it's great to know the Autoshite community will pull together like this, even for those of us that are here only occasionally!

Since I'm the owner of said Metro (who really doesn't get on here as much as I should):
 
1) Thanks to everyone for the support and for spreading the word (especially to Ian for starting the thread).
 
2)
 
This is exactly how it went. You get a strange surreal feeling walking out your door to find only an empty parking space. If it wasn't for the two patches of 10w/40 on the tarmac I couldn't have believed it was ever there. In fact I was more willing to believe that I'd done something immeasurably stupid like popped up to the corner shop in it and then walked back (something I've never done and could never actually see myself doing) than that it had been nicked.
 
3) Yes, it has been recovered, with 'some RTA damage'. Which could mean anything. They actually collared someone driving it, though, who apparently refused to stop and led the Old Bill on something of a chase (!) If it must be irredeemably damaged I'd much rather it went out fighting in the finest tradition of an early 'Nineties episode of Police, Camera, Action than being dumped in some Fenland drain, to be scooped out 20 years later.
 
I'll know more about its exact state tomorrow. They'd better not have pranged the radiator - I spent six months last year trying to find what must be the only Mk2 1.3 Metro radiator left in the country...
 
4) As for the lack of steering locks etc., chalk it up to complacency, pure and simple. I've had easily-stolen vehicles (Land Rovers and 2CVs, mainly) and lived for years in cities with far higher car theft rates than P'borough and I've got away with it. It was always a case of "you know, I really should get a disk-lok for the car..." but it never happened. If you gamble you'll eventually lose, and now I've lost. Needless to say the rest of the shite fleet will be getting steering/pedal locks (as appropriate), pronto!
 
Thanks again - it's great to know the Autoshite community will pull together like this, even for those of us that are here only occasionally!

Since I'm the owner of said Metro (who really doesn't get on here as much as I should):
 
1) Thanks to everyone for the support and for spreading the word (especially to Ian for starting the thread).
 
2)
 
This is exactly how it went. You get a strange surreal feeling walking out your door to find only an empty parking space. If it wasn't for the two patches of 10w/40 on the tarmac I couldn't have believed it was ever there. In fact I was more willing to believe that I'd done something immeasurably stupid like popped up to the corner shop in it and then walked back (something I've never done and could never actually see myself doing) than that it had been nicked.
 
3) Yes, it has been recovered, with 'some RTA damage'. Which could mean anything. They actually collared someone driving it, though, who apparently refused to stop and led the Old Bill on something of a chase (!) If it must be irredeemably damaged I'd much rather it went out fighting in the finest tradition of an early 'Nineties episode of Police, Camera, Action than being dumped in some Fenland drain, to be scooped out 20 years later.
 
I'll know more about its exact state tomorrow. They'd better not have pranged the radiator - I spent six months last year trying to find what must be the only Mk2 1.3 Metro radiator left in the country...
 
4) As for the lack of steering locks etc., chalk it up to complacency, pure and simple. I've had easily-stolen vehicles (Land Rovers and 2CVs, mainly) and lived for years in cities with far higher car theft rates than P'borough and I've got away with it. It was always a case of "you know, I really should get a disk-lok for the car..." but it never happened. If you gamble you'll eventually lose, and now I've lost. Needless to say the rest of the shite fleet will be getting steering/pedal locks (as appropriate), pronto!
 
Thanks again - it's great to know the Autoshite community will pull together like this, even for those of us that are here only occasionally!

Since I'm the owner of said Metro (who really doesn't get on here as much as I should):
 
1) Thanks to everyone for the support and for spreading the word (especially to Ian for starting the thread).
 
2)
 
This is exactly how it went. You get a strange surreal feeling walking out your door to find only an empty parking space. If it wasn't for the two patches of 10w/40 on the tarmac I couldn't have believed it was ever there. In fact I was more willing to believe that I'd done something immeasurably stupid like popped up to the corner shop in it and then walked back (something I've never done and could never actually see myself doing) than that it had been nicked.
 
3) Yes, it has been recovered, with 'some RTA damage'. Which could mean anything. They actually collared someone driving it, though, who apparently refused to stop and led the Old Bill on something of a chase (!) If it must be irredeemably damaged I'd much rather it went out fighting in the finest tradition of an early 'Nineties episode of Police, Camera, Action than being dumped in some Fenland drain, to be scooped out 20 years later.
 
I'll know more about its exact state tomorrow. They'd better not have pranged the radiator - I spent six months last year trying to find what must be the only Mk2 1.3 Metro radiator left in the country...
 
4) As for the lack of steering locks etc., chalk it up to complacency, pure and simple. I've had easily-stolen vehicles (Land Rovers and 2CVs, mainly) and lived for years in cities with far higher car theft rates than P'borough and I've got away with it. It was always a case of "you know, I really should get a disk-lok for the car..." but it never happened. If you gamble you'll eventually lose, and now I've lost. Needless to say the rest of the shite fleet will be getting steering/pedal locks (as appropriate), pronto!
 
Thanks again - it's great to know the Autoshite community will pull together like this, even for those of us that are here only occasionally!

Since I'm the owner of said Metro (who really doesn't get on here as much as I should):
 
1) Thanks to everyone for the support and for spreading the word (especially to Ian for starting the thread).
 
2)
 
This is exactly how it went. You get a strange surreal feeling walking out your door to find only an empty parking space. If it wasn't for the two patches of 10w/40 on the tarmac I couldn't have believed it was ever there. In fact I was more willing to believe that I'd done something immeasurably stupid like popped up to the corner shop in it and then walked back (something I've never done and could never actually see myself doing) than that it had been nicked.
 
3) Yes, it has been recovered, with 'some RTA damage'. Which could mean anything. They actually collared someone driving it, though, who apparently refused to stop and led the Old Bill on something of a chase (!) If it must be irredeemably damaged I'd much rather it went out fighting in the finest tradition of an early 'Nineties episode of Police, Camera, Action than being dumped in some Fenland drain, to be scooped out 20 years later.
 
I'll know more about its exact state tomorrow. They'd better not have pranged the radiator - I spent six months last year trying to find what must be the only Mk2 1.3 Metro radiator left in the country...
 
4) As for the lack of steering locks etc., chalk it up to complacency, pure and simple. I've had easily-stolen vehicles (Land Rovers and 2CVs, mainly) and lived for years in cities with far higher car theft rates than P'borough and I've got away with it. It was always a case of "you know, I really should get a disk-lok for the car..." but it never happened. If you gamble you'll eventually lose, and now I've lost. Needless to say the rest of the shite fleet will be getting steering/pedal locks (as appropriate), pronto!
 
Thanks again - it's great to know the Autoshite community will pull together like this, even for those of us that are here only occasionally!

Since I'm the owner of said Metro (who really doesn't get on here as much as I should):
 
1) Thanks to everyone for the support and for spreading the word (especially to Ian for starting the thread).
 
2)
 
This is exactly how it went. You get a strange surreal feeling walking out your door to find only an empty parking space. If it wasn't for the two patches of 10w/40 on the tarmac I couldn't have believed it was ever there. In fact I was more willing to believe that I'd done something immeasurably stupid like popped up to the corner shop in it and then walked back (something I've never done and could never actually see myself doing) than that it had been nicked.
 
3) Yes, it has been recovered, with 'some RTA damage'. Which could mean anything. They actually collared someone driving it, though, who apparently refused to stop and led the Old Bill on something of a chase (!) If it must be irredeemably damaged I'd much rather it went out fighting in the finest tradition of an early 'Nineties episode of Police, Camera, Action than being dumped in some Fenland drain, to be scooped out 20 years later.
 
I'll know more about its exact state tomorrow. They'd better not have pranged the radiator - I spent six months last year trying to find what must be the only Mk2 1.3 Metro radiator left in the country...
 
4) As for the lack of steering locks etc., chalk it up to complacency, pure and simple. I've had easily-stolen vehicles (Land Rovers and 2CVs, mainly) and lived for years in cities with far higher car theft rates than P'borough and I've got away with it. It was always a case of "you know, I really should get a disk-lok for the car..." but it never happened. If you gamble you'll eventually lose, and now I've lost. Needless to say the rest of the shite fleet will be getting steering/pedal locks (as appropriate), pronto!
 
Thanks again - it's great to know the Autoshite community will pull together like this, even for those of us that are here only occasionally!

Since I'm the owner of said Metro (who really doesn't get on here as much as I should):
 
1) Thanks to everyone for the support and for spreading the word (especially to Ian for starting the thread).
 
2)
 
This is exactly how it went. You get a strange surreal feeling walking out your door to find only an empty parking space. If it wasn't for the two patches of 10w/40 on the tarmac I couldn't have believed it was ever there. In fact I was more willing to believe that I'd done something immeasurably stupid like popped up to the corner shop in it and then walked back (something I've never done and could never actually see myself doing) than that it had been nicked.
 
3) Yes, it has been recovered, with 'some RTA damage'. Which could mean anything. They actually collared someone driving it, though, who apparently refused to stop and led the Old Bill on something of a chase (!) If it must be irredeemably damaged I'd much rather it went out fighting in the finest tradition of an early 'Nineties episode of Police, Camera, Action than being dumped in some Fenland drain, to be scooped out 20 years later.
 
I'll know more about its exact state tomorrow. They'd better not have pranged the radiator - I spent six months last year trying to find what must be the only Mk2 1.3 Metro radiator left in the country...
 
4) As for the lack of steering locks etc., chalk it up to complacency, pure and simple. I've had easily-stolen vehicles (Land Rovers and 2CVs, mainly) and lived for years in cities with far higher car theft rates than P'borough and I've got away with it. It was always a case of "you know, I really should get a disk-lok for the car..." but it never happened. If you gamble you'll eventually lose, and now I've lost. Needless to say the rest of the shite fleet will be getting steering/pedal locks (as appropriate), pronto!
 
Thanks again - it's great to know the Autoshite community will pull together like this, even for those of us that are here only occasionally!

I'll admit that it was the first thing I thought of - not that some passing Mini enthusiast had literally decided to nick my Metro for its engine, but that some nefarious scrote had nicked the Metro to sell its engine to some unsuspecting Mini enthusiast. It's the only form in which rusty blue Metros are worth any money. In any case, I'm (kinda) glad that it wasn't just broken up for bits.
 
Since they've caught someone I suppose it'll go to court at some point - maybe I'll get to see the epic 1.3 Metro v. Northants Hyundai panda car chase then!
 
 
Thanks- I'll keep people posted. At best it'll need new locks/steering column shroud. If it's been properly pranged then it comes down to whatever the insurance company reckons E-reg Metros are worth (naff all), the prospect of finding parts (depends) and whether I feel I can properly make good the damage myself (possible). We'll see.

Since I'm the owner of said Metro (who really doesn't get on here as much as I should):
 
1) Thanks to everyone for the support and for spreading the word (especially to Ian for starting the thread).
 
2)
 
This is exactly how it went. You get a strange surreal feeling walking out your door to find only an empty parking space. If it wasn't for the two patches of 10w/40 on the tarmac I couldn't have believed it was ever there. In fact I was more willing to believe that I'd done something immeasurably stupid like popped up to the corner shop in it and then walked back (something I've never done and could never actually see myself doing) than that it had been nicked.
 
3) Yes, it has been recovered, with 'some RTA damage'. Which could mean anything. They actually collared someone driving it, though, who apparently refused to stop and led the Old Bill on something of a chase (!) If it must be irredeemably damaged I'd much rather it went out fighting in the finest tradition of an early 'Nineties episode of Police, Camera, Action than being dumped in some Fenland drain, to be scooped out 20 years later.
 
I'll know more about its exact state tomorrow. They'd better not have pranged the radiator - I spent six months last year trying to find what must be the only Mk2 1.3 Metro radiator left in the country...
 
4) As for the lack of steering locks etc., chalk it up to complacency, pure and simple. I've had easily-stolen vehicles (Land Rovers and 2CVs, mainly) and lived for years in cities with far higher car theft rates than P'borough and I've got away with it. It was always a case of "you know, I really should get a disk-lok for the car..." but it never happened. If you gamble you'll eventually lose, and now I've lost. Needless to say the rest of the shite fleet will be getting steering/pedal locks (as appropriate), pronto!
 
Thanks again - it's great to know the Autoshite community will pull together like this, even for those of us that are here only occasionally!

Since I'm the owner of said Metro (who really doesn't get on here as much as I should):
 
1) Thanks to everyone for the support and for spreading the word (especially to Ian for starting the thread).
 
2)
 
This is exactly how it went. You get a strange surreal feeling walking out your door to find only an empty parking space. If it wasn't for the two patches of 10w/40 on the tarmac I couldn't have believed it was ever there. In fact I was more willing to believe that I'd done something immeasurably stupid like popped up to the corner shop in it and then walked back (something I've never done and could never actually see myself doing) than that it had been nicked.
 
3) Yes, it has been recovered, with 'some RTA damage'. Which could mean anything. They actually collared someone driving it, though, who apparently refused to stop and led the Old Bill on something of a chase (!) If it must be irredeemably damaged I'd much rather it went out fighting in the finest tradition of an early 'Nineties episode of Police, Camera, Action than being dumped in some Fenland drain, to be scooped out 20 years later.
 
I'll know more about its exact state tomorrow. They'd better not have pranged the radiator - I spent six months last year trying to find what must be the only Mk2 1.3 Metro radiator left in the country...
 
4) As for the lack of steering locks etc., chalk it up to complacency, pure and simple. I've had easily-stolen vehicles (Land Rovers and 2CVs, mainly) and lived for years in cities with far higher car theft rates than P'borough and I've got away with it. It was always a case of "you know, I really should get a disk-lok for the car..." but it never happened. If you gamble you'll eventually lose, and now I've lost. Needless to say the rest of the shite fleet will be getting steering/pedal locks (as appropriate), pronto!
 
Thanks again - it's great to know the Autoshite community will pull together like this, even for those of us that are here only occasionally!

Since I'm the owner of said Metro (who really doesn't get on here as much as I should):
 
1) Thanks to everyone for the support and for spreading the word (especially to Ian for starting the thread).
 
2)
 
This is exactly how it went. You get a strange surreal feeling walking out your door to find only an empty parking space. If it wasn't for the two patches of 10w/40 on the tarmac I couldn't have believed it was ever there. In fact I was more willing to believe that I'd done something immeasurably stupid like popped up to the corner shop in it and then walked back (something I've never done and could never actually see myself doing) than that it had been nicked.
 
3) Yes, it has been recovered, with 'some RTA damage'. Which could mean anything. They actually collared someone driving it, though, who apparently refused to stop and led the Old Bill on something of a chase (!) If it must be irredeemably damaged I'd much rather it went out fighting in the finest tradition of an early 'Nineties episode of Police, Camera, Action than being dumped in some Fenland drain, to be scooped out 20 years later.
 
I'll know more about its exact state tomorrow. They'd better not have pranged the radiator - I spent six months last year trying to find what must be the only Mk2 1.3 Metro radiator left in the country...
 
4) As for the lack of steering locks etc., chalk it up to complacency, pure and simple. I've had easily-stolen vehicles (Land Rovers and 2CVs, mainly) and lived for years in cities with far higher car theft rates than P'borough and I've got away with it. It was always a case of "you know, I really should get a disk-lok for the car..." but it never happened. If you gamble you'll eventually lose, and now I've lost. Needless to say the rest of the shite fleet will be getting steering/pedal locks (as appropriate), pronto!
 
Thanks again - it's great to know the Autoshite community will pull together like this, even for those of us that are here only occasionally!

Since I'm the owner of said Metro (who really doesn't get on here as much as I should):
 
1) Thanks to everyone for the support and for spreading the word (especially to Ian for starting the thread).
 
2)
 
This is exactly how it went. You get a strange surreal feeling walking out your door to find only an empty parking space. If it wasn't for the two patches of 10w/40 on the tarmac I couldn't have believed it was ever there. In fact I was more willing to believe that I'd done something immeasurably stupid like popped up to the corner shop in it and then walked back (something I've never done and could never actually see myself doing) than that it had been nicked.
 
3) Yes, it has been recovered, with 'some RTA damage'. Which could mean anything. They actually collared someone driving it, though, who apparently refused to stop and led the Old Bill on something of a chase (!) If it must be irredeemably damaged I'd much rather it went out fighting in the finest tradition of an early 'Nineties episode of Police, Camera, Action than being dumped in some Fenland drain, to be scooped out 20 years later.
 
I'll know more about its exact state tomorrow. They'd better not have pranged the radiator - I spent six months last year trying to find what must be the only Mk2 1.3 Metro radiator left in the country...
 
4) As for the lack of steering locks etc., chalk it up to complacency, pure and simple. I've had easily-stolen vehicles (Land Rovers and 2CVs, mainly) and lived for years in cities with far higher car theft rates than P'borough and I've got away with it. It was always a case of "you know, I really should get a disk-lok for the car..." but it never happened. If you gamble you'll eventually lose, and now I've lost. Needless to say the rest of the shite fleet will be getting steering/pedal locks (as appropriate), pronto!
 
Thanks again - it's great to know the Autoshite community will pull together like this, even for those of us that are here only occasionally!

Since I'm the owner of said Metro (who really doesn't get on here as much as I should):
 
1) Thanks to everyone for the support and for spreading the word (especially to Ian for starting the thread).
 
2)
 
This is exactly how it went. You get a strange surreal feeling walking out your door to find only an empty parking space. If it wasn't for the two patches of 10w/40 on the tarmac I couldn't have believed it was ever there. In fact I was more willing to believe that I'd done something immeasurably stupid like popped up to the corner shop in it and then walked back (something I've never done and could never actually see myself doing) than that it had been nicked.
 
3) Yes, it has been recovered, with 'some RTA damage'. Which could mean anything. They actually collared someone driving it, though, who apparently refused to stop and led the Old Bill on something of a chase (!) If it must be irredeemably damaged I'd much rather it went out fighting in the finest tradition of an early 'Nineties episode of Police, Camera, Action than being dumped in some Fenland drain, to be scooped out 20 years later.
 
I'll know more about its exact state tomorrow. They'd better not have pranged the radiator - I spent six months last year trying to find what must be the only Mk2 1.3 Metro radiator left in the country...
 
4) As for the lack of steering locks etc., chalk it up to complacency, pure and simple. I've had easily-stolen vehicles (Land Rovers and 2CVs, mainly) and lived for years in cities with far higher car theft rates than P'borough and I've got away with it. It was always a case of "you know, I really should get a disk-lok for the car..." but it never happened. If you gamble you'll eventually lose, and now I've lost. Needless to say the rest of the shite fleet will be getting steering/pedal locks (as appropriate), pronto!
 
Thanks again - it's great to know the Autoshite community will pull together like this, even for those of us that are here only occasionally!