Went for a Maxi and came back with a Maestro!

[theorganist]

Today was one of those days where I wish I hadn't got out of bed.

 

The story is that an elderly farmer had got a land agency (based over the lane) to clear out his barns and deal with selling or scrapping stuff. As well as farm equipment there were a Marina, Maxi and several Maestro's. I, on a whim after seeing one picture decided to be gallant and save the Maxi, I was also interested in a Maestro.

 

Went to collect the Sandglow Maxi today and to look at the blue C reg Maestro. The Maxi was still there but sadly the Maestro's were all gone.

 

Both me and the recovery driver were late as Satnavs (and road maps) run out around Branscombe, the Recovery driver had to get up to the Midlands then back to London by 3pm so wasn't in the best of moods when I arrived as he had already spent half an hour trying to load the Maxi onto his vehcile. 

 

The Maxi basically was a lot worse than it looked in the photo's and it was pretty bad in them. The rear wheels were locked up and no matter what we tried we could not free them, the winch could not pull the Maxi up the ramps, all that happened was that the Maxi took the ramps with it! I have brought some rough cars and I love Maxi's but this would have needed a lot of work and with the Recovery driver getting to the point where he was not going to try anymore and needed to go I decided to forget it. 

 

However the guy from the land agency told me of a Maestro in a shed by the farmhouse which was also available. It is a dark blue M reg turbo diesel and has only been of the road for three years and looks quite tidy although there is some grot on the rear arches. 

 

Here is the beast!

 

 

Basically he told me I could have this instead and went to get the keys from the farmer as there were none in the car. The land agency has all the paperwork so that was sorted out we went on our way. The recovery driver had gone. He was going to drop the Maestro off in his unit in Bristol then head to London as he was running late, he will bring up the Maestro on Monday.

 

To top it off the land agency gave me the wrong directions out of their lane so I ended up lost in Seaton. When I went to use the sat-nav it crashed on me so I had to try using my phone and map book, it is amazing how much we rely on sat-navs now to find places, I struggle to map read now and used to love it!

 

The Maxi would still be available if you got in quick but you would probably need a fork lift or Hi-ab to lift it.

 

 

[Supernaut]

A Maestro Turbo Diesel.

 

Fucking WIN!

[theorganist]

Thanks. It is not really want I wanted but is certainly in better condition than the Maxi. It seemed silly to travel down to Devon and come back with nothing, especially as I had already paid!

 

I feel a bit bad for the poor Maxi as it could certainly yield some useful spares as the interior was tidy and as long as the 46,000 mile engine is not siezed it could be useful.

[sierraman]

Fate!

[Wilko220]

Every cloud!

 

Sounds like an interesting day...

[Dick Cheeseburger]

All I can think of when I see the Maestro is this...

 

 

To be fair, I don't think the miserable bastard would have been very happy with a Maxi, either. Maestro should be reasonably sound* if it's only been off the road for a couple of years, I guess. Bonus factors of 50mpg, and exciting caravan holidays putting the towhitch to good use making the Maestro even more appealing.

[dollywobbler]

That seems an excellent get-out clause.

[holbeck]

You should have given me a shout.

 

I'm barely 2 miles from there, and you could have had a cuppa and kicked the Rancho's tyres whilst here.

[danthecapriman]

Shame about the Maxi, but what a consolation prize! Not seen a diesel Meastro for ages.

Hopefully it'll be in decent state.

[plasticvandan]

Maxi so shit it couldn't be hauled away,secret barnfind(obvs so much better than the rest to be given such luxurious treatment) maestro unlocked.easy recommission rather than inevitable bridge,top winning!

[Lord Sterling]

Went out for a Maestro and came back with a Maxi!

 

Today was one of those days where I wish I hadn't got out of bed...

 

Nah seriously, well done! We all seem to end up with things we don't need.

 

What's the plan for the Maestro? Tidy up and use? You deffo need some wheel trims for that, preferably like the ones on the unhappy Salesmans Maestro Diesel.

[saucedoctor]

You cannot beat a Maestro. Nice one.

[Asimo]

If only all sellers had a consolation prize for when cars didn't live up to their description.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

If the fuel filter on that Maestro isn't red, I'd be very surprised.

I've had 3 Montego Estate TDs and they all went well enough, Maestros must be proper hot hatch botherers.

[Jim Bell]

From the seminal Beastie Boys track "The Maestro" - 1992.

 

"Who is the man comin' down your block?
It's me you see, with the funk in my walk ('cause)
I'm doin' just what I like to
Today is my day yeah, and I'ma get a nice barnfind too"
 

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Blimey Charlie, it must be a good one. No mention anywhere of ginger worm on MOT advisories/fails. Unless the farmer supplied the tester with cider of course...

[Zantimisfit]

Nice! Moody colour goes well with the tin bumpers on these late Clubmans as well. Congratulations.

 

Reference the moist eyed salesman above - 'physically crying' because you got a new Maestro suggests someone who didn't have much perspective on life and the real problems that some people have to cope with.

 

If I met him I suspect I would think him a dickhead!

[Supernaut]

Do these Perkins engines use Bosch VE pumps?

If so, BOOST TIME.


I really should get another XUD to piss about with one of these days...

[trigger]

I wouldn't call it a bad day, a recommisonable Maestro TD is far better (and usable) than a fucked Maxi.

[Cavcraft]

You went to buy council pop and came home with lemonade. You have truly won.

[wuvvum]

Turbo diesel Maestros are a superb bit of kit.  Mingebag Clubman spec and doom blue paint make it even more of a winner.

[worldofceri]

Judging by the comments above I reckon it would groffle for twice what you paid.

 

The Autoshite way to 'flip' a car.  Just remember not to clean it, and if you must take any new photos make sure it's still on the back of the recovery truck.

[barefoot]

Just remember not to clean it....

Patina, innit?

[theorganist]

You should have given me a shout.

 

I'm barely 2 miles from there, and you could have had a cuppa and kicked the Rancho's tyres whilst here.

Bugger, I could have used a cup of tea and a pointer to the motorway. Would have loved to have seen the Rancho.

[theorganist]

Cheers guys, I am quite looking forward to it. I had a NA diesel Maestro around 16 years ago and that was quite a decent performer, am looking forward to seeing how the TD goes.

 

There are a couple of wheel trims in the car, the car was jacked up when we saw it, I think someone had bought some alloys off the farmer which were on a TD and maybe swapped them with steel ones so maybe that is why it was jacked up. I will be on a search for them if I don't have a full set.

 

I remember that program and the snivelling sales rep, I remember thinking at the time that he was a bit of an idiot, I think he had been expecting a 418 diesel if I recall?

 

Yes I was pleased when I saw the cars MOT history and it certainly looks solid underneath from what I can see.

 

I think the plan will be to keep it unless I decide I can't stand it but I doubt that will happen. I was thinking of purchasing a caravan over the winter, the Maxi has a towbar so I would have been looking at a small two birth but I have an even better tow car now.

[theorganist]

Do these Perkins engines use Bosch VE pumps?

 

If so, BOOST TIME.

 

 

I really should get another XUD to piss about with one of these days...

I'm not certain, I will have to check, better see if I have my old Maestro Haynes manual.

[sierraman]

My dad used to occasionally borrow Maestro vans with work. Ive a soft spot for the old Maestro, it doesn't pretend to be something it's not.

[doobietoo]

mmmm boschtastic

[RoadworkUK]

You cannot beat a Maestro. Nice one.

 

Well, you can, but it takes some doing.

 

I love their octagonal styling, too.

[forddeliveryboy]

Better than a Maxi diesel any day. Faster than a petrol Maxi, too. I'd love one of those, if only to piss off snooty drivers of newish BMWs/Audis/MBs with silly low tyre profiles. 

 

Good score, check for cherryade in the tank and filter.