The Sun slates the Maestro! + cheap 2001 model for sale

[trigger]

Don't know if any of you read The Sun yesterday, but in the Motors section there as a bit about scrapping your banger towards a new car and what kind of car it would be.

 

Well the Sun's gimp chose a 1998 Rover Maestro as the car to review, Giving it a slating as always. the story and video review is here:

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/mo ... estro.html

 

If you fancy one after seeing that I've just found a 2001 Maestro for sale on gumtree in Norwich with 53k with 1 owner and a years ticket for £395.

 

http://ipswich.gumtree.com/ipswich/82/42911382.html

[Milford Cubicle]

What were you reading the Sun for? It's a painful thing to read. All the KEY WORDS in bold and language aimed at those with a primary school education. It isn't even any good for lighting the fire, as The Star is much cheaper.

 

What a terrible article too, suggesting all 'old bangers' are as bad as a neglected Maestro and suggesting they should all be scrapped.

[trigger]

What a terrible article too, suggesting all 'old bangers' are as bad as a neglected Maestro and suggesting they should all be scrapped.

I agree with that, They have to go to the exteme don't they as that twat Gibson is very pro scrappage scheme.I only read The Sun as it's miles better then the Sport and the Star and I don't understand half the stuff in the Mirror!

[pogweasel]

What a load of shit. So you rag it as fast as it will go, and then be surprised when it runs a bit hot. Then once cooled down you can continue your journey as normal. Yeah, well unreliable, that. Overheat something newfangled and it's most likely goodnight vienna.... Furthermore, 1997 is hardly 'ancient' is it, yes I know the Maestro was very outclassed by then, but still going to be within the realms of being solid and reliable. £500 is a bit steep for that too IMO. £250 and your on though....

[Milford Cubicle]

That's it, it's a piece of propaganda.Why didn't they choose a more representative "banger" like a 10 year old Primera or Mondeo? Both of them make great sub-£1k crates, they are tidy to drive, economical and very reliable - new cars haven't made any worthy leaps in the past 10 years to justify 'scrappaging' these kind of cars.

[Volksy]

Reporter was blind by the looks of it..

According to the clock, though, it had only done 28,000 miles. Somehow, the driving experience didn't bear that out.

The photo of the dash clearly shows 48k

[dollywobbler]

Thank Hyundai for this. They offered the press the chance to 'try scrappage' by thrashing a Maestro or Rover 200, then playing with a lovely new Hyundai.That said, I had a 1.3 Maestro a few years back and it really was just shit. I've never encountered such an unlovable car ever. Thing is, I quite liked Maestros before I drove it. Really, this utterly disappointing reason is why I didn't recently snaffle that Montego Mayfair on Ebay - scared it'd be equally dispicable. It's an unusual experience for me because aside from the previous generation Ford Fiesta (ah, shit, I lied, I HAVE experience such an unlovable car...) I generally manage to see the good in almost any car.

[Volksy]

That said, I had a 1.3 Maestro a few years back and it really was just shit. I've never encountered such an unlovable car ever. Thing is, I quite liked Maestros before I drove it. Really, this utterly disappointing reason is why I didn't recently snaffle that Montego Mayfair on Ebay - scared it'd be equally dispicable.

I had a 1.3 one two - I agree, it was awful.

[trigger]

I've driven both in the past and i wouldn't like to own neither, sorry, The handling was bad, Rust terribly, The gear lever and change felt strange as it was at some odd angle and then the headlining fell down and blinded me.Apart from that it was alright.Quite fancy a i10 especially now my '02 is really making my piss boil with it's fuse blowing problem.

[Milford Cubicle]

My ancient BMW has a minor electrical problem so I'll buy a brand-new Hyundai to replace it?

[pandamonium]

I had a 1.3 Maestro and loved it! F173TLE. Although I guess the fact that I owned Ladas either side of it helped up its quality in my eyes!

[Guest]

Er, didn't Gibson have one of the last old skool Saab 900s and refuse to change it saying it was the best car ever?Mong.

[VWPowered]

i've just been offered a 1997 1.3 Ledbury for €250 still with tax and test, cash may be the downfall of that one though

[trigger]

My ancient BMW has a minor electrical problem so I'll buy a brand-new Hyundai to replace it?

Just lost my Mojo with it, Been in a shit mood the last few days, Everytime i turn on the ignition the fuse for the brake lights and wipers blows so i have a dead short somewhere, Been through the whole loom striping out most the car in the process and still can't find it, Now got to drive it to my dad's so he can have another look at it, But to make things worse it's raining and i have no bloody wipers or brake lights. Starting to wish i never brought it as I've had more problems with it than any other shitter that I've had, Wanted it for tomorrow and Wednesday but that doesn't oook likely now.

[dollywobbler]

Meh. All cars go through their challenging phases. A few years back, I couldn't get the 2CV to work properly for what felt like months. Now it's turn-key dependable.What you need is another shitter. I allow my moods to flow now so some weeks, I'll barely drive the 2CV, then I'll fall back in love with it.

[Milford Cubicle]

I get pissed off with my cars sometimes, but not enough to sell my soul to credit.Is there much wrong with your BMW apart from the electrical issues? It'd be a shame to get rid of a pretty cool and characterful old car for the sake of an auto electrician looking at it.

[trigger]

It is a bit crusty now I've started looking under the carpets nothing that major, And It's running great just this shorting out problem, Might have to bite the bullet and get a expert to check it over.Think cars have that effect on you, When they are going well there great but as soon as things go wrong you get fed up with them, well they are like that for me!I'm just over reacting TBH, Was looking forwards to useing it and things have got wrong and scarpered my plans.And don't worry, I won't be selling it yet, The wife won't let me!.

[VWPowered]

dont be scared if its bad wiring, making up a new loom etc isnt that hard if i can anyone can..

[Mr_Bo11ox]

YO VWP, whats the sketch with this 250 euro Ledbury then?

[trigger]

You don't fancy that 2001 Maestro then for £395? Would it be a Ledbury as well on that year?.

 

Guessing it would look something like this?.

 

[Mr_Bo11ox]

wouldnt kick it outta bed, but 250 euro is much less than 400£ and I am gonna be in France loads over the next few weeks.

[trigger]

Better still just found the car on the Norwich gumtree, It's a Y plate!! This must be a bargain, surely, It's only just been listed as well.

 

http://norwich.gumtree.com/norwich/44/42958044.html

 

 

 

[VWPowered]

its taxed and tested have no pics, bloke needs it gone as he's brought a french car...may even get it cheaper.. (if you need somewhere to park you could always leave it here atm... just dont do what a mate did bring a courier over and leave it parked for the next three years)

[dollywobbler]

Aye, an ideal motor to use when a certain BMW is feeling grumpy...

[Guest]

A 1997 car is a "golden oldie"? Fuck me, might as well get myself a top hat, pocket watch and walking cane for when I drive around in my cars, they're probably the equivalent of 18th-century steam chariots or something to him.

 

 

Christ, if an "old banger" was this it'd make my life a lot easier. I'd put it at an hour to bosh a fresh set of trims on, re-black up the bumper corners, few bits of paint to touch in (already primered-up), flush the radiator and fit a new thermostat. It's even got a bloody tape deck already.

 

Still, can't blame him that much - motoring editor of The Sun must be a proper challenging career, must be difficult to reword press releases and decide on which pictures to use (ones with birds in them). Can't be that often that you have to put together a proper article. I feel sorry for whichever poor Hyundai PR girl had to suck him off to knock up that feature, just look at him. It's enough to put you off boiled eggs for life.

 

[Captain Slow]

Christ, if an "old banger" was this it'd make my life a lot easier. I'd put it at an hour to bosh a fresh set of trims on, re-black up the bumper corners, few bits of paint to touch in (already primered-up), flush the radiator and fit a new thermostat. It's even got a bloody tape deck

Could I at this juncture make the point that Hyundai bought the car with no primer - it was in good, all painted condition, and they don't even rust there. If memory serves, it also had all 4 hubcaps. Chances are Hyundai have spent a while making this car appear crummier than it actually is, to demonstrate that a new Hyundai would be better.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Come on now, not too heavy on the Hyundai-bashing, they are responsible for the PONY dont forget.

[Talbot]

Everytime i turn on the ignition the fuse for the brake lights and wipers blows so i have a dead short somewhere, Been through the whole loom striping out most the car in the process and still can't find it, Now got to drive it to my dad's so he can have another look at it, But to make things worse it's raining and i have no bloody wipers or brake lights.

Get a blown fuse and solder a 55W headlamp bulb across its terminals. When the circuit is working properly, the filament will pass enough current to make stuff work and maybe glow a little bit, but when you get a dead short, the lamp will light up full brightness. Use this to wiggle bits of the loom until you find the bit that makes the lamp go on and off.Guaranteed to be a chafe between an earthing crimp and an adjacent cable, buried somewhere within the loom.

[ashmicro]

I had 2 1.3 Maestros, a 1.6LX Montego and a 2.0 EFI MG Montego. OK, they were all reasonably new, but they were good,reliable and useful cars.

 

And that slaphead from The Scum even looks like a twat.

[garethj]

Could I at this juncture make the point that Hyundai bought the car with no primer - it was in good, all painted condition, and they don't even rust there. If memory serves, it also had all 4 hubcaps. Chances are Hyundai have spent a while making this car appear crummier than it actually is, to demonstrate that a new Hyundai would be better.

How do you know that? Why, that would be casting doubt on the integrity of a motor press office, it's inconceivable

Everytime i turn on the ignition the fuse for the brake lights and wipers blows so i have a dead short somewhere,

Get a blown fuse and solder a 55W headlamp bulb across its terminals. When the circuit is working properly, the filament will pass enough current to make stuff work and maybe glow a little bit, but when you get a dead short, the lamp will light up full brightness. Use this to wiggle bits of the loom until you find the bit that makes the lamp go on and off.Guaranteed to be a chafe between an earthing crimp and an adjacent cable, buried somewhere within the loom.

Flippin eck, that's clever.The way I do it is pull out each spade connector off the fuse then replace them one at a time until the fuse blows. Once you've found the system with the short you can have a look at the obvious connectors or where they pass through a hole in the body.Or you can just run a new wire to the thingy and cut the old one off.