Dilemma: Metro Turbo

[Rocket88]

9 minutes ago, New POD said:

No. They didn't.  Face lift cars had a modified boost curve which preserved to gearbox, gave is a power band more like a 2 stroke, but limited mid range torque, which meant they survived better than the early ones, which had more torque. 

Reference: Dave Sexton, Time served engineer who worked in the engine development section at Longbridge, before he moved to Lucas Industries

 

I had an 81 Metro Turbo from new ( not my idea….) 3 gearboxes in 18 months….🤮

[New POD]

I have owned 4 minis, a 1275 sport metro, and a Metro Turbo, whilst I regret buying 3 of the minis, I regret selling the T reg 850 and both metros. 

The metro turbo I had was a hoot, but rusty as fuck, and the brakes and suspension were designed by fuckwhittery.  

I also managed to snap an engine mount (TADT).

Loved driving it flat out. My fuel consumption on my commute from near Longbridge to the Lucas Research Centre in Shirley woukd make a v6 omega look like an economical car. 20 mpg, cross country avoiding the M42, but never being far from it. 

[New POD]

5 minutes ago, Rocket88 said:

I had an 81 Metro Turbo from new ( not my idea….) 3 gearboxes in 18 months….🤮

I've always said the Generation 1 Bini Cooper is like the spiritual successor of the metro turbo. Shit gearbox, dubious electrics but great fun. 

I had an 85 Turbo for 18 months. No gearboxes, but lots of ball joints and front tyres, and a weird electrical fault where occasionally the wipers would do a single sweep when you braked. 

Wife and daughter had a 51 reg Bini Cooper, and that had a gearbox at 98k and various electrical gremlins. 

[Missy Charm]

Seven grand would buy you a fourteen month self-catering holiday for two in Essex, staying in a self-contained maisonette with two parking spaces, an en-suite bathroom and a rotary washing line.  Wouldn't that be better than a Metro?*

*I don't actually need a new tenant, but you know...

[Timewaster]

My brother is a bit older than me and his driving instructor had an all white metro turbo. 80s tastic.

The test centre and routes are about 20 miles away and he would say "quicker you get there, the more lesson you get!"

 

[Zelandeth]

I've been lucky enough to drive an early turbo one, and absolutely would have one in a heartbeat if I could.  The numbers don't look like much on paper but it felt absolutely insanely fast from the driver's seat.  

I still reckon that a lot of people say a Metro is a crap drive have never had a chance to drive a well sorted early one.  Later ones yeah, are distinctly "meh" at best.  My W plate MiniMetro HLE was one of the most fun cars I've owned to drive, especially on a good twisty road.

I know a huge number of them out there are and were utterly clapped out though, like my first one.  A 5-door City on a D plate.  We've no idea what the actual mileage was as the odometer had stopped working at 70-something K about five years before I got it.  Was an utter shed...and if I'd not then had my second one which was a very well cared for early car with few miles on, I'd definitely have come away with the "they're shit" belief.

However then I had a good one...which I then sold three or four years later in a fit of common sense.  Which I still berate myself for to this day.

There aren't many cars I've had that I truly regret selling - but that one I really, really do.

[sierraman]

Lynn... I’m not driving a mini metro...

[djoptix]

14 minutes ago, sierraman said:

Lynn... I’m not driving a mini metro...

They've rebadged it, you fool!

[Dobloseven]

It must be quite a strange experience to drive a car with a 4 speed gearbox nowadays. We had quite a few Metros back in the day. A D reg 1.3 LE, C reg 1.0 City, F reg 1.3 something or other and an L reg 1.1 Rover type. Never thought folk would be paying four figure sums for them, though. 

[grogee]

Surely the MK1 Metro is pure 80s classic now? Less so post kettle-series intro. I mean it's easy to say they're worth fuck all and they're shit, but so are Escorts really. I mean what would you expect to pay for an 85 Escort turbo?

They're all classics because they've outlived their original design life so any left are survivors and historical artefacts. 

Think I've only driven a 1.0 City though, and it was shit. Worked on loads and I agree the suspension is half-assed. Pumped plenty of water out of radius arm bearings. 

Still waiting for the bastard pics. 

[stuboy]

last time i saw one i was asked too look at why it was banging........ the engine mounts were shot and engine rocking and banging

[sierraman]

17 minutes ago, djoptix said:

They've rebadged it, you fool!

Lynn... Lynn... I’ll just talk over you, watch what I do... 

[Talbot]

3 hours ago, sierraman said:

Giugiaro had a hand in the Hyundai Stellar. Porsche had a hand in the Seat Ibiza 1.2. Everyone has an off day. 

 

True, but both Giugaro and Porsche were brought in as an attempt to improve the product.  Lotus were brought in to make it slower and less likely to self-grenade, which is woeful IMO.

[bezzabsa]

will it MOT as it is???

if yes....GIB

if no....walk away

[Split_Pin]

55 minutes ago, grogee said:

artefacts

At 7 large for a broken one, they are best left as such.

Give yourself a shake man!

[SiC]

6 hours ago, twosmoke300 said:

Puma is a better drive than any metro ( well any metro in hat doesn’t have a v6 behind your head )

While that maybe true, its a different driving experience and doesn't mean it won't be fun.

I mean you told me:

But 5 years later, I still have my BGT and have no intention of selling it! I think its now the longest I've ever owned a car, which I have no regrets on buying.

OP, if you want a Metro Turbo then now sounds like a good time to buy the one you're saying if it's in good nick. 

[Split_Pin]

Do you enjoy driving it though? I've seen a fair few posts saying otherwise.

[SiC]

27 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

Do you enjoy driving it though? I've seen a fair few posts saying otherwise.

Like any relationship, we have our moments. I have always enjoyed driving it but I still don't fully trust it not to leave me stranded. Confidence builds up again and then the bastard lets me down like it did the other week.

That being said I covered over 90 miles at the weekend in it and had no problems at all. But couldn't shake that nagging feeling it'll suddenly cut out and at the most awkward point. Every slight murmur from the engine, I start planning where I would want to end up. 

The actual driving experience apart from that is great fun. At least for me - my passengers always moan about getting thrown about on every corner. 😁

[Split_Pin]

It sounds like it's giving you the standard old car experience! As long as you still like it in spite of that then it can't be bad!

[Bren]

A bit steep for a project.

My mate bought a moonraker blue example in the late 90's on a C plate. It was nippy - but nothing more. It had a bank of lights near the mirror that lit up according to boost.

It also had a gearbox that sounded like a bacon slicer. Everytime I go into a deli and hear that sound I imagine there's a metro turbo next to the chorizo.

[Rusty_Rocket]

Surely nowadays, a sufficiently strong gearbox could be put together by someone who knows what they're doing? 

There's plenty of Minis running around with way more power that don't suffer gearbox problems. 

[artdjones]

If you really want one, it would be better to spend 5k more on a good one. That one sounds like it will be £15k before you are finished.

[Eavb]

33 minutes ago, Rusty_Rocket said:

Surely nowadays, a sufficiently strong gearbox could be put together by someone who knows what they're doing? 

There's plenty of Minis running around with way more power that don't suffer gearbox problems. 

Exactly this, I have run several different turbo A Series setups and with suitable mods to drop gears, clutches etc, and tight thrust washer settings the gearboxes are fine. Obviously, as they share the engine oil, servicing is important too. 

[Split_Pin]

1 hour ago, Rusty_Rocket said:

Surely nowadays, a sufficiently strong gearbox could be put together by someone who knows what they're doing? 

There's plenty of Minis running around with way more power that don't suffer gearbox problems. 

Of course, but if he's already spent 7 bags and it needs an engine rebuild, you won't have much change from £10k. I don't imagine a Jack Knight 5 speeder or the like will come particularly cheap.

[sierraman]

I often hear people go ‘I’ve done over 50 Miles trouble free this weekend’

How well has the work been done so far? He could be as inept at welding as me. 

[Six-cylinder]

I have driven a Turbo and standard 1275cc back to back and the little whoosh the turbo gives is great, but worth 3 times the price???

Who am I to talk I sold my 114SLi now we have  MK 1 MG 1300. The SLi 75 bhp with a 5 speed gearbox was a much better car and only 1/3 of the price!

[BorniteIdentity]

Buy the car that makes you happy.  It's only money - and if you've got £7k to spunk on a toy then it should be something you want.

Whether there are better cars for the money is as irrelevant as saying Melinda Messenger has bigger tits than Sophie Ellis Bextor.  If you want a bit of posh, the former just won't cut it.

I don't want to be accused of encouraging you to do something daft, but I will say that 'doing the thing you're not supposed to do' is immensely fun and nearly always ends with great stories to tell.  Life's an adventure.

[cobblers]

I had a 100bhp mini and never had any gearbox problems, on account of it never managing to cover enough miles between engine rebuilds to stress the gearbox

[cobblers]

1 hour ago, BorniteIdentity said:

Whether there are better cars for the money is as irrelevant as saying Melinda Messenger has bigger tits than Sophie Ellis Bextor. 

It's doubly irrelevant for me as I am sadly not allowed within 500 yards of either of their houses anymore, in fact I'm probably breaking part of the court order even quoting a post about their boobs.

[camryv6]

1 hour ago, cobblers said:

It's doubly irrelevant for me as I am sadly not allowed within 500 yards of either of their houses anymore, in fact I'm probably breaking part of the court order even quoting a post about their boobs.

You too ?