@@idriveaclassic Check out the Metro I owned for 10 years ua-cam.com/video/ybOWV59xF5A/v-deo.html If you want to do a review on the mk2 Fiesta I have a low mileage example 6,700 miles and all original paint.
I love your enthusiasm for the Metro! It's infectious. I knew these when they were new and they were always fun, not as bad as people said! Would be fun to find an early one but prices are climbing! Never heard of the ARX until this video too!
Thank you for a great video. You are a fantastic presenter, a real natural. I had a 1.3S 1982 metro for about 5 years and it never gave me any trouble mechanically, never broke down and I could service myself. It was just rust that finally ended the cars life sadly but that was no different from other cars of that time. The bad press for the metro is very unjustified.
Love love love these old British classics. The interior of this is definitely a big upgrade on earlier and lower spec models. First visit to channel. Brilliant stuff
I've got to say steph, the more I watch your video's and I mean it in all honesty and as an ex car dealer from the 80/90's you're presentation is brilliant, so very natural. You should be on Top Gear or Fifth Gear with your own classic car segment. You would bring a much needed breath of fresh air to any show..
Another amazing vid, Steph - a treat to watch :) The ARX was the Oct 88 special edition that replaced the Metro Principles (a 5 door Metro in white with a tie-in to the high street fashion store chain) and preceded the Metro Sport, GTa and Studio 2 (named after a design company apparently) limited editions. The 1980s were all about limited edition fever - Ford, Vauxhall, Peugeot, VW and others were all at it back then! Also back then there was a range of Metro promotional clothing including tee shirts, sweat shirts, jogging bottoms, waterproof jackets, sports bags, headbands etc for all the family with the "Metro gets you going" slogan which was also used in Metro adverts.
Simon thanks so much for this. I couldn’t find anything concrete online but I know you’re right from what I’ve pieced together. Thanks for clarifying x
My aunt had an MG Metro it was 86 from memory ! Twin carbs it had - just a cracking little car - she went Fiesta after that and still has a Fiesta although it's 2014 - I can still picture the MG - Right at the time of the 6R4 - that interior was just class - The seats in that ARX are not dissimilar- Wonder how many MGs survive today - Love your videos Steph - pure nostalgia!!
@@idriveaclassic Just being Honest Steph, you across Fab in these Videos, you should be on TV.. ps I Luv you in those retro glasses.. you are Mint :-) xx
Thanks Steph, a great video as usual. This video and your earlier one of Jill has inspired me to buy a Metro. It arrived last weekend! Now looking forward to the spring/summer and taking it out.
one of my fave features of the mk2 was the lit stalk signs , the signs on the indicator / wiper stalk lit up using a system of fibre optic from a bilb in thecentre of the stalks, this was available on the upper market MGs and VPs for sure tho I did break lower spec metos that had this
Fantastic review Steph. It was really fascinating to hear about such a rare vehicle on today's roads and to have the input from the owner as well. Thanks!
There were a few different badged metros. Mayfair and Kensington. They were known as parts bin specials. It is a MG running gear with a more comfortable interior. I had forgotten about the ARX Cheers
@@idriveaclassic I had a Kensington rover 100. I remember it's the name of body colour. Kensington green. It's the same with a few others but not all. Night fire is Night fire red.
Stumbled upon this channel and I love it. Keep up the excellent work. Would say that when it was launched it was launched as the Austin miniMetro to try and link in with the Mini as apparently the makers of the Metrocab Taxi were unhappy as they felt the rights to the name Metro was owned by them. After a short while it was determined they were so different there could be no possible confusion with the public and a compromise was reached and so the mini part of the name was dropped. In 1987 it was felt that the Austin name was deemed old fashioned and a barrier to sales so the Austin name was dropped, the cars being known as simply Metro, Maestro and Montego. The Metro name did live on as a heavily revised Metro was launched as the Rover Metro in 1990, although it was badged elsewhere in Europe as the Rover 100. A further facelift-around late 1994- saw the Metro name dropped in the UK too in favour of the Rover 100. The Morris Metro was the van version. BL used the Morris name for commercial vehicles and it was to bring it into line with the Morris Marina van version and Sherpa van. Indeed, the Morris Metro Van was the last ever car launched badged as a Morris. Sad that. However loving the reviews. Keep up the great work.
I remember changing the clock on my Metro for some reason. I also fitted a rear wiper from scratch-the harness was already there,you just needed to plug everything in.
Love you enthusiasm for the Metro Steph. I remember the ARX well, only available in the one colour, but originally it came with full cover wheel trims, so someone has given it the MKI MG Metro pepperpot alloys which really suit it. I loved all four of my Metros that I had back in the day and would love to have a drive of my Y reg black MG Metro right now, it had such a great exhaust tone and always put a grin on my face ❤️
What an unbelievably rare car! I love metros and it's awesome to see such a rare model in such good condition on the road. Shame there aren't more left :(
I learnt to drive in my Dads 1989 F reg Metro 1.0 City X, it replaced his 1983 Metro L and it was a rather large leap forwards......wish I still had it.......
You can tell you like this Metro by the cheeky grin that keeps creeping in. Been over in Huddersfield today picking up my latest Modern Classic, bit new for you being a 98 but needed a daily that wasn't a V8 Land Rover. Your content gets better and better as you become more natural in front of the camera. Keep up the good work x
@@idriveaclassic 1998 Mercedes S280 W140 shape could have gone newer and Diesel but all my cars are Petrol and I chickened and went for the older straight 6 car.. I also run a 1986 Land Rover 90 3.5 V8 1989 Land Rover 110 County 3.5 V8 and 1995 Range Rover 4.6 V8. My other Range Rover was written off so needed transport.
Good to see all of these rare old cars been used aswel rather than been put on a trailer, taken to a show and having the inside of its exhaust polished with a cotton bud 🏁🏁
When you put the seats back brought back memories, that was the reason we sadly parted ways with our little white diesel Metro, too back breaking putting child seats in there. Pre kids, when we had a life, it was a tremendous car, ultra reliable and cost pennies to run.
Love video thanks. Brings back memories or my August 87 1.3 city x . It had a lovely sandy/beige interior, even though it saw only a city x everything was colour cordinated including the steering wheel, carpets and seat belts ! From may 1987 the metros were much quieter . There was a vast improvement to sound proofing and many tweaks to engine and gearbox. I still remember being really impressed after my 83 metro. Could the X in ARX just be eXclusive . This word was in the brochure, only a guess though.
Apparently it’s for the Austin Rover crossover! So it’s like AR cross so to speak. Somebody on the metro owners club page cleared it up when I posted the video. Mystery solved.
Your channel has really made me look at 80s cars differently. I'm starting to like them and the whole 80s vision of the future vibe, it's kind of charming. BTW, do those headrests rachet forward and back? They look like they do and if that's true that's pretty cool! I've only been in a few cars that have headrests that rachet and I think every car should come with those.
Always loved these Metros, the gearbox whine is so characteristic of them. I've always wanted one but the good ones are getting quite pricey now and I probably wouldn't fit in one anyway being a 6 footer, lol.
Hi Steph, another excellent and very enthusiastic video. When the ARX was launched, the Citroen AX was doing very well and I remember a senior Austin Rover staff member telling me that the ARX name was chosen bearing in mind the Citroen AX. However I think he was just being kind to me as I worked at Citroen ! I suspect, like you, it was more to do with Austin Rover. Talking of names, you briefly mentioned the Vanden Plas Allegro. In fact, it was never actually called that. It was always the Vanden Plas 1500 !
Nice one. Had an Austin Metro in the early 90's. Loved the drive and economy.Being used to bigger cars, one thing I couldn't get used to was cars pulling out in front of me dangerously. Didn't have any accidents, but my blood pressure rose quite sharply, and the swear box filled up quite quickly.
A woman friend of mine got her Metro on my advice after her Allegro was written off by a careless driver. She's had that Metro for about 25 years. Loves it, even now.
Great video, the trim looks like they had a spare job lot of MG fabrics and needed to use them up :-) One thing though Steph, please wear seatbelts over shoulder, you do not want to have an accident with it under your arm as your ribs will take the full force, not your (much stronger) shoulder. Can't have you getting hurt!
Many thanks Steph and Ryan. Yes, Metros are great little cars. I'm sure some people are negative about them just on the say so of others! Weird! Anyway, thanks again Steph, good work.
Never heard of an ARX - it was more than likely a dealer special to shift units - popular in the 80s especially with Ford. Great video and fab car. RIP A191 WDM
Yes, the ARX featured in the brochures at the time. Based on an L model but with MG shaped seats with unique red/grey trim. I'm not sure this car has the original wheels though, they look like MG Metro mk1 alloys to me??
I was a young idiot I gave up my metro in around 2000/2001. Mine was also a F reg Austen Rover but with a different badge on the front the badge beeing more like a Rover badge, my car was in Maroon and it was a 5 door metro. I would love to get behind the wheel of one again!
The term ARX in the Austin Metro ARX refers to a rally car specification that was developed by John Davenport, a well-known rally engineer in the 1980s. The "ARX" itself stands for Austin Rover Experimental, indicating that these cars were experimental versions of the Austin Metro specifically prepared for rally racing. These ARX models were used primarily in rally cross events and were often heavily modified with upgraded engines, suspension, and other racing-specific equipment. They were part of Austin Rover's efforts to push the limits of their small city car in the motorsport world. David of Newbury Classic Car Video.
What a lovely little car, never heard of the ARX either. Back in the day I never considered a Metro but did enjoy driving my mum's from time to time. That simple but well thought out dash really appeals. You fancy a later model Metro one day Steph?
I spotted a boxed Corgi Toys Austin Metro in one of the rear seat storage bins. Very cool accessory to go with the real one! I had a Corgi Juniors Austin Metro in the Austin Rover promotional box when I was a kid. Never had a real Metro although I had a look at an MG Metro Turbo for sale once. Loved the red seat belts but it wasn't in great condition, so I didn't buy it. Rare cars now. Never heard of the ARX either. Great video!
Great vid Steph! It's always lovely to see you beautiful smile! :-) So, which Metro would you go for? Which engine? What of the Rover 100 series? Is that a different car, or just another Metro with a posh frock? :-)
God how I would love to own a metro. Actively looking for one in France, as that’s where I live. But to feel British, I need it in right hand drive ! Love your vids ;)
The metro when it was released in 1980 was considered a very safe car , for example the sils are large so that the doors interlock into them to make them stronger in a side impact, disc brakes instead of drums dual circulate. Spair wheel in the boot adds strength in a rear end shunt. Anti burst door locks to. You may notice this car has no shock absorbents their not needed with Hydrogass. TD Wheels and tyres on this model so ir you get a flat your tyre remains on the rim. By 1985 i believe they all had servo assisted brakes and greater sound insulation on the bulk head and under the carpets. As for corrosion the metro did have problems especially on the front wings ,however if you open the front doors and look at the wing you will see grommets theae were so that during a service wax was to be sprayed into them to help prevent corrosion this was hardly ever done sadly. Later Austin models had small wheel artch protectors in the corner of the wings to prevent mud collecting in the corners the ARX should have them. The trouble was that the Metro was kept in production to long and became obsolete in respect to more modern cars. Nice one Steph keep up the Austin Rover Good work!!! (:
Firstly I love your profile picture, I'm a huge fan of the saint and Roger moore, I love the books especially. But the metro was never safe, it was made cheaply at a time when BL had next to no money and it used the already outdated mini format. I've seen the crash test, I doubt any passengers would survive a 40mph collision, let alone a 70 mph crash. The metro was sadly a victim of cost cutting and because it borrowed much from the mini, it was outdated from day one. The mini only really held on for so long because of its looks and its sporting heritage, the metro didn't have either and with crash testing being brought in, it became a problematic car. The k series metros actually had mechanical issues, such as cam shafts going after 30,000 miles. The k series engine in general has been known to have a few problems. The metro could have been great, but BL really didn't do it justice, had they thrown a bit of money at it, I dare say it might have replaced the mini, but that's the British car industry for you. I've had two 70s BL cars and as much as I love them, you do look at certain features and wonder what they were thinking at times.
I wasn't aware of the ARX but as you said, they didn't make many and they were never common. I had driving lessons in a later 1.4S Metro and it was great to drive. The handling was superb but I was constantly being told off by my driving instructor because I found it hard to stay within the speed limit! It wanted to GO!
I had a Brown one and paid about £250 back in the 90's but loved the Van version and wanted the MG stuff in it as there was a good few in the old scrap yards and they was a good laff to drive and I had the 74 Mini I paid £100 for my god that was a back rd & lane blaster, I think every one should try one and they are worth saving and if it gets you young ones into saving and restoring them is a good thing
That reminds me of the Metro’s my driving instructor owned when I was learning to drive back in the early 90’s. The column stalks are the same as a D reg Montego I owned, the instrumental cluster is also similar to the Montego but my Montego had a rev counter, I guess the lower spec Montego’s didn’t and most likely shared the same cluster from the Austin Rover parts bin.
The Metro was a decent car in its day and competitive when launched. In hindsight, it was slightly too small when 'superminis' like the Fiesta and Nova/Corsa started to grow in size. The Metro A series engine design also meant that it didn't get a 5 speed gearbox when this became an option on many competitors. The usual story with Austin Rover - they never had enough money to develop the car, but what they did on a shoestring was impressive. I agree the Metro is a bargain compared with the Mini (and more practical) That said the Mini is one of the most important cars ever made - up there with the VW Beetle and the Model T Ford.
I hate people who slag off the old everyday cars. These cars once meant so many more were able to be mobile and in their own way contributed to the advancement of the industry. People forget this!
Possibily stands for - A .ustin ...R ..over...E ....xtra? Seems too simple I know , l sold Them back in the eighties but dont recall this , my first " Demo / Company car was a Mini City E ... once I had " Proved myself " On the Showroom floor moved up to a Metro Citx X 5 door in Opporto Red , Parcel Shelf ...Rear wash wiper and.. a Radio , Luxury , Thanks for posting , takes me back ! 200 Kid .
Clutch and brake linings, some gaskets that were not paper and heat shields mainly, although A/R started to fit asbestos free linings as standard before 1988. It's nasty stuff but good at what it was designed for as an insulator.
Loved this, our first new car was a 1.4D Metro in '94 after an old 998cc one. It was one of the best and most economical cars we ever had only had to sell it as we could not get 3 child seats in the back. How economical? Well almost 800 miles with a trailer attached the whole time including running through Kielder Forest just over 64 to the gallon. I too have never heard of this model the ARX until now. Thanks for the video really enjoyed it. Now i'm going to subscribe to see if i become subscriber 6000.
The ARX has the 2nd interior revision. Jill being an early Metro has the first version with the 4-spoke steering wheel. There was a change in 1984 which featured a 2 spoke steering wheel and there was a further change in 1987-ish which is what the ARX has and brought it in line with the Maestro and Montego of the same era to give them all a similar look. An early special edition Metro was the Moritz which is very rare as there were only 2000 of them ever built! The name "Metro" was chosen by the BL workforce out of three choices. The others were Maestro (subsequently used on the LC10) and Match.
As eighties as ''Spitting Image''. The car Geoff from Essex, who drove a BMW 323i, would give Sheela for her shopping trips to Colchester. ('Well, look at them yuppies; that's the way you do it.')
I had a 1983 MG Metro, bought in about 1988. It was good to drive, was quicker to 60mph than any contemporary 4 cyl BMW (as I liked to point out to my boss, who was a bit disparaging about my car) but was not terribly well put together - I had to replace a rusty front panel behind the bumper and when I took the old one off, there was almost no paint in the box section behind it.
Wow! That's a very rare version of the Metro. Have you ever driven a Metro, or Mini, fitted with the four speed AP automatic gearbox? It was ahead of its time, offering four ratios instead of the usual three speeds. Full manual control of the gears too.
@@idriveaclassic Me too. They must be pretty rare now. I've seen videos of Minis in Japan with automatic gearboxes. That option seemed to be available, in that market, well into the 1990s.
I like the Metro, its a nice little no fuss economical town car. Just great for daily commute to work, supermarket run etc. Has it got power steering and was it put together with metric fasteners?
I’ve never heard of a Metro ARX until now!
I didn’t either until Ryan bought his! I just love it
idriveaclassic Really enjoyed the video Steph - keep up the good work!
@@idriveaclassic
Check out the Metro I owned for 10 years ua-cam.com/video/ybOWV59xF5A/v-deo.html
If you want to do a review on the mk2 Fiesta I have a low mileage example 6,700 miles and all original paint.
I love your enthusiasm for the Metro! It's infectious. I knew these when they were new and they were always fun, not as bad as people said! Would be fun to find an early one but prices are climbing! Never heard of the ARX until this video too!
Now is the time to do it or during winter ❤️
I had never heard of the ARX either until now
Another lovely video . Passed my driving test in a metro lol . 😃😃😃😃
Thank you for a great video. You are a fantastic presenter, a real natural. I had a 1.3S 1982 metro for about 5 years and it never gave me any trouble mechanically, never broke down and I could service myself. It was just rust that finally ended the cars life sadly but that was no different from other cars of that time. The bad press for the metro is very unjustified.
Aww thanks so much!
Love love love these old British classics. The interior of this is definitely a big upgrade on earlier and lower spec models. First visit to channel. Brilliant stuff
Cheers Chris!
I've got to say steph, the more I watch your video's and I mean it in all honesty and as an ex car dealer from the 80/90's you're presentation is brilliant, so very natural. You should be on Top Gear or Fifth Gear with your own classic car segment. You would bring a much needed breath of fresh air to any show..
Aww that means a lot. Thanks Chris ❤️
As far as I'm concerned, you're making the most important automobile related videos on all of UA-cam.
Another amazing vid, Steph - a treat to watch :) The ARX was the Oct 88 special edition that replaced the Metro Principles (a 5 door Metro in white with a tie-in to the high street fashion store chain) and preceded the Metro Sport, GTa and Studio 2 (named after a design company apparently) limited editions. The 1980s were all about limited edition fever - Ford, Vauxhall, Peugeot, VW and others were all at it back then!
Also back then there was a range of Metro promotional clothing including tee shirts, sweat shirts, jogging bottoms, waterproof jackets, sports bags, headbands etc for all the family with the "Metro gets you going" slogan which was also used in Metro adverts.
Simon thanks so much for this. I couldn’t find anything concrete online but I know you’re right from what I’ve pieced together. Thanks for clarifying x
and I thought it meant 'arm rests xtra'
My aunt had an MG Metro it was 86 from memory ! Twin carbs it had - just a cracking little car - she went Fiesta after that and still has a Fiesta although it's 2014 - I can still picture the MG - Right at the time of the 6R4 - that interior was just class - The seats in that ARX are not dissimilar- Wonder how many MGs survive today - Love your videos Steph - pure nostalgia!!
Aww thanks so much ❤️❤️
Lovely video and very well presented, keep it up Steph... its like
watching a proper tv car documentary.. thumbs up :-)
Aww that means so much. Thank you x
@@idriveaclassic Just being Honest Steph,
you across Fab in these Videos, you
should be on TV.. ps I Luv you in those
retro glasses.. you are Mint :-) xx
Thanks Steph, a great video as usual. This video and your earlier one of Jill has inspired me to buy a Metro. It arrived last weekend! Now looking forward to the spring/summer and taking it out.
Great video, thoroughly enjoyed this one. I learnt to drive and took my test in a Y reg (1983) 1.0L Metro. Still love these little gems. Thanks Steph.
Cheers Shane!
one of my fave features of the mk2 was the lit stalk signs , the signs on the indicator / wiper stalk lit up using a system of fibre optic from a bilb in thecentre of the stalks, this was available on the upper market MGs and VPs for sure tho I did break lower spec metos that had this
I remember doing that illuminated stalk conversion, looked great!
My 1.3 Automatic had those also
Fantastic review Steph. It was really fascinating to hear about such a rare vehicle on today's roads and to have the input from the owner as well. Thanks!
Cheers Jim 😊
There were a few different badged metros. Mayfair and Kensington. They were known as parts bin specials. It is a MG running gear with a more comfortable interior. I had forgotten about the ARX Cheers
Can’t remember what I learnt in but I know we had a Rio, a Kensington, a Knightsbridge.
All the best cars 😂
@@idriveaclassic I had a Kensington rover 100. I remember it's the name of body colour. Kensington green. It's the same with a few others but not all. Night fire is Night fire red.
Stumbled upon this channel and I love it. Keep up the excellent work. Would say that when it was launched it was launched as the Austin miniMetro to try and link in with the Mini as apparently the makers of the Metrocab Taxi were unhappy as they felt the rights to the name Metro was owned by them. After a short while it was determined they were so different there could be no possible confusion with the public and a compromise was reached and so the mini part of the name was dropped.
In 1987 it was felt that the Austin name was deemed old fashioned and a barrier to sales so the Austin name was dropped, the cars being known as simply Metro, Maestro and Montego. The Metro name did live on as a heavily revised Metro was launched as the Rover Metro in 1990, although it was badged elsewhere in Europe as the Rover 100. A further facelift-around late 1994- saw the Metro name dropped in the UK too in favour of the Rover 100.
The Morris Metro was the van version. BL used the Morris name for commercial vehicles and it was to bring it into line with the Morris Marina van version and Sherpa van. Indeed, the Morris Metro Van was the last ever car launched badged as a Morris. Sad that.
However loving the reviews. Keep up the great work.
Cheers Scott! I did an early metro video with Jill so tried not to repeat myself too much 😊
Had an 81 blue 1 litre similar to yours and loved it.Love those cars from the past and may get another eventually.
I hope you do 😊😊😊
I remember changing the clock on my Metro for some reason. I also fitted a rear wiper from scratch-the harness was already there,you just needed to plug everything in.
Love you enthusiasm for the Metro Steph. I remember the ARX well, only available in the one colour, but originally it came with full cover wheel trims, so someone has given it the MKI MG Metro pepperpot alloys which really suit it. I loved all four of my Metros that I had back in the day and would love to have a drive of my Y reg black MG Metro right now, it had such a great exhaust tone and always put a grin on my face ❤️
Unfortunately MK2 wheels were metric so impossible to get hold of now. So everyone has to change the wheels over.
I worked for B/L specialist garage, and Iv never came across an ARX. I really need to get another metro. Awesome little hatch.
You really do!!!!
Funky little car that ARX, Metro’s will always have a place in my heart, hope he takes care of it 😎👍🏼
Brilliant video and informative. Thanks Steph. :)
Great review Steph and I’m with you I love metro’s really wish I had held on to my 83 mg x
They are awesome xx
idriveaclassic mk1 mg turbo in black 👌🏻
Your videos are amazing ! Keep up the good work
Cheers!!!!
What an unbelievably rare car! I love metros and it's awesome to see such a rare model in such good condition on the road. Shame there aren't more left :(
I know 😭😭😭
Loved my Metro, I had an MG Metro too 😉
I adore that 1st gear whine! It brings back many memories.
Ryan was insistent I feature the whine 😂
I learnt to drive in my Dads 1989 F reg Metro 1.0 City X, it replaced his 1983 Metro L and it was a rather large leap forwards......wish I still had it.......
Amazing how similar to the interior looks to my R reg Rover 100 built 10 years later!
You can tell you like this Metro by the cheeky grin that keeps creeping in. Been over in Huddersfield today picking up my latest Modern Classic, bit new for you being a 98 but needed a daily that wasn't a V8 Land Rover.
Your content gets better and better as you become more natural in front of the camera. Keep up the good work x
Aww thanks Alan 🥰🥰🥰
Ps. What did you buy?!
@@idriveaclassic 1998 Mercedes S280 W140 shape could have gone newer and Diesel but all my cars are Petrol and I chickened and went for the older straight 6 car.. I also run a 1986 Land Rover 90 3.5 V8 1989 Land Rover 110 County 3.5 V8 and 1995 Range Rover 4.6 V8. My other Range Rover was written off so needed transport.
Good to see all of these rare old cars been used aswel rather than been put on a trailer, taken to a show and having the inside of its exhaust polished with a cotton bud 🏁🏁
Oh Ryan uses this as his daily car!
Nice metro steph and great vid nearly got my allegro back on the road
Fingers crossed for you 🥰
When you put the seats back brought back memories, that was the reason we sadly parted ways with our little white diesel Metro, too back breaking putting child seats in there.
Pre kids, when we had a life, it was a tremendous car, ultra reliable and cost pennies to run.
‘Pre kids when we had a life’ 😂😂😂😂. I don’t ever intend to have a family so I’ll be fine 😂
Great video as usual. The Metro was never sold here in sunny Australia but it looks like an interesting car to own, a sort latter day Mini!
Love video thanks. Brings back memories or my August 87 1.3 city x . It had a lovely sandy/beige interior, even though it saw only a city x everything was colour cordinated including the steering wheel, carpets and seat belts !
From may 1987 the metros were much quieter . There was a vast improvement to sound proofing and many tweaks to engine and gearbox. I still remember being really impressed after my 83 metro. Could the X in ARX just be eXclusive . This word was in the brochure, only a guess though.
Apparently it’s for the Austin Rover crossover! So it’s like AR cross so to speak. Somebody on the metro owners club page cleared it up when I posted the video. Mystery solved.
I had a Rover Metro Rio Grande from new in the 90’s I loved it I never had any problems with it .
One of my mums many metros was a Rio 😂
Thank you liked the video
Great to see the cameraperson , looking forward to the marina video 👍
Soon as Joe fixes it I’ll be reviewing it!
Your channel has really made me look at 80s cars differently. I'm starting to like them and the whole 80s vision of the future vibe, it's kind of charming. BTW, do those headrests rachet forward and back? They look like they do and if that's true that's pretty cool! I've only been in a few cars that have headrests that rachet and I think every car should come with those.
They only went up and down. Cool shape though aren’t they!
Always loved these Metros, the gearbox whine is so characteristic of them. I've always wanted one but the good ones are getting quite pricey now and I probably wouldn't fit in one anyway being a 6 footer, lol.
There’s somebody who is 6’6 in the club so you’d be surprised!
I ❤ my Metro.
Well done. Very well put together video. Hi from Scotland x
Cheers!
Hi Steph, another excellent and very enthusiastic video.
When the ARX was launched, the Citroen AX was doing very well and I remember a senior Austin Rover staff member telling me that the ARX name was chosen bearing in mind the Citroen AX. However I think he was just being kind to me as I worked at Citroen ! I suspect, like you, it was more to do with Austin Rover.
Talking of names, you briefly mentioned the Vanden Plas Allegro. In fact, it was never actually called that. It was always the Vanden Plas 1500 !
Apparently it was Austin rover crossover (I’ve been updated since yesterday!). As for VDP - more that the format had been applied to other cars.
hi steph i had a MG metro back in the 80s and god i wish i still had it i still rember the reg number VRM329Y it was zicon blue now long gone sadly
aww what a shame 😭
It reminds me of an earlier Metro Vanden Plas a friend owned.
Oh lovely!
Nice one. Had an Austin Metro in the early 90's. Loved the drive and economy.Being used to bigger cars, one thing I couldn't get used to was cars pulling out in front of me dangerously. Didn't have any accidents, but my blood pressure rose quite sharply, and the swear box filled up quite quickly.
OMG the amount of people pulling out in front of the ARX in Manchester. I definitely swore a bit 😂😂😂😂
You’re so good at this! Wish you’d started sooner!
Oh you 🥰🥰🥰🥰
@@idriveaclassic i couldn't agree more and i don't know of any other female fronted classic car reviewers on youtube
Aw Matt! Thanks x
@@idriveaclassic and keep bigging up the metro, i love how much you adore them
A woman friend of mine got her Metro on my advice after her Allegro was written off by a careless driver. She's had that Metro for about 25 years. Loves it, even now.
Great video, the trim looks like they had a spare job lot of MG fabrics and needed to use them up :-) One thing though Steph, please wear seatbelts over shoulder, you do not want to have an accident with it under your arm as your ribs will take the full force, not your (much stronger) shoulder. Can't have you getting hurt!
I’ve had somebody message me and explain it since. It’s an Austin rover ‘crossover’ and 1,500 were made. It came after the metro principles.
Nice car! I've never heard of an ARX either. Very good to look at outside and in.. Subtle. You enjoyed that, didn't you?!
Yeah it was fab!!!
Many thanks Steph and Ryan. Yes, Metros are great little cars. I'm sure some people are negative about them just on the say so of others! Weird! Anyway, thanks again Steph, good work.
You’ve got it in one there Mike!
Had a Metro HLE years ago and my Wife loved the thing to bits. Me? Well, not so much but it did the job of getting us around. Nice channel by the way.
Cheers!
Never heard of an ARX - it was more than likely a dealer special to shift units - popular in the 80s especially with Ford. Great video and fab car. RIP A191 WDM
I’ve since been informed it was a company special on a limited run to celebrate the Austin rover crossover for metros
Yes, the ARX featured in the brochures at the time. Based on an L model but with MG shaped seats with unique red/grey trim. I'm not sure this car has the original wheels though, they look like MG Metro mk1 alloys to me??
I was a young idiot I gave up my metro in around 2000/2001. Mine was also a F reg Austen Rover but with a different badge on the front the badge beeing more like a Rover badge, my car was in Maroon and it was a 5 door metro. I would love to get behind the wheel of one again!
The term ARX in the Austin Metro ARX refers to a rally car specification that was developed by John Davenport, a well-known rally engineer in the 1980s. The "ARX" itself stands for Austin Rover Experimental, indicating that these cars were experimental versions of the Austin Metro specifically prepared for rally racing.
These ARX models were used primarily in rally cross events and were often heavily modified with upgraded engines, suspension, and other racing-specific equipment. They were part of Austin Rover's efforts to push the limits of their small city car in the motorsport world. David of Newbury Classic Car Video.
What a lovely little car, never heard of the ARX either. Back in the day I never considered a Metro but did enjoy driving my mum's from time to time. That simple but well thought out dash really appeals. You fancy a later model Metro one day Steph?
I’m not sure really! I started my driving life in a 1997 metro. Not sure going back is progress!
@@idriveaclassic fair play! All the best x
I had a metro sport 1275 yellow.
Got stolen and broke my heart.
Would worth a fortune now
Nice version of the Metro.....great vid Steph.
Cheers ❤️❤️❤️
I spotted a boxed Corgi Toys Austin Metro in one of the rear seat storage bins. Very cool accessory to go with the real one! I had a Corgi Juniors Austin Metro in the Austin Rover promotional box when I was a kid. Never had a real Metro although I had a look at an MG Metro Turbo for sale once. Loved the red seat belts but it wasn't in great condition, so I didn't buy it. Rare cars now. Never heard of the ARX either. Great video!
Cheers Rob!!!
Wish I still had my d plate mg metro great little cars
They are brilliant ❤️
Great vid Steph! It's always lovely to see you beautiful smile! :-)
So, which Metro would you go for? Which engine? What of the Rover 100 series? Is that a different car, or just another Metro with a posh frock? :-)
If I had to go for a different metro? Probably a 114 because it’s got memories for me 😊
After 1990 got k series engines and five speed gearbox
God how I would love to own a metro. Actively looking for one in France, as that’s where I live. But to feel British, I need it in right hand drive ! Love your vids ;)
The metro when it was released in 1980 was considered a very safe car , for example the sils are large so that the doors interlock into them to make them stronger in a side impact, disc brakes instead of drums dual circulate. Spair wheel in the boot adds strength in a rear end shunt. Anti burst door locks to.
You may notice this car has no shock absorbents their not needed with Hydrogass. TD Wheels and tyres on this model so ir you get a flat your tyre remains on the rim. By 1985 i believe they all had servo assisted brakes and greater sound insulation on the bulk head and under the carpets.
As for corrosion the metro did have problems especially on the front wings ,however if you open the front doors and look at the wing you will see grommets theae were so that during a service wax was to be sprayed into them to help prevent corrosion this was hardly ever done sadly. Later Austin models had small wheel artch protectors in the corner of the wings to prevent mud collecting in the corners the ARX should have them.
The trouble was that the Metro was kept in production to long and became obsolete in respect to more modern cars.
Nice one Steph keep up the Austin Rover Good work!!! (:
Thanks Darren!!!
Firstly I love your profile picture, I'm a huge fan of the saint and Roger moore, I love the books especially. But the metro was never safe, it was made cheaply at a time when BL had next to no money and it used the already outdated mini format. I've seen the crash test, I doubt any passengers would survive a 40mph collision, let alone a 70 mph crash. The metro was sadly a victim of cost cutting and because it borrowed much from the mini, it was outdated from day one. The mini only really held on for so long because of its looks and its sporting heritage, the metro didn't have either and with crash testing being brought in, it became a problematic car. The k series metros actually had mechanical issues, such as cam shafts going after 30,000 miles. The k series engine in general has been known to have a few problems. The metro could have been great, but BL really didn't do it justice, had they thrown a bit of money at it, I dare say it might have replaced the mini, but that's the British car industry for you. I've had two 70s BL cars and as much as I love them, you do look at certain features and wonder what they were thinking at times.
Hi steph , great video as usual , ive never seen one of these before but its really nice , hope ur sore throat clears up 😊x
God I seem to be permanently under the weather. Ever since I got my tonsils out as a teenager I fall prey to every cough.
MK2 metros had a resigned front subframe which increased the track which would improve the handling
I wasn't aware of the ARX but as you said, they didn't make many and they were never common.
I had driving lessons in a later 1.4S Metro and it was great to drive. The handling was superb but I was constantly being told off by my driving instructor because I found it hard to stay within the speed limit! It wanted to GO!
I learnt in a Rover 114 too. It was my mums and then I got my own 😂
So glad I found this channel about Jill? My mum had one in auto ? I think it was a great ere for cars that was so simplicity
Aww this is actually the ARX. Jill is my beige metro.
@@idriveaclassic wish I was in passenger seat x
Great channel. Wow forgot about the metro I had one in the early 2000s paid £275 for it! Never let me down I loved it . Ps love your style 😘
Hi Steph
the ARX stands for a eco friendly a early technical database for co2 emissions fuel economy etc . 😊
I had a Brown one and paid about £250 back in the 90's but loved the Van version and wanted the MG stuff in it as there was a good few in the old scrap yards and they was a good laff to drive and I had the 74 Mini I paid £100 for my god that was a back rd & lane blaster, I think every one should try one and they are worth saving and if it gets you young ones into saving and restoring them is a good thing
Cheers Nicola!
Making me want a Metro!
Just do it ;)
I'd love a late one, maybe a 114 gta or a cabrio.
That reminds me of the Metro’s my driving instructor owned when I was learning to drive back in the early 90’s. The column stalks are the same as a D reg Montego I owned, the instrumental cluster is also similar to the Montego but my Montego had a rev counter, I guess the lower spec Montego’s didn’t and most likely shared the same cluster from the Austin Rover parts bin.
Nothing says recycling like the BL/AR parts bin 😂
Love Austin Metros. Would love a Austin Metro CHAIRMAN wonder if there is any left?
The Metro was a decent car in its day and competitive when launched. In hindsight, it was slightly too small when 'superminis' like the Fiesta and Nova/Corsa started to grow in size. The Metro A series engine design also meant that it didn't get a 5 speed gearbox when this became an option on many competitors. The usual story with Austin Rover - they never had enough money to develop the car, but what they did on a shoestring was impressive. I agree the Metro is a bargain compared with the Mini (and more practical) That said the Mini is one of the most important cars ever made - up there with the VW Beetle and the Model T Ford.
I hate people who slag off the old everyday cars. These cars once meant so many more were able to be mobile and in their own way contributed to the advancement of the industry. People forget this!
@@idriveaclassic Yes - the Metro was actually quite desirable when it was new - I aspired to one, but couldn't afford it!
Possibily stands for - A .ustin ...R ..over...E ....xtra? Seems too simple I know , l sold
Them back in the eighties but dont recall this , my first
" Demo / Company car was a Mini City E ... once I had " Proved myself "
On the Showroom floor moved up to a Metro Citx X 5 door in Opporto Red ,
Parcel Shelf ...Rear wash wiper and.. a Radio , Luxury ,
Thanks for posting , takes me back !
200 Kid .
Great video, I learnt something about metros! Where is the asbestos in the engine bay?
the brake pad
It’ll be the brakes x
Head gasket
Clutch and brake linings, some gaskets that were not paper and heat shields mainly, although A/R started to fit asbestos free linings as standard before 1988. It's nasty stuff but good at what it was designed for as an insulator.
I like this channel because she's review nice about cars.
Loved this, our first new car was a 1.4D Metro in '94 after an old 998cc one. It was one of the best and most economical cars we ever had only had to sell it as we could not get 3 child seats in the back. How economical? Well almost 800 miles with a trailer attached the whole time including running through Kielder Forest just over 64 to the gallon. I too have never heard of this model the ARX until now. Thanks for the video really enjoyed it. Now i'm going to subscribe to see if i become subscriber 6000.
That instrument binnacle is identical to my old 1.3 Montego that I had in the late 80's
Yeah it’s the old share and borrow of AR 😂
That sppeeedddo will drive me nuts...some grease on the cable and it should be good...great car thanks..
Cheers Martin
The ARX has the 2nd interior revision. Jill being an early Metro has the first version with the 4-spoke steering wheel. There was a change in 1984 which featured a 2 spoke steering wheel and there was a further change in 1987-ish which is what the ARX has and brought it in line with the Maestro and Montego of the same era to give them all a similar look. An early special edition Metro was the Moritz which is very rare as there were only 2000 of them ever built! The name "Metro" was chosen by the BL workforce out of three choices. The others were Maestro (subsequently used on the LC10) and Match.
I don’t think there are any Moritz left! Also I’m sure you drove past me when I was waiting for a bus last week 😂😂😂
@@idriveaclassic What was I in? The Citroen has a dashcam so I might've recorded you on it.
“One of those massive Volvos” hehe
I wonder what this princess would make of my early Volvo S80
If you’re UK based I do book reviews (after lockdown!)
As eighties as ''Spitting Image''.
The car Geoff from Essex, who drove a BMW 323i, would give Sheela for her shopping trips to Colchester.
('Well, look at them yuppies; that's the way you do it.')
Hi Steph, great video as always. Do you know if they ever did a diesel Metro?
They did! The rover 115
@@idriveaclassic Have you driven one? What was it like?
#iDriveClassics its been a couple of weeks !!!
*Where Are You* ???
I saw a rare G reg Metro Advantage last week. There's about 4 of them left.
regarding interior furniture all Triple M cars used the same things, stalks, steering wheels, clocks etcc etcc etcc
I had a 1983 MG Metro, bought in about 1988. It was good to drive, was quicker to 60mph than any contemporary 4 cyl BMW (as I liked to point out to my boss, who was a bit disparaging about my car) but was not terribly well put together - I had to replace a rusty front panel behind the bumper and when I took the old one off, there was almost no paint in the box section behind it.
Aww what a shame!
Friends mum had a 1988 Metro City back in the day, Don't remember seeing any arx's though👍.
Yeah only 1,500 made 🙈
Metro ARX (man. 4) , manufactured or sold in 1988, version for Europe special edition (since October) (up to December)
manufactured by Austin in GB
3-door hatchback body type
FWD (front-wheel drive), manual 4-speed gearbox
gasoline (petrol) engine with displacement: 1275 cm3 / 77.7 cui, advertised power: 46 kW / 62 hp / 63 PS ( DIN ), torque: 98 Nm / 72 lb-ft, more data: 1988 Metro ARX (man. 4) Horsepower/Torque Curve
characteristic dimensions: outside length: 3406 mm / 134.1 in, width: 1546 mm / 60.9 in, wheelbase: 2251 mm / 88.6 in
reference weights: base curb weight: 803 kg / 1770 lbs, gross weight GVWR: 1140 kg / 2513 lbs
how fast is this car ? top speed: 156 km/h (97 mph) (declared by factory);
accelerations: 0- 60 mph 12.9© s, 0- 100 km/h 13.7 s (declared by factory), 1/4 mile drag time (402 m) 18.9© s (simulation ©automobile-catalog.com) 1988 Metro ARX (man. 4) Detailed Performance Review
fuel consumption and mileage: 6.3 l/100km / 45.1 mpg (imp.) / 37.7 mpg (U.S.) / 16 km/l ECE-cycle; average estimated by a-c©: 8.9 l/100km / 31.9 mpg (imp.) / 26.6 mpg (U.S.) / 11.3 km/l.
Hey! I was after knowing what ARX stood for really :)
24:18
Driver: Hello officer
Policeman: How fast were you going?
Driver: Ummm, somewhere between 30 and 40mph
Wow! That's a very rare version of the Metro.
Have you ever driven a Metro, or Mini, fitted with the four speed AP automatic gearbox?
It was ahead of its time, offering four ratios instead of the usual three speeds. Full manual control of the gears too.
No I haven’t! I’d like to though.
@@idriveaclassic
Me too. They must be pretty rare now.
I've seen videos of Minis in Japan with automatic gearboxes. That option seemed to be available, in that market, well into the 1990s.
Metro ARX is new to me. Is the ARX an MG Metro without the MG badge? Great channel BTW.
Were Studio 2s the same?
cool car!
I'd love a Metro or in fact anything 80s Austin/Rover/BL, like a Metro, Maestro or a Montego.
Yeah they’re brilliant!
I like the Metro, its a nice little no fuss economical town car. Just great for daily commute to work, supermarket run etc. Has it got power steering and was it put together with metric fasteners?
No power steering!
Hyacinth buckets neighbor had one,4 door sedan .
Indeed. Elizabeth and Emmett 😂
Try the gti metro.
Love the gti
Love these little special editions. Does anyone know the difference with Rover 100 ascot, Kensington and Knightsbridge specs?
I don’t sorry! The metro owners club will though x
idriveaclassic thanks I’ll have a look