Had a red MG Metro, it was mind condition, 4 years old and I rolled it on A435 and wrote it off. Only had 3rd party insurance too 😢 Mine was an A reg Mk 1 but it had pop out rear windows
It makes me sentimental for my two Metros, a Marque 1, and then the K series engined Rover Metro that zoomed along the A68 many times in pre speed camera days. The A68, possibly the best driving road in the country!
Fantastic to see this, I had a red one exactly the same in 1993 when I was 17. It was an A registration, terribly unreliable but I absolutely loved it. Great to see this one in such good condition and on the road.
I had a burgandy Metro vanden Plas in 1996. Cream leather seats, walnut dash electric windows. I thought I was the shizz 😂 It was an '86 model 1.3 I got 2nd hand but it had the alloys from the black MG shown at 19:20. I swapped them for the steels from my '84 mk1 as the tyres were hard to source. I didn't know until now that they weren't original to a VP.
Went this year myself, had a good time, would love to get a car on a stand there one day. Don't know what club I could go with in my current 1990 Polo though! That's one thing I do miss the British car clubs when I had Rovers and MGs, maybe I'll have to get one just to get on a stand - good excuse eh?!
Great little roadtrip Ed, the A series engine noise is so British and endearing and contiguous, love seeing the enthusiasm and enjoyment you get driving a Metro.
So lovely to still see metros still going strong. I had 2 as a kid and absolutely loved them (before my teenage self killed them) . I craved an early turbo but could never find one for the very small amount of money I had. Much love and jerp up the incredible videos.
My uncle had a VP auto for commuting to work, very similar the the one in this video and was a very comfortable and reliable little car. However he swapped it out for a Triumph Dolomite Sprint manual with overdrive when he retired. I can still remember the grin on his face to this day…. Great video, great to see all 8 metro’s together.
I enjoyed the MG metros last Friday, such timeless classics. It's a real design testament that these have always looked good from new to now. Missed saying hello.
Love an MG Metro. I also like the auto no, it works pretty well. Had one in a Mini Mayfair. You have to drive it like a 2CV. Foot to the floor at all times.
A 1989-90 Mg turbo had the alloy wheels. I had a G reg Gta that was a hybrid of the Mg & turbo. It had a non turbo engine & the wheels & arch trim of the turbo. The turbo Mg & Gta had 'updated' suspension, ie: front shock absorbers. Also the gta was cheaper than either & I loved it. Great vid again, thanks.
I owned an '88 MG Metro, and an '87 MG Metro Turbo. Unfortunately I burned out the starter motor on my first drive in the Turbo so I ended up giving it to the MG car club. I kept driving the '88 until the rust took it. Rust was the biggest problem with Metros.
Hi Ed Wonderful…..I lost count of the number of ‘Aces’…… Peeps of my age used to use that descriptor when we were much, much younger! A great example of ‘what goes around, comes around’. For me, the Vanden Plas auto wins ……. Some great looking examples there too! Mike
My Dad had 2 auto Minis and 2 auto Metros. The last one he had (from new) was a MK2 and that took us as a family all the way to Corsica and back. I think he had a few issues with the box on the MK1 Metro he had.
Excellent video. The mk1 VP alloy center caps were on the VP500. Does the mk2 VP manual still have the weird right hand exhaust where it comes out of the rear box on LHS then loops round the spare wheel well goes back in and exits on the right
That A series whine brings back memories of the 80s and 90s. At the time I found it sounded unrefined. Our polo had much less gearbox whine for example, our Passat none. But now i think it's characterful. I can immediately tell what type of car it likely is. Mini or metro. And I think it adds to the overall sound and makes it much more mechanical. Much more interesting than any modern 4 cylinder car
Saw you at the show on the Saturday, late in the afternoon. I was tempted to come and say hi but you appeared deep in conversation with your colleagues so I left you in peace. Hope you had a good time at the show though.
I had an 1988 MG Metro, same as the black one except all body colour targa red and side stripes more like the Mk1 but the tailgate had transfers for MG Metro in just silver. I still have the wheel trims that I bought brand new in 1998 they are the same as the black one but had the MG logo in the middle. From memory whilst it will have had the same metric tyre sizes as that VP (160/65R315?) the steel rims on the MG were wider… it’ll say around the centre of the rim with the hubcap removed…. I fitted the original exhaust to it with the same back box. It’ll fit any 1.3 but allegedly the side slash helps the exhaust escape faster? Simpler times😂😂
I still regret not taking delivery of a silver MG Metro that I'd ordered, then cancelled, in August 1982. I'd driven a 1.3 S Metro that a friend bought in 1981 and was really impressed, hence when the MG was introduced, I decided to order one. Usual thing, though, if you order too early you get tempted by something else. Still feel I should have stuck with the MG, but sometimes you just find another car to tempt you and common sense goes out the window!
My mam and dad had a d reg metro in 1986 it caught fire with me as a 6month old in back of it, they swapped it for a meastro but i had a metro first car early 2000's had 3 of them vvc was a treat for a young lad beat all the local saxos not a problem.
@@TTommmmo A Ford Escort 1.6L three door. Saw one in a colour I liked and the 5 speed transmission was the clincher. I should have stuck with the MG, because the Escort was not my best buying decision, but my motoring history is littered with questionable choices!
Lovely vlog. I past my test in a metro in 1989 & my first car was a metro. Would love to own but I think parts are a problem including pumping up suspension
Parts are no problem whatsoever. A few bits are unobtainable, but generally, Metro parts are much easier to get than those for a Volkswagen of the same era. Hydragas suspension is cheaper to maintain and more reliable than springs and shocks.
Hi Ed, just got myself a mk2 MG Metro, sadly not as nice as either in the video. The issue of the metal heating pipe that gave way on the black one is the issue I have with mine. Can you tell me where you got a replacement from? As I am struggling to source one. I bought a used one from ebay but its holed. Many thanks
Can you answer this for me, why did rover drop the gti towards the end of metros run for the gta and its lower power outputs ? Did they know the shell was not favourable in a crash, had a vvc myself and still love them all the same.
Christ no 🤣 It’s due to two reasons. First, tastes changed towards subtler hot hatch styling, so the skirts of the GTi didn’t suit anymore, and it was dropped when the car was facelifted. Secondly, insurance companies in the UK in the ‘90s started to discriminate massively against cars badged in certain ways. Ford dropped XR for this reason. GTis were suddenly much more expensive to insure for no real reason.
Great vid, loved seeing you driving inside the exhibition hall, not many people get to do that! Also classic BL, the 'clanggggg' of the red MG door closing! :P Now, is it "Vanden Plass" or "Vanden Plaah"? :P
Grandma spent her live in Metros and 100 Series (all Automatics!), kept for 3 years and then traded in for a new model. Between them my Grandparents kept Winchmore Hill Rover Garage (N21) in business as they were both loyal Rover owners. So do both those Metros with Metric Rims stay on them permanently or are they only used for special occasions and they run normal 12in rims normally? Are they still within date so to speak??
Remember hiring an MG metro 1300 as a boy in the Isle of Man. It had red seat belts and floor mats. I remember it being a nippy little thing. Quite perky
@@BillyNoMates1974 yep, even the 4 speed manuals aren’t motorway cruisers but I think the 3 speed autos had longer gear ratios to partly make up for it
The Metro's were great little cars but, the auto's were diabolicale. Mate hade one on Fraudability and the local dealer and big main dealers hated them, they were so unreliable, seemed every one they sold would return with problems. Don't know why, knew people who had auto mini's and they seemed fine, so did my mates. Even in the 80's the Ford auto's were better, especially in the MK3 Escort, they were mile apart however, also a good few quid more. People knock auto's but, for those who need them, they are a lifeline to independence and if the box is good, with a little practice, they ain't all as bad to drive as people make out. It's the things you learn over time. The auto's in the MK3 Cavalier were the big game changer, even putting the Ford units in their place, which were the benchmark then for reliability and driveability. Great review, the smiles on the face say it all as to the enjoyment gained in driving it 👍
@@TwinCam You must have the most famous road-going Metros in the world, it seems a bit daft that you weren't invited to be on the owners club stand? Or have I misunderstood something?
Oh, the club would never invite anyone due to provenance. I had Melvin on the stand for the Restoration Show in both 2019 and 2022, so it’s time for some other cars to take the limelight! You see so many stands with the same cars on over and over again, so it’s very important to the club to have variety. Not just for the cars, but the people too!
Had a red MG Metro, it was mind condition, 4 years old and I rolled it on A435 and wrote it off. Only had 3rd party insurance too 😢
Mine was an A reg Mk 1 but it had pop out rear windows
I like the bag of WO in the Vanden Plas 3:19 Fits the character of it
And the flat cap too lol
It makes me sentimental for my two Metros, a Marque 1, and then the K series engined Rover Metro that zoomed along the A68 many times in pre speed camera days. The A68, possibly the best driving road in the country!
Great to see someone driving and loving these 80's nuggets
Were the flat cap and Werthers Originals factory fitted accessories on the VP?
Absolutely. I’m assured that Austin Rover made new VP owners feel at home by including such slices of home.
Thanks!
Thanks mate! 🙂🫡
Classic Ed! Loved it!
Rob
Fantastic to see this, I had a red one exactly the same in 1993 when I was 17. It was an A registration, terribly unreliable but I absolutely loved it. Great to see this one in such good condition and on the road.
I loved my 1983 Y reg black MG metro with sunroof , which I owned from 1987 -89 ..
I had a burgandy Metro vanden Plas in 1996. Cream leather seats, walnut dash electric windows. I thought I was the shizz 😂 It was an '86 model 1.3 I got 2nd hand but it had the alloys from the black MG shown at 19:20. I swapped them for the steels from my '84 mk1 as the tyres were hard to source. I didn't know until now that they weren't original to a VP.
Went this year myself, had a good time, would love to get a car on a stand there one day. Don't know what club I could go with in my current 1990 Polo though! That's one thing I do miss the British car clubs when I had Rovers and MGs, maybe I'll have to get one just to get on a stand - good excuse eh?!
Great little roadtrip Ed, the A series engine noise is so British and endearing and contiguous, love seeing the enthusiasm and enjoyment you get driving a Metro.
So lovely to still see metros still going strong. I had 2 as a kid and absolutely loved them (before my teenage self killed them) . I craved an early turbo but could never find one for the very small amount of money I had. Much love and jerp up the incredible videos.
Brought back memories of my first car, an B reg MG Metro in opaline green. I absolutely loved it. Wish I still had it!
My uncle had a VP auto for commuting to work, very similar the the one in this video and was a very comfortable and reliable little car. However he swapped it out for a Triumph Dolomite Sprint manual with overdrive when he retired. I can still remember the grin on his face to this day…. Great video, great to see all 8 metro’s together.
I enjoyed the MG metros last Friday, such timeless classics. It's a real design testament that these have always looked good from new to now. Missed saying hello.
Nice one Ed. Love the VP...proper auld man's car that. Even had the Werther's Originals and cloth flat cap!
Love those MG's, I had a Montego and Maestro MG, very comfy and quick.
Another well shot video.
Ed, I really like the Red MG Metro, nothing like a red or blue car. Going to the wrong door is part of the adventure. Thanks for posting.....
So many memories of my second car, although it was just an X registration Metro L, but in that wonderful Cinnabar Red
The Ian I mention in this video used to have a Y-reg L in Cinnabar!
It was mint and utterly gorgeous.
@@TwinCam mine wasn't mint 🤣
Loving the Metro's Ed. Ace is such an 80's word- cool too I highly approve :)
Love an MG Metro. I also like the auto no, it works pretty well. Had one in a Mini Mayfair. You have to drive it like a 2CV. Foot to the floor at all times.
Look forward to the tour of the show Ed 👍
Had a white mk1 mg 1300 absolutely loved it and my favourite car ever is a mk1 metro turbo in black 👌🏻
A 1989-90 Mg turbo had the alloy wheels. I had a G reg Gta that was a hybrid of the Mg & turbo. It had a non turbo engine & the wheels & arch trim of the turbo. The turbo Mg & Gta had 'updated' suspension, ie: front shock absorbers. Also the gta was cheaper than either & I loved it. Great vid again, thanks.
I learnt to drive in a C reg Metro. Blue with beige/brown interior. Loved this video. 🙂
I owned an '88 MG Metro, and an '87 MG Metro Turbo. Unfortunately I burned out the starter motor on my first drive in the Turbo so I ended up giving it to the MG car club.
I kept driving the '88 until the rust took it. Rust was the biggest problem with Metros.
Hi Ed
Wonderful…..I lost count of the number of ‘Aces’…… Peeps of my age used to use that descriptor when we were much, much younger! A great example of ‘what goes around, comes around’. For me, the Vanden Plas auto wins ……. Some great looking examples there too!
Mike
My Dad had 2 auto Minis and 2 auto Metros. The last one he had (from new) was a MK2 and that took us as a family all the way to Corsica and back. I think he had a few issues with the box on the MK1 Metro he had.
Excellent video. The mk1 VP alloy center caps were on the VP500. Does the mk2 VP manual still have the weird right hand exhaust where it comes out of the rear box on LHS then loops round the spare wheel well goes back in and exits on the right
That A series whine brings back memories of the 80s and 90s. At the time I found it sounded unrefined. Our polo had much less gearbox whine for example, our Passat none. But now i think it's characterful. I can immediately tell what type of car it likely is. Mini or metro. And I think it adds to the overall sound and makes it much more mechanical. Much more interesting than any modern 4 cylinder car
Great stand as usual, was going to come and introduce myself but you were busy talking, hopefully next time.
Saw you at the show on the Saturday, late in the afternoon. I was tempted to come and say hi but you appeared deep in conversation with your colleagues so I left you in peace. Hope you had a good time at the show though.
A 5 door VP auto is my ultimate Metro. No idea why, can't explain it. It just is.
I had an 1988 MG Metro, same as the black one except all body colour targa red and side stripes more like the Mk1 but the tailgate had transfers for MG Metro in just silver. I still have the wheel trims that I bought brand new in 1998 they are the same as the black one but had the MG logo in the middle. From memory whilst it will have had the same metric tyre sizes as that VP (160/65R315?) the steel rims on the MG were wider… it’ll say around the centre of the rim with the hubcap removed…. I fitted the original exhaust to it with the same back box. It’ll fit any 1.3 but allegedly the side slash helps the exhaust escape faster? Simpler times😂😂
I still regret not taking delivery of a silver MG Metro that I'd ordered, then cancelled, in August 1982. I'd driven a 1.3 S Metro that a friend bought in 1981 and was really impressed, hence when the MG was introduced, I decided to order one. Usual thing, though, if you order too early you get tempted by something else. Still feel I should have stuck with the MG, but sometimes you just find another car to tempt you and common sense goes out the window!
My mam and dad had a d reg metro in 1986 it caught fire with me as a 6month old in back of it, they swapped it for a meastro but i had a metro first car early 2000's had 3 of them vvc was a treat for a young lad beat all the local saxos not a problem.
What care were you tempted with, what did you buy instead of the MG Metro?
@@TTommmmo A Ford Escort 1.6L three door. Saw one in a colour I liked and the 5 speed transmission was the clincher. I should have stuck with the MG, because the Escort was not my best buying decision, but my motoring history is littered with questionable choices!
I’m going to start calling all electric windows ElectroGlide because it sounds so cool and very fancy
Lovely vlog. I past my test in a metro in 1989 & my first car was a metro. Would love to own but I think parts are a problem including pumping up suspension
Parts are no problem whatsoever. A few bits are unobtainable, but generally, Metro parts are much easier to get than those for a Volkswagen of the same era.
Hydragas suspension is cheaper to maintain and more reliable than springs and shocks.
@@TwinCam
Thank you for replying so quickly. I currently have a rover 75 club and one of the best cars I’ve ever owned. I’m in Kent
Hi Ed, just got myself a mk2 MG Metro, sadly not as nice as either in the video. The issue of the metal heating pipe that gave way on the black one is the issue I have with mine. Can you tell me where you got a replacement from? As I am struggling to source one. I bought a used one from ebay but its holed. Many thanks
the rover 114i was a real fast machine, when talking in a trip one forgets and when looking to the spedometer it goes to 190km/h
You need to get in a Metro 6R4 😉👍
I'm glad that I'm not alone in the way I pronounce Vanden Plas! :)
I am getting old - I much prefer the VdP - that green Mk1 is delicious
Had an E reg VP as my car at 18, couldn’t afford the insurance on the MG 😎
Can you answer this for me, why did rover drop the gti towards the end of metros run for the gta and its lower power outputs ? Did they know the shell was not favourable in a crash, had a vvc myself and still love them all the same.
Christ no 🤣
It’s due to two reasons. First, tastes changed towards subtler hot hatch styling, so the skirts of the GTi didn’t suit anymore, and it was dropped when the car was facelifted.
Secondly, insurance companies in the UK in the ‘90s started to discriminate massively against cars badged in certain ways. Ford dropped XR for this reason. GTis were suddenly much more expensive to insure for no real reason.
Great vid, loved seeing you driving inside the exhibition hall, not many people get to do that!
Also classic BL, the 'clanggggg' of the red MG door closing! :P
Now, is it "Vanden Plass" or "Vanden Plaah"? :P
plaah DONT Say the SSS
Grandma spent her live in Metros and 100 Series (all Automatics!), kept for 3 years and then traded in for a new model. Between them my Grandparents kept Winchmore Hill Rover Garage (N21) in business as they were both loyal Rover owners.
So do both those Metros with Metric Rims stay on them permanently or are they only used for special occasions and they run normal 12in rims normally? Are they still within date so to speak??
They both wear their metrics permanently, but neither are driven very much. He has too many cars!
@@TwinCam lucky fella have lots of cars!!! 😀😀
Remember hiring an MG metro 1300 as a boy in the Isle of Man. It had red seat belts and floor mats. I remember it being a nippy little thing. Quite perky
the late MG i never saw it, only the first
That's a generic event wristband, but for a moment I thought it was Austin logo themed
uuuhhh that red MG interior....
i remenber finding them fast the MG metro 1.3L
Blimey, I’ve just found a reasonable cheap MG Metro here in Denmark. Now i just have to do some digging for facts about the car.
I wonder how the automatic Metro drives.
Is it a 3 speed or 4 speed automatic ?
3
@@sherpafan033 ok thanks.
So I guess it must be high revving at motorway speeds then
No. It's four. All BMC/BL small automatics were 4-speed.
As I said in the video, it's four! Pretty impressive for a 'box designed to go in the Mini in 1965!
@@BillyNoMates1974 yep, even the 4 speed manuals aren’t motorway cruisers but I think the 3 speed autos had longer gear ratios to partly make up for it
Just wondering - is it vanden plassss or vanden plahhhhh???
Plassss. It’s a Flemish name, where an ‘s’ is pronounced. It would only be ‘plahh’ if it were French.
@@TwinCam Thank you - always wondered
Love how they had covering on the floor expecting the cars to leak.
The Metro's were great little cars but, the auto's were diabolicale. Mate hade one on Fraudability and the local dealer and big main dealers hated them, they were so unreliable, seemed every one they sold would return with problems. Don't know why, knew people who had auto mini's and they seemed fine, so did my mates. Even in the 80's the Ford auto's were better, especially in the MK3 Escort, they were mile apart however, also a good few quid more. People knock auto's but, for those who need them, they are a lifeline to independence and if the box is good, with a little practice, they ain't all as bad to drive as people make out. It's the things you learn over time. The auto's in the MK3 Cavalier were the big game changer, even putting the Ford units in their place, which were the benchmark then for reliability and driveability. Great review, the smiles on the face say it all as to the enjoyment gained in driving it 👍
i remember wanting to speak to you but you were occupied :/
You're not invited to be on the Metro Owners Club Stand? WTF???
What do you mean?
@@TwinCam You must have the most famous road-going Metros in the world, it seems a bit daft that you weren't invited to be on the owners club stand? Or have I misunderstood something?
Oh, the club would never invite anyone due to provenance. I had Melvin on the stand for the Restoration Show in both 2019 and 2022, so it’s time for some other cars to take the limelight!
You see so many stands with the same cars on over and over again, so it’s very important to the club to have variety. Not just for the cars, but the people too!
@@TwinCam Good point. Really like your videos, keep up the good work.
today i prefer the toyota yaris , the ferrari slayer