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Wasn't the Metro pretty well total rubbish from the start, never mind the Tata, just a cheapskate attempt at expanding an obsolete car into a 'new' supermini? The original Mini was OK for its somewhat austere era, the rubber suspension ingenious and packaging wonderful, and the thing handled. But it wasn't up to much on long journeys. Could do the twisty bits faster than anything at the time, but small Fiat-Abarths etc would outrun Coopers on fast roads. Gearbox-in-sump was a compromise leading to short drivetrain life, as was the A-series engine. Issigonis wanted a more modern unit in the fifties when designing the Mini, but the cheeseparing scoundrels in charge thought it cheaper just to pay him a lot.
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Viewed as a very cheap disposable new car, then it makes some sense. However, I think I would still rather put that 4K towards a decent car.
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" What other car can you get for £3,995? ." I had a ride in a friend's brand new Suzuki Alto ,seemed to go fine. Very small but it's designed that way but fine for a second car. Also made in India but felt well put together.He's very impressed so far and it cost him £4,500. Must be better than a City Rover.
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Allegedly it only cost Rover £1600 to build a CityRover.
www.austin-rover.co.uk
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"Allegedly it only cost Rover £1600 to build a CityRover."
What a waste of £1,600!
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" What other car can you get for £3,995? ." I had a ride in a friend's brand new Suzuki Alto ,seemed to go fine. Very small but it's designed that way but fine for a second car. Also made in India but felt well put together.He's very impressed so far and it cost him £4,500. Must be better than a City Rover.
These Altos are now being sold for £4000.
A friend of mine had one for a short while. And yes they're much better than a CityRover.
They're quite similar actually; the Alto is an Indian-built Maruti Zen. BUT it's a better car, and you get the reassurance of a 3 year warranty and a still-existing dealer network, one with a good reputation at that.
Still not sure I'd have one, what with one-year-old superminis like the Micra etc being £4500 at Motorpoint and all that, but still a better bet than the CityRover.
With the Suzuki being readily available for £4000, I think they're going to have to bring these CityRovers down to nearer £3000, and then maybe, just maybe, they'll be a good deal for an undemanding driver.
A second-hand European, Japanese or Korean hatch is still a much more sensible purchase however.
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> A second-hand European, Japanese or Korean hatch is still a much more sensible purchase however.
I agree Mrmender. Out there in the eastern Sahara a new car may look like a good idea, but read what people have said here. Do they, er, supply you with a wagon out there? Or is it just planes back and forth?
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>> > >> >> A second-hand European, Japanese or Korean hatch is still a much >> more sensible purchase however. >> I agree Mrmender. Out there in the eastern Sahara a new car may look like a good idea, but read what people have said here. Do they, er, supply you with a wagon out there? Or is it just planes back and forth?
Toyota Hilux PU with driver infact you would be hard pushed to see anything else other than a Toyota here, mainly Land crusers & Hi luxes
I'm only 10min from a black top as they call them here (tarmac road) & I'm in the Nubian Desert
Spoke to mrsmemder last night she would prefer i got her another 70 quid polo! Ah! she's a yorkshire lass and "careful" (read as tight) with her/my money
I will keep a good eye on motorpoint's prices and see if they slip down more
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" What other car can you get for £3,995? ." I had a ride in a friend's brand new Suzuki Alto ,seemed to go fine. Very small but it's designed that way but fine for a second car. Also made in India but felt well put together.He's very impressed so far and it cost him £4,500. Must be better than a City Rover.
I think this is a very important point. I keep hearing the comment that the City Rover is crap because it is built in India. If a car is well designed and built in a well run factory, quality can be high anywhere. Take the turn around of Skoda as a case in point. Even in India, the Tata Indica is regarded as a crude,outdated small car compared with other Indian built models such as the Suzuki Alto/Zen, Hyundai Santro etc.
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Wasn't the Metro pretty well total rubbish from the start>>
No, in 1980 the chassis / packaging was competitive even though the A Series engines were less so however the introduction of the K Series engines in 1990 really gave the Metro a new lease of life, great refinement, performance, economy and handling for the time. These 1.1 (8v) and 1.4 (8v and 16v) K Series engines were pretty much problem free, it was the later 1.8's and to a lesser extent 1.6's that suffered HGF problems.
By the time it was faclifted and became the 100 it was getting long in the tooth in terms of interior space and, as has been said, crash protection.
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