1993 ROVER METRO GSI

EXTERIOR

Stone chip aside, it’s a looker

INTERIOR

Unfettered and original

MECHANICALS

Feels every bit as young as it is

ENGINE 1396cc/4-cyl/ohc POWER 74bhp@5500rpm TORQUE 86lb ft@4000rpm MAXIMUM SPEED 100mph 0-60MPH 11.1sec FUEL CONSUMPTION 28-47mpg TRANSMISSION FWD, four-speed auto MOT February 2024 ODOMETER 24,672 miles

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?

The 1.4-litre K-series engine springs to life with ease and settles quickly to a muted hum at idle. The automatic gearbox shifts smoothly and hangs on to gears well when you need it to. Performance is as you’d expect – spry and nimble on tight roads but not overwhelmed by faster road speeds. The steering is well weighted if a little heavy at low speeds. Pulling away hard sees the car pull slightly to the left but the driver neber finds themselves fighting to keep it in a straight line. It stops straight and true even under heavy braking and doesn’t wander on the road. There’s a fair amount of road noise at cruising speeds but it’s not overbearing or rattly.

BODYWORK CHECK

It looks very good overall. The paint still retains a pleasing lustre with no significant issues jumping out though there is a stone chip in the front valance and a small scuff on the front bumper. All of the hubcaps are present and correct with minimal scuffing to them. The nearside black trim shows a little sun bleaching but nothing that detracts from the car’s overall appearance. There are a few areas of paint bubbling on the roof but the glass is free from chips and scratches and the lights are in good condition with no evident misting or condensation.

HOW’S THE INTERIOR?

There’s a little fraying thread on the steering wheel and marks along the edge of the sun visor but otherwise the interior is as you’d expect for a car of this mileage. The front seats are showing a little wear but the rear bench looks like’s it’s barely been touched. The radio doesn’t appear to work but the heater and fans do, as do the windscreen wipers and sunroof. The door cards and finish it off nicely.

UNDER THE BONNET

Everything under the bonnet looks neatly presented. The battery looks recent and has clean terminals; there is a small amount of blistering to the paint on the cylinder head covers though nothing drastic or unbecoming. The wiring looms running in and out of the ECU are free from splitting insulation and don’t look as old as the car. The hoses show no signs of perishing, bulging or cracking and the insulation against the bulkhead barely looks its age though there are a few obvious areas of blistering paint and rust along the front cross bar.

THE CCW VIEW

As easy as the Metro is to overlook, it is an enjoyable car to drive and a competent follow-up to the original Mini with chuckable handling, especially in GSI guise as here. As a means of dipping your toe into the waters of affordable classic car ownership, you could do far worse than this.