Wanted :: MG Metro Turbo Test-Drive

[GT]

Is there anyone on here who might be willing to oblige me with a test-drive of an MG Metro Turbo?

I've had a hankering for one for years and am toying with the idea of getting one. However, I've never been inside an A-series Metro, let alone driven one!

Its mostly a curiosity factor, but if I do it, I'd rather do it through the people I know on here than pick on some random seller under false pretenses :)

Thanks in advance!

[MG Mal]

Best Place for this request is below...


http://www.minimetro.org/discuss/index.php

If you like I can copy and paste your request, and see if anyone is near enough.

Theres one lad who has a Frazer tickford Metro turbo too.!

Mal.

[The Express Valeter]

Is there anyone on here who might be willing to oblige me with a test-drive of an MG Metro Turbo?

I've had a hankering for one for years and am toying with the idea of getting one. However, I've never been inside an A-series Metro, let alone driven one!

Its mostly a curiosity factor, but if I do it, I'd rather do it through the people I know on here than pick on some random seller under false pretenses :)

Thanks in advance!

I know where there is a Turbo for sale. I looked at it a couple of weeks ago. Not mint but very little rust & original.
I am on the minimetro forum now.

[JC.]

You can drive my none turbo A series metro if you like...
TBH it bores me to tears, though.

[GT]

Actually... its a Frazier-Tickford-Turbo I'm looking at :angel:

However, I'd just like to have a proper drive in a Metro Turbo before spending money on an impulse. Very few people are willing to let a total stranger jump in their pride and joys, which is why I thought I would try my hand at some friendly faces first :)

[ZS]

Do EMS still have that metro in the showroom? :p

[GT]

Andy still had the MG Metro, yes... but its not a Turbo.

[ZS]

Okay so its not a turbo... but it would give you an idea of if you could live with handling/feel of interior etc...??

[Rally Matt]

Don't buy a turbo! When I ran an ARG dealership I had 2 as demo cars. What a pile of junk. Slow and unreliable. Oil and water pee'd out of every orifice.

The MG1300 was a much better car with hardly any reliability issues and better handling. The Turbo sits lower on uprated Hydragas units but th shortened pistons means there was hardly any suspension travel and the rear end was particularly bad. There were a high number of Turbo's written off with the cars having a nasty liking to spin out of control. There was some work done to try an combat it but it was mainly a specific Dunlop tyre spec.

Probably the worst car we had to sell in the range other than the Mini. Fortunately by then the R series MG Maestro was not on the range or that was another pile of junk!

Late MG1300 and Metro GTa came with the Turbo body kit, its most attactive feature.

[The Express Valeter]

Andy still had the MG Metro, yes... but its not a Turbo.

I do still have my MG Metro but it is provisionally sold to a member on here as soon as I find an ideal replacement. I have found one but the owner won't sell it (yet)!!

[Ivantate]

The standard MG never had the bodykit fitted, only the GTA. I am pretty sure it had the Turbo suspension too which I thought was only front shocks and rear ARB. The hydro units could have been different too though.
MG- 75bhp, standard metro suspension, 3.44diff, mg trim.
GTA- 75bhp, turbo susp, turbo body kit, 3.44 diff, Low spec interior.
Turbo- 90bhp, turbo susp and kit, 3.1 diff, mg trim.

The rear antirollbar on the turbo may have made it slightly tail happy. (suppose all the best hatchs are, look at the 205gti)


Incidently my brother will have a 1989 MG metro for sale soon, minus engine, seats and a few other bits that have gone into his new one. Can let you have some details if you fancy spending less and slightly more of a project! Its not that this one is that bad but he found a one owner 1990 Knightsbridge that hadnt been used in the wet to build into his ultimate a-series. (he has a set of turbo challenge wheels, 1430 engine etc waiting for it)

[Rally Matt]

The MG Metro has booster shocks even on the 1300 but this was early cars until an uprated Hydragas unit was adopted for the MG. Turbo has shorter pistons and different valving as well as other additions but the tail happyness was a fault rather than sign of a good handling car!

The 205GTi suffers like most Euro hot hatches with a compound rear suspension set up, to try an reduce body roll thicker torsion beams are installed but that causes the rear end to load up like a jack in the box and if the rear end lifts it fires the back into the air, hence why so many rally shots are seen of Pugs nose into the mud after small jumps!

I think we saw some publicity shots and a trial for the MG1300 with the body kit as ARG really wanted to kill the Turbo off, but as you say it was only the later GTa that came with the turbo body kit and a more basis interior, original GTa was a stripped out MG with some nasty yellow of green stripes but it was dirt cheap!

[Ivantate]

The one you are thinking of is the 1275 Sport. It was white with the yellow and green stripes. Dont know much about the specs.

I have also seen a later metro sport that looked alot like the GTA without the body kit. Not sure of the spec either but I know it had the wider MG spec steel wheels. (only 5mm or similar and looked identical)

[Rally Matt]

Thats the one! After I had posted it I thought it wasn't a GTa!

[MGTurbo#261]

I have a few ;)
They are great fun .. But can be unreliable as hell if driven hard. The gearboxes can be destroyed in hours, I am an expert :angry:

I would offer you a test drive but dont have one taxed tested etc ..

I have just purchased the Tickford Turbo Metro on Ebay to add to my collection ;)

The Frazier Tickford Turbo is the holy grail of Metros :drink2:

[The Express Valeter]

I have a few ;)

I have just purchased the Tickford Turbo Metro on Ebay to add to my collection ;)

The Frazier Tickford Turbo is the holy grail of Metros :drink2:

:yikes: Good heavans!! Another Metro!:shock:

[GT]

I have a few ;)
They are great fun .. But can be unreliable as hell if driven hard. The gearboxes can be destroyed in hours, I am an expert :angry:

I would offer you a test drive but dont have one taxed tested etc ..

I have just purchased the Tickford Turbo Metro on Ebay to add to my collection ;)

The Frazier Tickford Turbo is the holy grail of Metros :drink2:
Congrats once again on the purchase and many thanks for the 'would offer' :D

If it ever changes, let me know, I'd still like to try one, just for the experience :)

[MGTurbo#261]

Congrats once again on the purchase and many thanks for the 'would offer' :D

If it ever changes, let me know, I'd still like to try one, just for the experience :)

I will have a couple taxed and tested next year .. If ever up in the Midlands give me a shout .. You can have a try in the Reyland too .. Now that is a quick Metro
Will have the ERA back too by then :dancing:

[MYCaptainChris]

My Turbo was great, went well, great sound, fun............ but, the K series is better.

[DaveW]

I ran a Turbo for nine years through the 90's. It was often fully loaded with family and luggage, and cruised at 80 easily. At the top end it was excellent, although a slug off the line. Nothing went wrong apart from one occasion when the float chamber vent valve stuck open - fixed with WD40. It was one of my most reliable cars, but I had it from 8k miles and serviced it every 3k. The trouble with these cars now is that they will have been abused, so don't expect ultra reliability. I have very fond memories of that car which I sold for £1650 at MGCC Silverstone in 2001.
Soon after, the values plummeted.

[GT]

The k-series may be better, but for some reason I think the A-series Metros look better...

[CDTi Rich]

Having run a tuned MG Metro Turbo (95BHP @ Wheels) for several years the engine was quite strong. Yes it leaked oil and water but it held together.

The gearbox and diff was a diffent matter and I got through 5 rebuilds.......oh those were the days!

I have to say though it was a very fun car to drive and I had no handling problems (although I did fit an updated suspension)

http://gallery.xpowerforums.com/data/500/medium/Metro_Turbo.jpg

[GT]

Does it have an additional rear spoiler fitted?

Some late spec wheels too, by the looks?

[MG Mal]

Looks like that car has the 'optional' 'Unipart' lower spoiler fitted.

I sold a NOS one of those at Saloon day last year, and now wish I had'nt, as Im about to take delivery of a very early MK2 turbo. :banghead:

:car1: :car2:

mal.