Rover 100 Ascot 1.1

I have owned 6 rover 100s but i have been unlucky with the metro haters. All my last 5 have been written off due to other drivers running in me ! Grrrrrrr

My rover i have at the moment is a 5 door 1.1 ascot, it is amazing for a 1997 car, it has never let me down it starts every time and cruises at 80 no problem. It has no rust at all because the prone areas have been treated with waxoyl.

I have never had a headgasket problem on any k series metro.

These little cars are superb if you change the oil + filter every year

Regardless of mileage.

The seats go down and you can fit a washing machine in there.

I only wish i could buy a new one but sadly they are no more.

I have used the little rover on long journeys 350 miles round trips with no issues what so ever, I love these little metros no manufacturer makes a small car with such good visibility .

The only modification i have made is the tyres, they come with 155 tyre but these are too thin so i replace them with a 175 wider tyre and they handle so much better.

The steering is light and they are great for parking.

I bought my Rover 100 because most of car use is within 30 miles radius of my home. It is a 4 door hatch with a folding rear seat which makes it very practical. The Rover will also take a towbar for a light utility trailer which many small, modern cars are not rated to have following the change in the towbar regulations about 1998.

In addition to the practicality, good points are: fuel consumption 40-48mpg, road tax £130 a year and easy to work on. Comfy enough inside and a larger than expected boot.

Not so good points: it was designed in the late 1970's and it shows, so build quality is poor. Gaps in body panels abound. No power steering. No airbags and the NCAP crash test results are pretty shocking. The K Series engines fitted to many Rovers had inherent weaknesses with the poorly designed head gasket and related overheating. Rear wheel arch rust protection is poor and rust there is very common.

But judging it my modern standards is unfair because it is a 1970s car that Rover kept making until 1998. Overall, it is a terrific little runaround and very underated. Mine is one is 1.5 million that were made.

Rover 100s are fantastic little cars, now largely forgotten by the wider public, and their loss as far as I'm concerned. I bought mine strictly as a stop-gap two years ago, but I'm still running it. The figures speak for themselves: initial purchase price £250; servicing/consumables have probably amounted to no more than an extra £200 (cambelt changed, new sills/wheelarches); absolutely 100% reliable, still drives as tight as a 3-year old car... As comfortable as a larger family saloon, quiet, will cruise all day on the motorway, yet nippy round town... Brilliant stuff.

Fuel economy, good to drive and park around town/city. Parts easily accessible when required.

I only paid 300 for my 'R' reg car with 1 years MOT last year (March 2007) with 47000 miles on clock, with good radio/CD player fitted - found a bargain!

Very satisfied with car, only one I have had with sun roof - good to drive with sun roof open in the summer.

It has been a very reliable motor so far.

Rust round wheel arch, chasis, suspension. Put together poorly. Noisy engine.

A great car to own, I love mine to bits. I just wish people wouldn't take the mick when they hear the word rover or metro.

Very good car as they are cheap to buy and run, very practical and very nippy.

It is a great car for loading up your BMX to take to some skate parks ;)

The Rover 100 Ascot 1.1 does 50 miles per gallon. It has good a under-body quality (seal paint) and good loading space when the rear seat is collapsed.

My car is a Rover 100 Ascot 1.1 and it looks good for it's age! It's a great first car and cheap to buy, plus ok on insurance. £20 to fill the tank and that goes a long way!

Mine isn't an Ascot its a Kensington SE, which is the same except for interior trim. I love my little Rover, great fuel economy and the size of it is practical in the city where lots of weaving through tight gaps in traffic is needed. Drop the rear seats and i can fit my off road motorbike in the back easily with more space available. I am thinking of fitting a 1.8 rover K8 series engine soon and then the road is my oyster. Despite the way people turn their noses up at these cars i would recommend 1 to anyone. Owning mine has been (and still is) a pleasure.