Barry Sanchez Posted 11 April, 2014 Share Posted 11 April, 2014 The new kid on the block or the old reliable sports motor, what is your money on coming out on top? I have not been this excited since Bernie Winters was touring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintmatt Posted 11 April, 2014 Share Posted 11 April, 2014 Lynn, I'm not driving a Mini Metro. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty Posted 12 April, 2014 Share Posted 12 April, 2014 My ex had an allegro 1100 which I rather enjoyed driving, for some odd reason (everyone else seemed to hate them at the time.) A few years later, (post-girlfriend I hasten to add,) my mrs wrecked her renault 5 and the bodyshop loaned her an mg metro, which I detested. So, its a big to the allegro for me in this crucial poll. May I say I'm on the edge of my seat awaiting the final result. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty Posted 12 April, 2014 Share Posted 12 April, 2014 ^ ...which I suspect will be one-nil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badgerx16 Posted 12 April, 2014 Share Posted 12 April, 2014 or Remember, only one of these has a ROUND steering wheel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHAPEL END CHARLIE Posted 12 April, 2014 Share Posted 12 April, 2014 The Mini Metro I remember was once the 'great white hope' of the UK motor industry and it initially sold quite well on a wave of 'I'm backing Britain' style patriotic fervour. It might even had succeeded in the longer term had those responsible for making the bloody thing cared a jot about it. As for the infamous 'All Argro' after many years of trusty service from his classic Mk1 Ford Escort my old dad - for his sins - found himself owning a second hand Austin Allegro 1100 of ill repute. So I can confirm from personal experience these cars were quite as awful in reality as their reputation suggests they were. The story goes that for the launch of this car BL made a publicity film of new Allegro's being driven enthusiastically over some rough ground and even daring to performing a few 'Dukes of Hazard' style jumps with them ... the film did not show the wheels falling off the cars when they subsequently landed. Even if that story is apocryphal the 'wheels coming off' would still be a pretty apt metaphor for the fate of the British car industry during the 1970's and 80's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackFrost Posted 13 April, 2014 Share Posted 13 April, 2014 Was it the Allegro that was more aerodynamic going backwards than it was going forwards? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swannymere Posted 13 April, 2014 Share Posted 13 April, 2014 Allegro door handles were used in various Aston Martin models so a big thumbs up for the Allegro for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty Posted 13 April, 2014 Share Posted 13 April, 2014 Was it the Allegro that was more aerodynamic going backwards than it was going forwards? No, that was an urban myth. It was actually more aerodynamic going sideways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spudders Posted 13 April, 2014 Share Posted 13 April, 2014 Lynn, I'm not driving a Mini Metro. They've rebadged it you fool Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ecuk268 Posted 14 April, 2014 Share Posted 14 April, 2014 The Allegro was one of the worst cars of the 80's. Came out at about the same time as the Golf and had loads of faults, not least being distortion of the bodyshell if it was suspended towed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Grandad Posted 14 April, 2014 Share Posted 14 April, 2014 Years ago I met a car salesman who used to sell Allegros. Every time that one left the sales room they used to say "There goes trouble". Weren't they standing around on airfields for a couple of years because more were produced than sold, or was that the Maxi? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buctootim Posted 14 April, 2014 Share Posted 14 April, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint in Paradise Posted 14 April, 2014 Share Posted 14 April, 2014 Years ago I met a car salesman who used to sell Allegros. Every time that one left the sales room they used to say "There goes trouble". Weren't they standing around on airfields for a couple of years because more were produced than sold, or was that the Maxi? I think that was also the case with Vauxhalls many years ago hence the rapid onset of the rust worm? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colehillsaint Posted 14 April, 2014 Share Posted 14 April, 2014 (edited) Years ago I met a car salesman who used to sell Allegros. Every time that one left the sales room they used to say "There goes trouble". Weren't they standing around on airfields for a couple of years because more were produced than sold, or was that the Maxi? I heard that the traffic police referred to the motorway hard shoulder as Montego Bay in the eighties. Never drove an Allegro as they were in decline when I passed my test in 81, but my granny lent me her Marina a few times. The steering and suspension made it genuinely feel like a boat to drive. Mechanics liked them though, as they were simple, cheap and easy to work on. Edited 14 April, 2014 by colehillsaint Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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