Rover 100 Knightsbridge 1.1

The cooling system needs a flush every 2 years to keep it in top condition, then the head gasket won't blow, but 1/2 hour every couple of years is OK. Also the rear trailing arms need greasing every year or they will fail, but again £5 for a grease gun and it's a 10 min job.

If you want a cheap runaround then buy a Rover 100. I have had Alfa's, BMW 320, mk2 Golf 16v GTi, Escorts, an Orion, Mondeo's and now my third Rover Metro. They are very fun to drive and I will always say that I have never had so much fun in any of the previous cars that I have owned. They are seriously under-rated cars. It takes about the whole of 2 minutes to lower and when lowered handle like a gokart and for a 1.1 8 valve are quite rapid. I have gotten some good speeds out of one on the way to the scrappy to pick up parts for it and that was only the base model 1.1 8v k-series engine just imagine what the 1.4 GTi/GTa's can do and you can also fit any K-series engine into the bay as they all use the same engine mounts. So for all you people that say Metro's are poor, buy one first I'll bet you'll change your mind.