I do remember back when I was younger, an older brother of one my friends had the turbo version in white, quite quick as I remember, thank you for the memories Mr Lloyd.
These latest MGs were the nicest appearance wise. In the past those bumper and side mouldings would have been black with a red stripe. I've mentioned previously that my parents owned an early 1983 MG 1600 in silver with the digital dashboard and voice synthesister/trip computer. They owned it at the time that this red 2.0i was sold brand new. They really liked Maestros. Don't think the engine gave them any issues but the digital dashboard and voice synth threw a few wobblies. And I snapped off the front passenger door handle without much effort!
The R-Series engine wasn't great, sir, but it is funny that the thing which failed in the end was not the carburettor icing up or the head gasket, but the door handle! The voice synthesisers I have tried in Maestros have been all right so far for some reason.
These 2.0 MG Maestros are great to drive. Such a shame the budget didn't allow for a sexier 3 door variant to be developed to compete with its peers. What a lovely example this one is. 👍
I think that a Maestro or Montego Vanden Plas could be a candidate for a Volvo C70 replacement Sir. As you correctly mention, the design, suspension, accommodation and practicality was and is top of the class. I know that you like more modern cars than late 80s early 90s. Love the Maestro, whether 1.3 L or 2.0 EFi, metal bumper or HLS.
Sir, it has been considered, but both Vanden Plas variants are extremely rare and expensive as far as Montegos and Maestros are concerned. The engineering (build quality aside) is fascinating, although flawed, and we do like a nice 2.0 O-Series on this channel.
I like that a lot! Some designs seem to improve with age and this is one such. The things that I like are the car body shape, the great "glazing" that renders good visibility for the driver, the dashboard, the "tea shelf". Even the sagging head lining has a certain charm and authenticity....
Yes, typical Montego/Maestro. An amazing car, the best Maestro I have ever driven, I think, and a fitting end to the seven videos I filmed in a day at the Great British Car Journey last month.
Had a 1987 'D' reg MG EFI. The 'O' series with the fuel injection pulled like a tractor even in 5th from 30 MPH to the top end, and the Honda gearbox was smooth and easy to use. Only problem was body rot which put pay to me keeping it. Miss it as it's slowly becoming a desirable classic. Nice video.
The MG Maestros are really good cars in 2.0 EFi form. The PG1 gearbox is generally very good, although they can have problems at higher mileage. Thank you ever so much indeed for watching and commenting!
What a beautiful car. Can't beat a mg maestro. I did have back in the day a E reg Austin montego 2.0 Si half white and bottom half grey. Don't think there is any left on the road these days. But would love you to find one of them and do a review. Anyway as always great review keep up the good work. And from 1st March when taxed my mk1 zs 180 will be available for you.😉
Yes sir, we enjoyed this one very much indeed! These are out there, but prices are rapidly appreciating for the MGs and they are getting hard to find. Thank you again, sir!
Sir, how are you? I was just thinking of you the other day. Glad you enjoyed this lovely MG Maestro, it was an absolute treat, a perfect final car of the seven I drove in a day.
@@lloydvehicleconsulting Hi Joseph, good to see the channel prospering. Looks like you had great fun with the Maestro. I remember my opaline green Metro City with much affection. Is the Ka review up soon?
@@stanleyleopard6799 , you can see it right now if you become a channel member, sir! It will be up on the channel within the next ten days or so. It's been hard work, sir, and we have done over 1,300 videos now, but it does pay off on occasion.
Sadly, rust protection on Maestros was not very good (like many cars of the era), probably the reason why my grandfather kept changing Maestros every two to three years...
Yes bruv i had a grey mg maestro efi turbo and im ashamed to say that i got rid of it in 2002 and it was immaculate .i swapped it for a Ford Escort Rs turbo and I've still got it now and I've been offered the mg maestro back.i don't know what to offer. Its a cheap buy as its a friend but i don't want to lose a friend over a car. The mg maestro's roof is not sagging at all and has red seat belts and everything i put into it. I think seeing you in the car made my mind made up. Thanks for the video it was sick. Big up to you bro 💪
The non saggy headlining would be a massive bonus on these. That is not a choice most people tend to have, it sounds like a bit of a first world problem.
@lloydvehicleconsulting what should I say money wise?he's asking 10 grand with a refurbished turbo new exhaust and brand new low profile tyres. It even comes with a full up to date sound system with an amazing respray in the exact og colour. I've got a new focus St.plus the Rs turbo but the mg maestro efi turbo makes me feel like a 18 year old when I hear it growl driving it plus it has always been a non smoking car.should I offer him 12 grand and see what he says. Its such a good friend who has looked after it since 2002.i think I owe him that as he is struggling with money in this mad world. Thanks for your text. Big up to you for getting back to me
Plus it's done under 25000 miles from the start and when I sit in it there is a smell like its taking me on a journey back to the Rave day lol.im still Djing now Dnb and jungle. I'm definitely buying it 100%.it would be wicked to show it on your site as it is a stunning car with a wicked bite to it
It's very hard to value either of them without seeing them as they are so dependent on condition. I prefer the Maestro, but having just driven a 1988 Mark IV Escort 1.3L (ironically also at Great British Car Journey), I quite enjoyed that too.
@lloydvehicleconsulting thanks for getting back to me. I'm keeping the mk 4 Rs turbo so it's just the mg maestro efi turbo. It's a ni brainer as it has no rust at all and it's just a beautiful looking car and drives like a beast with the mg turbo growl we love. Thanks for helping me make up my mind. I'm having it back. You have a wicked day and when I get it this weekend I'll text you on here OK.speak soon
It's a stunning car MR Lloyd it just needed rear headrests and electric rear windows to be perfect. The Vanden Plas Maestro didn't have rear electric windows, however, the Montego did. Was the Maestro Vanden Plas available with the 2.0 EFi engine?
No, the Vanden Plas only ever had the 1.6, at least in this country. I think rear electric windows may have been an option, but I haven't ever seen a Maestro with them. Plenty of Montegos did have them.
@Lloyd Vehicle Consulting MR Lloyd, So many bad decisions within BL and Austin Rover, the top-spec trim, didn't get the biggest engine. A 2.0 EFi Maestro VP would have complemented the Montego, the estate version, in the Vanden Plas range. Three cars offered with the aforementioned engine.
The engine really pulls nicely and everything is so 80ties... great sound from the O-Series engine! Basically you don´t really need more car tro have fun... The anti sliding mat on an slippery dashboard is the same as already on the SD1... it comes from UCE : Useless Car Equipments...
It's an absolutely lovely car to drive, much better than most of the other Maestros as the steering can be heavy without power assistance, and even if the fundamental driving dynamics are quite good across the range, this MG 2.0i is probably the best of the best, as although the Turbos are wonderful, they do have ridiculous torque steer.
@@lloydvehicleconsulting I used to drive exactely such a red 2.0i in GB about 30 years ago. It belonged to the wife of a good friend but the car had NO PAS!!! With the 15" wheels nearly impossible to steer at standstill. I still wonder how Julie coped with it... I bought a flame red 2.0 i in Spain earlier this year with only about 92000km on the clock. Totally rust free as it was even waxoiled from new. Needed some paint and after a complete service the headgasket leaked oil badly at th RH front end of the head... and the heater didn´t work but that is all sorted now. Looks like new and drives like new with the fantastic roar of the O Series engine... Though being German I always had a big interest in english cars. I do own an immaculate Moonrakler Blue SD1 Vitesse, an immaculate Brooklands Green Princess 2200 HLS manual transmission, a rustfree Cameron Green Rover 3500 P6 "S" (from Spain as well...) and an E-Type 3,8 FHC from 1964 in Opalescent Maroon. Currently I restore a XK 120 OTS which will be Battleship grey with black wire wheels and red interior. Constructionwise all these cars are very cleverly designed, they drive exceptionally well for the time they came o to the market. From the eye of a mechanic above all the Princess and then the Maestro are really unbeatable in accesabiltity for easy maintenance and repairs. The cars are a lot better than their reputation and no way for me to change them for anything German of that time....
Oh gosh, these are really rare now! This was an absolute pleasure to drive, definitely a lovely end to the time I had at Great British Car Journey last month.
Oh sir you spoil us! My 1st 85 MG EFi was red (Targa rather than Flame red) it was sadly taken out by a jealous mk3 Cavalier running a red light into the side of it and putting it on its roof. It was replaced with a later Moonraker Blue 88 model.
Sir, we are very fond of this MG Maestro, they are even better to drive than a Vanden Plas! Sorry to hear about your first one being taken out by a Mark III Cavalier...
2.0 EFi were brilliant to drive and reliable 👍 exterior styling benefited from the touch at a late stage of the great Roy Axe interiors were .......👎 The only real mechanical I encountered issues were front wheel bearing wear and front ball joint wear.
Oh yes, the 2.0 Maestros, with power steering and the PG1 gearbox, are definitely the best to drive. The interiors do tend to have cracked dashboards, sadly....
I just had a go in the MG Montego that the Great British Car Journey also have. I don't know which I prefer, actually! Thank you very much indeed for watching and commenting.
@@lloydvehicleconsulting Had one of those too, in white, hard choice , I'd probably choose the Montego as had it longer. Traded it later for a Rover 220Gti.
The MG Mastro 2.0 efi and turbo were a fine vehicle. Pas/ew/cl/sunroof in the days when that wasn't standard. Great engines, but unfortunately, it is prone to rust.
Yes, the late Vanden Plas 1.6 Maestros had power steering, as did most of the 2.0 MG ones. Electric windows and central locking certainly were luxuries back then. Very prone to rust, sadly. Thank you for watching!
saggy head liner is a problem on most cars,caused by the layer of glue drying out,,i had a b reg maestro & put the mg interior in to it, there was a digital dash in the mg turbo as i remember some asked me other fay they said they didnt but i think they did
If they put a digital dashboard in the Turbo, I have never seen one with it, and in any case, the Turbo was not released until around 1988, two years after the digital dashboard was removed from all other models at the beginning of 1986.
@@lloydvehicleconsulting you may be right about the turbo not having digital dash i think it was the mg and the vdp just seen a video of one they said it was in the mg and the one you said in the vdp talking dash
at 8mins 23sec you say some thing about the car ¬you could get maestro with fall out cant under stand what you said??? u can get in a maestro vanden plas
I do remember back when I was younger, an older brother of one my friends had the turbo version in white, quite quick as I remember, thank you for the memories Mr Lloyd.
Yes, probably nothing more 1980s than an MG Maestro Turbo in white with an enormous bodykit. They were very fast! Glad you enjoyed the video, sir.
These latest MGs were the nicest appearance wise. In the past those bumper and side mouldings would have been black with a red stripe.
I've mentioned previously that my parents owned an early 1983 MG 1600 in silver with the digital dashboard and voice synthesister/trip computer. They owned it at the time that this red 2.0i was sold brand new. They really liked Maestros. Don't think the engine gave them any issues but the digital dashboard and voice synth threw a few wobblies. And I snapped off the front passenger door handle without much effort!
The R-Series engine wasn't great, sir, but it is funny that the thing which failed in the end was not the carburettor icing up or the head gasket, but the door handle! The voice synthesisers I have tried in Maestros have been all right so far for some reason.
So underrated the Montego and the Meastro and with the 2.0i engine the drive really well and handle nicely too.
Thank you, sir. This was an absolute delight!
My MG Maestro 2.0 EFI had terrible tourque steer.
Thankyou for sharing Sir, what a beautiful example & great to see it been preserved, another car that was in every town
It was a very nice one indeed, sir, we did enjoy ourselves very much with this MG Maestro!
These 2.0 MG Maestros are great to drive. Such a shame the budget didn't allow for a sexier 3 door variant to be developed to compete with its peers. What a lovely example this one is. 👍
Yes, the 2.0 EFi Maestro and Montego is the best variant of all, in my opinion! This is an incredibly nice car, a true privilege to drive.
I think that a Maestro or Montego Vanden Plas could be a candidate for a Volvo C70 replacement Sir.
As you correctly mention, the design, suspension, accommodation and practicality was and is top of the class.
I know that you like more modern cars than late 80s early 90s.
Love the Maestro, whether 1.3 L or 2.0 EFi, metal bumper or HLS.
Sir, it has been considered, but both Vanden Plas variants are extremely rare and expensive as far as Montegos and Maestros are concerned. The engineering (build quality aside) is fascinating, although flawed, and we do like a nice 2.0 O-Series on this channel.
I like that a lot! Some designs seem to improve with age and this is one such. The things that I like are the car body shape, the great "glazing" that renders good visibility for the driver, the dashboard, the "tea shelf". Even the sagging head lining has a certain charm and authenticity....
Yes, typical Montego/Maestro. An amazing car, the best Maestro I have ever driven, I think, and a fitting end to the seven videos I filmed in a day at the Great British Car Journey last month.
Had a 1987 'D' reg MG EFI. The 'O' series with the fuel injection pulled like a tractor even in 5th from 30 MPH to the top end, and the Honda gearbox was smooth and easy to use. Only problem was body rot which put pay to me keeping it. Miss it as it's slowly becoming a desirable classic. Nice video.
The MG Maestros are really good cars in 2.0 EFi form. The PG1 gearbox is generally very good, although they can have problems at higher mileage. Thank you ever so much indeed for watching and commenting!
What a beautiful car. Can't beat a mg maestro. I did have back in the day a E reg Austin montego 2.0 Si half white and bottom half grey. Don't think there is any left on the road these days. But would love you to find one of them and do a review. Anyway as always great review keep up the good work. And from 1st March when taxed my mk1 zs 180 will be available for you.😉
Yes sir, we enjoyed this one very much indeed! These are out there, but prices are rapidly appreciating for the MGs and they are getting hard to find. Thank you again, sir!
Good Evening Sir, excellent review. The best colour as well for a MG Maestro or Montego
Glad you enjoyed it, sir!
Beautiful example.
Hatchbacks of that era had massive rear windscreens didn't they!
Sir, how are you? I was just thinking of you the other day. Glad you enjoyed this lovely MG Maestro, it was an absolute treat, a perfect final car of the seven I drove in a day.
@@lloydvehicleconsulting Hi Joseph, good to see the channel prospering.
Looks like you had great fun with the Maestro. I remember my opaline green Metro City with much affection.
Is the Ka review up soon?
@@stanleyleopard6799 , you can see it right now if you become a channel member, sir! It will be up on the channel within the next ten days or so. It's been hard work, sir, and we have done over 1,300 videos now, but it does pay off on occasion.
I had an 1989 one of these, but in white. Loved it, but the rust got to it
Sadly, rust protection on Maestros was not very good (like many cars of the era), probably the reason why my grandfather kept changing Maestros every two to three years...
Yes bruv i had a grey mg maestro efi turbo and im ashamed to say that i got rid of it in 2002 and it was immaculate .i swapped it for a Ford Escort Rs turbo and I've still got it now and I've been offered the mg maestro back.i don't know what to offer. Its a cheap buy as its a friend but i don't want to lose a friend over a car. The mg maestro's roof is not sagging at all and has red seat belts and everything i put into it. I think seeing you in the car made my mind made up. Thanks for the video it was sick. Big up to you bro 💪
The non saggy headlining would be a massive bonus on these. That is not a choice most people tend to have, it sounds like a bit of a first world problem.
@lloydvehicleconsulting what should I say money wise?he's asking 10 grand with a refurbished turbo new exhaust and brand new low profile tyres. It even comes with a full up to date sound system with an amazing respray in the exact og colour. I've got a new focus St.plus the Rs turbo but the mg maestro efi turbo makes me feel like a 18 year old when I hear it growl driving it plus it has always been a non smoking car.should I offer him 12 grand and see what he says. Its such a good friend who has looked after it since 2002.i think I owe him that as he is struggling with money in this mad world. Thanks for your text. Big up to you for getting back to me
Plus it's done under 25000 miles from the start and when I sit in it there is a smell like its taking me on a journey back to the Rave day lol.im still Djing now Dnb and jungle. I'm definitely buying it 100%.it would be wicked to show it on your site as it is a stunning car with a wicked bite to it
It's very hard to value either of them without seeing them as they are so dependent on condition. I prefer the Maestro, but having just driven a 1988 Mark IV Escort 1.3L (ironically also at Great British Car Journey), I quite enjoyed that too.
@lloydvehicleconsulting thanks for getting back to me. I'm keeping the mk 4 Rs turbo so it's just the mg maestro efi turbo. It's a ni brainer as it has no rust at all and it's just a beautiful looking car and drives like a beast with the mg turbo growl we love. Thanks for helping me make up my mind. I'm having it back. You have a wicked day and when I get it this weekend I'll text you on here OK.speak soon
It's a stunning car MR Lloyd it just needed rear headrests and electric rear windows to be perfect. The Vanden Plas Maestro didn't have rear electric windows, however, the Montego did. Was the Maestro Vanden Plas available with the 2.0 EFi engine?
No, the Vanden Plas only ever had the 1.6, at least in this country. I think rear electric windows may have been an option, but I haven't ever seen a Maestro with them. Plenty of Montegos did have them.
@Lloyd Vehicle Consulting
MR Lloyd, So many bad decisions within BL and Austin Rover, the top-spec trim, didn't get the biggest engine. A 2.0 EFi Maestro VP would have complemented the Montego, the estate version, in the Vanden Plas range. Three cars offered with the aforementioned engine.
@@paulie-Gualtieri. , you could get a 2.0 EFi Maestro in other trims than MG in some other markets, but not over here, sadly.
@Lloyd Vehicle Consulting
Imagine being a fly on the wall of the BL, Austin Rover boardroom, with the ability to scream at some of the decisions made.
@@paulie-Gualtieri. , I had better not imagine, sir, it will make me feel depressed.
The engine really pulls nicely and everything is so 80ties... great sound from the O-Series engine! Basically you don´t really need more car tro have fun... The anti sliding mat on an slippery dashboard is the same as already on the SD1... it comes from UCE : Useless Car Equipments...
It's an absolutely lovely car to drive, much better than most of the other Maestros as the steering can be heavy without power assistance, and even if the fundamental driving dynamics are quite good across the range, this MG 2.0i is probably the best of the best, as although the Turbos are wonderful, they do have ridiculous torque steer.
@@lloydvehicleconsulting I used to drive exactely such a red 2.0i in GB about 30 years ago. It belonged to the wife of a good friend but the car had NO PAS!!! With the 15" wheels nearly impossible to steer at standstill. I still wonder how Julie coped with it...
I bought a flame red 2.0 i in Spain earlier this year with only about 92000km on the clock. Totally rust free as it was even waxoiled from new. Needed some paint and after a complete service the headgasket leaked oil badly at th RH front end of the head... and the heater didn´t work but that is all sorted now.
Looks like new and drives like new with the fantastic roar of the O Series engine...
Though being German I always had a big interest in english cars. I do own an immaculate Moonrakler Blue SD1 Vitesse, an immaculate Brooklands Green Princess 2200 HLS manual transmission, a rustfree Cameron Green Rover 3500 P6 "S" (from Spain as well...) and an E-Type 3,8 FHC from 1964 in Opalescent Maroon. Currently I restore a XK 120 OTS which will be Battleship grey with black wire wheels and red interior.
Constructionwise all these cars are very cleverly designed, they drive exceptionally well for the time they came o to the market. From the eye of a mechanic above all the Princess and then the Maestro are really unbeatable in accesabiltity for easy maintenance and repairs. The cars are a lot better than their reputation and no way for me to change them for anything German of that time....
I really want one of them. Had all of its competition but it’s the only one that’s slipped through the net
Oh gosh, these are really rare now! This was an absolute pleasure to drive, definitely a lovely end to the time I had at Great British Car Journey last month.
Oh sir you spoil us! My 1st 85 MG EFi was red (Targa rather than Flame red) it was sadly taken out by a jealous mk3 Cavalier running a red light into the side of it and putting it on its roof. It was replaced with a later Moonraker Blue 88 model.
Sir, we are very fond of this MG Maestro, they are even better to drive than a Vanden Plas! Sorry to hear about your first one being taken out by a Mark III Cavalier...
My Dad had an identical one. Rear ended by some knob after only 6 weeks. Nice car though. Throaty and quick.
@@TheAllyMor , that is a shame, sir! Must have been a great six weeks.
I had a red H reg just like this. Wish I’d have kept it in the old man’s garage.
There aren't an awful lot of these left now, but they seem to have obtained rather a cult status in the meantime, don't they?
@@lloydvehicleconsulting certainly have
2.0 EFi were brilliant to drive and reliable 👍 exterior styling benefited from the touch at a late stage of the great Roy Axe interiors were .......👎
The only real mechanical I encountered issues were front wheel bearing wear and front ball joint wear.
Oh yes, the 2.0 Maestros, with power steering and the PG1 gearbox, are definitely the best to drive. The interiors do tend to have cracked dashboards, sadly....
I had one of these in BRG, fast and comfortable car.
I just had a go in the MG Montego that the Great British Car Journey also have. I don't know which I prefer, actually! Thank you very much indeed for watching and commenting.
@@lloydvehicleconsulting Had one of those too, in white, hard choice , I'd probably choose the Montego as had it longer. Traded it later for a Rover 220Gti.
The 220 GTi does sound exciting.
@@lloydvehicleconsulting Brilliant car, wish I still had it.
It's a rare specification these days.
The MG Mastro 2.0 efi and turbo were a fine vehicle. Pas/ew/cl/sunroof in the days when that wasn't standard. Great engines, but unfortunately, it is prone to rust.
Yes, the late Vanden Plas 1.6 Maestros had power steering, as did most of the 2.0 MG ones. Electric windows and central locking certainly were luxuries back then. Very prone to rust, sadly. Thank you for watching!
saggy head liner is a problem on most cars,caused by the layer of glue drying out,,i had a b reg maestro & put the mg interior in to it, there was a digital dash in the mg turbo as i remember some asked me other fay they said they didnt but i think they did
If they put a digital dashboard in the Turbo, I have never seen one with it, and in any case, the Turbo was not released until around 1988, two years after the digital dashboard was removed from all other models at the beginning of 1986.
@@lloydvehicleconsulting you may be right about the turbo not having digital dash i think it was the mg and the vdp just seen a video of one they said it was in the mg and the one you said in the vdp talking dash
@@mikespikeey4625 , yes, the voice synthesiser was only in the MG non-turbo and Vanden Plas models from 1983 to early 1986.
at 8mins 23sec you say some thing about the car ¬you could get maestro with fall out cant under stand what you said??? u can get in a maestro vanden plas
Rear electric windows...
@@lloydvehicleconsulting right thanks