Potential Maestro Owner

[uktriumph]

I am considering adding a Maestro to my fleet. Can somebody help with a few questions?

I'm familiar with the 1.3 engine, how do the other petrol engines fare in terms of performance and reliability?

I specifically want an automatic. Are there are particular problems with the automatic versions?

Was PAS (upon which I am not keen) a popular option?

Did any of the later Maestros have a catalytic converter? When did production cease?

Thanks - Andy

[E_T_V]

Only the 1.6 maestro had an automatic gearbox I believe. In terms or reliability then the 1.6 is pretty reliable. The only major problem with them is the engine breather system. This tends to become blocked with "mayonaise" and then excess crancase pressure causes the engine to leak oil from all manner of places. The later models came with a better breather system that was located at the rear of the engine rather than the front. Also most of them aren unleaded compatible so you'll need to use a lead additive when you fill up. The 1.3's after J reg had cats fitted, and I'd imagine any 1.6's would although they were phased out around then I believe with just the 1.3 and 2 litre diesels being available. The 1.3's never had PAS fitted and the 2 litre diesel and petrols in maestros didn't have an automatic box fitted.

The PAS on the 1.6 auto's is pretty reliable (its the same as all the other PAS systems in maestros really), however probably less than half were fitted with PAS as it was an optional extra I think.

If you need any more questions answering then please let us know

[G51 NAV]

As E_T_V said, if you want a "from the factory" auto then you'll be looking at a 1.6 S-series (most R-series cars have long since been recycled into bean tins, but there are some about, a few on this forum even). In fact, not even sure if there was an auto R-series?

The only commonality between all 1.6 auto Maestros - accepting that this is subject to personal opinion - is that they can be a bit gutless, with the "slushbox" sapping quite a bit of power. This results in a car which has a greater fuel-consumption than a 1.3 A-series Maestro but not much better performance.

Two-litre Monty's had an auto option on the non-MG models, so I guess you could convert an MG Maestro, if you found the right bits. Power-steering was an option on later 2.0i Maestros but most buyers chose to have it fitted. Its implementation on that car doesn't take away all driver feedback as can sometimes be the case. MG Maestros without power steering can be a brute to park at slow speeds because of the wider tyres and heavier body.

[daveyboy]

A good 1.6 auto will go very well indeed i have had 2 and both have been very good. Not a huge loss of power as stated previous infact i feel they are a very good balanced car and have always suprised people with much better cars than mine when i have shown them what mine can do. As for fuel consumption all autos are known by fact to be thirstier than manual versions however the 1.6 auto is not that poor, i do wonder if some people who make comments have actually owned an example of the vehicle they commnet on as from my experiance some of the advice they give seems a little sketchy to me :banghead:

[G51 NAV]

No offence daveyboy, my bro owned a B-reg Maestro VP auto a number of years ago and my experiences are related to that car. I wasn't knocking it: a 1.6 auto is a fine choice, I was just pointing out one or two of it's inevitable shortcomings compared to a manual car. All autos are a bit thirstier and slower than their manual equivalents; it's pretty-much a consequence of the design. I didn't intend it to be a slur to owners of such cars.

[SimonR]

In fact, not even sure if there was an auto R-series?


Yes, there was. I have seen one.

[G51 NAV]

Wonder if he ever got a Maestro. Funny how some folks make the one solitary post then are never heard from again