I owned one for five years in the late 80s early 90s and loved it to bits. It never let me down once. Still one of my favourite cars to this day. Great review you've confirmed that it's a great car and I've not been looking back at it with rose tinted glasses. Does anyone remember the advertising billboard that had a picture of the MG Maestro with the slogan MG MAESTRO 0-60 IN 8.5 THE GOLF GTI WILL BE ALONG IN A SECOND.

Had a silver A reg MG 1600 back in 1988. Swapped my Ambassador for it. It was off road after a "small" under bonnet fire. Got it home and them my dad who worked for BL in the RD dept in Birmingham took it away for the apprentice's to look at and fix. Three months later it came back. All smart and straight, same engine just a little bigger CC, interior all clean and with red seat belts, the dash all working including the voice synthesizer. Brakes were now discs all around and the whole thing had been lowered by 1 inch according to my dad. It would eat XR3i's and once it p**sed all over an RS2000. Good care free days. Wonder what happened to it? Big smile on my face as I watched this vid, brought back all those fond and cheap petrol memories. Nice one.

I can't unsee the Maestro when I see a Hyundai IONIQ 5 now.

Castle Hedingham - that's the site of many days out when I was in single digits, mostly with my grandparents. That meant being ferried around in a 1979 Datsun Violet with a very wobbly speedo needle.

I had it's big brother the montego, white over black 1985,and to this day it is the favourite car I have owned, comfortable, lovely gear change, and surprisingly very reliable.

That scheme is incredible , I salute that in a world that's quite questionable . That's really cheered me up .

Lovely film thanks - I grew up in Castle Hedingham and my father had a Montego Countryman ... same dashboard, so this vid brought back great memories!

I used to drive one regularly for quite some time, it was a very sprightly car and as you say, rather rattley. I also had a good few terrifying voyages in an MG Maestro Turbo which had been highly tuned by a company in Wales (forget the name), that vehicle was insane and caused many a brown trouser moment.

I had a black one C522LTA it was one of the best cars I ever owned, quick enough handle great and was very reliable but sadly died of terminal rust.

The Maestro is such a nice car that I've got a soft spot for these days. I remember seeing an MG badged Maestro in the Pet Shop Boys West End Girls video but couldn't tell what model it was. That is a really good idea of loaning a classic car.

Another great video!

Great stuff! As an MG enthusiast and owner here in the US, I've had to learn about the Metro/Maestro/Montego via books and photos, as we never got them here. So it was interesting to see a Meastro out and about. I love the gutsy engine note!

"it's like going on a date with Dorris and finding out she wants to go clubbing". That has to be the best automotive analogy ever. Perhaps that's why there was a Clubman version available.

Still miss my white MG Maestro 2.0, had a really late one, it was an absolute hoot to drive and sounded great. Had a Mk2 Golf GTi after it and it wasn't a patch on the Maestro.

I adored the Maestro. Popped into a garage at the time and picked up a launch brochure. Got to ride in one in about 1984 and was bowled over by the spaciousness and comfort. I thought it was great looking and never impressed by Harold Musgrove's attitude to it.

My first car was a Montego 1.6.till I found a rotten mg 2.0 montego in a scrap yard.bought it for £100 pound. In my summer holidays ( 2 week shutdown) swapped everything mechanical over to mine. It was a proper sleeper wheel trims and AA badges. In white I was 18. The nineties where great 😂

So THAT’s what this car was here in my village for! Loved seeing this coming down my road in Castle Hedingham when you were filming, and you drove past my house!!

Also, really great review/roadtest Ian.. Loving the static camera drive-by shots, pretty location etc Great video. 👍

I think I just gave this vid its 2500th like :-) Enjoyable vid as usual HN, and one sort of close to my heart. I became a Rover nut in 2001 with a 93 214Si and later a 94 420 GSi Turbo. Hanging around on Rover/MG forums back in those days taught me about these and their Montego brothers. A friend of mine had a Monty turbo, it was a shed but so much fun.

My dad bought a F-Reg 1988 1.3L Special Edition in red when they first launched it. I had the pleasure of driving it just after i passed my driving test, and absolutely loved being behind the wheel.