Generation Cyb

Planning to buy a Maestro? You’ve chosen the right model of car but have you chosen the right Maestro for you? There is an existing guide published by the MG Owner’s Club, but hopefully this guide will go into greater depth (the intention being to cover the main weaknesses of the Maestro rather than to provide a detailed guide). Print off this page and bring it with you while viewing the car.

Where to Start
If you’re new to the Maestro range, you will obviously want to get to know more about the range. This site is a good place to start as you can find out in detail by taking a look at the history pages. Obviously the various models differ in terms of cost, performance, engine size, levels of equipment, economy etc. Maestros were available with 1.3, 1.6, 2.0 and 2.0 diesel engines. A diesel can return in excess of 60mpg if driven appropriately, while the sporty MG Models offer a spectacular performance. There were both hatchback varients and vans.

General Condition
Having arrived at the seller’s house, take a brief look over the Maestro to get a general impression of it. Is it going to be worth what it was advertised at, or are you wasting your time? As with any car, a Maestro should be checked in the following ways. Check for evidence of accidents, one way is to look at the panel gaps to ensure they are all even and fit properly, and to look along the side to see if it appears twisted. Check the condition of the wheels and tyres. If tyre wear has left less than 1.6mm of tread that tyre is illegal. Tyres should also be checked for punctures and cracks. If wheels have been heavily scraped this may indicate further damage. Other faults that can arise are door handles snapping off and perished trim surrounding windows.

Interior
The basic Maestro interior is very spacious and comfortable. They tend to wear fairly well with age but there are a few points to watch out for. With early cars (pre 1986 with the original dashboard) build quality was known to be more suspect than with the later models. While taking the car out for a test drive listen out for any rattles, particularly coming from the dashboard. These early units were composed of many small parts and did not fit together perfectly, so also look out for cracks in the trim. The front door pockets (on models so equipped) are another haven for cracks.

Check the seat trims for rips, staining or tears, and also check the headlining. These tend to tear and sag – can be a difficult problem to rectify. Are the seat belts frayed or is there any sign they have been involved in an accident? Also take note of any smells of damp inside the Maestro – earlier cars did in some cases have leaks and a smell of damp from rotting carpet may indicate rainwater is getting into the car from a rotten underneath. In this case check if the carpet is damp and if possible lift the carpet in the foot wells to check for corrosion/holes in the bodywork underneath. If you’re looking at a highe model in the Maestro range such as the Vanden Plas or MG, all the extra equipment should be checked carefully. In particular the trip computer and digital instrumentation can fail at an early age, and obviously problems can develop with the electric windows/mirrors and the central locking. The above summarises the main interior gremlins that can be found in a Maestro, but you will probably be aware of other potential problems that can arise on any car and interior’s general condition. Remember to take a look at the total mileage of the Maestro and compare it with the interior’s general condition – a common way to catch the “clockers” out!