Friday 24th August 2007

SOTW: Rover Vitesse

From a time when people actually wanted to own a Rover

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Shed has been dreaming of featuring an SD1 in its pages for months, but alas they seem rarer than a reliable Peugeot. So we have found this executive bad boy – the Rover 800.

Designed to be the spiritual successor to the SD1, the Rover 800 was (in the early 1990s) Britain’s best selling executive car and it was used by the boys in blue.

These cars were not just an executive run-around, but also quick, hence the take up by traffic coppers. Put one in the hands of Tony Pond, and with racing tyres and safety upgrades, the car lapped the Isle of Man's TT course at an average speed of over 100mph, a first for a road car.

Despite the speed, early 800s were notorious for poor build quality, and a facelift (codename: R17) in 1992 fixed the majority of the quality and build issues. But not all.

This didn't put off the 800's list of previous owners, including Neil Hamilton, Peter Mandelson, Clement Freud, Max Bygraves, Michael Parkinson and even Tony Blair. Oh, and Alan Partridge.

The example we found is a (just) post-facelift 800 Vitesse, which features a two litre turbocharged engine that pushes out 180bhp and 167lb ft. The Vitesse models featured half-leather Recaro seats, electric windows, ABS, electric mirrors, driver and passenger airbags, traction control and even an electric sunroof. Not bad when you think about it.

When new, it retailed at £19,695 and the one we have found is a mere £250 - 1.3% of the original cost of the car.

1992 ROVER VITESSE 2.0 TWIN CAM TURBO

Manual, 126,000 miles, ROVER VITESSE 2.0 Litre TWIN CAM, TURBO-CHARGED, RATED AT 200 BHP. 5 SPEED MANUAL. GOOD ENGINE, NO SMOKE. GOOD TURBO,GOOD GEARBOX. NO REAL PROBLEMS. NEW CLUTCH FITTED APPROX 5000 MILES AGO, CAM BELT FITTED APPROX 8000 MILES AGO MOT UNTIL MID SEPT, TAXED UNTIL END THIS MONTH. FITTED, AS STANDARD, RECARO HALF LEATHER SEATS, IN REASONABLE CONDITION. FACTORY FITTED UP-RATED SUSPENSION. E/WINDOWS E/SUNROOF, E/MIRRORS, 16INS ALLOYS. ETC. THE CAR DRIVES REALLY WELL, IF FACT GOES LIKE STINK, FOR A BIG CAR. BAD BITS: MINOR SCUFFS ON BODY AND BUMPERS, SMALL CRACK ON BOTTOM LEFT OF WINDSCREEN, REAR EXHAUST BOX BLOWING, AND WHEN DAMP OVERNIGHT, MISFIRES FOR ABOUT THE FIRST MILE OR SO, THEN IT IS FINE. THE PRIVATE PLATE IS INCLUDED IN THE SALE. I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS AND IT HAS NEVER LET ME DOWN. IT USUALLY STARTS AT THE FIRST TURN OF THE KEY. IT IS BEING SOLD AS SPARES OR REPAIR, BUT IT WOULD BE SHAME TO BREAK IT AS IT REALLY GOES WELL. CAN BE SEEN RUNNING AND CAN BE DRIVEN IF NEEDED. ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE ASK. £250. ono  (sic)

[Hendry]

Can only ever see C0OK PASS BABTRIDGE when I look at these now.

[Kubica]

Was going to get one of these as a bargain track slag a few weeks ago was advertised at £250 as well. Only it would have been too big to fit on my trailer so I'm looking for a 205 GTi instead.

I think that stripped out and with the boost would up a bit it could be some seriously cheap power.

[AdamMX-5]

Never been a Rover fan, despite living in the heartland, but remember one of the houses opposite me when growing up having one of these. Used to have a good look at it every morning on my paper round.

Think it was the half leather Recaros that excited me most!

Got to say that's very tempting bargain power. Sell the plate, car's free!

[stevebedford1969]

Hendry said:

Can only ever see C0OK PASS BABTRIDGE when I look at these now.

lol @ Hendry.

[MrFlibbles]

Should feature a 620Ti! Now that is a bargain rocket!

[LeoZwalf]

Bargain

I must be mega-pedant though and point out that the Tony Pond record was set in a 2.7 V6 (Honda engine) engined car, not the Rover T16 turbo.

Coat got...

[900T-R]

Worth it for the half leather Recaros alone.

[Griffit]

Hendry said:

Can only ever see C0OK PASS BABTRIDGE when I look at these now.

I was there too... Think that to myself whenever I see one! Only £150 over budget... :excitedaboutbangerrallysmilie:

[andyps]

A very under-rated car in my view. I had one previously and really enjoyed it, fast and comfortable. The speed surprised many people as most Rover 800's are not driven particularly enthusiastically. For tuning potential the early cars with 180hp are better than the later ones which came with 200hp due to the strength of the pistons, later ones being a bit soft. The later ones did, however, have a torsen differential which is very good and a worthwhile upgrade for the early cars - the reduction in understeer is massive with this fitted.

As for using an SD1 as shed of the week, yes they are rare, and an SD1 vitesse is probably a better car than the 800 in many ways - not least being the V8 and rwd. My Dad has one of the last SD1 vitesses and it is still a great car to drive, even if not all that fast comparatively these days. Sounds great and goes well. But if Dad chooses to sell his it should be well above shed price!

[Fondue]

MrFlibbles said:

Should feature a 620Ti! Now that is a bargain rocket!

Like this for £775?

[Frimley111R]

Griffit said:

Hendry said:

Can only ever see C0OK PASS BABTRIDGE when I look at these now.

I was there too... Think that to myself whenever I see one! Only £150 over budget... :excitedaboutbangerrallysmilie:

Duh! Not with you, Cook Pass what????

[Kieran'07]

Rover's of this era make great buys now, the're just soooo cheap and IMO underrated. The trim and spec was decent, with good range of engines. Plumb in a boost controller and dial up circa 230bhp, and your away. The 800 is a bit of a barge though, was never renowned for it's handling and brakes, but so what, very little faster for that sort of dosh.

[Timberwolf]

Why do people keep trying to pretend that a Northern Irish numberplate is some kind of cherished number?

It strikes me as an awkward compromise between being too embarrassed about driving around in an L reg car, yet being too much of a cheapskate to spring out on anything more expensive than "DAZ 6928" - the worst of both worlds, so to speak.

And oh my is this a shed - misfiring, sold for "spares or repair", doesn't always start first time round... mind you, for £250 and then some haggling... how much of the 180bhp is still left?

[Hendry]

Frimley111R said:

Griffit said:

Hendry said:

Can only ever see C0OK PASS BABTRIDGE when I look at these now.

I was there too... Think that to myself whenever I see one! Only £150 over budget... :excitedaboutbangerrallysmilie:

Duh! Not with you, Cook Pass what????

Yeah, Michael, I was just saying to Susan. Bit of a job for you. Unfortunately some vandals have sworn all over my car again.

[Michael shakes his head and sighs. He speaks with an impenetrable Geordie accent.]

Vandals, eh, Mr. Partridge? You know, it meks ya wunder what it's all aboot.

[ATG]

Given that you can easily spend more than this on a second hand bicycle, if it goes at all, it's a bargain. Yeah, it's a banger, but it's only £250. Remeber one of the neighbours had one of these when I was a kid. Not sure what it was like in the back, but the front seats were a very nice place to be. It's a very light cabin; feels like the windows start very low. Also had a surprising amount of poke ... I recall being projected up the Malvern Hills in it alarming quickly from a standing start.

[dandarez]

Many diss Rovers - ughh, they rust... so did Fords, Alfas (Suds disintegrated while you stood by them!, etc - so would most metal left in soggy fields nine months before they were sold.

Vitesse is nice (av motorist spends more than this on MOT) but only if you need the room - much better to spend more and get undated looks and more power of the best Rover shed - Rover Coupe Turbo - the stuff I've left behind when they catch up (if they do!) look and just choke when they see the badge (lol).

[stevebedford1969]

Hendry said:

Frimley111R said:

Griffit said:

Hendry said:

Can only ever see C0OK PASS BABTRIDGE when I look at these now.

I was there too... Think that to myself whenever I see one! Only £150 over budget... :excitedaboutbangerrallysmilie:

Duh! Not with you, Cook Pass what????

Yeah, Michael, I was just saying to Susan. Bit of a job for you. Unfortunately some vandals have sworn all over my car again.

[Michael shakes his head and sighs. He speaks with an impenetrable Geordie accent.]

Vandals, eh, Mr. Partridge? You know, it meks ya wunder what it's all aboot.

Alan: Oh, about. Sorry, sometimes it’s difficult to understand the Geordie… people.
Michael: You know, what I reckon is, if they had themselves proper jobs, they wouldn’t be up to all this, you know, larking every night.
Alan: What?
Michael: What I’m saying is, like, if they had themselves proper jobs, you know, for them to go to, they wouldn’t do it. You know, a lot of them’s from broken homes.
Alan: I’m sorry, that was just a noise. All I got there was broken homes. And a broken home is not an excuse for evil. Look at you - do you go around drawing, I don’t know, peephole bras on the wall?
Michael: Aye, but it was different for me, like, cause, you know, I was in the army when I was seventeen.
Alan: Well there you go. They taught you a trade. Minor repairs.
Michael: Aye. That and killing.
Alan: Really?
Michael: Oh aye. I’ve seen some terrible things, mind.
Alan: What, like three men burning in a tank, going ‘uuurghhh’?
Michael: You wouldn’t want to know, Mr. Partridge.
Alan: I’ll be honest, I’m pretty curious. I mean, I’d basically like to understand man’s inhumanity to man… and then make a programme about it. Anyway, regarding the graffiti, if you could… kill that, then I’ll see you reet, me old fishy on a dishy.
Michael: I’ll tell you what I’ll do, I’ll do, just like, a quick fix on it for now, and-
Alan: You’ve gone again!

[bencollins]

i've organised you a rover metro 1.1
"WHAT!"

[OllieC]

stevebedford1969 said:

Hendry said:

Frimley111R said:

Griffit said:

Hendry said:

Can only ever see C0OK PASS BABTRIDGE when I look at these now.

I was there too... Think that to myself whenever I see one! Only £150 over budget... :excitedaboutbangerrallysmilie:

Duh! Not with you, Cook Pass what????

Yeah, Michael, I was just saying to Susan. Bit of a job for you. Unfortunately some vandals have sworn all over my car again.

[Michael shakes his head and sighs. He speaks with an impenetrable Geordie accent.]

Vandals, eh, Mr. Partridge? You know, it meks ya wunder what it's all aboot.

Alan: Oh, about. Sorry, sometimes it’s difficult to understand the Geordie… people.
Michael: You know, what I reckon is, if they had themselves proper jobs, they wouldn’t be up to all this, you know, larking every night.
Alan: What?
Michael: What I’m saying is, like, if they had themselves proper jobs, you know, for them to go to, they wouldn’t do it. You know, a lot of them’s from broken homes.
Alan: I’m sorry, that was just a noise. All I got there was broken homes. And a broken home is not an excuse for evil. Look at you - do you go around drawing, I don’t know, peephole bras on the wall?
Michael: Aye, but it was different for me, like, cause, you know, I was in the army when I was seventeen.
Alan: Well there you go. They taught you a trade. Minor repairs.
Michael: Aye. That and killing.
Alan: Really?
Michael: Oh aye. I’ve seen some terrible things, mind.
Alan: What, like three men burning in a tank, going ‘uuurghhh’?
Michael: You wouldn’t want to know, Mr. Partridge.
Alan: I’ll be honest, I’m pretty curious. I mean, I’d basically like to understand man’s inhumanity to man… and then make a programme about it. Anyway, regarding the graffiti, if you could… kill that, then I’ll see you reet, me old fishy on a dishy.
Michael: I’ll tell you what I’ll do, I’ll do, just like, a quick fix on it for now, and-
Alan: You’ve gone again!

genius

"sorry thats just a noise "

[dandarez]

Are you drunk????????