You know those crappy Rover 200s?

[Arthur Jackson]

I had the misfortune to have to drive my aged mother's 1.6 Rover 200. And to make matters worse it has a CVT auto 'box in it!!!

I settled into the apalling seating position to find....

It's a really nice car to drive!! The CVT took a bit of getting used to, but fk me it's got some kickdown!!! I'm struggling to see just what's so wrong with the seating position too. OK it's a little high, but it's not supposed to be sportscar is it?? MUCH nicer drive than a lot of the crappy hatches I've hired recently!!!

[restoman]

Arthur Jackson said:

I had the misfortune to have to drive my aged mother's 1.6 Rover 200. And to make matters worse it has a CVT auto 'box in it!!!

I settled into the apalling seating position to find....

It's a really nice car to drive!! The CVT took a bit of getting used to, but fk me it's got some kickdown!!! I'm struggling to see just what's so wrong with the seating position too. OK it's a little high, but it's not supposed to be sportscar is it?? MUCH nicer drive than a lot of the crappy hatches I've hired recently!!!

Typical of the many bigots who slag off Rovers purely because they think they must be crap (probably because Clarkson said so) but are generally talking out of their rectum because they've never actually sampled one

[hman]

I've sampled a few, some were mediocre at best and in most cases shockingly bad.

A turbo coupe, a 220gti hatch and a 420gsi.

all had major mechanical faults.

[Arthur Jackson]

restoman said:

Typical of the many bigots who slag off Rovers purely because they think they must be crap (probably because Clarkson said so) but are generally talking out of their rectum because they've never actually sampled one

[te55gib]

hman said:

I've sampled a few, some were mediocre at best and in most cases shockingly bad.

A turbo coupe, a 220gti hatch and a 420gsi.

all had major mechanical faults.

Hmm, don't quite follow you there mate, 220gsi turbo was one of the nicest hot hatches I ever drove, and there's been a few! just a shame mine only did 260 miles on a full tank taking it easy, but that's a different story..., and my 620Ti was brilliant (Same engine). People often criticise when they've never driven a well looked after one, just a thrashed unloved one that's fallen into the wrong hands. A nicely looked after and well maintained T4/16 engined rover (any body shape)is an absolute hoot and a bargain these days, and as long as the oil level isn't allowed to drop, they should be reliable.

[hman]

te55gib said:

hman said:

I've sampled a few, some were mediocre at best and in most cases shockingly bad.

A turbo coupe, a 220gti hatch and a 420gsi.

all had major mechanical faults.

Hmm, don't quite follow you there mate, 220gsi turbo was one of the nicest hot hatches I ever drove, and there's been a few! just a shame mine only did 260 miles on a full tank taking it easy, but that's a different story..., and my 620Ti was brilliant (Same engine). People often criticise when they've never driven a well looked after one, just a thrashed unloved one that's fallen into the wrong hands. A nicely looked after and well maintained T4/16 engined rover (any body shape)is an absolute hoot and a bargain these days, and as long as the oil level isn't allowed to drop, they should be reliable.

Well, I can tell you that these cars were bought from new, owned by old ladies and serviced at main dealers- -no expense spared..


The rover coupe is my Mums, bought new in 1995 and main dealer serviced all the way through. still hasnt stopped the crankshaft main oil seal blowing twice, the turbo hose popping off regularly, the air con pipe exploding, the clutch release arm failing twice, a section of the rear chassis coming away with the anti roll bar ( I kid you not - a section of the fking chassis from fatigue cracking). Then you've got the waterpump which you cant change without having to re-gass the air con, and the trailing arm bushes. Oh, and an alarm which has a mind of its own, an immobiliser which can immobilise at any moment and central locking which has monumentally failed a couple of times requiring the AA to come and unlock the doors by breaking in.This coupe has done 60,000 in 14 years

The rover 220 gti is my mother in laws, same deal, bought new in 95, serviced at main dealers, new head gasket, water pump, clutch release arm, clutch, crankshaft main oil seals This GTI has done 50,000 in 14 years - seeing a theme yet?.

The 420 was a loan car which broke down on me.

My experience of rovers has not been good.

[jas xjr]

my sisters company car policy was you can have anything as long as it is a rover. they kept each car for six months. the cars were terribly put together. engies falling out,yes, gearboxes seizing ,bits falling off. so much time was lost due to these rovers that the whole company car policy was changed.
quite often the cars were undrivable when delivered.

[te55gib]

hman said:

te55gib said:

hman said:

I've sampled a few, some were mediocre at best and in most cases shockingly bad.

A turbo coupe, a 220gti hatch and a 420gsi.

all had major mechanical faults.

Hmm, don't quite follow you there mate, 220gsi turbo was one of the nicest hot hatches I ever drove, and there's been a few! just a shame mine only did 260 miles on a full tank taking it easy, but that's a different story..., and my 620Ti was brilliant (Same engine). People often criticise when they've never driven a well looked after one, just a thrashed unloved one that's fallen into the wrong hands. A nicely looked after and well maintained T4/16 engined rover (any body shape)is an absolute hoot and a bargain these days, and as long as the oil level isn't allowed to drop, they should be reliable.

Well, I can tell you that these cars were bought from new, owned by old ladies and serviced at main dealers- -no expense spared..


The rover coupe is my Mums, bought new in 1995 and main dealer serviced all the way through. still hasnt stopped the crankshaft main oil seal blowing twice, the turbo hose popping off regularly, the air con pipe exploding, the clutch release arm failing twice, a section of the rear chassis coming away with the anti roll bar ( I kid you not - a section of the fking chassis from fatigue cracking). Then you've got the waterpump which you cant change without having to re-gass the air con, and the trailing arm bushes. Oh, and an alarm which has a mind of its own, an immobiliser which can immobilise at any moment and central locking which has monumentally failed a couple of times requiring the AA to come and unlock the doors by breaking in.This coupe has done 60,000 in 14 years

The rover 220 gti is my mother in laws, same deal, bought new in 95, serviced at main dealers, new head gasket, water pump, clutch release arm, clutch, crankshaft main oil seals This GTI has done 50,000 in 14 years - seeing a theme yet?.

The 420 was a loan car which broke down on me.

My experience of rovers has not been good.

If they are that bad, why have they kept them so long then......?

[heightswitch]

te55gib said:

hman said:

te55gib said:

hman said:

I've sampled a few, some were mediocre at best and in most cases shockingly bad.

A turbo coupe, a 220gti hatch and a 420gsi.

all had major mechanical faults.

Hmm, don't quite follow you there mate, 220gsi turbo was one of the nicest hot hatches I ever drove, and there's been a few! just a shame mine only did 260 miles on a full tank taking it easy, but that's a different story..., and my 620Ti was brilliant (Same engine). People often criticise when they've never driven a well looked after one, just a thrashed unloved one that's fallen into the wrong hands. A nicely looked after and well maintained T4/16 engined rover (any body shape)is an absolute hoot and a bargain these days, and as long as the oil level isn't allowed to drop, they should be reliable.

Well, I can tell you that these cars were bought from new, owned by old ladies and serviced at main dealers- -no expense spared..


The rover coupe is my Mums, bought new in 1995 and main dealer serviced all the way through. still hasnt stopped the crankshaft main oil seal blowing twice, the turbo hose popping off regularly, the air con pipe exploding, the clutch release arm failing twice, a section of the rear chassis coming away with the anti roll bar ( I kid you not - a section of the fking chassis from fatigue cracking). Then you've got the waterpump which you cant change without having to re-gass the air con, and the trailing arm bushes. Oh, and an alarm which has a mind of its own, an immobiliser which can immobilise at any moment and central locking which has monumentally failed a couple of times requiring the AA to come and unlock the doors by breaking in.This coupe has done 60,000 in 14 years

The rover 220 gti is my mother in laws, same deal, bought new in 95, serviced at main dealers, new head gasket, water pump, clutch release arm, clutch, crankshaft main oil seals This GTI has done 50,000 in 14 years - seeing a theme yet?.

The 420 was a loan car which broke down on me.

My experience of rovers has not been good.

If they are that bad, why have they kept them so long then......?

I have to say they are really crap.

This one was my dads. so crap he hated the 138,000 miles he put on it from new. it was very expensive to maintain. it needed 2 cambelts, and oil changes I mean whats that all about. it broke down once with a seized cambelt tensioner. it cost a horrendous £300 to repair including a new cambelt.


it was so crap he decided to take my streetwise off me which he is now pushing beyond 110k miles


The next one is a rose beside 2 thorns. 176k miles and still climbing. In all that time it has needed 2 cambelts, its coming up to its 3rd. it broke down once due to a shorted glow plug blowing a relay and was fixed for £40 plus a new set of plugs, oh and a throttle cable snapped once. £14 to repair myself. I don't count the time I flooded the engine with water driving through a deep ford, that time I simply emptied out the intercooler and cracked open the injectors before starting it up.
funny really. the cars flanking it cost me £650 per month and much more to maintain.


i have also had a 1400 petrol in 1997 as a new company car. i ran it as any good company car should be ran. Flat out! that one did breakdown with a head gasket though, and a winscreen wiper motor packed in. In three years I clocked 104k miles.

they're definitely st

N.

[hman]

te55gib said:

hman said:

te55gib said:

hman said:

I've sampled a few, some were mediocre at best and in most cases shockingly bad.

A turbo coupe, a 220gti hatch and a 420gsi.

all had major mechanical faults.

Hmm, don't quite follow you there mate, 220gsi turbo was one of the nicest hot hatches I ever drove, and there's been a few! just a shame mine only did 260 miles on a full tank taking it easy, but that's a different story..., and my 620Ti was brilliant (Same engine). People often criticise when they've never driven a well looked after one, just a thrashed unloved one that's fallen into the wrong hands. A nicely looked after and well maintained T4/16 engined rover (any body shape)is an absolute hoot and a bargain these days, and as long as the oil level isn't allowed to drop, they should be reliable.

Well, I can tell you that these cars were bought from new, owned by old ladies and serviced at main dealers- -no expense spared..


The rover coupe is my Mums, bought new in 1995 and main dealer serviced all the way through. still hasnt stopped the crankshaft main oil seal blowing twice, the turbo hose popping off regularly, the air con pipe exploding, the clutch release arm failing twice, a section of the rear chassis coming away with the anti roll bar ( I kid you not - a section of the fking chassis from fatigue cracking). Then you've got the waterpump which you cant change without having to re-gass the air con, and the trailing arm bushes. Oh, and an alarm which has a mind of its own, an immobiliser which can immobilise at any moment and central locking which has monumentally failed a couple of times requiring the AA to come and unlock the doors by breaking in.This coupe has done 60,000 in 14 years

The rover 220 gti is my mother in laws, same deal, bought new in 95, serviced at main dealers, new head gasket, water pump, clutch release arm, clutch, crankshaft main oil seals This GTI has done 50,000 in 14 years - seeing a theme yet?.

The 420 was a loan car which broke down on me.

My experience of rovers has not been good.

If they are that bad, why have they kept them so long then......?

well, my mums is a sentimental value thing - it was the car my dad bought her before he died.

Added to that, she's a pensioner and the value of the car now wont buy her anything decent so shes kind of stuck with it and its oil leaks, and bills at mot and service time.

My MIL has kept hers again because she's a pensioner and cant afford a new car so paying the maintenance is her only option.

[Mr2Mike]

hman said:

The rover 220 gti is my mother in laws, same deal, bought new in 95, serviced at main dealers, new head gasket, water pump, clutch release arm, clutch, crankshaft main oil seals This GTI has done 50,000 in 14 years - seeing a theme yet?.

Yes, some women (especially older ones) are very hard on cars.

[hman]

Mr2Mike said:

hman said:

The rover 220 gti is my mother in laws, same deal, bought new in 95, serviced at main dealers, new head gasket, water pump, clutch release arm, clutch, crankshaft main oil seals This GTI has done 50,000 in 14 years - seeing a theme yet?.

Yes, some women (especially older ones) are very hard on cars.

Seriously they came from an age of no synchro and austin seven amounts of power, they havent abused their cars.

I on the other hand am extremley hard on my cars (trips to the ring, donnington, brands, snet, etc.)so I buy German - never let me down yet, and I've been driving german since the mid 90's.


I stand by my comment, my experience (and a couple of others around here) has not been good.

Anyway , they dont make them anymore so slowly but surely they'll disappear off our roads and ease the level of conjestion in doing so.

[heightswitch]

hman said:

Mr2Mike said:

hman said:

The rover 220 gti is my mother in laws, same deal, bought new in 95, serviced at main dealers, new head gasket, water pump, clutch release arm, clutch, crankshaft main oil seals This GTI has done 50,000 in 14 years - seeing a theme yet?.

Yes, some women (especially older ones) are very hard on cars.

Seriously they came from an age of no synchro and austin seven amounts of power, they havent abused their cars.

I on the other hand am extremley hard on my cars (trips to the ring, donnington, brands, snet, etc.)so I buy German - never let me down yet, and I've been driving german since the mid 90's.


I stand by my comment, my experience (and a couple of others around here) has not been good.

Anyway , they dont make them anymore so slowly but surely they'll disappear off our roads and ease the level of conjestion in doing so.

I will believe you in 8 or so years time when my 2 Audis have proven as reliable??

The Audi is 2.5 times the price of the Rover. experience tells it will never be 2.5 times better

the little rover is always the car that is pressed into service when one of the others proves unreliable.

You have either been very very unlucky or your bonnet catch must have snapped!!
N.

[hman]

heightswitch said:

hman said:

Mr2Mike said:

hman said:

The rover 220 gti is my mother in laws, same deal, bought new in 95, serviced at main dealers, new head gasket, water pump, clutch release arm, clutch, crankshaft main oil seals This GTI has done 50,000 in 14 years - seeing a theme yet?.

Yes, some women (especially older ones) are very hard on cars.

Seriously they came from an age of no synchro and austin seven amounts of power, they havent abused their cars.

I on the other hand am extremley hard on my cars (trips to the ring, donnington, brands, snet, etc.)so I buy German - never let me down yet, and I've been driving german since the mid 90's.


I stand by my comment, my experience (and a couple of others around here) has not been good.

Anyway , they dont make them anymore so slowly but surely they'll disappear off our roads and ease the level of conjestion in doing so.

You have either been very very unlucky or your bonnet catch must have snapped!!
N.

??? read my original post again, all these rovers were serviced AT MAIN DEALERS.

The two cars are on different sides of the UK and until 2002ish the owners had never met.

Imagine their suprise when they saw each others cars and, through a conversation about their cars, realised that they had experienced the same major faults.

Nothing ring any bells yet, nothing about the fact they had inherent faults?

My mums cost approx £18k when it was new in 1995, funnily enough that was the same price as an Audi Quattro Coupe back then!!

I actually owned an audi quattro coupe on 1995 vintage for six years- again it never missed a beat and only required standard services pads tyres etc.

Compared to my mums rover which by this time had snapped its first clutch release arm, the alarm and C/L had packed up and the air con had exploded...

Very poor.

[heightswitch]

hman said:

heightswitch said:

hman said:

Mr2Mike said:

hman said:

The rover 220 gti is my mother in laws, same deal, bought new in 95, serviced at main dealers, new head gasket, water pump, clutch release arm, clutch, crankshaft main oil seals This GTI has done 50,000 in 14 years - seeing a theme yet?.

Yes, some women (especially older ones) are very hard on cars.

Seriously they came from an age of no synchro and austin seven amounts of power, they havent abused their cars.

I on the other hand am extremley hard on my cars (trips to the ring, donnington, brands, snet, etc.)so I buy German - never let me down yet, and I've been driving german since the mid 90's.


I stand by my comment, my experience (and a couple of others around here) has not been good.

Anyway , they dont make them anymore so slowly but surely they'll disappear off our roads and ease the level of conjestion in doing so.

You have either been very very unlucky or your bonnet catch must have snapped!!
N.

??? read my original post again, all these rovers were serviced AT MAIN DEALERS.

The two cars are on different sides of the UK and until 2002ish the owners had never met.

Imagine their suprise when they saw each others cars and, through a conversation about their cars, realised that they had experienced the same major faults.

Nothing ring any bells yet, nothing about the fact they had inherent faults?

My mums cost approx £18k when it was new in 1995, funnily enough that was the same price as an Audi Quattro Coupe back then!!

I actually owned an audi quattro coupe on 1995 vintage for six years- again it never missed a beat and only required standard services pads tyres etc.

Compared to my mums rover which by this time had snapped its first clutch release arm, the alarm and C/L had packed up and the air con had exploded...

Very poor.

Ah!
3rd hand experience.

[te55gib]

hman said:

Mr2Mike said:

hman said:

The rover 220 gti is my mother in laws, same deal, bought new in 95, serviced at main dealers, new head gasket, water pump, clutch release arm, clutch, crankshaft main oil seals This GTI has done 50,000 in 14 years - seeing a theme yet?.

Yes, some women (especially older ones) are very hard on cars.

Seriously they came from an age of no synchro and austin seven amounts of power, they havent abused their cars.

I on the other hand am extremley hard on my cars (trips to the ring, donnington, brands, snet, etc.)so I buy German - never let me down yet, and I've been driving german since the mid 90's.


I stand by my comment, my experience (and a couple of others around here) has not been good.

Anyway , they dont make them anymore so slowly but surely they'll disappear off our roads and ease the level of conjestion in doing so.

hman, I buy german. have done for years (Golf, Bora, 3 and 5 series BMW's), but i've also always needed a second car for the wife. invariably she ends up with the shiny new german, and i get whatever is available at the time for around £1500 - £2000. Up until recently, this was the kind of bracket rovers fell into, and i still maintain that a good one is an absolute pleasure. I'm not saying they are better or worse than the germans ( it would be unfair to compare a 620Ti with 145000 miles to a 30,000 mile 525d, surely?), just that they offer a lot for your money, and I haven't been dissapointed with the examples I (and several family members) have had the pleasure of owning.

[Petemate]

Maybe I've been lucky, but here goes. I do think that Rovers come in for a bit of unfair criticism. First I was at BL at Cowley, 1969-1976. The build quality of the cars there was abysmal. Later I was at Cowley with Manpower in 2001 on the Rigs 'n' Rollers on the Rover 75. The build quality was streets ahead of the earlier cars I worked on (in 'Tuning', aka rectification - Maxis, Oxfords/Cambridges, 1100/1300s, etc)
I ran a 1993 Metro 1.4 diesel some years ago. Had it for 3 years - changed the cambelt during my time with it, also fitted a pair of cover sills for the MOT. Very reliable car although mediocre acceleration (0-60 some time....)
Now I have a 45 TDi. This is without doubt the nicest car I have ever owned. Bought in Feb 2007 with 74k miles. FRSH from the supplying dealer - owner never went anywhere else. Discovered to my horror that the cambelts had not been changed (should have been at 48k) got purchase price reduced on the strength of that and the heater fan only working on 3 & 4 (researched prior to purchase and altogether nice reduction of £300 plus tax for six months [fixed for £2 resistors from Maplin!!]) Changed the belts pretty sharpish but found no signs of wear but peace of mind. Car now has 130k+, did another belt change at 117k. Only problem has been the top IC hose split - temp fix in 10 mins, not even late for work. This car is a joy to drive - steady 80 to & from work (m-way) returning at the same time 45-46mpg. Smooth and quiet - and the car has a real feel of class. My lad is always taking the p**s but even though the car has a dated look, it ticks all the boxes. Being a pensioner (but still in full-time work) I can't afford to change it for what I would like (say, a nice Audi A4 TDi estate or similar) Shame Rover had such a poor name but I do think that the build quality was much better in the later years.
My 2 pennorth & sorry to go on
Pete

[MGJohn]

hman said:

??? read my original post again, all these rovers were serviced AT MAIN DEALERS.

That in a nutshell could be the real problem. How many times have folks needed to be told ~ THAT is NO guarantee of a job well done. Quite often exactly the opposite in my extensive experience.

Still what do I know ~ I only speak from direct personal experience spanning fifty years.

Main dealers ..... yeah right ....
..

[MGJohn]

te55gib said:

....

Up until recently, this was the kind of bracket rovers fell into, and i still maintain that a good one is an absolute pleasure. I'm not saying they are better or worse than the germans ( it would be unfair to compare a 620Ti with 145000 miles to a 30,000 mile 525d, surely?), just that they offer a lot for your money, and I haven't been dissapointed with the examples I (and several family members) have had the pleasure of owning.

Compare away.... You are not the first to observe the merits of some of Rover and MGs better efforts such as the 620ti and a few others.

A number of MGs and Rovers in my family ~ several Rover 620ti and MG ZS bought new 2003 ~ all have been exceedingly reliable. My son uses his 620ti for his work. Close on 170,000 miles now and never misses a beat. Drives almost as well as my 620ti with half the mileage.

Both company car and private purchases, they've mostly been the products of Cowley, Abingdon and Longbridge over the past half century ~ never ~ repeat NEVER had an unreliable one!

Yeah, I know, I've been lucky .... Still, you can keep your Gerry built stuff.... look nice but, costly and they aint all that are they ....
..

[MGJohn]

Mr2Mike said:

hman said:

The rover 220 gti is my mother in laws, same deal, bought new in 95, serviced at main dealers, new head gasket, water pump, clutch release arm, clutch, crankshaft main oil seals This GTI has done 50,000 in 14 years - seeing a theme yet?.

Yes, some women (especially older ones) are very hard on cars.

Have to agree there ~ clutches particularly appear to take quite a bashing by the fairer sex .... Over the years I've purchased several near mint used cars from lady owners. All needed a new clutch. Pure coincidence ~ not really, driving style has a lot to do with it ~ my evidence, simple observation.
..