| Product: |
Rover 25 in general |
| Date: |
05/02/01 (1052 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Very Very Very Fast for a normal looking hatch!
Disadvantages: Try and find one, those seats just have to go....
Having a father in the motor industry has its advantages....
I had a 97 Rover 200 Vi for about 3 months before i gave it to my mum.
It is white.
It is a Rover 200.
It Looks like any other Rover 200.
That is until you put your right foot down and all that can be seen is a confused blur.
Don't get me wrong here, I think the bog standard 1.4 and 1.6 Rover 200's are nice looking cars (Since '96 onwards anyway!), my mum thinks that hers is 'pretty'.
The aesthetics however, are not the point of this car. The 1.8 VVC engine comes directly from the MGF in this model. It produces approx 160 B.H.P (My mums does anyway -:O)!) which is delivered by 195 50 15 rubber over some standard looking 5 spoke alloys. This equates to a 0-60 time of just over 7 seconds. Lets put that into perspective... Golf VR6 owners are made to look embarassed. Boy Racers in RS Turbos are left standing, and the driver of this car will have a HUGE grin on their face!
I hate to be too decisive, but I love this car! I know Rovers are notoriously unreliable, but like any car, if you look after it, it will be ok! I had no problems with the Vi, the build quality was still of the Japanese legacy of Rover, so all the electrics work and EVERYTHING fits properly!
The 200 Vi is a car that needs to be driven..... fast. You can drive normally and be rewarded with an incredibly efficient 35+ mpg. This is thanks to the Variable Valve Timing engine which makes it incredibly efficient all the way through the power band (which, incidentally goes up to 8500 rpm).
So if you want a cheap 'White Hot' Hot Hatch, that is reliable and non-descript, buy a Vi, IF (and its a big IF) you can find one!
The model I had (without the horrible Orange bumper insert) is so anonymous that no-one ever challenges you at lights (try that in a VR6!) which makes for very comfortable driving. Handling is good, could do w
ith a small drop (30mm - no more) but my only moan is the unsupportive seats. Buy yourself a pair of Cobra buckets for your own safety, cornering fast could result in sitting on your passengers lap or squashing your head and bum against the door.
This is just my opinion, please leave a comment if yours is any different!
Thanks and check out my other reviews of cars I have owned (there have been a few people!).
Summary:
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Last comments:
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- 10/06/01 His is the 4 motion one, its on the back, on the gear stick, on the steering wheel. I thin VW are scared that he might have forgot what he drives. |
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- 05/06/01 The Vi is slightly quicker than the BRM plus it doesn't have that hideous orange insert in the bumper.
The new Golf V6 is quicker (especially if it is the 4 motion model), I was referring to the old VR6. The 200 Vi eats these for breakfast.
Anywa y, we don't have the car anymore. As I said, the car belonged to my mum and she has a new shape MR2 now. I might do a review on it if I get a chance.
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- 05/06/01 Is the Vi the same as the BRM racing model?, I've been in that and it's supposed to be by far the fastest. I've also been in the new Golf V6 which is far faster than the BRM racing model (my friends race against each other). |
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