| Product: |
Rover 800 |
| Date: |
19.04.08 (34 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Brilliant engine, superb handling. Looks. Reliabilty
Disadvantages: Finnish Quality, electrics, brakes. Image
Ive owned a lot of Rovers, 800's included and the Vitesse (sport) seems to bring all that is good, and bad about Rover together.
The electrical problems stay, as does endless rattles and squeks. The trim, while pretty simply isnt fitted properly.
BUT, mechanically they are sound. Infact underneath the rattles the car is superbly assembled (thanks to a mix of honda and Rover) Its strong, easily repaired from impacts and very reliable.
The best bit about the sport tho is the way Rover have done there own thing and dropped the honda engine, steering and suspension setups. The result is a shockingly competent big car.
The T16 turbo engine is fantastic, where in the smaller cars its dynamite in the bigger 800 it gives flexibilty its 6 cylinder rivals cant touch. I have a modded version of this engine which has been raced and is still going strong at 160k miles. Rumours of it being fragile are totally unfounded. They are tough, even if abused (I really do abuse mine).
AND.... it handles. Yep, a Rover 800 that can not only go round corners but do so well. It will hang onto many modern hot hatches. And it does so in style.
These cars can be picked up for next to nothing these days. Even by modern standerds they are impressive to drive.
Oh, and it comes with an LSD!
Bad:
Poor brakes, infact there a joke.
Fuel consumption (very low geared)
Ropey electrics (fuse box)
To many rattles
Still struggles to keep its mass under control when thrown about
Chassis isnt rigid enough. Thanks Honda....
Good:
Superb handling for a big car, infact any car.
Excellent interior
Powerful, flexible, tunable engine
Good straightline performance (low gearing helps here!)
Strong and well built
Cost nothing to buy, superb value
Summary: Rover at its best, a flawed gem.
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