fast,luxurious, and cheap... and your gran likes it (Rover 800)

Name: timra

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Product:	Rover 800
Date:	30/01/01 (1578 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: very cheap, good range

Disadvantages: build quality

I've owned '95 a Vitesse Sport Lux for two years. This is quite a rare version of the 800 in that it's specced out like a Sterling but has a 210bhp 2 litre turbo engine ( the same one you get in the 620ti ).

I bought it from a main rover dealer when it had 30,000 miles and the depreciation had taken it from £25,000 to £9000 so I reckoned I got a bargain.

It had everything I wanted at the time - it's very fast, with a top speed of 150mph and tremendous power through the mid range ( grp 17 insurance means it also attracts hefty premiums ) . Its got a full leather interior, electric everything and a 6 disc cd-player.

On the downside, the finishing in the car has been poor. It rattles and squeaks more than it should and the dashboard housing expanded and buckled after a few hot weeks.

Mechanically its been OK - I bought, and then extended a Rover guarantee and would strongly advise anyone else to do the same. The cost of the guarantee is about £280 pa but I've easily racked up more than that in bills. The main problems have been failed gaskets, a new power steering pump and a lot work done on the brakes.

That may sound bad, but I've averaged 20,000 miles a year so overall not too shabby.

In general 800s are bargain cars - they've got a poor 'style' image and are a bit old fashioned so prices are very low (the release of the rover75 crushed the prices on the very late models).

But anything less than 5 years old with a good service record should prove reliable and, if you get a sterling/vitesse, a cut above the average lump for the same price.

Summary: