Hi Guys

I have been thinking....dangerous, I know !

As you know, I recently bought a 420 GSI Tourer with the Rover T series engine/PG1 gearbox to go with my Honda D16 engined cabby. Because of this, I have been driving the Tourer exclusively for the past two weeks.
Yesterday, I took the Tourer in to have a new cambelt fitted and won't get it back until later today. Because of this, I have pressed the cabby back into service. I must confess that I am amazed at the difference in the driving experience! The driving position and cabin are very similar, but other than that.....

(I should say that the cabby has done 117,000 miles, the Tourer 75,000-both genuine and both seem to have been well looked after.)

The Tourer's engine is very gruff-the tickover is lumpy but it does pull well. The gearbox is OK, but the linkage is very badly worn and sloppy-its also just a bit agricultural in change action. Accelleration is reasonably brisk. Handling is pretty good but doesn't have the "Gokart" feel of the cabby.

The Cabby's engine is quiet and very free-revving. Acceleration is very swift and turbine-like. The gearbox is a joy-no slop and close ratios-like using a precision joystick. Cornering is a pleasure-it handles superbly.

I must say that having driven the two in the same day, I vastly prefer the driving experience of the cabby with its Honda mechanics. This surprises me, because I really thought that the top of the range mechanicals would be better. Having owned a T series engined car/PG1 box before (A Rover 820) I would say that the installation is nowhere near as successful in the 420 as it was in that car.

In mitigation for the Tourer, it does need a service (But then so does the cabby!) I would be interested to hear other people's views on my observations, especially if you have driven both.

ii prefer Honda due to the intermediate shaft etc.


i have a vtec so have no issues with keepig up with turbos

Hmm...an interesing amendment to this post. Just got the Tourer back from having it's new cambelt/tensioner fitted. My mechanic described the old belt as "loose and worn". On driving the car, it now ticks over and accelerates far better/more smoothly. It's also quieter.....
Anyone who knows this engine care to comment as to why this is, because I'm confused.......

Timing may have slipped on the old belt. This leads to poor compression and hence problems idling/starting.

T series engine is a lot heavier but has a lot more torque. The gearshift is relatively easily fixed and is a common problem.

Is the suspension original on them both?

I had a honda engine r8 for years and now i got the 2 litre m series in my gti,almost the same as the T series, and i do think the Honda cars are a lot more free revving they will hit the red line with ease like a motor bike,but the t/m series do have more low down torque and less noisy when pressed hard, but as far as the ride and handling is concerned i dont think there is much difference.

E_T_V wrote:
Is the suspension original on them both?

It is.

I was wondering if the cabby got the GTi suspension whereas the tourer got the softer more complient normal setup? Just a thought anyhow.

The rear bushes will make a fair difference to the handling too. It'll remove that floaty/twitchy feel at speed.

The first 200 I drove; was a 1994 220GSi. I hired it to spend some time with family. So the day I picked it up, I took the trip to Wales on the A40. If you're a biker, you'll know how sexy that road is. It was torquey, very smooth and I was impressed with the acceleration. Nice gentle burble, too. Covered 240 miles in 4hrs. So that was the T series.

I still do the same journey now; but in the 216GTi twin cam. The ride is much tighter - due to the firmer springs. The 220 slid gently into corners; the Honda skips lightly. There's very little torque and I need to change down to accelerate for the same overtakes. The lift-off is close to the same - the noise isn't. There's more tremor and bloody minded attitude.
Takes me longer now, due to 50mph limits. Uses more in fuel - maybe 4mpg?

The GTi is a four seater family car that wishes it was a motorbike. The 220 has as much fun in a mature, cool dad kind of way. So Rover!

I owned several Honda's, mostly civics. I just love the way the engines pull beyond 4000rpm And the sound they make. The only reason I bought my 216GTi and 216GSi is because of the Honda engine. If they had a Rover engine I wouldn't have bought them.
But the suspension (stock) from my GTi was great. alltough I only drove it for 4 months and the tires were very bad it cornered great. The GSi isn't so nimble..