Hi, names Rik and I've had a few Rovers now - an H plate 214SLi (gti lookylike), 420sdi, 200sdi, 45TD - and been knocking around over on .org since 2005...

The Missus' (Vik) stroke last year and her subsequent rehabilitation and recovery has forced the suspension of my career as a heavy plant operator, as she needs assistance pretty much 24/7. As part of injecting some pleasure into our lives, we looked at getting a fun car again. Something 'kin to the Hyundai Coupe we'd had some years ago. Had a shufty at a few and they are not aging well, then I noticed a chap over on .org (Rover_25X aka Charlzey) selling this:



Pretty good nick 216 Cabby on 128K, 3 owners (2 in same family), and with the HG fixed etc. We headed up there to look, liked and money changed hands a couple weeks later. £450, including tonneau cover and a windjammer.

Bargain, cheers mate

We drove it home, performed faultlessly though the scuttleshake was concerning at first. The (overly small) alloys have gone now, replaced with 15" steelies fitted with Rover 620 trims. Looks much better, the plan is to keep the exterior stock, and just fit descreet and sensible OEM mods to the engine and exhaust side - stuff like stainless midsection and backbox, though a low volume version, and some minor stuff like a K&N panel filter etc.

Parked it in the garage and there it stayed while it peed down for three weeks - I'd open the door, cry a bit, then close it again, *laughs*. Had it out a few sunny weekends though, got the obligatory sunburned bonce etc and then the MOT was up...

So the plan is to sit it in the garage and sort the cosmetic issues it has. We have a Motability car in the meantime, so this process can take as long as it needs. There are not a great many problems, the obligatory bubbling of the arches and a couple of sill holes behind front wings - again, usual fayre but by no means the worst I have seen.

So all told, just joined here for the information resource really - while I get our smiles car sorted.

Take care folks - thanks for reading and see ya around...

hello and welcome

Welcome!

That one was on my list when i was eyeing replacements when my head gasket went. Glad you ditched the horrific alloys, if you want alloys keep your eye out for a standard set, they are normally cheap! You can get a brand new set of four (no tyres) for £100 on ebay.

gbs100 and Fatdave - cheers folks.

214cab - Thanks. Small old world, eh? Those Dotz 14" 'ers went the day after I got it home. Stuck 'em straight on ebay and a chap took them off my hands a week or so later. Pretty happy with the steelies, TBH. The 620 trims look the part, but if at some point in the future I happen across the correct alloys for the year then maybe.

Did you get yours sorted in the end then?

Yeah i bit the bullet and did the head gasket. I was just weighing up whether to use the opportunity to 'upgrade' to a better car. Mines done 166000, and is a little tired in places!

The head gasket only went because of a perished hose that cause it to cook otherwise it was sound, so it deserved to live on!

hi pal,welcome!

Glad to see another one around.

You're in the right place for helpful advice

D.D. and GTiJohn - thanks folks. Progress on this one will not be fast, but it will be right. I'll set up a diary or summat on here if there is an area, not had time to have a shufty around.

214cab wrote:Yeah i bit the bullet and did the head gasket

Yeah, perished hoses are a sod - I've a couple that have rubbed against the bracketry in the 'bay, got to look at replacing those in due course.

Also came too close for comfort to a major electrical short with some serious chafing to the starters heavy amp connections. Sorted now, but not good...

Hi & Welcome