[E_T_V]

Oh and if you get a red key with the car - DO NOT and I really mean DO NOT let this anywhere near the car. It wipes the immobiliser code leading to a whole load of misery trying to get it sorted.

[Paul_1978_yorks]

Thank you for the advice!

Interesting about the red key - do you mean don't actually let it physically near the car? How do I get the key home with me?!?!?

[Johnny 216GSi]

Thank you for the advice!

Interesting about the red key - do you mean don't actually let it physically near the car? How do I get the key home with me?!?!?

If it really is that dangerous, a metal box (or a bacofoil wrap) will thwart any chip in the key if it's capable of transmitting something nasty to the car. Faraday cage. I'd suggest it's only dangerous if inserted into a door lock or ignition switch though...

My question would be - so if it's that dangerous, what's it used for?

[E_T_V]

Just don't put the key anywhere near the ignition lock.

There are transponders inside the later model 600's with an antenna around the ignition barrel. The red key wipes the code from the immobiliser but few if any bits of kit exist to code new keys in. Therefore the car is immobilised and usually the most economical fix is to replace the keys, immobiliser and ECU. Not what you'd expect from using the "spare" key.

Its only use is to cut a new key from (as it isn't worn - but don't clone the chip inside it!).

[Paul_1978_yorks]

One of the reasons for changing my 216 to a different one as an "everyday car" is in part due to safety. After all, I regularly cart my kids around in it.

I saw that the 600 has a Euro NCAP rating of 1.5 stars. However are the later built cars any better? For example as the 200 series progressed, side impact bars were added.

What about the very last 600s? Were they any safer than the earliest ones?

I've seen a beautiful V reg one (1999) but I am slightly hesitant about the safety aspect.

[220 GSi turbo]

Paul, if I remember correctly, the NCAP ratings were grouped according to size or class. So, for example, if in 1997 you in your1.5 stars Rover 600 collided with a 3 star Ford Ka, the occupants of the Ka would have come off worse even before the sills had started to rust away

Nowadays the ratings are even more complex with points being awarded for stuff like pedestrian injuries and tyre pressure warning systems.

A few years ago, Fifth Gear did some tests and one of them involved a head-on between a Volvo 960 estate and a Renault Modus (small but tall hatchback, for those who don't know) Occupants of the Volvo would have been much more seriously injured than those in the Renault. I think they did another one between an early Land Rover Discovery and a Renault Scenic: same result. It just shows how far vehicle structures progressed in a decade.

If you start to think about it too much, you will end up at your nearest new car retailer signing up for a 3-year PCP........

if you trawl the 'Net, you can find some interesting information on pre-NCAP safety, based on police data from real crashes on the roads. I seem to remember that the Austin Ambassador scored quite well, while a lot of the French and Italian stuff was quite dire!

[E_T_V]

One of the reasons for changing my 216 to a different one as an "everyday car" is in part due to safety. After all, I regularly cart my kids around in it.

I saw that the 600 has a Euro NCAP rating of 1.5 stars. However are the later built cars any better? For example as the 200 series progressed, side impact bars were added.

What about the very last 600s? Were they any safer than the earliest ones?

I've seen a beautiful V reg one (1999) but I am slightly hesitant about the safety aspect.

The cars were never revised from a safety point of view. Reasonably safe compared to cars of the same era. Not as safe as modern cars. (Safer than an R8 though!).

[prepace]

Since you are considering one, here's an early one for sale, its MOT history is pretty good with only the normal consumables causing advisories or the odd failure.

1994 620 SLi Auto - Nightfire Red - 80k miles - MOT May 2017 £200!


https://www.gumtree.com/p/rover/rover-6 ... 1201828500

[Paul_1978_yorks]

Cheers guys for the info in the last couple of days, and thanks for the heads up about the 620 on Gumtree :-)