[stew]

Might prompt some lively discussion. I have a coupe (some of you will know me from the coupe club) which I currently use one day a week for commuting and a modern car the rest of the time. My other half may be needing the modern one more in future and I'm not too keen on putting a lot of miles on the coupe as trying to keep it in reasonable condition.

So I'm considering another R8 (200 hatch, 414, 420 saloon) or maybe a 45 for something as a practical daily driver. Question is: how do any of you guys get on who use theirs very regularly and would I be likely get fed up with it. Yes I know these cars are perfectly capable of being used daily, but that's not to say its not frustrating when things do fall apart or you haven't got the 'modern' creature comforts though I guess some R8s have air con, ABS, etc. I do a fair bit of work on my cars myself and have a decent local garage as a back up, but maintaining the coupe takes enough of my spare time I don't really have much more bandwidth to be working on another or ferrying it to and from the garage all the time. Would a very low mileage well kept example still need a lot of TLC due to deterioration of parts over time?

The other question is whether it would really be 'right' to daily one of these now numbers are dwindling, I'm sure there will be strong views on that too!

All very hypothetical at this stage, but if a good one pops up I might be tempted.

[Montegoman]

For modern comforts and reliability and parts availability, I would go for a 45 Diesel. If you don't need the space, go for a 25 Diesel as they are quicker, handle better and have a simpler, low maintenance rear suspension. Try to find a pre facelift model if you value your hearing and to avoid the squeaky dash. Facelift models suffered from Project Drive, where many of the niceties and the sound deadening were removed! 25 and 45 models are also very cheap at the moment. Finding a diesel with a sensible mileage may be more difficult.

[Cromp85]

I use a 220GSI as daily transport, prior to that i drove an 1.4 MGZR. Both are 3 door cars but the R8 has much more boot space. Wear & tear has never been a problem even now the car is 25 years old. The only real negative is the T-series fuel economy in traffic. The Rover 45 is a more comfotable drive, but the rear visibility is not so good as the R8 or R3 200s. In my experience all the Rover 200 & 400 derived cars from 1995 onwards have good parts availability.
My susgestions:
R8 214 or 218 diesel: Good all rounders
R3 25 & ZR 1.4 or 2.0 diesel: good but lack rear space.
R45 & ZS 2.0 diesel: Comfortable drive & load space, Go for the ZS if you prefer handling over comfort.

[palderton]

I drive a 2004 Rover 45 Club 1.6 petrol daily and it is a very comfortable drive, starts first time and handles well. I prefer driving that to the wifes Peugeot 207.

[stew]

45 lower powered petrol or diesel or a R8 200 hatch sounding like good ideas. Looking for at least 4 doors with reasonable economy and boot space. Much as I like the 25 and ZR they don't really fit the bill.

The trouble these days is finding good, particularly lower mileage ones. Really looking for something that is not likely to land me with any sizable unexpected expense for a while! Wrong marque perhaps goes the joke

[Nigel B]

Utilise a R8 416Sli Tourer as my daily, average 9,000 per annum in this, average around 30mpg (so not the most economical).
It has been used for a family holiday to Paris and over the past few weeks been back and forth between Birmingham and Fulham to facilitate daughters move to university.
Can not speak more highly off it other than to say it is still being used as it was intended, and has been for the last 2 years.
Previously used a Rover 45 1.6 Classic for 2 years as the family car.

[Cromp85]

The trouble these days is finding good, particularly lower mileage ones. Really looking for something that is not likely to land me with any sizable unexpected expense for a while! Wrong marque perhaps goes the joke

Low mileage cars are just a better starting point for a show car, they can often have issues due to lack of use and storage conditions.
For a reliable Rover go for cars that have been in regular use and are well seviced. Obviously dont go for lunar mileage examples, but even the K series engines can provide reliable sevice if the cooling system is well maintained.

[220 GSi turbo]

I have been running Rovers as daily drives since 2005: a great way of spending my company mileage allowance on treats instead of depreciation!

214 SEi (ran to 201,000 miles), 420 Tourer, (R3) 220 SDi diesel, several 25 diesel, a couple of 1.4 petrol 25s and a ZR diesel. Oh, and a few months with a 1.8 petrol 45. Latest drive is a 25 GTi (1.8VVC).

Personally, although they are the easiest versions to get hold of, I would avoid any of the 1.4 petrols: a lot of the 25s only had 84bhp and the 45 is a little heavy for the 103bhp 1.4 unless you are mainly doing town driving.
I have not tried a 1.6, but would definitely recommend the 1.8: plenty of torque and relatively high gearing means fuel economy is little worse than a 1.4. This engine is not particularly common in the R3 (other than the ZR120), the options being an early 218 iS or 25GTi if you can find one! Plenty of 45s around, though (Impression S was a good spec).
Diesels are rapid, reliable and economical; the only real concern being the gearbox after about 120,000 miles if the car has been driven hard.

I have always preferred the 25 over the 45 because of the smaller size/ease of parking and the 'chuckable' handling.

On the basis that all are now 15+ years old, I can't imagine that Fords, Vauxhalls, VVWs, Peugeots etc etc of similar age and price range would be any better!
Be prepared for random water leaks into the footwells and boot, electrical faults on post-2003 Rovers (Pektron modules) and fragile external door handles on the 400/45.

If going for an R8, 216 SLi or earlier GSi have to be the best buy (reliable and refined).

[RoverRevival]

As many will know I’ve been only using rovers for the last 20 years.

My main daily is a 75 cdt auto tourer, the wife’s daily is a bubble 216. The backup car is a 620 sli, the fun car is a 218vvc cabrio.

And just to prove our faith, we don’t have breakdown cover

[Vinny1979]

zs 180 is my mrs daily driver, my 220 r8 sits on the drive gets a monthly drive if that