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Oct 29, 2008 11:24:41 GMT
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Not quite as deeply wrong as playing tonsil-tennis with a member of the same gender, I know, but getting close…
I drove a Rover 400, I liked it…
I have often stated that the cars of the 90s, while obviously the survivors will eventually become “classics” or “retro” simply due to their age and rarity, the overriding thing to remember about them is that they are all pretty cack and fall between not being as cool, characterful and bare bones as proper classics and not having the build, styling or dynamics of proper modern cars.
In this I overlooked the fact I pimped the Mazda 626 as a brilliant daily driver, naturally…
Well today I have a courtesy car from the garage which is looking into an electrical fault on the PT Cruiser (don’t start, just don’t go there) and the car I have is a 1996 Rover 400 (bubble shape) which many people would call a discourtesy car, almost to the point of rudeness car. However, I have to say, within the limits of the obvious Rover clichés (the head gasket did survive the drive from the garage to my office) and the lack of power which is the absolute nadir of “AWESOME” it ain’t a bad little car to drive. Its slow, but its smooth, its comfy and it goes where you point it and cos theres no torque theres no torque steer or anything…
Maybe I should take it home and Mrs Ku can see what we would have bought for like 2 months payments on the PT Cruiser on a 90s bangernomics style whip. I have to say the clutch and gearbox are both nicer to use on the Rover than on the Chrysler.
By the time we’ve paid for the PT Cruiser we could probably have bought every remaining example of the Rover 400 in the county over the three years…
Biscuits.
Bangernomics FTW.
The bleeding repair bill on the PT Cruiser is going to be more than buying that Rover outright would cost.
Think Mrs Ku will see that logic?
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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rysz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,558
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Oct 29, 2008 11:31:21 GMT
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SWMBO will soon see this at my house as the 02 Mundaneo she gave me huge earache over needs very soon, 2 new 16" tyres (Bloody wide as well), new rear disks and pads and a full service - similar stuff on my civic (Was the same model as your 400 but with a Honda engine) was pennies comparatively so we shall see...
Why is it only us that think about these things - I told her this until I was blue in the face but I still drive the Mundaneo. Grrr.
Rysz.
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Last Edit: Oct 29, 2008 11:32:15 GMT by rysz
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Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,538
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Oct 29, 2008 11:34:58 GMT
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Just one thing.
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Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable.
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Oct 29, 2008 11:38:54 GMT
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Thought that was just a typing error!
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Last Edit: Oct 29, 2008 11:39:13 GMT by Oldbus
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kevfromwales
Posted a lot
the conrod's REALLY out the block now!
Posts: 3,909
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Oct 29, 2008 11:39:02 GMT
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lolz!!
you forgot to factor in the shvel-fulls of K- seal needed to keep the 400 on the road ak, lad at work had one - had the h/g done, then bought ANOTHER one, while the 1st was still in the garage!!!!
epic FAIL!!!
- kev
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Almost on the road: b11 sunny breadvan, e36 tds, 325i skidcar,
nearly there: ford f250 tathauler, suzuki alto, u11 bluey
not for a while: ford pop, 32 rails,
not in this lifetime: ruby, '29 hillman
''unfortanatly I'm quite old and scruffy and in need of some loving. my drive shaft needs a new boot....''
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Oct 29, 2008 11:48:04 GMT
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Just one thing.
PT Cruiser as a surrogate "hot rod" and covered in stick-on wood and chrome = epic fail PT Cruiser as a less soulless & ugly alternative to a Xsara Picasso or Meganne Scenic = win. Maybe. Em thinks its cute. Its her car, her finance deal. Its not a "drivers" car for sure. But the fit and finish and styling all seems OK.
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Oct 29, 2008 11:52:14 GMT
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Not convinced by the bubbles at all, my mates gave nothing but trouble, the Rhonda he had before, now that was a good car
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it doesn't matter if it's a Morris Marina or a Toyota Celica - it's what you do with it that counts
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Oct 29, 2008 11:54:14 GMT
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If I was spending my own £150 on one I think I'd ratehr have the Honda version. But £99 or less you can't be too picky
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Oct 29, 2008 11:55:29 GMT
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what you need instead of the PT cruiser is one of these ;D...
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1993 Fiat Panda Selecta 2003 Vauxhall Combo 1.7DI van 2006 Mercedes Kompressor Evolution-S AMG SportCoupé
"You think you hate it now, wait til you drive it"
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mym
Part of things
Posts: 443
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Oct 29, 2008 11:57:33 GMT
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to be honest al, I drover a rover 200vi for a couple of years and loved it.
comfy, quick, slight 'Q' car about it, economical, I loved it.
people love to knock rovers, but I don't think there anything like as bad as some like to make out
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Last Edit: Oct 29, 2008 11:57:38 GMT by mym
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Oct 29, 2008 11:58:28 GMT
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I had a 414Si a while back. Went well enough if you ragged it and we survived the best part of a year with no HG failure - and it was still fine when we sold it.
Only thing I didn't like was the odd pedal position. The clutch pedal sits really high. Was just a bit too dull as well.
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1986 Citroen 2CV Dolly Other things. Check out my Blog for the latest! www.hubnut.org
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Oct 29, 2008 12:22:30 GMT
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Well AK, I too have kissed that particular (old) girl, and I still have an itchy sensation somewhere awkward. My dad had a "bubble" 416i. It was quite unremarkable in a lot of ways, plenty of things went wrong including the power steering, and eventually (inevitably) the HG. Mind you, my dad has the uncanny knack of managing to grenade pretty much every engine he's owned.
Conversely, I had a Rover 220 TD ('nother bubble) company car when I lived in Portugal and it was really lively. Didn't mind that car at all.
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stinkwheel
Posted a lot
Doctor Of Gonzo Journalism - One of gods own proptypes, never even considered for mass production.
Posts: 2,280
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Oct 29, 2008 12:32:27 GMT
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So did i, the same one. lol. It also survived head gasket failure whilst we had it, and for a 1.4 it would revs its bum off, which is fun. AKU, PT cruiser is a big no on my books, but as you say the other half is happy with it, so fine
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Last Edit: Oct 29, 2008 12:33:16 GMT by stinkwheel
1973 Citroen Dyane 6 1980 Citroen Acadiane 1992 Citroen AX 1990 Citroen BX 1997 Citroen XM 1993 Citroen BX 1997 Citroen Xantia 1977 Citroen Ami 8 1996 Ford Escort 1989 Citroen BX 1997 Suzuki RF900 1988 Yamaha TDR250 1979 Honda CB400. 'I need less vehicles'
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Oct 29, 2008 12:37:47 GMT
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I've just bought a Rover 216 as a cheap runaround and bike transport, but I haven't driven it yet ... should I be worried or excited?
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filmidget
East Midlands
Mostly Lurking
Posts: 1,652
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Oct 29, 2008 13:15:10 GMT
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I think 'neither worried or excited' probably sums up the whole driving, and if your lucky owning, experience
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'79 MG Midget 1500 - Still patiently awaiting attention '02 Vauxhall Astra 1.8 Elegance(!) - Better than you might think '03 Mazda MX5 - All new and shiny looking (thanks to Antony at Rust Republic) '09 Renault Clio - Needs to go.
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Oct 29, 2008 13:58:36 GMT
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I love the K series engine so I will stand up for Rovers fitted with it, for me its probably the british car industrys last great industry-changing product in the mould of the Mini, Range Rover, A-series lump etc etc. Brilliant! It lifts any car fitted with it, even a mediocre one like the Bubble 400.
Ask me again like when I have fixed the broken cambelt and mashed valve problems on my own example of it however.
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1974 Lancia Beta Saloon 1975 Mazda 929 Coupé 1986 Mazda 929 Wagon 1979 Mazda 929 Hardtop 1982 Fiat Argenta 2.0 iniezione elettronica 1977 Toyota Carina TA14 1989 Subaru 1800 Wagon 1982 Hyundai Pony 1200TL 2-dr 1985 Hyundai Pony 1200 GL 1986 Maserati 425 Biturbo 1992 Rover 214 SEi 5-dr 2000 Rover 45 V6 Club 1994 Peugeot 205 'Junior' Diesel 1988 Volvo 760 Turbodiesel Saloon 1992 Talbot Express Autosleeper Rambler 2003 Renault Laguna SPEARS OR REAPERS
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bortaf
Posted a lot
Posts: 4,549
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Oct 29, 2008 14:43:23 GMT
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I used to have a 420 GSi, great motor, ni-on identical power and performance to an RS turbo escort, all i did was tighten the headbolt near the leak and it stopped, got 3 years out of it before somone nicked it while i was fishing
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R.I.P photobucket
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Lex
South East
日本車 <3
Posts: 2,404
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Oct 29, 2008 14:59:34 GMT
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A friend has a 200 1.1, and I think its a great little car!
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Resto-UKal
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Oct 29, 2008 15:16:06 GMT
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My ex's brother had a 416 that he thrashed the off, and that was pretty quick. Sounded good too. I definately wouldn't say no, somehow they look that much better than the 200 as well, just for having a boot. There's a white 45 round the corner from me that's giving me naughty ideas: plain white, detrimmed, slammed on something large for a sort of mini-VIP look. Could work, could go horribly wrong, could look considerably less VIP at the side of the road in a cloud of steam from its head gasket.... Have a not quite on-topic photoshop...
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1989 Peugeot 205. You know, the one that was parked in a ditch on the campsite at RRG'17... the glass is always full. but the ratio of air to water may vary.
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Oct 29, 2008 16:00:19 GMT
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My dad's got a '97 420Si, he's had it since 2000 and has never had any trouble with it at all... Seems really quick, it's comfortable and always reliable.
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1967 Simca 1301 1981 Austin Mini 1.0 HL 1981 Austin Allegro 1.3 HL 1993 Volvo 480ES 1995 Peugeot 405 GLX TD 1995 Renault Clio 1.4 RT
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