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Oct 29, 2008 16:08:47 GMT
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I think "my" example is a 414. It just says "400" on the back and it is sufficiently slow that it there were more than one and a half litres at its disposal it should be suitably ashamed of itself.
I actually owned the older non-bubble shape 400 series in the shape of a 416GSi on a K plate and I kinda liked that. It was an almost new car at the time. One of my few "moderns".
Love the 200 (25?) 'shop job. I think they probably have potential.
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Last Edit: Oct 29, 2008 16:09:19 GMT by akku
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 16:58:15 GMT
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i had a mint 65000mile one owner 400 saloon (1.6) i bought from a dealer for £400. was terrible, lasted a month an half. an it only a w reg
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luckygti
Posted a lot
I need to try harder!
Posts: 4,912
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Oct 29, 2008 17:25:10 GMT
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I just sold an MG ZR which was basically a 214 with really hard suspension. I think it was an almost direct replacement for my 205 gti (1.6.... still in the garage) and drove almost exactly the same. The driving position was horrendous and gave me chronic back/ ache but other than that it was great. Modern, I know but a good runaround! A nice 400 bubble with the 1.8 vvc engine would be a quality Q car, and the head gasket problem normally doesn't come up if the coolant's checked every week!
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dubzi
Part of things
Posts: 711
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Oct 29, 2008 17:33:40 GMT
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I had one as a hire car and it was horrible! Steering was like playing a video game - no feel at all. It also had a terrible squeak on the suspension despite only having 400 miles on the clock! Perhaps they improve when they've "loosened up" a bit. Had a 75 as a hire car once & that was OK.
Bangernomics is the only way for me. I have a rule to never pay more than £500 for a car max. Most I've had have fallen well below that ceiling. I even got off the scene tax on my Golf!
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Last Edit: Oct 29, 2008 17:35:28 GMT by dubzi
Happiness ain't at the end of the road. Happiness is the road.
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Oct 29, 2008 18:10:38 GMT
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The "bubble" 400s are pretty under-rated. I have had 2 of them, a 416i and a 420Di, both faultless. The K-series is gruff and economical, but the gearing is a bit astronomical - 3500rpm@70mph in 5th. The Rover-penned saloon is a lot more attractive than the hatchback, which is basically just a Honda Civic in styling. The 420 petrol would be my pick, they handle a lot better than other models due to the standard 15" wheels and rear anti-roll bar and are pretty quick.
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gearoil
Part of things
Projectless...
Posts: 918
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Oct 29, 2008 19:26:29 GMT
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My Dad bought a 416Si when he retired to replace a Honda Ballade. Serviced by the local dealer until Rover was put down, its had 2 head gaskets, the second time it had a bit of alloy welding to repair the cracked head and so far (18 months) its been okay. My Rover tips. Theres two radiators for the car, one long, one short. If you need to replace your rad at some point get the long one and matching top hose - the K-series doesn't have a lot of water going round it, the bigger rad helps. When doing the head, do the waterpump, thermostat and timing belt at the same time. ( I've put it all together, to take it to bits a few weeks later to do the pump... ;D ) I have to admit, its not so bad to drive. Definite bangernomics with plenty choice of cars for not much money, my local breakers has a dozen dead HGF'd Rovers to rob parts from. The 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 are K-Series, and the 2.0 is T-Series and not so head gasket prone ( )
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Last Edit: Oct 30, 2008 14:54:56 GMT by gearoil
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Oct 29, 2008 19:43:23 GMT
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Rovers 200s/400s are better than escorts of the period. The earlier R8 wedge shape has better quild quality than the later bubbles but both are good cars. They are not the kind of cars that you can just run and forget about though. Oil and water levels need checking regularly, the cooling system is marginal and even a slight loss of coolant can cause overheating and HGF on K series engined models.
Personally I think the twin cam 16v K series is a little gem, very revvy and lots of power for such a small unit. Remember Lotus used the K series in many of their cars and an uprated HG is availavble that cures the HGF problem.
There are more cheap rovers about than there are atoms in the universe and as many were bought by loving older owners theres alot of 1 owner cherished examples to snap up. I love em and would deffo have another! Cheapness, Comfort, and relaibility... most of the time.
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1987 Maestro 1.6 HL perkins diesel conversion 1986 Audi 100 Avant 1800cc on LPG 1979 Allegro Series 2 special 4 door 1500cc with vynil roof. IN BITS. HERITAGE ISSUES.
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fordghiarsxrboy
Part of things
old fords don't die... i buy them!!
Posts: 258
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Oct 29, 2008 20:25:19 GMT
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put it this way i've worked on rovers for quite sometime now and i must of done 25 plus head gasket/engine replacements this year. the other 23453733,00000000 are now holding my stella together.lol
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one retro ride is never enough 2001 transit 2.4 red 1989 escort ghia 2.0 16v bike carb'd 1989 escort estate 1.4 gl 2008 vauxsnail zafira sri (wife's choice)
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Oct 29, 2008 20:57:45 GMT
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pmsl... the banner ad at the top is for K-seal and headgaskets IMO the 200/400 is a perfect bangernomics disposable car. Buy one for less than one repayment (I gave £70 for a mot'd and taxed one, while scrap was sky high, thats how desirable they are..) and chuck it away and get another when it breaks. Or, to put it another way, no-one outside of RR likes mazda 626s either.. Mine was free, and lasted a year.
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To get a standard A40 this low, you'd have to dig a hole to put it in
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Oct 29, 2008 21:52:46 GMT
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what you need instead of the PT cruiser is one of these ;D... Still for sale BTW
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Oct 29, 2008 23:42:19 GMT
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i drove a 400 bubble as well i believe. but i also drove a 75 td with cream leather. THAT i would buy.
and yes, modern servicing is fail. explain this to Mrs. Ku.
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I had a 'Q'plate 400 diesel (don't ask!) which had ZS suspension and wheels, leather, aircon and after I fiddled with the turbo and air intake went like sh*t off a stick. Now I have a 216 and apart from regularly checking oil and water has been no bother, even having been thrashed to the rev limiter around RAF Marham (6750 rpm). The K series needs to be treated like a bike engine; wait until it is FULLY warm (not just the water temp) and then it'll take anything you can throw at it.
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Rover Metro - The TARDIS - brake problems.....Stored Rover 75 - Barge MGZTT Cdti 160+ - Winter Hack and Audi botherer... MGF - The Golden Shot...Stored Project Minion........ Can you see the theme?
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sky
Part of things
Posts: 164
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The only newer rides I have had in a very long time are the BMW and the Shop Beast . I just sold the BMW Monday and only use the Shop Beast for hauling stuff
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Oct 30, 2008 13:07:35 GMT
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A friend used to own this Rover 200 - I think it was a 216.... this was at least 7-8 years ago now I drove it when it was still riding on its original steels but with the motorbuild suspension fitted & it was an absolute hoot to drive... the green paisley velour interior was also rather comical... but comfy ;D I find it annoying that the K series engine has become something of a car enthusiast's joke. Its actually a superb little unit - very light weight, good specific outputs & respond well to tuning..... yeah perhaps the head gaskets are a little more prone to fail than with other engines.... but hey
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horney™
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,289
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Oct 30, 2008 16:47:47 GMT
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I will have one of these one day. I test drove a couple a while ago but was never able to come up with enough cash to buy one. Awesome fun and wee'd all over my friends 6 month old Fiesta ST. Nick
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Last Edit: Oct 30, 2008 16:48:23 GMT by horney™
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