Friday 2nd December 2011

SOTW: Rover 825i Sterling

Shed isn't only fond of German barges, you know... we also do unloved Brit oddness...

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"I would like to buy a Honda, but built in Cowley to standards not quite on a par with those of a Japanese factory. I would, however, also like my Honda to look pretty much like the inside of a gentleman's club."

This is the statement you would be making if, in the late 80s or early 90s, you pointed your hard-earned in the direction of a Rover 800. If you bought a mid-to-late 90s model, you might want to add "Oh, and I want the outside to look like a 60s throwback".

But these are cruel things to say about Rover's final attempt at a proper executive car (for the purposes of this argument we'll call the 75 too small). Okay, so the 800 had very little of the technical or design innovation that marked out the SD1 or P6 (or even P5), and its reputations for quality or reliability were hardly sparkling. And if you're being really harsh, Honda's insistence (for this was a joint project that also created the original Honda Legend) that the front suspension should be a double-wishbone affair in order to allow a lower bonnet line stymied the 800's ability to produce a pillow-soft ride.

But there's a certain English elegance to the 800 that you just can't get these days (or perhaps I'm just having another one of my 'turns').

And of course the humble 800 is a bit of an endangered species these days - there were more than 300,000 produced originally, yet the PH classifieds only carries a single example at the moment, and even Auto Trader musters fewer than 20 cars.

Of those, we've picked a 94k mile, 1996 N-plate 825i. We're not 100 per cent sure whether this means it has a Honda V6 or an early K-series unit, but it looks tidy, has a long MOT and, apart from the tow hitch that suggests a part-time job as a caravan lugger, could easily have you playing '90s government minister'. And for a fiver less than £700 it is a heck of a lot of car for the money. Just don't get into the back seat hoping to get somewhere, because it doesn't come with a chauffeur...

Ps - we also spotted this 1997 Coupe up for £999, a rare manual version, but since the ad didn't provide an image of the front of the car we felt it couldn't be the main SOTW

Advert is reproduced below

1996 ROVER 800 825 STERLING 4DR AUTO TAXED AND TESTED
£695

94000 miles

4 Doors, Automatic, Saloon, Petrol, 94,000 miles, Metallic Silver, MOT-08-2012. TAXED AND TESTED, EXCEPTIONAL RUNNER. GREAT VALUE LUXURY MOTORING. Service History, Radio/Cassette, CD Multichanger, Heated front seat, Multi function steering wheel, Electrically adjustable seats, Electric sunroof, ABS, Adjustable seats, Adjustable steering column/wheel, Air conditioning, Alloy wheels, Anti theft system, Central locking, Colour coding - Body, Colour coding - Interior, Cruise control, Driver airbag, Electric mirrors, Electric windows, Foglights, Head restraints, Heated screen, Leather seats, Metallic paintwork, Passenger airbag, Power assisted steering, Radio, Rear armrest, Remote locking, Spoiler, Sunroof, Tinted glass. Insurance Group:14, OPEN 7 Days, All vehicles HPI Checked. Stock Changing Daily. After Hours By Appointment. £695 p/x to clear

[williamp]

Always thought the Coupe was very handsome. And the seat base of these wwre used in the Aston Virage of the 90s.

Good shed. Not great, but a good change from the norm

[Riggers]

williamp said:

And the seat base of these wwre used in the Aston Virage of the 90s.

Good trivia knowledge there!

[Codswallop]

Agreed. The coupes are very handsome. I even like the interiors, and the whole car has a laid back cruisey charm. I quite like it

[Morningside]

Great cars. I know someone who owns five and he is a Rover slater.

Now try and find an 827 fastback.

[sparkster8]

Strangely tempting ....what's wrong with me ?!!

[DS3R]

200% awesome!

Hardly see these anywhere, for good rust & electrical reasons.

I was taken to school in a white 800, we set off from some traffic lights up a rather steep hill to be greeted by a friendly Bobby who stopped us to say "I take it this is the 827 Sir?"

"Yes" said the driver

"Thought so" said the copper, "there's no way a 2 litre would have got up that hill to double the speed limit from a standing start. Take it easy in the future will you?"

And off we went

[300bhp/ton]

825 is a brilliant car in many ways. Lots of room, comfy, rode well and quiet. Not a Jag I admit, but way better than many would think.

Huge 8 inch speakers in the rear shelf make it good for drum and bass music so I'm told too....

[soxboy]

That car is crying out for 'Cock Piss Partridge' to be sprayed on the side.

[cjgreaves41]

My uncle has a 820 turbo (fast back) sat on his drive, which he used daily up until about 5 years ago, when a Merc dealer offered him 200 quid for it he decided to keep it! Realy nice quick car! Hopefully one day he'll get it back on the road!

[CampDavid]

sparkster8 said:

Strangely tempting ....what's wrong with me ?!!

[gethyped]

My dad had a company 827 about 1991.Remember it being suprisingly quick.
Engine was a by Honda and it was the only good thing about the car !

[drgoatboy]

A neighbour had one of these from new when I was a lad.
After all the electrics (including every single interior and exterior light) turned themselves off whilst doing 70mph+ on an unlit section of the A1 at night he soon chopped it in for a Granada (scorpio?).

Shame, as I always liked the way these looked...

[bmthnick1981]

My dad had an 820 once. It was st.

This one looks quite nice though, as others have said the coupe is fairly handsome in a laid back sort of GT cruiser way.... Am I losing it?

[tim2100]

My father had a couple of these in the 90's

an 827 Fastback, Quick car at the time. Great mileage muncher.

followed by an 827 Sterling (Later shape). Again another good car high underrated cars.

[300bhp/ton]

gethyped said:

My dad had a company 827 about 1991.Remember it being suprisingly quick.
Engine was a by Honda and it was the only good thing about the car !

Why was it the only good thing about the car? Hate it when people say such things without reason.

[davemac250]

When driven hard the brakes catch fire, the wheel nuts undo and the gearbox throws a fit.

I probably drove them harder than most though.

The 827 was a good car, just not really up to the job I had to do in them.

[sparkster8]

Ahaaa !!

[bmthnick1981]

davemac250 said:

The 827 was a good car, just not really up to the job I had to do in them.

Which was?

[Rammy76]

Looks like it's the K series lump...








Services provided by DVLA:




Vehicle enquiry

The enquiry is complete.The vehicle details for N453 GUA are:



Date of Liability

01 09 2011



Date of First Registration

22 02 1996



Year of Manufacture

1996



Cylinder Capacity (cc)

2497cc



CO2 Emissions

Not Available



Fuel Type

PETROL



Export Marker

N



Vehicle Status

Unlicensed



Vehicle Colour

SILVER



Vehicle Type Approval

Not Available


This vehicle can be licensed at a DVLA Local Office without the V5C Registration Certificate



Vehicle Excise Duty rate for vehicle




6 Months Rate

£118.25



12 Months Rate

£215.00

[cjgreaves41]

bmthnick1981 said:

davemac250 said:

The 827 was a good car, just not really up to the job I had to do in them.

Which was?

get away driver?