RE: SOTW: Rover 216 Vitesse EFI
Discussion
Martin 480 Turbo said:
Whow, that's admittedly a rather strong first post.
Thanks for the upload and links.
But in conclusion I'd say this test tells more about
the twisted view angle of the motoring press at the
time than the cars on hand.
"what car" somehow manages to use the first page solely
to establish, that the Rover is a "domestic" product.
Is that "local content" measured in pounds weight or pounds
worth?
Furthermore the comparison to the weakest offering in the
BMW range of the time and an Escort with a boot doesn't
tell the reader much, as both were no class leading offerings.
I'd bet, that at the time there were run many tests of simular
cars throughout Europe with very different results.
In France the Citroen BX would have won, in Italy the Giulietta
or Fiat Regatta (remember it) and in Spain the SEAT Malaga (even
more obscure.)
In Germany of coursse the VW Jetta would have taken the trophy,
but somehow that one was not on the radar of "what car" at the time.
Nevertheless interesting reading, to see how far flung some paid writer
reached to place the Orion Ghia on top of its class.
Martin 480 Turbo
True, there is always an element of home grown favouritism but the facts are that these cars were held in high regard at launch so it stands to reason that a great condition car would perform similarly. There are more road test from this era giving similar results. Now I'm no Ford or Rover fanatic (I prefer Italian and Jap machinery) but I have run a cared for Orion 1.6i and certainly found it to be a strong performer. I've also driven the 213 and 216 many times and can say they too were far nicer than the reputation they get formed solely through people's personal opinions. Hands up though, both cars suffer badly from the metalworm and frankly, most that are left are mistreated and uncared for pigs. But if they were as coveted and cared for as a similarly aged German machine then this thread may be somewhat different.Thanks for the upload and links.
But in conclusion I'd say this test tells more about
the twisted view angle of the motoring press at the
time than the cars on hand.
"what car" somehow manages to use the first page solely
to establish, that the Rover is a "domestic" product.
Is that "local content" measured in pounds weight or pounds
worth?
Furthermore the comparison to the weakest offering in the
BMW range of the time and an Escort with a boot doesn't
tell the reader much, as both were no class leading offerings.
I'd bet, that at the time there were run many tests of simular
cars throughout Europe with very different results.
In France the Citroen BX would have won, in Italy the Giulietta
or Fiat Regatta (remember it) and in Spain the SEAT Malaga (even
more obscure.)
In Germany of coursse the VW Jetta would have taken the trophy,
but somehow that one was not on the radar of "what car" at the time.
Nevertheless interesting reading, to see how far flung some paid writer
reached to place the Orion Ghia on top of its class.
Martin 480 Turbo
nottyash said:
MGJohn said:
Right ... O yee of little ... I'm orf to give it a twelve! Hold on to your blood pump... it may go off the clock now ... 
..
Now showing 5.57 ... so there.
Haha, MG john I knew you would defend it...
Now showing 5.57 ... so there.
Edited by MGJohn on Tuesday 10th May 15:09
I tried really hard to like mine, and i did, but mine was only 3 years old, clutch cables snapping and revving erratically when it felt like it put me off. I tied a lot of money in it you see.
It was in compatition with cars like the Orion Ghia I, and I prefered it at the time, loved the styling, it drove well, comfy and well specced but its faults put me off, it just wasnt that reliable.
You've had a lot of trouble with all your Rovers. I have a theory ... there are more unreliable car users than unreliable cars... Of course there are unreliable cars of any origin as a search on the web will soon confirm.
OTOH, I have had better experiences with ALL of mine. At that same time, late 70s early 80s, my company supplied mainly Ford product. They were driven hard and far from reliable. Abingdon, Solihul, Cowley and Longbridge product subjected to the same level of hard company use were far more reliable. My boss, previously a Ford man, ended up taking delivery of a new Rover about that time... I wonder why... no I don't ... you can teach an older dog new tricks but, it's not always easy...
Go figure ...
EDIT to add...@ 01:04
Actually, I was never keen on this particular Roverised Honda Ballade...My 1.6 S-Series Rover Group product completed 130,000 hard miles... never missed a beat except on one occasion. Pressing on on a motorway, I was pulled by an unmarked Patrol car... and you would never believe the speed he clocked me so I will not mention it .... cost me a fine of £140 ~ a small fortune back then. On the hard shoulder, heat sink from the hot engine ( I had been shall we say 'pressing on' ) caused the fuel to boil or evaporate in the fuel lines and the car ran roughly as I tried to pick up speed from a standstill with the patrol car following immediately behind on the hard shoulder. Once the cooler fuel from the tank reached the engine then full power was restored. I suspect the officer thought I was poncing about and doing that kangaroo business deliberately ... but, I was not. Happy days ... gorn forever.
.
Edited by MGJohn on Wednesday 11th May 01:04
MGJohn said:
nottyash said:
MGJohn said:
Right ... O yee of little ... I'm orf to give it a twelve! Hold on to your blood pump... it may go off the clock now ...
..
Now showing 5.57 ... so there.
Haha, MG john I knew you would defend it...
Now showing 5.57 ... so there.
Edited by MGJohn on Tuesday 10th May 15:09
I tried really hard to like mine, and i did, but mine was only 3 years old, clutch cables snapping and revving erratically when it felt like it put me off. I tied a lot of money in it you see.
It was in compatition with cars like the Orion Ghia I, and I prefered it at the time, loved the styling, it drove well, comfy and well specced but its faults put me off, it just wasnt that reliable.
You've had a lot of trouble with all your Rovers. I have a theory ... there are more unreliable car users than unreliable cars... Of course there are unreliable cars of any origin as a search on the web will soon confirm.
OTOH, I have had better experiences with ALL of mine. At that same time, late 70s early 80s, my company supplied mainly Ford product. They were driven hard and far from reliable. Abingdon, Solihul, Cowley and Longbridge product subjected to the same level of hard company use were far more reliable. My boss, previously a Ford man, ended up taking delivery of a new Rover about that time... I wonder why... no I don't ... you can teach an older dog new tricks but, it's not always easy...
Go figure ...
EDIT to add...@ 01:04
Actually, I was never keen on this particular Roverised Honda Ballade...My 1.6 S-Series Rover Group product completed 130,000 hard miles... never missed a beat except on one occasion. Pressing on on a motorway, I was pulled by an unmarked Patrol car... and you would never believe the speed he clocked me so I will not mention it .... cost me a fine of £140 ~ a small fortune back then. On the hard shoulder, heat sink from the hot engine ( I had been shall we say 'pressing on' ) caused the fuel to boil or evaporate in the fuel lines and the car ran roughly as I tried to pick up speed from a standstill with the patrol car following immediately behind on the hard shoulder. Once the cooler fuel from the tank reached the engine then full power was restored. I suspect the officer thought I was poncing about and doing that kangaroo business deliberately ... but, I was not. Happy days ... gorn forever.
.
Edited by MGJohn on Wednesday 11th May 01:04
I doubt I was the only Rover owner with a faulty car.
My Metro 1.1 Quest i bought brand new in 1992 when I lost all my NCB was ultra reliable. I did 38000 miles in a year
What can I say about the rover 216 vitesse that you guys have not already said apart from the fact I have owned two of them over the years and found them both very reliable cars I purchased my first one back in 1989 with only 35000 miles I took it to over 175000 with no trouble apart from one stepper motor and an alternator , not bad I would say ! My second one has only 30000 miles on the clock and is as new and only comes out to enjoy the warm weather ! To sum up great little cars apart from the rust , but every car has it's problems !!
I haven't read thru all the threads, so if this has been said I apologise, but I know that the Vitesse model had a reputation for catching fire. Didn't appear to afflict any of the others.
This may be difficult to verify 25 yrs later, but it was definitly the case at the time. Some insurers refused to cover them. Rover denied any problem and as it never sold in large numbers it all kind of died a death.
This may be difficult to verify 25 yrs later, but it was definitly the case at the time. Some insurers refused to cover them. Rover denied any problem and as it never sold in large numbers it all kind of died a death.
Twincamsam said:
What can I say about the rover 216 vitesse that you guys have not already said apart from the fact I have owned two of them over the years and found them both very reliable cars I purchased my first one back in 1989 with only 35000 miles I took it to over 175000 with no trouble apart from one stepper motor and an alternator , not bad I would say ! My second one has only 30000 miles on the clock and is as new and only comes out to enjoy the warm weather ! To sum up great little cars apart from the rust , but every car has it's problems !!
Lol troll alertI had a 216S as my first car and it was s**t!
Engine leaked oil like no tomorrow, bits of suspension broke, fan failed in a traffic jam, it hated wet days, of course it rusted. When I got rid of it after about 60k miles the whole car felt worn out in a way that none of my later cars did at the same mileage.
but of course as it was my first car, I loved it
Engine leaked oil like no tomorrow, bits of suspension broke, fan failed in a traffic jam, it hated wet days, of course it rusted. When I got rid of it after about 60k miles the whole car felt worn out in a way that none of my later cars did at the same mileage.
but of course as it was my first car, I loved it
chris333 said:
I had a 216S as my first car and it was s**t!
Engine leaked oil like no tomorrow, bits of suspension broke, fan failed in a traffic jam, it hated wet days, of course it rusted. When I got rid of it after about 60k miles the whole car felt worn out in a way that none of my later cars did at the same mileage.
but of course as it was my first car, I loved it
Mine died at 75k and would have been 11 years old. Engine leaked oil like no tomorrow, bits of suspension broke, fan failed in a traffic jam, it hated wet days, of course it rusted. When I got rid of it after about 60k miles the whole car felt worn out in a way that none of my later cars did at the same mileage.
but of course as it was my first car, I loved it
Seat cushions collapsed in both front seats.
Went through ECUs like no bodys business
Always had a flat spot at 2,300 rpm where it died (even throttle wide open) then came back to life 1,700rpm. Dangerous yes but you learn how to drive around those issues. We tried everything to fix it to the point we had wasted so much time and new parts we stopped and loved with it.
Terrible heater so frequently misted up at the sign of rain terrible rear leg room
Engine was course it wasn't a pleasant noise reving up to 6,000 rpm infact above 4,500rpm wasn't nice.
Not much power but at the time it was the fastest car I'd had. But it's laughable bs the cars I've had since.
I would never buy a rover again especially after the wifes 25 died
I've sold my 213S and got a Panda now. I do miss it in a weird way but the Panda is just as quick, handles a lot better and is a convertible (twin sunroof). Also Pandas are cool. 
My mate Kev' has the Rover now and if he ever decided to sell her I'd be first in line. Look out for the mighty 213S on the classic car circuit in the Norfolk/Suffolk/Cambridgeshire area this summer.
My mate Kev' has the Rover now and if he ever decided to sell her I'd be first in line. Look out for the mighty 213S on the classic car circuit in the Norfolk/Suffolk/Cambridgeshire area this summer.
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