Timewarp Rover 214 SEI

[TheRainMaker]

That is truly incredible, I'm not sure I would ever want to take it out

[itcaptainslow]

Thought I’d update this thread as I sent the link to a friend to browse.

gweaver said:

Great car.

Interesting that no one on this thread has reported HGF on an early (90-95) R8. I think it might not have been a common issue on the early 1.4s.

You jinxed it! The head gasket on this one failed at 14k miles in July 2020 - a sealing track ruptured, causing coolant to piss outwards down the block/over the nicely fixed alternator by cylinder one. Fortunately no oil/coolant interface to clean up.

Whilst it was all apart I suffered a bit of mission creep, and stripped the front subframes/suspension and cleaned everything, and had the larger components powder coated and bolts zinc coated. Will post some pictures when I have a chance. I tried to preserve the originality whilst tidying up and making perfect - hopefully I’ve struck the right balance.

[gweaver]

Sorry about that!

HGF probably par for the course with many cars by 27 years though.

[itcaptainslow]

gweaver said:

Sorry about that!

HGF probably par for the course with many cars by 27 years though.

I wasn’t even angry, or disappointed - mainly as I got to take it apart and fix it!

[tvrfan007]

They came out in 89... But still 90 to 95 is entirely too wide a brush to tar the early R8 with. Many things changed. For example, I had 2 94 1.4s, one had an alloy inlet manifold and the other had a plastic. The plastic design carried on long after, but the early ones had a gasket that disintegrated and leaked coolant into the combustion space, useful.

The k series is much maligned, often unfairly outside of a freelander. The LR issues led to further developments for all though. They are great engines, especially with said latter developments, but didn't suffer owners with no mechanical sympathy or knowledge well at all. I put many tens of thousands on on k series R8s and a bubble, and never had hgf nor had any had them done when I took them on.

I miss my GSi Turbo, such a lazy effortless gain of speed.

[greenarrow]

Happy you have kept it. So few early to mid 90s cars left which is such a pity as they are very usable still and probably ride better than most moderns. Can't remember the last time I saw this generation of Rover.

[itcaptainslow]

greenarrow said:

Happy you have kept it. So few early to mid 90s cars left which is such a pity as they are very usable still and probably ride better than most moderns. Can't remember the last time I saw this generation of Rover.

Thanks - I’d never say never but it feels like a “keep as long as I can” one. Been joined in the stable by a 200Vi (click for Reader’s Cars thread) which is another “keep forever if I can”, so I’ve my two dream Rovers, being acutely aware I am the only person to have ever said that.

[david.h]

I hope all the replated bolts were properly de-embrittled! Originally many would have had "organic" finishes (the description for what were almost paint special finishes !) Excellent corrosion rsistance unless the surface gets damaged. Sail through salt spray tests and put on at relatively low temperatures, so no need for hydrogen de-embrittlement. This is essential on hard fasteners (self tappers/self drillers etc and ESPECIALLY High Tensile, or else.....😨 They break when under load!

[Lincsls1]

Very nice OP, lovely to see.
I loved my SEi. Felt like a proper posh motor back then.
This thread makes me want another!
This was mine.

[Missy Charm]

Funny, isn't it. We were conditioned to think those things were irredeemably naff at the time, the preserve of blue blazered Rotarians who holidayed in Bognor Regis, whilst thinking the equivalent Fords and Vauxhalls were cool cars for bright young things about town. Looking back, it seems as if we were wrong, missing out on much nicer interiors and higher equipment levels. The exterior styling has aged well, too. Keep fighting the good fight, sir. I assume it goes well for a 1.4.

[itcaptainslow]

Lincsls1 said:

Very nice OP, lovely to see.
I loved my SEi. Felt like a proper posh motor back then.
This thread makes me want another!
This was mine.

Lovely looking thing in Nightfire Red

Missy Charm said:

Funny, isn't it. We were conditioned to think those things were irredeemably naff at the time, the preserve of blue blazered Rotarians who holidayed in Bognor Regis, whilst thinking the equivalent Fords and Vauxhalls were cool cars for bright young things about town. Looking back, it seems as if we were wrong, missing out on much nicer interiors and higher equipment levels. The exterior styling has aged well, too. Keep fighting the good fight, sir. I assume it goes well for a 1.4.

I was the weird kid at school who preferred Lotus to Ferrari and whose parents had Rovers (my grandmother worked for BL so was entitled to a hefty familial discount) instead of the usual Ford/Vauxhall offerings. Even more unusual for a kid growing up in Luton in the 90’s - it felt like half the town worked for the Griffin.

Edited by itcaptainslow on Thursday 19th January 07:07

[GT03ROB]

Missy Charm said:

Funny, isn't it. We were conditioned to think those things were irredeemably naff at the time, the preserve of blue blazered Rotarians who holidayed in Bognor Regis, whilst thinking the equivalent Fords and Vauxhalls were cool cars for bright young things about town. Looking back, it seems as if we were wrong, missing out on much nicer interiors and higher equipment levels. The exterior styling has aged well, too. Keep fighting the good fight, sir. I assume it goes well for a 1.4.

I had one back in the day, well a 216GSi, but I think at the time they were doing a good job overhauling the image & they were being seen in a better light than fords or Vauxhall's. The 2 doors helped, as did the coupe. The 600s although a rebaged Accord looked so much better than the equivalent Sierra..

[GiantCardboardPlato]

Missy Charm said:

Funny, isn't it. We were conditioned to think those things were irredeemably naff at the time, the preserve of blue blazered Rotarians who holidayed in Bognor Regis, whilst thinking the equivalent Fords and Vauxhalls were cool cars for bright young things about town. Looking back, it seems as if we were wrong, missing out on much nicer interiors and higher equipment levels. The exterior styling has aged well, too. Keep fighting the good fight, sir. I assume it goes well for a 1.4.

It comes down to:

A) they were actually better
Or
B) You’ve just got old, would now suit a blue blazer, fit in at the rotary club, and consequently like the rovers now?

A is of course the more palatable explanation

[greenarrow]

GiantCardboardPlato said:

Missy Charm said:

Funny, isn't it. We were conditioned to think those things were irredeemably naff at the time, the preserve of blue blazered Rotarians who holidayed in Bognor Regis, whilst thinking the equivalent Fords and Vauxhalls were cool cars for bright young things about town. Looking back, it seems as if we were wrong, missing out on much nicer interiors and higher equipment levels. The exterior styling has aged well, too. Keep fighting the good fight, sir. I assume it goes well for a 1.4.

It comes down to:

A) they were actually better
Or
B) You’ve just got old, would now suit a blue blazer, fit in at the rotary club, and consequently like the rovers now?

A is of course the more palatable explanation

It is indeed interesting how your views change when you get older. I think the issue with the Rover R8 was that it was unfortunately marketed towards the more mature driver, with its beige cloth interior and mock wood trim which removed "cool points" for those younger buyers who went the Ford, Vauxhall route. All the pity because as a dynamic package it was superb.

There was a great car magazine called Retro Cars that sadly died during lockdown and they championed the R8 with several features comparing it with rivals. It certainly stacked up well against the likes of the Renault 19, Peugeot 309 and Mk4 Escort. Indeed Retro Cars said that in terms of handling ability it was the best compact hatchback until the Ford Focus MK1 came along (The Peugeot 306 might have something to say about that- lol).

I am not sure why, but the early 1990s bread and butter cars seem to have disappeared almost completely. It seems very few people want to save them and perhaps because of cars like the Focus and 306 which followed on and are more in people's minds, they are not very desirable. I think its a shame as I believe the early 90s was a highpoint for the humble family hatchback, where cars were comfortable, roomy enough, usable and good to drive, without being too massive, overweight and over burdened by tech. Just my opinion of course.

[Pinkie15]

greenarrow said:

GiantCardboardPlato said:

Missy Charm said:

Funny, isn't it. We were conditioned to think those things were irredeemably naff at the time, the preserve of blue blazered Rotarians who holidayed in Bognor Regis, whilst thinking the equivalent Fords and Vauxhalls were cool cars for bright young things about town. Looking back, it seems as if we were wrong, missing out on much nicer interiors and higher equipment levels. The exterior styling has aged well, too. Keep fighting the good fight, sir. I assume it goes well for a 1.4.

It comes down to:

A) they were actually better
Or
B) You’ve just got old, would now suit a blue blazer, fit in at the rotary club, and consequently like the rovers now?

A is of course the more palatable explanation

It is indeed interesting how your views change when you get older. I think the issue with the Rover R8 was that it was unfortunately marketed towards the more mature driver, with its beige cloth interior and mock wood trim which removed "cool points" for those younger buyers who went the Ford, Vauxhall route. All the pity because as a dynamic package it was superb.

There was a great car magazine called Retro Cars that sadly died during lockdown and they championed the R8 with several features comparing it with rivals. It certainly stacked up well against the likes of the Renault 19, Peugeot 309 and Mk4 Escort. Indeed Retro Cars said that in terms of handling ability it was the best compact hatchback until the Ford Focus MK1 came along (The Peugeot 306 might have something to say about that- lol).

I am not sure why, but the early 1990s bread and butter cars seem to have disappeared almost completely. It seems very few people want to save them and perhaps because of cars like the Focus and 306 which followed on and are more in people's minds, they are not very desirable. I think its a shame as I believe the early 90s was a highpoint for the humble family hatchback, where cars were comfortable, roomy enough, usable and good to drive, without being too massive, overweight and over burdened by tech. Just my opinion of course.

I think the early 00s scrappage scheme probably took a lot of those bread & butter cars to the scrapper.

My dad got a 214Si in the mid-90s (J114OFP), much comfier and roomier than the G reg Astra it replaced. Could really hustle along. Fuel injection & 16 valves seemed to make it so much brisker than other family hatchbacks then, though I guess many were still carburettor engined. Must have put 50 - 70k miles on that car and it never missed a beat.


In the mid-00s I got a R8 218 SLD-t, was still a very comfy place to be, bright & airy cabin thanks to the beige interior (realise the colour was most likely officially 'stone'), and no rust either.

A couple of years after that I got a Honda engined 600, which was quickly got rid of for the Ti version, love the T series engine.

Been off the road for a good few years now, though still in the garage with a promise of 'I'll get you back on the road this year'.

Swear there's more rear space in the R8 than the 600, though.

[Mr Tidy]

Missy Charm said:

Funny, isn't it. We were conditioned to think those things were irredeemably naff at the time, the preserve of blue blazered Rotarians who holidayed in Bognor Regis, whilst thinking the equivalent Fords and Vauxhalls were cool cars for bright young things about town. Looking back, it seems as if we were wrong, missing out on much nicer interiors and higher equipment levels. The exterior styling has aged well, too. Keep fighting the good fight, sir. I assume it goes well for a 1.4.

Based on what I recall from the time the Rovers were a much better quality product than equivalent Fords and Vauxhalls.

In late 1991 I had a an ex-Godfrey Davis rental car 1990 Cavalier 1.8L then got a job promotion and relocation in early 1992. I was offered 3 company cars (all used, which should have flashed up some warning signs). Two were 1.8 litre Sierras but I chose the 1990 Rover 214SLi as at the time BIK rates were lower for a 1.4 than a 1.8, and anyway the 214 was slightly more powerful than the 1.8 Fords - or my 1.8 Cavalier for that matter!

I really liked it, but as 1992 went on it became clear what a state my employer's finances were in and just before Xmas I got made redundant and had to return the Rover.

So I needed to buy a car and got a 1991 Sierra Sapphire 2000 GLSi. I only liked it because it was RWD and quicker than the Rover, but it didn't feel nearly as well built.

My only other Rover experiences were from owning a 1973 P6B 3500S for a couple of years from 1979 to 1981 then driving a mate's stripped and caged V8 SD1 race car years later, but they definitely made an impression as I still have a soft spot for them!

[pocketspring]

Thread resurrection!

I had a 93 plate in 2000. It was the 1.4 SLi 16v in metallic charcoal. It had a tan coloured interior and an electric sunroof! I guess that was an optional extra on an SLi trim?
I had it about two years and needed a new cat, battery, ht leads, alternator and water pump. I did a few mods to it being a k and n induction kit, lowered on Pi springs, 15inch wolfrace urban racer 7 alloys and a janspeed twin exhaust. Tbh it did look pretty good. I remember racing an xr3i and just about getting past it. I think it was that car that gave me the modding bug for many other cars afterwards. It also had a very good sound system. Pioneer head cassette head unit with Dolby b and c, remote control, 12 disc cd changer, magnat amp, magnat composite speakers in the front, magnat car fit speakers in the rear and an Aliante 10 inch sub in the rear. I ended up trading her in for a Celica GT4 which I regretted as the GT4 gave me constant problems for three months until the dealer fitted another used engine in it. I heard one of the salesman blew the engine in the rover in the end. Such a shame.