Timewarp Rover 214 SEI
Discussion
My dad bought one back in the day. 214SLi, if I remember rightly. I liked it a lot but it was one of the most unreliable cars we'd ever had. Forever in the garage, most of it covered by warranty thankfully. Shame to sell it as it was lovely to drive when it was working, but the lack of dependency was so annoying.
Good luck with yours, OP. Looks like it's brand new!
Good luck with yours, OP. Looks like it's brand new!
That looks lovely OP. My formative years behind the wheel were spent in various different 216 and 416 models after my dad gave me his old 216gsi as a hand me down at the age of 18. Owned 4 216gsi models and a couple of 416GTIs which were a hoot with the Honda twin cam engine.
I bought a low mileage 216 a couple years back with grand intentions of treating it to a restoration but cosmetically it was very tired despite only having about 28000 miles on the clock.
The SEi spec with the half leather interior and remote central locking were very much sought after back in the day, and folk used to swap the bumpers from the coupe for a different look.
Does the interior clock work? That was usually dead on all the cars I owned
There’s a pretty active Facebook group for these (and the coupes) so if you need any parts or want to add any missing optional extras it’s worth checking out.
I bought a low mileage 216 a couple years back with grand intentions of treating it to a restoration but cosmetically it was very tired despite only having about 28000 miles on the clock.
The SEi spec with the half leather interior and remote central locking were very much sought after back in the day, and folk used to swap the bumpers from the coupe for a different look.
Does the interior clock work? That was usually dead on all the cars I owned
There’s a pretty active Facebook group for these (and the coupes) so if you need any parts or want to add any missing optional extras it’s worth checking out.
TheRainMaker said:
These really were so much better than the Escort and Astra of the time.
Yes, they really were.The 214 made about 105 bhp, 1.4 Escort or Astra was 20 bhp or so less, and the 1.3 Escort had the rattly old ohv engine.
Rovers get slagged off, and yes they had a head gasket issue on some cars but these drove well, were pretty quick for the time/class, werent expensive and were better trimmed.
We had them as company cars when they were new and I used to nick them for the day and go charging round Cheshire to various sites, didnt feel much slower than my Golf GTI Mk1.
Thats a lovely example of a car that hasnt had many saved.
J4CKO said:
Yes, they really were.
The 214 made about 105 bhp, 1.4 Escort or Astra was 20 bhp or so less, and the 1.3 Escort had the rattly old ohv engine.
Rovers get slagged off, and yes they had a head gasket issue on some cars but these drove well, were pretty quick for the time/class, werent expensive and were better trimmed.
We had them as company cars when they were new and I used to nick them for the day and go charging round Cheshire to various sites, didnt feel much slower than my Golf GTI Mk1.
Thats a lovely example of a car that hasnt had many saved.
Yes, my first car was a Honda Civic that was also light years ahead of the opposition. I remember the 827SLi manuals being dirt cheap to lease. There were tons around Cowley back then. Great cars and a derivative of that engine was used in DOHC form, for the NSX.The 214 made about 105 bhp, 1.4 Escort or Astra was 20 bhp or so less, and the 1.3 Escort had the rattly old ohv engine.
Rovers get slagged off, and yes they had a head gasket issue on some cars but these drove well, were pretty quick for the time/class, werent expensive and were better trimmed.
We had them as company cars when they were new and I used to nick them for the day and go charging round Cheshire to various sites, didnt feel much slower than my Golf GTI Mk1.
Thats a lovely example of a car that hasnt had many saved.
Rover / Honda used to make great engines and cars. What happened!
That's a lovely example.
I had a '96 SEi in green for a year with 118,000 mile on the clock when I got rid of it (for my VVC equipped 200 Coupe which I still have some fourteen years on), one of the best cars I've had. Even with a six figure mileage, and no rust, it was still clean as a whistle, the oil never got dirty and it drove really nicely, a good mix of body control and comfort... I'd have another in a heartbeat (I've an eye on a 414 of similar vintage that's not far from where I work).
I had a '96 SEi in green for a year with 118,000 mile on the clock when I got rid of it (for my VVC equipped 200 Coupe which I still have some fourteen years on), one of the best cars I've had. Even with a six figure mileage, and no rust, it was still clean as a whistle, the oil never got dirty and it drove really nicely, a good mix of body control and comfort... I'd have another in a heartbeat (I've an eye on a 414 of similar vintage that's not far from where I work).
Wow, you must have been chuffed to bits finding that.
It reminds me very much of my grandad's car; from memory that was on a K and I *think* the same model, the design and material on the seats is certainly very familiar although his was (Tahiti?) blue. He died about 10 years ago and it was sold to a local dealership for a song (
) as nanny thought it was in the way. He'd had it from nearly new and it had covered very few miles (certainly under 20,000).
It reminds me very much of my grandad's car; from memory that was on a K and I *think* the same model, the design and material on the seats is certainly very familiar although his was (Tahiti?) blue. He died about 10 years ago and it was sold to a local dealership for a song (
) as nanny thought it was in the way. He'd had it from nearly new and it had covered very few miles (certainly under 20,000).Dr G said:
Wow, you must have been chuffed to bits finding that.
It reminds me very much of my grandad's car; from memory that was on a K and I *think* the same model, the design and material on the seats is certainly very familiar although his was (Tahiti?) blue. He died about 10 years ago and it was sold to a local dealership for a song ( ) as nanny thought it was in the way. He'd had it from nearly new and it had covered very few miles (certainly under 20,000).
Tahiti Blue or possibly Carribean Blue was a fantastic colour. A mate had a 214 SEI in that colour and it looked great.It reminds me very much of my grandad's car; from memory that was on a K and I *think* the same model, the design and material on the seats is certainly very familiar although his was (Tahiti?) blue. He died about 10 years ago and it was sold to a local dealership for a song (
) as nanny thought it was in the way. He'd had it from nearly new and it had covered very few miles (certainly under 20,000).
My first new company car was a 214SLI in British Racing Green. After a year driving shagged out 1.6 Ford Sierra it was a revelation in handling and (relative) performance. It was a very comfortable motorway cruiser and I managed to put 120.000 miles on it over two and a bit years.
It was also the most unreliable company car resulting in The AA taxi service once every 3 months, mainly gearbox and clutch problems - the head gasket was never a problem.
It got replaced by an Astra SRI, which although reliable, was not as pleasant to drive .
It was also the most unreliable company car resulting in The AA taxi service once every 3 months, mainly gearbox and clutch problems - the head gasket was never a problem.
It got replaced by an Astra SRI, which although reliable, was not as pleasant to drive .
One of my favourite ever cars was my 220 Turbo Tomcat Coupe.
Just loved the styling and driving it was an unpredictable blast.
It was so easy to use day to day and the uncluttered dash was a joy compared to today's touch screen button laden confusions.
Dark blue mine was. Sold it for a 944 Turbo and although I have had Porsche ever since I often wish I still had that little Rover.
Just loved the styling and driving it was an unpredictable blast.
It was so easy to use day to day and the uncluttered dash was a joy compared to today's touch screen button laden confusions.
Dark blue mine was. Sold it for a 944 Turbo and although I have had Porsche ever since I often wish I still had that little Rover.
Great car. My dad bought nothing but Rover cars throughout my entire childhood. No 200's but my uncle got a 216 GSi in 1990 on a G plate as a company car, must have been one of the early ones. I really liked it and i don't remember him having any problems with it.
Those seats do look just like the ones in my dads 820 Vitesse which were Recaro branded and my mum's 620ti which weren't branded.
Those seats do look just like the ones in my dads 820 Vitesse which were Recaro branded and my mum's 620ti which weren't branded.
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