R8 Rover 216 GTI sohc
Discussion
Great thread ! Brings back memories of the Rovers I had back in the '90s.
I had a black 216 GTi Twin cam (H644 TSH) from Jan'96 to May '97, covering 29k miles in that time. Enjoyed that car so much that I bought another in Feb'99 - a red Twin cam (H714 JWK) which was originally owned by Aston Villa when new. Always thought they sat way too high for a hot hatch, so had the red one lowered and a Janspeed exhaust fitted at the same time. Made such a difference.
Remember it being a very comfortable car with half leather trim. Rover fitted an electric sunroof and mirrors, but it came with wind up windows which I found a bit odd.
I had a black 216 GTi Twin cam (H644 TSH) from Jan'96 to May '97, covering 29k miles in that time. Enjoyed that car so much that I bought another in Feb'99 - a red Twin cam (H714 JWK) which was originally owned by Aston Villa when new. Always thought they sat way too high for a hot hatch, so had the red one lowered and a Janspeed exhaust fitted at the same time. Made such a difference.
Remember it being a very comfortable car with half leather trim. Rover fitted an electric sunroof and mirrors, but it came with wind up windows which I found a bit odd.
Bookmarked this one. Takes me back.
I worked at "the Rover" in the late eighties and early nineties and had a whole scutch of these as company cars. The twin cam GTi is a very underrated car, properly quick and tidy handling, nice enough interior with the leather and sun roof. Brakes are a bit weedy on track though, (yes we did
that too.)
The single cam was a bit of a poor relation, very little difference in the engine performance except right up to the top end, but without the spec niceties of the twin cam cars. Incidentally they also built an even lower spec car the 216Si 3 door, which allegedly was built in error, this had the GTi single cam power train but mega basic spec including steel wheels. Great second car for the missus as the payments were cheap, had two of these.
All mine were bullet proof reliable and great fun, a good match of economy and performance. Honda engineering screwed together by Brummies. The highlight of the Rover Honda relationship for me.
The later 220 was a lousy car by comparison, heavier engine, much less reliable, and more understeer.
Happy days.
I worked at "the Rover" in the late eighties and early nineties and had a whole scutch of these as company cars. The twin cam GTi is a very underrated car, properly quick and tidy handling, nice enough interior with the leather and sun roof. Brakes are a bit weedy on track though, (yes we did
that too.)The single cam was a bit of a poor relation, very little difference in the engine performance except right up to the top end, but without the spec niceties of the twin cam cars. Incidentally they also built an even lower spec car the 216Si 3 door, which allegedly was built in error, this had the GTi single cam power train but mega basic spec including steel wheels. Great second car for the missus as the payments were cheap, had two of these.
All mine were bullet proof reliable and great fun, a good match of economy and performance. Honda engineering screwed together by Brummies. The highlight of the Rover Honda relationship for me.
The later 220 was a lousy car by comparison, heavier engine, much less reliable, and more understeer.
Happy days.
Your car looks really smart considering it's age OP. 
There was a one-make race series for the twin-cam ones back in the day IIRC - Tomcats, I think they called them.
I've always liked them, but never had one - I hope you can save yours with a bit of TLC.
The nearest I got was a 214Sli I had as a company car in 1992. Only 95 bhp from the K-series, but it went OK and felt really well screwed together (much better than the Cavalier I had before it)!
Sadly I had to give it back when the firm went tits-up and I got made redundant. I tried to buy it, but they wanted stupid money for it.
Looking forward to your updates.
There was a one-make race series for the twin-cam ones back in the day IIRC - Tomcats, I think they called them.
I've always liked them, but never had one - I hope you can save yours with a bit of TLC.
The nearest I got was a 214Sli I had as a company car in 1992. Only 95 bhp from the K-series, but it went OK and felt really well screwed together (much better than the Cavalier I had before it)!
Sadly I had to give it back when the firm went tits-up and I got made redundant. I tried to buy it, but they wanted stupid money for it.
Looking forward to your updates.
It's nice to see quite a few have had good experiences with the R8s, hardly ever see them on the roads now. As someone said they do seem to suffer with rust but what 25+ year old car of the Rovers standing wouldn't?
I've hatched a mid/long term plan for the Rover, it involves selling the Porsche. I've got a trip to France booked for May which I really want the Boxster for, assuming we have the weather the Boxster will be the perfect road trip car and wafting (mobbing) around rural France with the roof down and exhaust opened up is a lovely prospect. After France, sell the Porsche & put some money to one side, use maybe half the proceeds of the Boxster to fully fund the Rover restoration. I hadn't thought about it as a restoration really but as a few have called it that on this thread; I'm thinking it is now. I just hope the rot hasn't gone too far into the body and costs spiral when we start opening her up to do the repairs. Time will tell.
I'm on a line to some Roversport 15" alloys also through the Rover 200/500 Owners Club. They'll be shod in Toyo T1R's after their refurb, just like H35 OUH wore circa 2000
I've hatched a mid/long term plan for the Rover, it involves selling the Porsche. I've got a trip to France booked for May which I really want the Boxster for, assuming we have the weather the Boxster will be the perfect road trip car and wafting (mobbing) around rural France with the roof down and exhaust opened up is a lovely prospect. After France, sell the Porsche & put some money to one side, use maybe half the proceeds of the Boxster to fully fund the Rover restoration. I hadn't thought about it as a restoration really but as a few have called it that on this thread; I'm thinking it is now. I just hope the rot hasn't gone too far into the body and costs spiral when we start opening her up to do the repairs. Time will tell.
I'm on a line to some Roversport 15" alloys also through the Rover 200/500 Owners Club. They'll be shod in Toyo T1R's after their refurb, just like H35 OUH wore circa 2000
I know I'll be terrified when it goes in for the body work to get done. The the body shop guy saying "do you want the bad news?" is already ringing in my ears
This one may have actually faired quite well if it's not too rotten within. I'm still thinking it will take around £1,500 - 2k to get the body back to no rust/fresh. But hopefully I'm slightly over estimating. The other things that need doing are very minor in comparison - cam belt change, wheels, exhaust, induction kit, stereo, lower springs and she's done in the main.
I really do wish it was the TC to potentially get some more ROI but alas..
This one may have actually faired quite well if it's not too rotten within. I'm still thinking it will take around £1,500 - 2k to get the body back to no rust/fresh. But hopefully I'm slightly over estimating. The other things that need doing are very minor in comparison - cam belt change, wheels, exhaust, induction kit, stereo, lower springs and she's done in the main.
I really do wish it was the TC to potentially get some more ROI but alas..
More of a pre-update than an update.
Well in true form I've been going into getting the Rover sorted at full steam rather than taking my time. As such I've been tackling the issues I can without the need for a body shop just yet. Namely the front end and some other fun stuff.
I need a replacement bonnet as I may have said. This has proved harder to come by than some may have thought. I've spoken to Rimmerbros (MG parts supplier) in the UK as they have a damaged new/old stock bonnet for a 'MG Rover 200/400 up to 95' advertised on their site. Turns out this is the wrong bonnet; that's the bad news, the good news is they sourced 2 correct bonnets that another company had in stock, great. The bad news is those bonnets are stocked by a company in the Netherlands, Damen & Kroes, Boxtel, the only 2 'new' bonnets left in Europe that I can trace. A plan started to hatch. Quick message to OH "do you fancy a weekend in Holland?" The response was positive so I planned to drive the Rover over there, ditch my knackered bonnet outside their front door, fit the new bonnet (assuming it was in a state to be affixed to the car) and drive home whilst enjoying the best The Netherlands had to offer for an evening in the process. Longish story short they wanted 400 euro for the bonnet and the ferry trip alone was £300. Not a very economical way to obtain a bonnet for a £1,200 car. Would have made an awesome road trip but I just can't justify it, doubt many could.
I have now found a dark blue bonnet from a K 93' Cabriolet in a breakers in Bury St Edmunds (4 hours way urgh) that is in great condition for £50 that I'll likely pick up this weekend (rather than doing the obvious thing of buying it and then collecting early in the new year when there's less stuff going on). The car will look a little taxi like for a while but it gets the ball rolling on repairs.
I've also managed to source a GTI rear spoiler and Roversport 15" 5 spokes from a chap - somewhere in the UK so will hopefully be collecting those soon too.
Can still see this thing swallowing £1,500 in rust repair/bodywork easily, gah!
Well in true form I've been going into getting the Rover sorted at full steam rather than taking my time. As such I've been tackling the issues I can without the need for a body shop just yet. Namely the front end and some other fun stuff.
I need a replacement bonnet as I may have said. This has proved harder to come by than some may have thought. I've spoken to Rimmerbros (MG parts supplier) in the UK as they have a damaged new/old stock bonnet for a 'MG Rover 200/400 up to 95' advertised on their site. Turns out this is the wrong bonnet; that's the bad news, the good news is they sourced 2 correct bonnets that another company had in stock, great. The bad news is those bonnets are stocked by a company in the Netherlands, Damen & Kroes, Boxtel, the only 2 'new' bonnets left in Europe that I can trace. A plan started to hatch. Quick message to OH "do you fancy a weekend in Holland?" The response was positive so I planned to drive the Rover over there, ditch my knackered bonnet outside their front door, fit the new bonnet (assuming it was in a state to be affixed to the car) and drive home whilst enjoying the best The Netherlands had to offer for an evening in the process. Longish story short they wanted 400 euro for the bonnet and the ferry trip alone was £300. Not a very economical way to obtain a bonnet for a £1,200 car. Would have made an awesome road trip but I just can't justify it, doubt many could.
I have now found a dark blue bonnet from a K 93' Cabriolet in a breakers in Bury St Edmunds (4 hours way urgh) that is in great condition for £50 that I'll likely pick up this weekend (rather than doing the obvious thing of buying it and then collecting early in the new year when there's less stuff going on). The car will look a little taxi like for a while but it gets the ball rolling on repairs.
I've also managed to source a GTI rear spoiler and Roversport 15" 5 spokes from a chap - somewhere in the UK so will hopefully be collecting those soon too.
Can still see this thing swallowing £1,500 in rust repair/bodywork easily, gah!
k yet strangely appealing 
I liked the look for these, not to mention the classy walnut veneer inside. A chum at university inherited one from his dad and it went like stink - certainly a good car compared to the other flimsy warm/hot hatches available at the time. I bought a few coupes on the strength of this, though sadly they all had non-Honda engines with a variety of issues.
TOL, I'm hoping to 'beautify' it somewhat, although I realise that's a relative term 
I do love the dash it's probably my favourite feature of the car. The large indicator lights especially 
very specific I know ha
fido, indeed they do go well, as said I'm still surprised by it's turn of speed. I never really clicked with the coupes, although I did have a coupe turbo half leather interior in my Mini many years ago, that's as close as I got to coupe ownership
TheRainMaker got me thinking, and enquiring, spot on with the info and I'm now expanding my search to later spec bonnets which will hopefully help hugely, thanks TRM!
I do love the dash it's probably my favourite feature of the car. The large indicator lights especially very specific I know ha fido, indeed they do go well, as said I'm still surprised by it's turn of speed. I never really clicked with the coupes, although I did have a coupe turbo half leather interior in my Mini many years ago, that's as close as I got to coupe ownership
TheRainMaker got me thinking, and enquiring, spot on with the info and I'm now expanding my search to later spec bonnets which will hopefully help hugely, thanks TRM!
Nice car OP, glad to see they're still out there and being taken care of... I've joined the Facebook group!! 
I bought a 216GTi TC from an elderly gentleman who couldn't understand why I'd come from NE Scotland to Coventry to buy it, haha. He had bought it from a Rover Director and had owned it since, it even came with homemade sections of his living room carpet as overmats to protect the originals. It was bought to deal with winter car duties which it perfomed very well, but I quickly discovered that it was something of a sleeper with the Twin Cam engine; it would sit on the 5th gear limiter without any fuss at all. After a long time, many miles and a lot of hard driving... the bottom end started to rattle and I weighed it in for scrap. Regretted it almost immediately and to this day think I should have just rebuilt it or sourced a replacement; although I'd have loved to do a B18 VTEC conversion on it but time, space and knowledge weren't on my side.
DSC01660 by RS Grant, on Flickr
RIP J993GGC.
I bought a 216GTi TC from an elderly gentleman who couldn't understand why I'd come from NE Scotland to Coventry to buy it, haha. He had bought it from a Rover Director and had owned it since, it even came with homemade sections of his living room carpet as overmats to protect the originals. It was bought to deal with winter car duties which it perfomed very well, but I quickly discovered that it was something of a sleeper with the Twin Cam engine; it would sit on the 5th gear limiter without any fuss at all. After a long time, many miles and a lot of hard driving... the bottom end started to rattle and I weighed it in for scrap. Regretted it almost immediately and to this day think I should have just rebuilt it or sourced a replacement; although I'd have loved to do a B18 VTEC conversion on it but time, space and knowledge weren't on my side.
DSC01660 by RS Grant, on FlickrRIP J993GGC.
That looks great RS! quintessential 90's british hot hatchness
I feel your pain. I firstly wish I'd kept my first TC in better condition and held onto it but hindsight is a terrible thing huh, allows you to pinpoint mistakes huh
Secondly and much more recently I wish a situation involving a 216GTI had gone differently. I found a J reg TC in black with 50k on it owned by an elderly lady on my estate of all places! Literally 300 yards from my house. It was immaculate. I politely approached the couple a few months ago and asked if they ever intended to sell the GTI. The lady replied that it just kept passing MOTs and that it was her "little sports car" she clearly had an affection for it. The husband informed me after his good lady wife had left the door that she was suffering with some health issues and wouldn't be able to drive for much longer. As much as this news saddened me... there was hope. I visited the couple on 3 occasions, never being forceful but just to check in and to drop my number off just in case they'd misplaced the last copy I gave them. The husband assured me he would be in touch when the time came to move the Rover on.
I rolled past their house a few weeks ago and what do I see? a brand new MG 3 wearing the Rovers number plate parked on the drive in place of the Rover. It's gone. No phone call, no notification. Where did it go? No idea.. I haven't had the heart to knock the door again and be informed of what actually did happen to it. Maybe it went to a family member? maybe it was scrapped? Regardless, it didn't come to me which severely irks me ..
Ah well..
I feel your pain. I firstly wish I'd kept my first TC in better condition and held onto it but hindsight is a terrible thing huh, allows you to pinpoint mistakes huh
Secondly and much more recently I wish a situation involving a 216GTI had gone differently. I found a J reg TC in black with 50k on it owned by an elderly lady on my estate of all places! Literally 300 yards from my house. It was immaculate. I politely approached the couple a few months ago and asked if they ever intended to sell the GTI. The lady replied that it just kept passing MOTs and that it was her "little sports car" she clearly had an affection for it. The husband informed me after his good lady wife had left the door that she was suffering with some health issues and wouldn't be able to drive for much longer. As much as this news saddened me... there was hope. I visited the couple on 3 occasions, never being forceful but just to check in and to drop my number off just in case they'd misplaced the last copy I gave them. The husband assured me he would be in touch when the time came to move the Rover on.
I rolled past their house a few weeks ago and what do I see? a brand new MG 3 wearing the Rovers number plate parked on the drive in place of the Rover. It's gone. No phone call, no notification. Where did it go? No idea.. I haven't had the heart to knock the door again and be informed of what actually did happen to it. Maybe it went to a family member? maybe it was scrapped? Regardless, it didn't come to me which severely irks me ..
Ah well..
squareflops said:
I rolled past their house a few weeks ago and what do I see? a brand new MG 3 wearing the Rovers number plate parked on the drive in place of the Rover. It's gone. No phone call, no notification. Where did it go? No idea.. I haven't had the heart to knock the door again and be informed of what actually did happen to it. Maybe it went to a family member? maybe it was scrapped? Regardless, it didn't come to me which severely irks me ..
Ah well..
Hate to be the bearer of bad news... http://mg.co.uk/offers-finance/mg3/simple-scrappag...Ah well..
The scrappage scheme has made our roads a lot more dull. There's a website with a list of cars that had gone through it, and there's some great ones.
As an aside, I fondly remember these cars when I was younger being owned by Boy Racers, Drug Dealers and general ne'er-do-well's - making them instantly cool in my book.
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