Rover 200Vi - the hot hatch no-one knew!
Discussion
Much has been written about the ‘GTI’ badge and the great (and not so great) cars that have worn it. Unfortunately, in the 90’s the popularity of GTI’s included how popular they were to be pinched, with the resulting insurance premiums.
Some manufacturers tried to get smart, toning down exterior appearances and renaming their hot models to circumnavigate both the ne’er do wells and insurers.
The 200Vi was Rover’s attempt, and it was so subtle that many just didn’t realise it even existed-you could make a base 1.1 or 1.4 look like a Vi from the outside with a few ticks of option boxes.
It had the VVC engine from the top spec MGF and later shared with the Elise 111S (boring fact - Rover were going to call it the ‘200 VVC’ before someone with eye/foresight observed it was uncomfortably close to the ‘200 Lavatory’), bigger brakes, different springs/dampers and a rear anti roll bar. It eventually spawned the 200 BRM, then the MG ZR160.
I’ve always really wanted one, mainly as I have very fond memories of my parents having a brand new Solar Red example, and mum teaching me to drive in it aged 12 wherever there was some private land available!
Fast forward many years of looking (and missing this particular car on eBay when it came up five years ago), I got chatting to the owner a few months ago and he subsequently got in touch to say the car might be available. I couldn’t get up the M6 quick enough…
The car has done 19k miles, with three previous owners, all traceable (lots of emails between Jimmy, the previous owner, and the original purchaser, plus emails between Jimmy and the dealership principle of selling dealership!).
The car has been utterly mollycoddled from new - there’s not a speck of rust on top or underneath, the interior is like new and smells glorious, and it still feels tight & fizzing with energy to drive. The engine loves being revved hard, and the light weight (just over a tonne) means it makes the most of 143bhp, and doesn’t need stiff suspension to corner neatly.
It’s a credit to the previous keepers and a car I didn’t think existed. ‘How Many Left’ peg the number currently taxed as 15… (and unfortunately, one of those was written off last week according to the Facebook group).
Interestingly, it’s a much better drive than my prior BRM - the LSD, wider wheels and less compliant suspension in that car serve up a scrappier, less resolved package in my book, which torque steers and is guilty of having glassy, remote steering. The Vi flows much better down the road, with the advantage of not falling out of the seats thanks to the cloth centre.
Definitely a keeper for me - it feels weird saying one of my dream cars was a Rover hatchback, but nostalgia and childhood memories do weird things to petrolheads.
Some manufacturers tried to get smart, toning down exterior appearances and renaming their hot models to circumnavigate both the ne’er do wells and insurers.
The 200Vi was Rover’s attempt, and it was so subtle that many just didn’t realise it even existed-you could make a base 1.1 or 1.4 look like a Vi from the outside with a few ticks of option boxes.
It had the VVC engine from the top spec MGF and later shared with the Elise 111S (boring fact - Rover were going to call it the ‘200 VVC’ before someone with eye/foresight observed it was uncomfortably close to the ‘200 Lavatory’), bigger brakes, different springs/dampers and a rear anti roll bar. It eventually spawned the 200 BRM, then the MG ZR160.
I’ve always really wanted one, mainly as I have very fond memories of my parents having a brand new Solar Red example, and mum teaching me to drive in it aged 12 wherever there was some private land available!
Fast forward many years of looking (and missing this particular car on eBay when it came up five years ago), I got chatting to the owner a few months ago and he subsequently got in touch to say the car might be available. I couldn’t get up the M6 quick enough…
The car has done 19k miles, with three previous owners, all traceable (lots of emails between Jimmy, the previous owner, and the original purchaser, plus emails between Jimmy and the dealership principle of selling dealership!).
The car has been utterly mollycoddled from new - there’s not a speck of rust on top or underneath, the interior is like new and smells glorious, and it still feels tight & fizzing with energy to drive. The engine loves being revved hard, and the light weight (just over a tonne) means it makes the most of 143bhp, and doesn’t need stiff suspension to corner neatly.
It’s a credit to the previous keepers and a car I didn’t think existed. ‘How Many Left’ peg the number currently taxed as 15… (and unfortunately, one of those was written off last week according to the Facebook group).
Interestingly, it’s a much better drive than my prior BRM - the LSD, wider wheels and less compliant suspension in that car serve up a scrappier, less resolved package in my book, which torque steers and is guilty of having glassy, remote steering. The Vi flows much better down the road, with the advantage of not falling out of the seats thanks to the cloth centre.
Definitely a keeper for me - it feels weird saying one of my dream cars was a Rover hatchback, but nostalgia and childhood memories do weird things to petrolheads.
Edited by itcaptainslow on Tuesday 4th July 18:25
That's so clean! Proper old school for Rover
I had x2 Rover 25 1.6s as my 2nd/3rd car before I started getting into Japanese import Honda's etc (kept one for 2 winters as I was commuting between BAE sites, so great for putting the miles on etc). Had the HG work does as preventative maintenance and they never skipped a beat!
I had x2 Rover 25 1.6s as my 2nd/3rd car before I started getting into Japanese import Honda's etc (kept one for 2 winters as I was commuting between BAE sites, so great for putting the miles on etc). Had the HG work does as preventative maintenance and they never skipped a beat!
k me that is immaculate, rare as hens' teeth nowadays in that condition!
mattyprice4004 said:
Absolutely lovely - I’m sure we’ve spoken on another group (I’m Mat from DMGRS) but I need to say again how wonderful this car is.
I’ve never had a 200vi but always fancied one - although personally I’d have had it in Amaranth.
Looking forward to updates!
Indeed we have Mat-I’ve a fair few bits from you both in my garage and fitted to my cars!I’ve never had a 200vi but always fancied one - although personally I’d have had it in Amaranth.
Looking forward to updates!
Amaranth is a glorious colour-can’t remember if it was available on the Vi, I will have to be a nerd and check the brochure when I get home.
Jobs to do are;
-Sympathetic underside detail preserving as much originality as possible.
-Collate the parts for and fit air con; not a horrendous job on these, and will be well worthwhile, especially as it’s a summer use only car. Mat-if you can assist here I will be all ears!
-The near side door mirror wobbles slightly on the motorway; I’ve got hold of a new old stock electric mirror, but things are complicated slightly by the mirrors on the car being body coloured (an accessory, so I believe). I’ll have to try transferring the guts of the new mirror into the existing casing-either that or I’ve got a NOS offside mirror too, just in case I need to go back to black for whatever reason.
I’ve already fitted front discs & pads to cure a slight vibration under braking, but it needs nothing else. It’s got an impeccable history (for those of a nerdy disposition, run a MOT check on the reg and marvel…) and had a major service & cambelt recently.
Like my R8 214, I will start collecting parts for it to store away, as certain things are becoming a little difficult to get hold of-fortunately we still have specialists such as Mat at DMGRS, Rimmer Bros and a couple of other places I know who are great at supplying/sourcing stuff.
Edited by itcaptainslow on Monday 22 August 15:22
itcaptainslow said:
Definitely a keeper for me-it feels weird saying one of my dream cars was a Rover hatchback, but nostalgia and childhood memories do weird things to petrolheads.
This sums up a lot for me. I am so often browsing for cars that compared to today are pretty crap.. but so much emotion and nostalgia tied to them makes this hobby / passion what it is. Edited by itcaptainslow on Monday 22 August 16:02
Everyone has their hobby / passion that means a lot to them and makes no sense to others.
Buying a mint old Rover hatchback is a prime example of what makes us... us.
Congrats and enjoy it! Looks amazing.
InformationSuperHighway said:
itcaptainslow said:
Definitely a keeper for me-it feels weird saying one of my dream cars was a Rover hatchback, but nostalgia and childhood memories do weird things to petrolheads.
This sums up a lot for me. I am so often browsing for cars that compared to today are pretty crap.. but so much emotion and nostalgia tied to them makes this hobby / passion what it is. Edited by itcaptainslow on Monday 22 August 16:02
Everyone has their hobby / passion that means a lot to them and makes no sense to others.
Buying a mint old Rover hatchback is a prime example of what makes us... us.
Congrats and enjoy it! Looks amazing.
Lincsls1 said:
Fantastic find and a fantastic car!
Had a 220SDi back in the early noughties, it was a good steer. I can only imagine this being much better with more power, revs and lighter front end.
Love it, well done you!
Lovely car OP - looks great!Had a 220SDi back in the early noughties, it was a good steer. I can only imagine this being much better with more power, revs and lighter front end.
Love it, well done you!
I had an Sdi as my first car - it was a hugely underrated car given the attention given to cars like the 306 dTurbo and even Fabia VRs. Surprisingly quick with 105 bhp and lots of torque combined with the light weight. Pretty decent handling too.
It was a much more grown up car than any of my friend's fiestas, corsas or Saxos and could easily outrun the brand new mk4 Golf Gti a friend was given for his 17th birthday, much to the entertainment of everyone else.
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