I'm getting a Rover 825. Yes! Really!
Discussion
So, I got the phone call the other week.
My Grandmother. She didn't want to put me on the spot, didn't want me to feel obliged to say yes, but it was a fair cop. I had indeed "mentioned how much I would like Grandads car when he's finished with it".
The scenario is, Grandad is giving up driving when his insurance expires mid Feb. It's a hard time for the old Lancaster and Halifax Bomber crewmember, giving up driving forever must be hard, even when you're 84.
Back in the day I had Grandads previous Rover, an 820e Fastback when I was attending University. At a time when all my mates had Novas and Fiestas and I had a big, fast, comfy Rover, I absolutely loved it. I only got shot of it after it had sat on the driveway for two years when I started driving company BMWs. I kept it taxed and tested, it covered 14 miles in its last year with me. I mourned its eventual demise on eBay (for £46). Now, ten years later history could be about to repeat itself, only this time hopefully I'm a little wiser.
R227NOJ is an 825Si Manual in either Quicksilver or Zircon (I can't remember which) with an extraordinarily Rover-y beige cloth interior with grey piping. It has a shade over 56k on the clock and has been serviced yearly, first by Lancaster Rover, latterly by local independents. However, in all that time it has never recieved a cambelt change. That'll be the first point we address in the "recommisioning".
I had a cursory look over the car tonight, cosily layed up in their double-wide garage. The car appears to be mintier than mint can be, with extra mint sauce, but I'm still expecting to find something lurking somewhere, life just isn't that smooth.
Only one pic tonight, more when I get the car in daylight.
The plan is to do the cambelt and anything else dodgy we find. It has only just had its MOT and there were no nasties to report, then I can press the car into daily service.
I have to be pragmatic and avoid emotion getting the better of me. My daily driver at the moment is a '98 A4 1.8T with 90k on the clock. I've had the Audi for three years and it's been a paragon of efficiency and reliablility, if a little sterile. It serves a purpose, though.
If I get the Rover up and running and it proves reliable and reasonably sensible to run, I'll sell the Audi and convert back to Rover. If the Audi looks like making more sense than the Rover, though, I shall regrettably be forced to sell the 825. My girlfriend and I are desperately saving for a mortgage deposit, we can't afford interesting cars just as hobbies....
And yes, before you ask, I do know I'm going to end up driving a Rover 800. I'm prepared for all the taunts and jibes, I've seen every episode of I'm Alan Partridge and have a ready supply of balaclavas.
My Grandmother. She didn't want to put me on the spot, didn't want me to feel obliged to say yes, but it was a fair cop. I had indeed "mentioned how much I would like Grandads car when he's finished with it".
The scenario is, Grandad is giving up driving when his insurance expires mid Feb. It's a hard time for the old Lancaster and Halifax Bomber crewmember, giving up driving forever must be hard, even when you're 84.
Back in the day I had Grandads previous Rover, an 820e Fastback when I was attending University. At a time when all my mates had Novas and Fiestas and I had a big, fast, comfy Rover, I absolutely loved it. I only got shot of it after it had sat on the driveway for two years when I started driving company BMWs. I kept it taxed and tested, it covered 14 miles in its last year with me. I mourned its eventual demise on eBay (for £46). Now, ten years later history could be about to repeat itself, only this time hopefully I'm a little wiser.
R227NOJ is an 825Si Manual in either Quicksilver or Zircon (I can't remember which) with an extraordinarily Rover-y beige cloth interior with grey piping. It has a shade over 56k on the clock and has been serviced yearly, first by Lancaster Rover, latterly by local independents. However, in all that time it has never recieved a cambelt change. That'll be the first point we address in the "recommisioning".
I had a cursory look over the car tonight, cosily layed up in their double-wide garage. The car appears to be mintier than mint can be, with extra mint sauce, but I'm still expecting to find something lurking somewhere, life just isn't that smooth.
Only one pic tonight, more when I get the car in daylight.
The plan is to do the cambelt and anything else dodgy we find. It has only just had its MOT and there were no nasties to report, then I can press the car into daily service.
I have to be pragmatic and avoid emotion getting the better of me. My daily driver at the moment is a '98 A4 1.8T with 90k on the clock. I've had the Audi for three years and it's been a paragon of efficiency and reliablility, if a little sterile. It serves a purpose, though.
If I get the Rover up and running and it proves reliable and reasonably sensible to run, I'll sell the Audi and convert back to Rover. If the Audi looks like making more sense than the Rover, though, I shall regrettably be forced to sell the 825. My girlfriend and I are desperately saving for a mortgage deposit, we can't afford interesting cars just as hobbies....
And yes, before you ask, I do know I'm going to end up driving a Rover 800. I'm prepared for all the taunts and jibes, I've seen every episode of I'm Alan Partridge and have a ready supply of balaclavas.
I just bought a Rover 75. 
Frankly that car should s
t on an Audi from a great height. It's one of the last of the line, with the biggest engine, so it has all the toys. Rover took their time sorting the handling out (it was originally a Honda chassis so a bit stiff) but the later ones are supposed to be the nicest. I bet it has all the toys too?
Drive that car with pride. If it's good enough for a war hero, it's good enough for anyone.
Frankly that car should s
t on an Audi from a great height. It's one of the last of the line, with the biggest engine, so it has all the toys. Rover took their time sorting the handling out (it was originally a Honda chassis so a bit stiff) but the later ones are supposed to be the nicest. I bet it has all the toys too?Drive that car with pride. If it's good enough for a war hero, it's good enough for anyone.
davepoth said:
If it's good enough for a war hero, it's good enough for anyone.
Shame Grandad's not reading this! Thanks Dave. It's close to fully loaded; it's not a Sterling so it loses the 'leccy seats, but that's just less to go wrong. I've driven it before a long while back and it's actually quite a lot of fun. Manual box isn't the slickest but it goes well and sounds great.All I need to do is watch out for the head gaskets....
Enjoy the '75, that's a great car in itself, and BMW's involvement was in all the right places.
Love the Big old Rovers !
As said above check oil cap and coolant for signs of Iminent Headgasket failure.
Also I beleive wheel bearings are suceptable to alot of wear so check to make sure they're all well and good.
Also some of the Factory fitted Immobilizers tend to play up intermitently there's not much you can do apart from a new system (some didn't come with Immobilizers as standard) so you may be ok with that one, but hey it's quirky and not your average commuter. Take my hat off to you sir
As said above check oil cap and coolant for signs of Iminent Headgasket failure.
Also I beleive wheel bearings are suceptable to alot of wear so check to make sure they're all well and good.
Also some of the Factory fitted Immobilizers tend to play up intermitently there's not much you can do apart from a new system (some didn't come with Immobilizers as standard) so you may be ok with that one, but hey it's quirky and not your average commuter. Take my hat off to you sir
I thought it was only the early 4 pot K series that had a head gasket problem - not this V6 KV6?
That's all anyone bloody mentions when you mention a Rover "oh it'll be needing a head gasket then".
OP - enjoy it, I think that's as smart as you like and if it hasn't blown it's top whilst your Grandad's had it I am sure it'll be fine with you - despite what all the internet 'experts' say.
That's all anyone bloody mentions when you mention a Rover "oh it'll be needing a head gasket then".
OP - enjoy it, I think that's as smart as you like and if it hasn't blown it's top whilst your Grandad's had it I am sure it'll be fine with you - despite what all the internet 'experts' say.
Roadwork said:
wackojacko said:
...Immobilizers tend to play up intermitently...
Well, this one went through a spell of locking and unlocking randomly and dropping its windows overnight. We assumed it was just haunted and thought nothing else of it...
davepoth said:
I just bought a Rover 75.
Frankly that car should st on an Audi from a great height. It's one of the last of the line, with the biggest engine, so it has all the toys. Rover took their time sorting the handling out (it was originally a Honda chassis so a bit stiff) but the later ones are supposed to be the nicest. I bet it has all the toys too?
Drive that car with pride. If it's good enough for a war hero, it's good enough for anyone.
IIRC the 800 and Legend were based on the Montego structure but Honda insisted on double wishbones at front and a very low bonnet. This meant the front suspension travel was compromised so the springs had to be stiffer...Frankly that car should s
t on an Audi from a great height. It's one of the last of the line, with the biggest engine, so it has all the toys. Rover took their time sorting the handling out (it was originally a Honda chassis so a bit stiff) but the later ones are supposed to be the nicest. I bet it has all the toys too?Drive that car with pride. If it's good enough for a war hero, it's good enough for anyone.
Fizpop said:
I thought it was only the early 4 pot K series that had a head gasket problem - not this V6 KV6?
correct-o, the KV6 had a cooling system problem which ultimately led to HGF .. coincidentally two of my previous bosses have had an 825 .. and both had the rear bank of cylinders expire on them!We ran the 825 and 827 with the Police when they were new. They were not my favourite car and trim wise, they fell to pieces. We hammered them every day though and I can't ever remember a head gasket or any other serious mechanical failure.
Are you sure that's not a 827 at that age?
Are you sure that's not a 827 at that age?
Edited by kwk on Sunday 13th February 17:33
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