RE: Rover SD1 Vitesse: You Know You Want To
Discussion
Had an 83 3500se in dark metallic blue when I was 21. I was amazed that the insurance was not crazy. I loved it, but reliability was not the best. I ended offloading it after the 2nd head gasket replacement. Lost faith in it. Most memorable note was 180 ing it in the outside lane of the m25 in a snowstorm and missing everything...nearly crapped myself. 1st real lesson of rwd.
tali1 said:
Oddly once the TP was launched the standard Vitesse became much rarer.
Also the silver one for sale features afterfit door graphics -they stopped the Vitesse graphics on @A reg cars
Says very late one at D reg - but few E regs about
I had an E reg 2300. Registered August 1987 but built 18 months before in January 1986. That Vitesse could have been built later than some of the E reg cars.Also the silver one for sale features afterfit door graphics -they stopped the Vitesse graphics on @A reg cars
Says very late one at D reg - but few E regs about
As they phased it out for the 800 they kept the 2300, 2600VdP and 3500 Vitesse on the books until they'd cleared all that unsold stock. I know at the time the 800 seemed like a crisp, modern thing with the promise (lie) of reliability, but looking back at it now, who'd rather have an 800 over an SD1?
"The brakes are bigger"
I should hope so. They were too small as standard on the Vitesse. Even worse on my Vanden Plas 3500 auto - not even vented. I suffered scary brake fade once just negotiating a set of mini roundabouts and almost rear ended the car in front.
There were a few things wrong about that car but the Connolly Leather seats were fantastic.
Yes , they rusted but they only seemed to get scabby on the outside. The main structure wasn't affected (although I'm happy to be proved wrong - I never saw one with structural rust). If I remember right the sills were actually vented to provide air circulation.
I should hope so. They were too small as standard on the Vitesse. Even worse on my Vanden Plas 3500 auto - not even vented. I suffered scary brake fade once just negotiating a set of mini roundabouts and almost rear ended the car in front.
There were a few things wrong about that car but the Connolly Leather seats were fantastic.
Yes , they rusted but they only seemed to get scabby on the outside. The main structure wasn't affected (although I'm happy to be proved wrong - I never saw one with structural rust). If I remember right the sills were actually vented to provide air circulation.
sinbaddio said:
Lovely. Passed one parked up whilst on holiday in Anglesey this week. A Vitesse, looked in great condition too.
If it was a silver one then that was probably me - been burbling round the UK this summer with the windows down listening to the noise - just had a wonderful couple of weeks camping in Rhoscolyn.Had 2 SD1s, my first was a Y plate 2300SE auto back in 1990.. I was only 19, and it was a great ride, my girlfriend thought so too..literally. Lots of room inside. 
I loved the way the dash lit up at night, it was like the flight deck on an aircraft! The lunacy of youth though, I fitted a Cosworth Whale Tail spoiler to the boot hatch. Huge great thing! I thought it looked the dogs..but in reality, looking back, no. 
My 2nd was an ex Police 3.5 V8 manual, no p/s, & lots of rust. But it made a good noise, which is why I bought it.
Always wanted a Vitesse Twin Plenum but unfortunately at the time, they were way out of my price range.
Cool car.
I loved the way the dash lit up at night, it was like the flight deck on an aircraft! The lunacy of youth though, I fitted a Cosworth Whale Tail spoiler to the boot hatch. Huge great thing! I thought it looked the dogs..but in reality, looking back, no. My 2nd was an ex Police 3.5 V8 manual, no p/s, & lots of rust. But it made a good noise, which is why I bought it.
Always wanted a Vitesse Twin Plenum but unfortunately at the time, they were way out of my price range.
Cool car.
Edited by Waynester on Thursday 14th August 11:26
Bit of an old dog but an oddly attractive one - I too always thought there was a real hint of Ferrari Daytona about them. Quite quick too in their day - remember teenage tussles in our MK II GTi with one, on twisty country lanes they handled a little bit woollier than the VW but the big V8 had the torque to compensate - pretty evenly matched as I recall.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff