Waaaaay back when, my dad bought our cars through his company, and as a company buyer got invited to Thruxton to try out many Rovers... lucky little me with a fairly fresh licence got invited along too. The 216GTi was my absolute favourite - quick, but nicely within the chasis. The 2 litre felt like a bit too much.
Nearest I actually got was a 216SLi... close, but not quite as nice!

Dad ended up buying a 420 GSi Sport Turbo - very subtle and fast AF for the time, a real Q car, perfectly happy worrying Cossies. Sadly, also his last car due to cancer. He did get let off after passing a police car somewhat hidden in a bunch of traffic at somewhere above 130mph... completely hairless at the time, told the PC that he was running late for his chemo session (actually due in 2 weeks time) and got the short "better late than not at all sir" speech.

Mr Tidy

22,459 posts

128 months

[report]

[news]

Monday 18th March

W00DY said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/305461146293

This on the other hand is a honey. It could do with being about a foot lower though.

That looks lovely. thumbup

There must have been something a bit special about them as they had a one-make race series for them back in the day.

Nearest I got was a 1991 214SLi - my one and only company car! But it felt much better built than the 1990 Cavalier I had before.

Silvanus

5,279 posts

24 months

[report]

[news]

Tuesday 19th March

Hippea said:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403017...

I test drove one of these, my god it was bad. Ended up with an Astra GSi. Turned out to be crap too, but not as bad as the Escort hehe

SimonTheSailor

12,620 posts

229 months

[report]

[news]

Tuesday 19th March

Fermit said:

W00DY said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134972326829

Tidy.

That's got affordable future classic written all over it.

And reduced again - gotta be worth a punt ?! Down to £1750 ono.

ingenieur

4,097 posts

182 months

[report]

[news]

Tuesday 19th March

Mr Tidy said:

W00DY said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/305461146293

This on the other hand is a honey. It could do with being about a foot lower though.

That looks lovely. thumbup

Weird looking car these days. Didn't notice them being odd at the time but it clearly has its arse chopped to make the 3-door shape and looks like two different cars from the front and back.

CKY

1,388 posts

16 months

[report]

[news]

Tuesday 19th March

W00DY said:

People give the Montego a lot of stick.... and they're right to, that looks f

king awful.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/305461146293

This on the other hand is a honey. It could do with being about a foot lower though.

Lovely stuff, I had one exactly the same as that back in 1995 and loved it; it felt light, loved to be wound out to the redline, and the chassis was great across undulating roads - compliant enough whilst also containing its body movements and having decent clearance for taking crests at speed. Sure the interior rattled a bit and stunk of warm plastic on a hot Summer's day, but I really enjoyed the couple of thousand miles I did in 'my' car. Hardly see them about anymore, kind of tempted but just know for my use it would end up deteriorating pretty quickly. A friend had the same running gear in 416GTI trim, a similarly good car though I don't feel the same level of nostalgic want for a 4 door..

Bear-n

1,617 posts

83 months

[report]

[news]

Tuesday 19th March

SimonTheSailor said:

Fermit said:

W00DY said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134972326829

Tidy.

That's got affordable future classic written all over it.

And reduced again - gotta be worth a punt ?! Down to £1750 ono.

And now £1600!

greenarrow

3,609 posts

118 months

[report]

[news]

Tuesday 19th March

Bear-n said:

SimonTheSailor said:

Fermit said:

W00DY said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134972326829

Tidy.

That's got affordable future classic written all over it.

And reduced again - gotta be worth a punt ?! Down to £1750 ono.

And now £1600!

MOT history not showing any evidence of welding, just an oil leak which has been left for a few years. Honestly cars like this need to be snapped up as the Focus Mk1 is one of Ford's best ever cars and one with that low mileage is such a bargain for the enjoyment it is likely to bring you. I would rather drive a Mk1 Focus 1.6 Zetec than an awful lot of more expensive, faster so called modern classic cars, for sure.

SimonTheSailor

12,620 posts

229 months

[report]

[news]

Tuesday 19th March

Surely some garage selling 'modern classics' could flip that easily ?

InformationSuperHighway

6,052 posts

185 months

[report]

[news]