RE: Rover 825 Sterling: Shed of the Week
Discussion
I thought these were boring, old men's cars, when they were current, but for an obscure reason I ended up including one in a test of several vehicles in the same class. I must admit to be surprised how good it was (from the inside, but you spend more time on the inside of a car then outside looking in). Mind you I'm old and boring now.
samoht said:
In terms of being roasted at the time, I think I never forgave the 800 for not living up to the SD1. After all, if you replace a car with Ferrari-esque styling, a V8 and rwd with a remodelled FF Honda, it's hard to really see it in a positive light.
Having said that, this is a cracking find for the money, it's interesting and looks very well cared for. I never knew the 800 had received the KV6 at the end of its life, either.
My mates's dad was MD of the local GEC works. He always had a top of the range Rover and I did think the V6 800 failed to deliver the same look and feel of brutal solidity that the V8 SD1 had. I remember, not more than a year or so after my mate passed his test, him being allowed to drive us in the V6 Vitesse. Still, when the choice is that or your mum's car which is a 2.8i Granada, I guess there's not too much difference. Having said that, this is a cracking find for the money, it's interesting and looks very well cared for. I never knew the 800 had received the KV6 at the end of its life, either.
I had a white sterling coupe as a temporary company car. It was the most unreliable car I have ever driven and can only assume that the electrics were possessed by something utterly evil!
Memorable moments include having to use a chisel to get the Petrol flap open after the electric release failed and the emergency string release came off in my hand, the electric seats pinning me to the steering wheel in rush hour M25 traffic, all windows and sunroof opening in a downpour, total electric failure on the Dartford crossing and the final straw being locked into the car by the central locking and having to get a bystander to put a brick through the window. All that happened in a 2 week period and when I (angrily) called the feet manager to take it away his response was “we were hoping it would have totalled itself by now as we’ve already had it back 4 times”.
On the plus side it turns out the windows are stronger than most bricks.
Memorable moments include having to use a chisel to get the Petrol flap open after the electric release failed and the emergency string release came off in my hand, the electric seats pinning me to the steering wheel in rush hour M25 traffic, all windows and sunroof opening in a downpour, total electric failure on the Dartford crossing and the final straw being locked into the car by the central locking and having to get a bystander to put a brick through the window. All that happened in a 2 week period and when I (angrily) called the feet manager to take it away his response was “we were hoping it would have totalled itself by now as we’ve already had it back 4 times”.
On the plus side it turns out the windows are stronger than most bricks.
ballans said:
I had a white sterling coupe as a temporary company car. It was the most unreliable car I have ever driven and can only assume that the electrics were possessed by something utterly evil!
Memorable moments include having to use a chisel to get the Petrol flap open after the electric release failed and the emergency string release came off in my hand, the electric seats pinning me to the steering wheel in rush hour M25 traffic, all windows and sunroof opening in a downpour, total electric failure on the Dartford crossing and the final straw being locked into the car by the central locking and having to get a bystander to put a brick through the window. All that happened in a 2 week period and when I (angrily) called the feet manager to take it away his response was “we were hoping it would have totalled itself by now as we’ve already had it back 4 times”.
On the plus side it turns out the windows are stronger than most bricks.
Superb post. Memorable moments include having to use a chisel to get the Petrol flap open after the electric release failed and the emergency string release came off in my hand, the electric seats pinning me to the steering wheel in rush hour M25 traffic, all windows and sunroof opening in a downpour, total electric failure on the Dartford crossing and the final straw being locked into the car by the central locking and having to get a bystander to put a brick through the window. All that happened in a 2 week period and when I (angrily) called the feet manager to take it away his response was “we were hoping it would have totalled itself by now as we’ve already had it back 4 times”.
On the plus side it turns out the windows are stronger than most bricks.
Thanks for sharing
Bizarrely wa only thinking about these recently when I saw a real one. Memories of my Mum's old 800 Vitesse (F505 HNJ) which was undeniably quick for a car of that era and size. Strong too as Mum found out when a car pulled out into the side of her at speed.
https://vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/ViewVehicle
Looks like it's dead!
https://vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/ViewVehicle
Looks like it's dead!
What the hell has an old Rover got to do with Brexit ? Seems to be a trait these days to try and turn various conversations to Brexit, however inappropriate and crowbarred in like Micheal Parkinson and over fifties life cover.
I had a 2.0 saloon in Tahiti blue with some lovely leather recaro seats, they were better if you saw them as a big 200 rather than say a 5 series alternative, Granada’s and Carlton’s were generally better but they did the job.
Looks a good example, bordering on being a classic and still banger money, worth saving.
I had a 2.0 saloon in Tahiti blue with some lovely leather recaro seats, they were better if you saw them as a big 200 rather than say a 5 series alternative, Granada’s and Carlton’s were generally better but they did the job.
Looks a good example, bordering on being a classic and still banger money, worth saving.
I used to have an 827 Vitesse (pre the horrid facelift). In British Racing Green Metallic it looked great and it went very well. Toured Europe with 4 adults and would do 120mph on the autoroute with the same 4 adults and a boot full of wine.
Here it is
In its day it was quick, potential max speed of 137mph and 0-60 in 8 seconds. Not bad for a large luxury car 30 years ago. Plenty of exec saloons today that are no faster and have less space.
It was also the first production car to lap the Isle of Man TT course at over 100mph. It averaged 102mph.
Here it is
In its day it was quick, potential max speed of 137mph and 0-60 in 8 seconds. Not bad for a large luxury car 30 years ago. Plenty of exec saloons today that are no faster and have less space.
It was also the first production car to lap the Isle of Man TT course at over 100mph. It averaged 102mph.
Edited by blueg33 on Friday 24th August 11:10
These were really very expensive back in the day, priced right up there with the premium German stuff. Looking at a road test of a 1986 827 Sterling, the prices then (and in today's money) of it and its rivals were:
Rover Sterling: £18,974 (£54,761)
BMW 528i SE: £15,750 (£45,456)
Ford Granada Scorpio 2.8 V6 4x4: £18,924 (£54,617)
Mercedes 300E: £18,730 (£54,057)
Saab 9000 Turbo: £15,995 (£46,163)
Volvo 760 Turbo: £15,452 (£44,596)
Probably the Germans were missing some kit that the Ford and Rover had as-standard, but the Saab and Volvo would've been well appointed and were still significantly cheaper, though were each missing all-important cylinders.
Rover Sterling: £18,974 (£54,761)
BMW 528i SE: £15,750 (£45,456)
Ford Granada Scorpio 2.8 V6 4x4: £18,924 (£54,617)
Mercedes 300E: £18,730 (£54,057)
Saab 9000 Turbo: £15,995 (£46,163)
Volvo 760 Turbo: £15,452 (£44,596)
Probably the Germans were missing some kit that the Ford and Rover had as-standard, but the Saab and Volvo would've been well appointed and were still significantly cheaper, though were each missing all-important cylinders.
ballans said:
I had a white sterling coupe as a temporary company car. It was the most unreliable car I have ever driven and can only assume that the electrics were possessed by something utterly evil!
Memorable moments include having to use a chisel to get the Petrol flap open after the electric release failed and the emergency string release came off in my hand, the electric seats pinning me to the steering wheel in rush hour M25 traffic, all windows and sunroof opening in a downpour, total electric failure on the Dartford crossing and the final straw being locked into the car by the central locking and having to get a bystander to put a brick through the window. All that happened in a 2 week period and when I (angrily) called the feet manager to take it away his response was “we were hoping it would have totalled itself by now as we’ve already had it back 4 times”.
On the plus side it turns out the windows are stronger than most bricks.
Memorable moments include having to use a chisel to get the Petrol flap open after the electric release failed and the emergency string release came off in my hand, the electric seats pinning me to the steering wheel in rush hour M25 traffic, all windows and sunroof opening in a downpour, total electric failure on the Dartford crossing and the final straw being locked into the car by the central locking and having to get a bystander to put a brick through the window. All that happened in a 2 week period and when I (angrily) called the feet manager to take it away his response was “we were hoping it would have totalled itself by now as we’ve already had it back 4 times”.
On the plus side it turns out the windows are stronger than most bricks.
Must ahve been a trait with Austin Rover cars. In her second job, still quite young, my wife wrote off a Montego estate pool car in a crash with a lorry off Jct 19 of the M6. Returning to explain the incident to the fleet manager, instead of the expected b
king, all she got was "well, we're glad to see the back of that thing anyway".Your coupe though - definitely possessed by a malevolent entity.
Not sure why, but I have been looking at these a lot recently. As well as Peugeot 605, Renault Safranes, etc. Maybe it's a phase I'm going through, but i've always had a soft spot for these. Just bought an old Volvo 940 LPT Estate for moving a few things around.
This Rover does have an air of class about it compared to the Vauxhall and Ford alternatives of the time. I wouldn't mind a late model coupe version.
This is definitely one to buy and pamper, and one day, it might be worth half decent money.
This Rover does have an air of class about it compared to the Vauxhall and Ford alternatives of the time. I wouldn't mind a late model coupe version.
This is definitely one to buy and pamper, and one day, it might be worth half decent money.
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