RE: Rover 825 Sterling: Shed of the Week
Discussion
My dad had 5 Rover 800s through the 90s and 00s, second hand bargins even then. his last one was alsmot identical this this one - full leather, V6, etc. Even 800 he had went to well over 200,000 miles with only regular servicing and repairs (apart from one that had two engine swaps).
There was an issue with one part, iirc the starter or alternator, that had plastic internal cogs and always failed in less than a year, so he got to the point he could change it for the warranty replacement in 30 mins in the Rover dealer car park.
There was an issue with one part, iirc the starter or alternator, that had plastic internal cogs and always failed in less than a year, so he got to the point he could change it for the warranty replacement in 30 mins in the Rover dealer car park.
StescoG66 said:
Remember when these used to be the Police car of choice.
The best one he had was a white fastback. On his motorway commute he soon found out that having super cheap Halfords roof bars with the cheap bits of bright orange foam equally spacced along them allowed you to cruise a high speed in the fast lane, dipped beams on and every car in front just moved in and let you past. This made it the fatest car from home to work by a long way.Billy_Whizzzz said:
That’s truly horrendous. One for die hard Brexiters only, pretending that British is best (when it isn’t even British, and British never really was best anyway). Stick a little england number plate on it and hey, you can be a little englander too...
I hope this is satire. I remember watching a video of Tony Pond drive an 800 Vitesse round the IOM TT circuit in 1988. He was attempting an average speed of 100mph but only managed 99.58.
Here it is
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeIfgNUDG1k
Here it is
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeIfgNUDG1k
My parent's had three 800s over the years.
- A 1988 820i 4dr in Lynx bronze - did up to 40mpg on a long run - the owner after my parent's took it well into six figures mileage wise. Only problem in the time we owned it was a corroding scuttle panel - a bolt on replacement.
- 91 big bumper 820i fastback with cross-spoke alloys in a nice metallic blue (Atlantic?). It was a great car with slightly more sporting suspension than the first and it really did look good. Nothing ever went wrong with it.
- a 93 K new shape 820i 5dr in solid red - in my opinion not as good looking as the blue one but a more comfortable ride. It was a very reliable car until it needed a new clutch master cylinder at 7 years old and mum decided to trade it for a new 75 V6 in blue (Atlantic) - same name but more 'blue' than the version on the 800.
Yes they were not the last word dynamically (though they were more than competent) but they were comfortable and roomy with a very practical boot on the fastback. They remind me of the Mk2 Mazda 6 hatch that we have now as a family bus - very practical - the Mazda certainly handles better but performance was similar and so is MPG. The also 800s had a more classy cabin than the Mazda - 20 + years of progress!
- A 1988 820i 4dr in Lynx bronze - did up to 40mpg on a long run - the owner after my parent's took it well into six figures mileage wise. Only problem in the time we owned it was a corroding scuttle panel - a bolt on replacement.
- 91 big bumper 820i fastback with cross-spoke alloys in a nice metallic blue (Atlantic?). It was a great car with slightly more sporting suspension than the first and it really did look good. Nothing ever went wrong with it.
- a 93 K new shape 820i 5dr in solid red - in my opinion not as good looking as the blue one but a more comfortable ride. It was a very reliable car until it needed a new clutch master cylinder at 7 years old and mum decided to trade it for a new 75 V6 in blue (Atlantic) - same name but more 'blue' than the version on the 800.
Yes they were not the last word dynamically (though they were more than competent) but they were comfortable and roomy with a very practical boot on the fastback. They remind me of the Mk2 Mazda 6 hatch that we have now as a family bus - very practical - the Mazda certainly handles better but performance was similar and so is MPG. The also 800s had a more classy cabin than the Mazda - 20 + years of progress!
Will94 said:
I remember watching a video of Tony Pond drive an 800 Vitesse round the IOM TT circuit in 1988. He was attempting an average speed of 100mph but only managed 99.58.
Here it is
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeIfgNUDG1k
That's a great video. I've heard that, whilst the car was generally standard, the engineers had been out with their spanners and tweaked it a bit Here it is
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeIfgNUDG1k
Billy_Whizzzz said:
That’s truly horrendous. One for die hard Brexiters only, pretending that British is best (when it isn’t even British, and British never really was best anyway). Stick a little england number plate on it and hey, you can be a little englander too...
Bigotted, prejudiced and stereotypical much? I remember a neighbour getting a brand-new D-reg saloon in a light green colour back in the day. It was lovely thing.
I seem to recall a chap over the road got one of these facelift 800s in Vitesse flavour later on in the 90s as well. He had a yellow Land Rover 90 soft-top as well. Legend!
My business colours are burgundy/grey . . . this could be a weird promotional vehicle!
I seem to recall a chap over the road got one of these facelift 800s in Vitesse flavour later on in the 90s as well. He had a yellow Land Rover 90 soft-top as well. Legend!
My business colours are burgundy/grey . . . this could be a weird promotional vehicle!
820 Vitesse Sport? Yes please.
This, with a ticking timebomb instead of an engine? No, you're alright thanks. Unless it's had a replacement engine (and perhaps even then) it *will* go bang.
This is all you need: https://www.aronline.co.uk/ar-cars/not-their-fines...
This, with a ticking timebomb instead of an engine? No, you're alright thanks. Unless it's had a replacement engine (and perhaps even then) it *will* go bang.
This is all you need: https://www.aronline.co.uk/ar-cars/not-their-fines...
Red 4 said:
I do.
They were s
t back then too. Especially in 827 guise.
Vitesse was better and handled very well for its size.
Vauxhall Senator was better in every respect.
Boo, I miss my two senators:They were s
t back then too. Especially in 827 guise.Vitesse was better and handled very well for its size.
Vauxhall Senator was better in every respect.
J201TKX: 1992 Vauxhall Senator CD 3.0 24V in red (died of rabid tin worm in the sills, and a chasm the size of the grand canyon between suspension turret and inner wing).
L814TEM: 1994 Vauxhall Senator 3.0 24V ex-Merseyside Constabulary fraud squad in grey (Multiple organ failure, including diff and head gasket).
The only good thing about living near Milton Keynes - power sliding Senators around fast wet roundabouts.
Back on topic, I definitely prefer the pre-facelift looks of these, I wonder if there are any retrofitted with the KV6?
Beechie said:
Billy_Whizzzz said:
That’s truly horrendous. One for die hard Brexiters only, pretending that British is best (when it isn’t even British, and British never really was best anyway). Stick a little england number plate on it and hey, you can be a little englander too...
Bigotted, prejudiced and stereotypical much? 
I always think there's a Toy Story element to cars like this:
Titular toy (car) is treasured for many years until eventually it's given away (sold) to a new owner who treats it terribly hastening its demise despite many prior years of cherished ownership.
I know it's anthropomorphising the car, but I can almost see it feeling utterly betrayed by this abandonment. Let's hope it's picked up by another Andy.
Titular toy (car) is treasured for many years until eventually it's given away (sold) to a new owner who treats it terribly hastening its demise despite many prior years of cherished ownership.
I know it's anthropomorphising the car, but I can almost see it feeling utterly betrayed by this abandonment. Let's hope it's picked up by another Andy.
These are never destined to reach classic status are they? They depreciated massively and have been worthless for years so will probably always be bangers.
Alan Partridge certainly didn't help.
The early cars look sharper than the awful facelift though, which makes them look more blobby.
I do remember a family friend having an early Sterling saloon, and the young me thought it was the height of luxury with its electric reclining rear leather seats! I think only the Renault 25 Monaco had more luxurious pews!
Alan Partridge certainly didn't help.
The early cars look sharper than the awful facelift though, which makes them look more blobby.
I do remember a family friend having an early Sterling saloon, and the young me thought it was the height of luxury with its electric reclining rear leather seats! I think only the Renault 25 Monaco had more luxurious pews!
julianm said:
Was this the model with the `Cherman` advert?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJWZ22_ZZgA
That's quite stylish actually. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJWZ22_ZZgA
I had an 820 Vitesse which was a great car for what I wanted at the time, comfortable, reasonably quick and never let me down over lots of miles and about 3 years. This one looks very good and if I had any need I would definitely be tempted.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Yes, I think I ended up using something like No More Nails to hold it down, duck tape holding it in place whilst the glue dried.I don’t think I’ve ever wanted a SOTW more badly. I have to admit to having a major weakness for the 800. If I had room for a second car, I’d be seriously thinking about coming over from NI for it.
As someone above said, it ought to go to an enthusiast who will preserve it in good condition, like an old railway engine. I’d hate to see it driven to death now, having got so far in such good nick.
As someone above said, it ought to go to an enthusiast who will preserve it in good condition, like an old railway engine. I’d hate to see it driven to death now, having got so far in such good nick.
cannelldocam said:
Boo, I miss my two senators
L814TEM: 1994 Vauxhall Senator 3.0 24V ex-Merseyside Constabulary fraud squad in grey (Multiple organ failure, including diff and head gasket).
This one ?L814TEM: 1994 Vauxhall Senator 3.0 24V ex-Merseyside Constabulary fraud squad in grey (Multiple organ failure, including diff and head gasket).
Whoever took the picture reckons it was a driving school car (it will have been used for Advanced training).
The pic looks like it was taken at Mather Avenue police training centre so I would tend to believe that.
One for your album !
P.s. I'd rather have a "driving school" ex police car than anything that has been used operationally (by any department).They don't exactly get mollycoddled !
Edited by Red 4 on Friday 24th August 16:18
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