RE: Rover 220 Coupe Turbo | Spotted
Discussion
thegreenhell said:
What I really want, though, is a Rover 827 Vitesse, like the one Tony Pond used for the IoM TT lap.
I'd like the later 820 Vitesse Sport with the same engine as the Spotted Tomcat. My old boss ran one as a company car, and I borrowed it a few times. I don't know if it was just a case of having very low expectations exceeded, but I loved driving it. Remarkably good fun to chuck around for a barge, and the chassis never felt overwhelmed by the engine like the R8's did.Apart from lunching a gearbox after just a few months, that old Vitesse did moon miles with very few issues. Had over 150k on it when I last drove it, and still went well. Must have been built on a Wednesday
Car Magazine said:
"Under its chic, feline skin, this Tomcat's a dog. A howler ... Under power the whole car writhes and squirms as if an exorcist were trying to rid its body of a plague of demons ... Powering hard through corners is not recommended. Unless you enjoy that much understeer ... Matters are worsened by the stiff suspension set-up ... The 220 Turbo is totally without finesse, unless you care to drive using only a fraction of its potential ... It doesn't just finish fourth in this comparison, it finishes rock-bottom last. It's the company's calamity coupe."
Ahhh, back when motor journalists could write what they felt, and what they felt their readers needed to know, rather than pander to the OEMs because of the fear their next long-termer will go to a YouTuber.AlexIT said:
...followed by a blown differential.
Mine did that too, after a bit of fighting , Rover did replace it for labour only though. Loved it despite that, I don't remember it being that bad on the bends I guess I wasn't trying hard enough or never lifted. Dry road, in a straight line, it was brutal, certainly capable of shaming more exotic marques.Is £16k that bad? it's mint, almost unused, the most desirable example of the model, still seriously quick, 20 yrs old and they are as rare as hens teeth. Still plenty VVC and N/A's around but the Turbos have all ripped themselves to pieces. Having said how rare they are, there is an almost identical FDH car with only 10k OTC on familiar classic site for £1k more.
AdamV12AMR said:
Car Magazine said:
"Under its chic, feline skin, this Tomcat's a dog. A howler ... Under power the whole car writhes and squirms as if an exorcist were trying to rid its body of a plague of demons ... Powering hard through corners is not recommended. Unless you enjoy that much understeer ... Matters are worsened by the stiff suspension set-up ... The 220 Turbo is totally without finesse, unless you care to drive using only a fraction of its potential ... It doesn't just finish fourth in this comparison, it finishes rock-bottom last. It's the company's calamity coupe."
Ahhh, back when motor journalists could write what they felt, and what they felt their readers needed to know, rather than pander to the OEMs because of the fear their next long-termer will go to a YouTuber.
I did still want one so much back then though.
Pinkie15 said:
Still fancy one mind, but hear the 218 was better drive as the k series vvc was a better matched to the chassis
One of my first 'fast' cars. The frameless windows looked cool but felt cheap - mine fell in the door when I excessed 1.0 leptons. I preferred the T-series to the VVC - shame they didn't improve on the turbo (known for melting pistons).Mellow Yellow said:
I agree..
£16k a fair price.
That in my opinion still looks as fresh and clean as it left the factory.
No wonder it sold.
Mine did that too, after a bit of fighting , Rover did replace it for labour only though. Loved it despite that, I don't remember it being that bad on the bends I guess I wasn't trying hard enough or never lifted. Dry road, in a straight line, it was brutal, certainly capable of shaming more exotic marques.
Is £16k that bad? it's mint, almost unused, the most desirable example of the model, still seriously quick, 20 yrs old and they are as rare as hens teeth. Still plenty VVC and N/A's around but the Turbos have all ripped themselves to pieces. Having said how rare they are, there is an almost identical FDH car with only 10k OTC on familiar classic site for £1k more.
£16k a fair price.
That in my opinion still looks as fresh and clean as it left the factory.
No wonder it sold.
Mine did that too, after a bit of fighting , Rover did replace it for labour only though. Loved it despite that, I don't remember it being that bad on the bends I guess I wasn't trying hard enough or never lifted. Dry road, in a straight line, it was brutal, certainly capable of shaming more exotic marques.
Is £16k that bad? it's mint, almost unused, the most desirable example of the model, still seriously quick, 20 yrs old and they are as rare as hens teeth. Still plenty VVC and N/A's around but the Turbos have all ripped themselves to pieces. Having said how rare they are, there is an almost identical FDH car with only 10k OTC on familiar classic site for £1k more.
Gary29 said:
Many moons ago, a guy a year or two older than me, in a purple tomcat nicked the girl I fancied in sixth form, I was heart broken, and have loved/hated these cars ever since.
Never driven one though.
25 + years ago I remember some smug jammy sod the the lower sixth getting bought one after he passed his test. Made my noisy, smoky 2-stroke Suzuki ZR50 look like a poor effort. Never driven one though.
I conclude they're all driven by Cads and Bounders.
I always loved these and very nearly bought one after a hilarious test drive from Romsey up to Stockbridge and back on the A3057 with my wife screaming at me to slow down!
Sadly, I had to admit that she was right when we got back to that garage when she pointed out that, at 6'3" I didn't really fit into it properly and would have been uncomfortable driving it for any distance.
Curse these women and their unassailable logic and good sense.
Sadly, I had to admit that she was right when we got back to that garage when she pointed out that, at 6'3" I didn't really fit into it properly and would have been uncomfortable driving it for any distance.
Curse these women and their unassailable logic and good sense.
It's funny how, back in the early 90s, when complicated electric traction control wads new and exciting, manufacturers branded a mechanical LSD as traction control to win over customers.
Today, when traction control is ubiquitous, manufacturers brand their - admittedly hugely more advanced - traction control systems as electronic LSD's, or they they actually fit an LSD, make a great song and dance about it.
Bloody marketing...
Today, when traction control is ubiquitous, manufacturers brand their - admittedly hugely more advanced - traction control systems as electronic LSD's, or they they actually fit an LSD, make a great song and dance about it.
Bloody marketing...
Many moons ago I got brake tested my some bell end in one of these after I flashed him out to overtake. He obviously thought I was getting waspy with him for some reason. Anyway after the aforementioned assault on my reactions and brakes off he went like a stabbed rat. He was no quicker than my Saab Sensonic 900 Turbo Coupe and he appeared to be torque-steering just as much!
fido said:
I preferred the T-series to the VVC - shame they didn't improve on the turbo (known for melting pistons).
I think that was only when they were tuned, in fairness. Left standard, they were pretty reliable lumps. A lot of people made the mistake of just winding up the boost for more power, like you could get away with on many other turbo engines, and then finding out the hard way that cheap, cast pistons really aren't up to such things. The engines were very much built to a price, with components that were good for the standard output, but without much in reserve.
My old boss's Vitesse Sport was driven pretty hard, and still went like the clappers at 150k. The only apparent ill effect from the mileage was a slightly increased thirst for oil.
Always liked these engines though. They were very smooth, and I remember the turbo installation being very progressive and responsive with little lag by the standards of the day.
I seem to remember there was an entertaining race series for these cars as well, back in the day.
Edited by Limpet on Tuesday 25th February 16:21
cerb4.5lee said:
AdamV12AMR said:
Car Magazine said:
"Under its chic, feline skin, this Tomcat's a dog. A howler ... Under power the whole car writhes and squirms as if an exorcist were trying to rid its body of a plague of demons ... Powering hard through corners is not recommended. Unless you enjoy that much understeer ... Matters are worsened by the stiff suspension set-up ... The 220 Turbo is totally without finesse, unless you care to drive using only a fraction of its potential ... It doesn't just finish fourth in this comparison, it finishes rock-bottom last. It's the company's calamity coupe."
Ahhh, back when motor journalists could write what they felt, and what they felt their readers needed to know, rather than pander to the OEMs because of the fear their next long-termer will go to a YouTuber.I did still want one so much back then though.
thegreenhell said:
He must have been furious.
Here's the link to his videohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uffKtgsPxqk
Ah the early/ mid 90s.... I really had a thing for the 3 door Rover 200 series. Went to see some at SGL in Leyland, and there were a few 220 Coupe Turbos there I recall. Was quite impressed with them. I always imagined they were the sort of car for a middle manager who wanted a 'sporty' car.
Ended up with neither.....
Ended up with neither.....
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