RE: SOTW: Rover 216 Vitesse EFI
Discussion
DS3R said:
He fishtailed for about 200 yds before slamming in to the central reservation... Tortoise & hare!?
Excellent. It reminds me of a time when i was a small fella and a 2.8 Capri tried to race my dad in his E28 528i, i saw in the mirror smoke pouring out of the ford and it retiring to the hard shoulder, we felt a bit sorry for him for about half a second then both burst out laughing...Funnily enough saw one of these the other day in really good condition. Had me reminiscing back to the 80's when I was driven to school in one by a friends mum a few times.
Would never buy one, they look like 3 various sized TV boxes stuck together and painted, but for someone who likes them what a cracking buy!
Would never buy one, they look like 3 various sized TV boxes stuck together and painted, but for someone who likes them what a cracking buy!
My dad had bought one of these in the early 90's to do up - it was in a bit of a state (rot).
I remember changing all four doors. He took it to a garage for an exhaust, who pointed out the whole underneath was rotten. Next trip was to the breakers, who were confused by the good condition of the doors compared to the rest of the car, along with the fact that they were a different colour...
I remember changing all four doors. He took it to a garage for an exhaust, who pointed out the whole underneath was rotten. Next trip was to the breakers, who were confused by the good condition of the doors compared to the rest of the car, along with the fact that they were a different colour...
Anyone slagging these off clearly hasn't driven one. Compared to the Mk3 Escort/Orion and the contemporary Astra/Belmont they were quiet, comfortable, and reliable - and the gearshift is exactly what you'd expect from a Honda too, very good indeed.
I put 20,000 miles on my 213 without anything other than normal servicing and a new ICV (I remember being quite disturbed when it started revving its tits off as soon as I started it up!).
And look how much space there is on that back seat. Ahhh, memories.
I put 20,000 miles on my 213 without anything other than normal servicing and a new ICV (I remember being quite disturbed when it started revving its tits off as soon as I started it up!).
And look how much space there is on that back seat. Ahhh, memories.
My Dad had one of the 216 VDP ones brand new in 1987 (E plate in burgundy and grey leather trim) as a company car - 3 years and 60,000 mile later he handed it back with the original tyres and brakes still not worn out........... (this may reveal a lot about his driving style rather than long life tyres and brakes - you wouldn't want to be caught behind him on a single track road)
Never missed a beat, nothing fell off - everything worked from day one to day 1095 - must have been a Wednesday car.
Ferried the family and all Dad's boating tat around in a nice comfortable (if a smidge wallowy) fashion - and funnily enough was the first car he got since a Rover P6 from a long while back that treated our backsides to leather rather than vinyl, cloth or velour.
Great find - hope someone gets it and looks after it for another 25 years so there can at least be one left
Never missed a beat, nothing fell off - everything worked from day one to day 1095 - must have been a Wednesday car.
Ferried the family and all Dad's boating tat around in a nice comfortable (if a smidge wallowy) fashion - and funnily enough was the first car he got since a Rover P6 from a long while back that treated our backsides to leather rather than vinyl, cloth or velour.
Great find - hope someone gets it and looks after it for another 25 years so there can at least be one left
B'stard Child said:
My Dad had one of the 216 VDP ones brand new in 1987 (E plate in burgundy and grey leather trim) as a company car - 3 years and 60,000 mile later he handed it back with the original tyres and brakes still not worn out........... (this may reveal a lot about his driving style rather than long life tyres and brakes - you wouldn't want to be caught behind him on a single track road)
Never missed a beat, nothing fell off - everything worked from day one to day 1095 - must have been a Wednesday car.
Ferried the family and all Dad's boating tat around in a nice comfortable (if a smidge wallowy) fashion - and funnily enough was the first car he got since a Rover P6 from a long while back that treated our backsides to leather rather than vinyl, cloth or velour.
Great find - hope someone gets it and looks after it for another 25 years so there can at least be one left
My old man had one as a company car too. E-reg, black 216 SE!Never missed a beat, nothing fell off - everything worked from day one to day 1095 - must have been a Wednesday car.
Ferried the family and all Dad's boating tat around in a nice comfortable (if a smidge wallowy) fashion - and funnily enough was the first car he got since a Rover P6 from a long while back that treated our backsides to leather rather than vinyl, cloth or velour.
Great find - hope someone gets it and looks after it for another 25 years so there can at least be one left
Again, never missed a beat and nothing fell off. Worked faultlessly until the point the company replaced it with a Peugeot 605.
Hmmm...anyone remember the 80's tv 'sitcom' Keeping up Appearances..?..Very Hyacinth Bucket...lol...urgh..I remember these new having worked at a Leyland dealer, the Vitesse badge promised much, but failed to deliver..But then it was a Honda. Trilby and tarten picnic blanket optional extras?
Cheers Alfarich156
Cheers Alfarich156
Balmoral Green said:
turboman786 said:
Got to be one of the worst cars ever.... 2nd perhaps to its sibling the mighty Maestro....
Obvious troll is, well, obvious.As well as being factually incorrect.
I remember these as being well regarded in their day - comfortable, fast and well put together. They were seen as very luxurious cars for the money and were much better than any of their opposition inside.
This particular car is one for an enthusiast rather than a run-of-the-mill punter, and is priced accordingly.
hairyblokedude said:
Hmmm...anyone remember the 80's tv 'sitcom' Keeping up Appearances..?..Very Hyacinth Bucket...lol...urgh..I remember these new having worked at a Leyland dealer, the Vitesse badge promised much, but failed to deliver..But then it was a Honda. Trilby and tarten picnic blanket optional extras?
Cheers Alfarich156
I think you are the only one or several others would surely have mentioned it earlier in the thread.Cheers Alfarich156
What a great find! The dad of my british pen pal (long before the net)
used to have one in that colour, but it was a 213 as a company car.
That one let him down a lot, due to the carburettor, which were among
the sole british parts on that jap car, as he pointed out.
The 216 were much better balanced in engine and suspension terms and
this particular car is a prime example (the only one?) and a great SOTW.
At least for me.
Martin 480 Turb
used to have one in that colour, but it was a 213 as a company car.
That one let him down a lot, due to the carburettor, which were among
the sole british parts on that jap car, as he pointed out.
The 216 were much better balanced in engine and suspension terms and
this particular car is a prime example (the only one?) and a great SOTW.
At least for me.
Martin 480 Turb
(i was being a chicken and waiting for someone else to do it but they haven't);
i owned an Orion Ghia 1.6i and it was a really good car, far better than a Rover 216 so much so i'm surprised they are even being compared. It was much better built, had a cracking engine, a computer, rear headrests (a real luxury in those days), fantastic pepperpot alloys and a snazzy red line around the bumper (iirc). It used to suffer terrible lift at the front at speeds over 110 which had a bad impact on the steering (and general look of the car i'd imagine!) but it was a good car which could carry 7 fellas (two in the large boot) at high speeds with minimal risk of breakdowns, in fact it never let me down once. At the time it had a better image than an XR2 or XR3i too.
i owned an Orion Ghia 1.6i and it was a really good car, far better than a Rover 216 so much so i'm surprised they are even being compared. It was much better built, had a cracking engine, a computer, rear headrests (a real luxury in those days), fantastic pepperpot alloys and a snazzy red line around the bumper (iirc). It used to suffer terrible lift at the front at speeds over 110 which had a bad impact on the steering (and general look of the car i'd imagine!) but it was a good car which could carry 7 fellas (two in the large boot) at high speeds with minimal risk of breakdowns, in fact it never let me down once. At the time it had a better image than an XR2 or XR3i too.
mnkiboy said:
Finding it hard to get excited about this weeks SOTW. It just shouts 'Richard Bucket' at me.
My Great Aunt and Uncle were exactly like Hyacinth and Richard Bucket from Keeping Up Appearances. Right down to the Rover 216... although it was a "Sprint" special edition rather than a "Vitesse". My Aunt even wore those awful floral dresses that Mrs Bucket wore...On this basis this shed is a complete FAIL. Come on PH, you can do better! Next you'll be shedding with a Daewoo Matiz auto...
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