Rover 25 1.6 Si

[Fartgalen]

We're talking shed money here, but a reasonable condition, lowish mileage car.
Impending HGF ?
Are spare parts (filters, pads, discs, etc) easy enough to come by ?

Questions opened to the vast knowledge of PH.

[NiceCupOfTea]

I had a Rover 25 1.6 iS on a W back in the day, ran from 30k and 18 months to 60k and about 4 years old or so. Never missed a beat. It was reasonable pokey, comfortable, OK on long journeys, good on fuel. No a/c on the iS which was annoying. Head gasket never an issue on mine.

[anonymous-user]

Plenty of parts around, if you can't look after a car then a K engine isn't for you. They're sensitive to coolant loss

[chrismcg1]

Wife had a 25 on a W plate and head gasket went with dramatic style a few years back. She looked after car very well - I hated it. Apparently head gasket is a bit of a theme.......

[carmadgaz]

Parts for the Rovers aren't too hard to find parts for (I find plenty of 45s in the scrapyard ). HGF isn't as bad on the smaller capacity versions of the K-series. Has it already been done? They do replacement HG kits that supposedly fix the issue now anyhoo.

If it's at the right price go for it. I've spent time behind the wheel of a 200 and own a 45 (admittedly both diesel) and I was impressed. Comfy and handle better than I was expecting

[Chris1255]

Bought my 1.4 2 years ago as a 3 month max temporary car & like it enough that it's not going anywhere yet!

Ultimate buying guide here:

http://www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/facts-and-figures/...

Mine has suffered HGF but as I'm sure MGJohn will be along to back me up on it's by no means a certainty. I'd say as long as you do all the normal checks when you buy then don't worry about it to much. Worst case you can get them fixed for about £300, mine had done 12 years before failing & as long as it's done properly they should last at least that long again.

Parts are no problem with Xpart still supplying new to motor factors and various eBay sellers.

Personally I'd say ignore the haters they're great little cars for the money. And I say that as someone who said they'd never buy a Rover....

[Fartgalen]

I'm pretty handy with spanners. And have a mate that would help with head gasket replacement. (That's a little out of my depth). I know the gasket is often a problem. I guess it was mostly regular service items I'm thinking of - availability 'n' that ! I don't mind a few home repairs and servicing. In fact I enjoy it. But I don't want a shed I can't get parts for, or parts are expensive.

[Fartgalen]

So responses so far are actually as I expected. Parts availability is OK. HGF, as per with K series - might be an issue. Nice to get some confirmation. Thanks chaps.

[carmadgaz]

While I think about it the heaters can be temperamental, the 45 only has top two speeds and Dee's 200 had packed up altogether. New replacement resistors aren't cheap but again the scrappies are your friend (or in my case just live with it).

Useful site for you
http://forums.mg-rover.org/index.php

Edited to send you to the main page not the 45 forum

[Chris1255]

Resistors are about a fiver on EBay. Or if you're feeling flush you can get ceramic ones for about £15 that shouldn't fail again. Fitted just behind the glovebox & shouldn't take more than 10 mins.

[carmadgaz]

Chris1255 said:

Resistors are about a fiver on EBay. Or if you're feeling flush you can get ceramic ones for about £15 that shouldn't fail again. Fitted just behind the glovebox & shouldn't take more than 10 mins.

When I was told they were expensive I was expecting more than £15 flaming quid (everything is relative I suppose ). Yeah I had looked at the procedure for changing it, nowt too strenuous .