Friday 5th January 2007

SOTW:Rover Sterling 820

1999 T Reg Rover Sterling 820 Automatic

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1999 T Reg Rover Sterling 820 Automatic

When it comes to cars, everyone wants a bargain. And with cars getting more reliable, more durable and more rot-free than ever they have been, paying pocket money for an older machine need not be a total restoration job.

In other words, old cars have never been such a good buy -- you get a lot of car for your money, and £1,000 is still throwaway money when it comes to cars.

So in the spirit of aiming for fun, low-cost motoring, here's our regular weekly slot following a trawl of Auto Trader's depths to find a drive-away bargain.

1999 T Reg Rover Sterling 820 Automatic. 5 Doors, Automatic, Fastback, Petrol, 91,000 miles, Metallic Red, MOT-11-2007. New MOT, Full service history, Air conditioning, Alloy wheels, Anti theft system, CD Multichanger, Driver airbag, Electric mirrors, Electric windows, Electric sunroof, Electrically adjustable seats, Heated seats, Leather upholstery, Passenger airbag, Power assisted steering, Remote locking, Radio/Cassette, Rear headrests, Wood/wood effect trim. This Rover Sterling is quite simply in superb condition throughout.It has been fastidiously looked after,has a years MOT and full service history and really must be seen at only £995

[davy9449]

Well if that is the Honda engine (which I seem to think it isn't) then it's a bargain. If it's not, check the head as mine cost me a small fortune when the gasket went

Still a nice car, if you're aged 40 or over

[stigcv8]

davy9449 said:

Well if that is the Honda engine (which I seem to think it isn't) then it's a bargain. If it's not, check the head as mine cost me a small fortune when the gasket went

Still a nice car, if you're aged 40 or over

a nice car if you are aged over 40 is something like a Boxster or a TVR or an MX5.

A rover is a nice car if you are dead and it is being used as a coffin

[astec815]

the 820 is a rover engine and a T series one at that, very reliable doesnt suffer from any of the HGF problems of the K

you could get a 820 Vitesse for that sort of money, darn near 200 bhp

[CommanderJameson]

[obvious_joke]Tartan blanket and box of tissues included[/obvious_joke]

[stigcv8]

CommanderJameson said:

[obvious_joke]Tartan blanket and box of tissues included[/obvious_joke]

I have a tartan blanket in the boot of the monaro thank you very much!

[GregE240]

I'd have to tint the glass on that, just so nobody could see me driving it.

Still, the title is apt.

[stigcv8]

the only time when any rover will be a bargain is when they pay you the asking price to take it away.

where is that red/green rover bloke?

[Drgp]

Now that is a shed.

My mate had one and whilst the engine was fine everything else on it broke: exhaust, heaters, all gizmos including the clock! - one particularly amusing time we were going down the M4 in the rain and the windscreen wiper linkage broke sending the wipers flying off the side of the screen.

I suggest parking it in the garden and using it to store your lawnmower.

[AlexC1981]

I have a Vitesse coupe. 105K miles now with all the heated electric seats, climate control etc. Only problem it had in 3 years was when one of the headlight adjustment motors broke. I have put it through 2 MOT's now and it never costs me a penny. I used to do 125 miles a day in it trouble free.

I now have an Astra coupe Turbo which is also reliable and a little faster, but uncomfortable and boring to drive compared to my old 800.

I would switch back immediately if my companies car allowance policy would let me.

[chalky180]

Cant believe its neally a grand! Me thinks I'll find something like that in budget for my trip, Staples to Naples, this year! Jan CAP average price is £360 which personally I wouldnt pay! Beware buyers!!

[off_again]

astec815 said:

the 820 is a rover engine and a T series one at that, very reliable doesnt suffer from any of the HGF problems of the K

you could get a 820 Vitesse for that sort of money, darn near 200 bhp

Yes, its the T-series, but they suffered major head gasket issues which lead to overheating.

To be honest, I would stay well clear of 820's as much as possible. Thrown-together is probably the best explanation! I used to work for a company many years ago who had a fleet of them. Windscreens cracked as the chassis flexed. Head gaskets went every 10k-15k miles. Wipers were another major issue as were electrics and dodgy interior fittings. Never had any major issues such as gearboxes and FWD, but constant issues and problems meant that everyone hated them and were desperate to ditch them.....

Nightmare cars.... even for £1000!

[apache]

I had one of the early versions of the 820i and I swear you could see the rust bloom before your very eyes, the interior trim broke if you looked at it too hard and the engine sounded rougher by the day

[Drakuul]

*Has a tartan blanket in the bootbox of his Westfield SEiGHT*

[geoff82]

£1000 is over the odds for an 800 which is a bit of a dog handling wise as well. You'd be better off with a 600 for the same money with a Honda engine and gearbox, though if it's anything like my old one all the Rover bits will rust or break once it gets to 10 years old.

[stevebedford1969]

Very Alan Partridge!

AHA!

[AlexC1981]

off_again said:

Yes, its the T-series, but they suffered major head gasket issues which lead to overheating.

To be honest, I would stay well clear of 820's as much as possible. Thrown-together is probably the best explanation! I used to work for a company many years ago who had a fleet of them. Windscreens cracked as the chassis flexed. Head gaskets went every 10k-15k miles. Wipers were another major issue as were electrics and dodgy interior fittings. Never had any major issues such as gearboxes and FWD, but constant issues and problems meant that everyone hated them and were desperate to ditch them.....

Nightmare cars.... even for £1000!

There must be some exaggeration here surely? I can report none of the above. Granted, mine was a coupe, which is much stiffer than he 4/5 door models so it would not suffer the flex problem.

[Timberwolf]

Is it just me, or does "full MOT" at this kind of price make you think of a shaking mechanic's head along with the words, "Well, it'll scrape through this year but it's going to be expensive if you want it to pass next time round"?

[DennisTheMenace]

Come on they aint that bad , My mother and my knuckle dragging stepdad had one for 3 years , other than servicing never went wrong , and that was a g plate one they had only been building it 4 years at that point , thats a 1999 they had been nailing them together for 13 years by then so they should have sorted all the problems by then

[xxplod]

Agree with the chassis flex. We had them as area cars and they were utter crap. They fell to pieces and had to be recalled for major work when cracks were found in the chassis. That actually wrote a number of as we realised they weren't worth repairing.

Ill handling underpowered pile of poo I'm afraid. Wouldn't say thanks if I was given one.

[steve bowen]

stigcv8 said:

A rover is a nice car if you are dead and it is being used as a coffin

LOL first thing to make me laugh on PH in ages!