1997 Rover - Austin 600 620ti 2.0 turbo
Faults:
Transmission
Generator (3 times)
Coolant leaks several times
Radiator
Water/Coolant pump
Clutch pump (3 times)
Hydraulic Steering pump (2 times)
Pillow blocks (2 times)
Electric windows mechanism (both front doors)
General Comments:
When I bought this car the one I didn't look at all was the guarantee (1 year). Almost everything was perfect up to the point where the car hit the 50.000km After this point everything started to fall apart one after the other at unbelievable speeds!
The 620ti is a very nice car to watch and fun to drive. Due to its turbo (Garett T25) it is very fast in all conditions. Its power is available on the full revs spectrum. Of course as a turbo car you get the most after the 4000rpm (starts at 2900) where the turbo over boosts (0,7bar over-boost and 0,45 normal).
Handling is very good especially due to the torsen limited differential slip system. The car of course is not a hatchback so don't expect too much. I've changed the shock absorbers to Bilstein sport and show a huge increase in handling.
The brakes are good, but not excellent. Although they are quite big (266mm front) they don't stop the car well enough basically due to its weight. A big problem, especially if you are a fast driver, is the brake fade effect. After hitting the brakes 2-3 times at high speeds (160km+) the brakes fade and if you continue hitting them... they don't respond after a while and the situation becomes very dangerous.
The interior of the Rover 620ti is excellent. Although not very big as you might expect for the car's dimensions. The leather interior is of high quality.
It's a shame that the engine although very good in delivering the power, it's not reliable at all. I haven't yet seen one 620ti owner who's is happy with the car's engine reliability. The bad thing is that the car wasn't a huge success and so there are almost no improved alternative engine parts except the Rover/Unipart ones.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 24th September, 2002
6th Jan 2009, 14:05
If your looking for parts try Honda, the 97 Accord has the same engine.
Rover parts are now obsolete apart from in the scrap yard.
17th Jul 2009, 18:06
It's not the same engine as a Honda, not even the same gearbox. The Ti uses a Rover T series engine and a PG1 gearbox, neither of which Honda ever used.
7th Nov 2009, 16:03
Rover 620 TI and some 620 (non ti) is/are a Rover T Series engine, but it is true some Rover 620 also and the 623 had a Honda engine. Easy way to check, the Honda timing cover is on the LH end of the engine and the Rover engine timing cover is at the RH end of the engine. The Honda Engines are basically back to front compared to everything (Toyota/GM/Mitzi/Rover etc else except maybe a Mini-A series. The Rover 220/620/820 turbo engine has slightly lower compression than the non turbo engines.
Alex.
17th Oct 2011, 12:32
Rover parts still available (and always have been) from all good Motor Factors, eBay "power sellers" and also, but more expensively, from XPart (www.xpart.com, who in 2011 are celebrating 5 years in business), which was originally the parts department of Rover, and was bought from the liquidators when the company went under. The only Rover parts not available new are very late post 2004ish bumpers, on most but not all models. But even then, 2003 spec bumpers will still fit.
6th Jan 2009, 14:01
If you don't think the engine is reliable, then I feel sorry for you because you are either neglecting your car or you're just unlucky.
My Rover Ti has done 147,000 miles, not kilometers, and it's still going strong, plus the fact that I got it when it had 90,000 miles with full service history, and there has been no trouble in the past with the engine.
The only problem I had was the alternator needed changed at 135,000, and I ripped one out of a 620 GSi in the scrap yard; this only cost £25.
But I will agree about the brakes.