1984 Rover - Austin Montego L 1.6 petrol

Summary:

A good old banger. Sold well in Spain, surprisingly enough

Faults:

The only car on which I've had to replace three front indicators (in two weeks!) Two fell off - instant MOT fail - and one of the very expensive replacements got nicked a week later from a cinema car park. Very embarrassing, as I wrongly blamed my girlfriend's bad parking - I actually taught her to drive in it!

The dashboard cracked and split and looked awful, and the fan heater died on me in the spring. The aerial jammed, as they always do.

Driver's window got tighter and eventually jammed half shut. One time I shut the door a touch too hard and the window shattered to pieces. By which time it had started raining...

Main reason for first MOT fail was for an air leak in the engine - good old BL workmanship! Front LH brake pad had also worn, and the warning sensor didn't work.

Nothing really major in two years, really. The only time it didn't always start first time was when a battery terminal worked loose.

General Comments:

It started off as a rust bucket, and ended up as one, scrapped for 75 quid two years down the line. Having said that, it always started first time, nearly always reached 30 mpg and in the year I had it in Spain I often used to crank it up to the ton on the Bilbao to Vitoria motorway.

I quite liked having such a big, roomy, comfortable car. Quite nice styling (Design Council award, no less!) A shame the Austin marque had to die with such a flawed, almost-right car...

As an epilogue, there are quite a few of them still around in northern Spain, including four in my neighbourhood. And Rovers are still popular here, too.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 10th March, 2001

1984 Rover - Austin Montego L 1.6

Summary:

Not as bad as people would tell you!!!

Faults:

Needed a new ECU and shock absorber, but the main problem is rust - around the wheel arches.

Also needed door & window seals, which are expensive.

General Comments:

A surprisingly fast car for its size with a relatively small engine - beats Nova SRs!

Very high insurance though.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 13th September, 2000

1984 Rover - Austin Montego 2.0 EFI petrol

Faults:

Routine maintenance, rust on rear arches, wheel bearings (front).

General Comments:

Apart from the constant eating of front wheel bearings this car has a lot of power and is very reliable.

It can outrun XR3i's & XR2's with ease.

It enjoys motorway cruising at speeds above 70 MPH and is capable of pulling speeds into the 100's.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 31st January, 1999

5th Jun 2014, 01:39

It can outrun XR3i's & XR2's with ease.

Should it not?

After all, both cars you mentioned have 400cc smaller engines.

What about a Cav SRi 130?

Something a bit more of a match.