Faults:

Lots of wear and tear, brakes, exhaust, etc. Honestly do not remember any major problems. Engine was a little noisier (tappets?) towards the end of my ownership.

General Comments:

H reg 214 GSi. Sportier trim but this was an economy car. Not fast but could manage 40 mpg, as good as it got for an older petrol car. I'd imagine the 1.6 was better, 1.4 was a little weak. Either was reliable enough for a Rover "K series" engine. Mine was anyway. I've heard the only Honda engines were in later 200's and 600's.

Interior was interesting looking with fake wood effect everywhere. Comfortable and quiet however.

A popular sight on UK roads in the 1990's, I do miss this car. Mine was written off in an accident in 1999, but was still going strong at this point. Always remember it as a reliable decent car despite Rover's poor reputation.

Faults:

My head gasket blew at 79000.

Replaced driver's seat.

Alternator went at 83000.

General Comments:

The car in general is a good, low cost, family car, and has a lot of benefits, and the more you push the car, the more it wants to go.

It started when I wanted more out of the car, so I took the head off, and started to port and polish the ports.

When the car came out of the factory, it had single point injection, so I changed it and put multi-point injection on it. I found it was quicker than most standard multi-point injections, because of not having the cat, but I was trying so much to get more out of the car, I modified the air box, and the car got faster and faster, but the car was so good, I didn't want to get rid of it, so now I've bought another one, but the cabriolet version.

Faults:

Petrol tank split.

Rear tie bar bushes split.

Rear anti roll bar bushes split.

C.V. joints.

Drive shafts snapped after 200k.

General Comments:

I used the car as a taxi, and had no problems with it, except the above. The car is still in daily use, and has never let me down.

A secondhand SEI half leather trim and a set of 220 GTi alloys from a breakers, as well as a respray, has given the car a revamp. Parts are easy to come by in scrap yards, and are cheap too. The cars are also easy to work on, and will still give most cars on the road today a run for their money.

If I were to sell the car, I would get nothing, and it's a shame to part with such a reliable car.

Faults:

Cam belt needed replacing at 120,000 miles.

Radiator (original factory fitted) needed replacing at 145,000.

Alternator replaced at 149,000.

General Comments:

One of the most underrated hot hatches in the UK.

Seriously quick for its price.

Surprisingly reliable, although will need standard maintenance to keep it going, which can be costly.

Chassis lets it down on handling (too heavy), but make up for it on shear speed.

Faults:

Brake calipers to the rear need attention almost every year due to sticking and there not a cheap item to replace.

Water leaks in rear lenses although some clear silcone sealant has sorted this.

Water pump has recently been replaced.

General Comments:

Upmarket hot hatch which looks the part in the 15inch alloys, half leather and high lift rear spoiler. Drives and handles well and the gearbox is a delight to use. The engine seens bullet proof although rust is affecting the body on the bottom of the doors and front wings (a common problem)

Proberbly the best overall package for a hot hat Rover have put together and the Honda DOHC engine is the only one to have, avoid the 2.0 Rover engine like the plague.