1995 Rover - Austin 200 220 GSI 2.0 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Cheap for a 2 litre 130mph car, pick one a top notch one for £3995

Faults:

Clip went on coolant hose meaning complete loss of coolant and serious overheating - only cost £30 to fix at Rover dealer.

Leaking head gasket but seems to have stopped now.

Brakes getting filled with dirt and squelling.

A faulty front shock (due to be replaced with Koni shocks and uprated Moto build springs when I can afford it!).

New rear tyres.

Nothing really major, very happy with the car and dealer cheap and professional.

General Comments:

Good car, cheap to buy and relatively cheap to run for a hot hatch. Is a little lacking in performance below 3000rpm, but drop a cog and floor it and you're smiling. Can be expensive to run but search around and you're OK. My rear tyres are £100 normally, I found same tyres for £55! Plenty of grip on corners but does roll too much (soon to be solved see above!) but handles better than a Coupe! Very crap ICE. Now been dynamatted (stops the infernal rattles!) and Infinity and Sony ICE - much better.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 17th April, 2000

20th Feb 2001, 06:38

The cooling system of 220 GTI is pressurised, blowing water through the pistons and turbo charger. Niggling problems, but can scare you when the foot is put down.

Our GTi is now wrecked due to very expensive repairs on the engine head.

1995 Rover - Austin 200 220 Coupe Turbo 2.0 turbo petrol from UK and Ireland

Faults:

Both wind deflectors on the glass panels have broken due to poor design.

General Comments:

Fast, frantic, and suffers badly from torque steer. Shabby interior rattles and squeaks over uneven surfaces. Handling on the "iffy" side, but straight line power more than makes up for it. Service from main Rover dealership laughable.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 19th October, 1999

1995 Rover - Austin 200 214 SEi 1.4 from UK and Ireland

Faults:

Car bought with only 20,000 miles and has proved to be an economical, but sprightly and stylish car. Pearlescent paintwork looks great as do factory alloys. Very good standard of spec.

Few criticisms -- rather heavy clutch for town driving, but a very minor point.

General Comments:

Superb car, although rather high revving at speed (nearly 4000 rpm in 5th at 80mph).

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 12th August, 1999

1995 Rover - Austin 200 218 SD 1.9 turbo diesel from UK and Ireland

Faults:

Nothing except that the timing belt after a new one had been fitted - the original car and engine were performing perfectly before this happened at 75,000 miles.

General Comments:

An excellent work horse - somewhat noisy at lower speeds and servicing every 6,000 is a pain.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 28th July, 1999

1995 Rover - Austin 200 214SLi 1.4 from UK and Ireland

Faults:

Head gasket seals went at 50k miles. Nothing else has gone wrong.

General Comments:

Excellent car. This is my second Rover 214 SLi. The only problem with them has been slightly expensive parts and servicing. Dealers better than average.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 19th May, 1999

1995 Rover - Austin 200 216 Sli 1.6 16V SOHC petrol from UK and Ireland

Faults:

Apart from a new water pump at 50,000 miles (under warranty), nothing whatsoever.

General Comments:

The Honda influence is there for all to see. The car is smooth, quick, comfortable, and very economical.

Though the car is garaged at night, it stands outside in all weathers during the day and never fails to start immediately, even when frozen solid!

The Honda engine is tremendous, and it is sometimes so easy to forget that there is only 1598cc under the bonnet!

Whilst by no means a regular pastime, I do enjoy the odd twiddle at around 7,000 rpm and this has the car going like it's got a rocket attached to the roof. The rev pattern of the engine is alarming for a while until you get used to the fact that normal urban driving has it living at between 3,200 and 4,100 rpm.

It's just a shame that you have to shell out for a Honda if you want an engine as good as this in a new car now!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 21st December, 1998

15th Jan 2002, 17:48

I would rather have Rover's K-series!

29th Jul 2005, 09:21

K series must is one of the most unreliable cars I've ever owned, the k series chocolate head gasket goes all the time leaving you with a £600-700 bill, i recommend the 1.6 Honda unit models also put in the 1.6 coupes up until 1995,stay away from the k series!!!