1993 Rover - Austin 200 216 SLi review from UK and Ireland

No faults at all.

One of the best bangers money can buy.

SOHC 16v Honda engine is lively, frugal and flawlessly reliable. None of the head gasket concerns of the 1.4 K-series, and even at 111,000 miles idles smoothly, has no knocks or rattles, and doesn't use oil. Needs revs to give its best, but is actually surprisingly quick if you work it hard. Lovely knife through butter gearchange and light clutch. Low 5th gear can be a pain on the motorway though.

Classy interior for a car of this age. Nice, subtle use of wood on the door cappings and passenger side dash, good quality, airy trim materials and lovely comfy seats.

Bought as a station car to replace a 1990 Astra and it's ten times the car the Astra was. Still rust free, the paint still shines up well. Stingy spec - one electric mirror, electric front windows and a crappy radio cassette that sounds like a £4.99 portable radio from the local market.

But its reliable, inoffensive transport that is far better put together than an Astra or Escort of the same age, with a peach of an engine that knocks the stuffing out of the equivalent sized units from VW, Vauxhall or Ford of the time. 38 mpg on the commute and costs peanuts to maintain.

Disposable motoring has never been so pleasant.