1997 Rover - Austin 200 Si review from UK and Ireland

The rotor arm broke, causing the car not to start.

It was refusing to start in the damp at times, but that now appears to have been fixed.

Recently, the SRS (airbag system) light on the dashboard has been coming on when it should not, which the manual says means there is something wrong with the airbag system.

The engine (a Rover K series) is very good indeed. It has over 100 brake hoarse power, which is very impressive for a 1.4. It revs nicely and when you do give it some revs, it has a very good, sporty sound. Even with this engine, the insurance group is very low. However it does lack torque sometimes.

It is very good around town, because it is quick, but when it comes to motorways, this car disappoints. Above 70 and the noise in the cabin gets very loud indeed.

The standard radio/cassette is awful. It refuses to stay on a station unless it decides it has a strong enough reception, regardless of the fact that you are not getting any interference. The sound quality is also very low. However, when the radio is replaced, the speakers are not at all bad.

There is not enough space for your left foot.

The handling is quite sharp, but the steering is practically dead in terms of feedback. It is also a bit light, with the power steering.

The seats are very comfortable, and the interior generally of a high standard, but the design of the center console leaves a lot to be desired.

It comes with remote central locking/immobilizer and alarm, although the alarm only detects doors or the bonnet opening, allowing someone to smash a window without setting it off.