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

Engine's getting a bit noisy, but then it was an ex-company-car, and so has travelled a lot. It goes in for a full Rover Service next week, where it will be needing front tyres, cam-belt, oil change and flush etc etc.

Not looking forward to the bill.

Locking nut from rear alloy has gone missing.

Driver's door sensor replaced, as I noticed that the passive immobiliser wasn't working, neither was the interior light when the door was open.

Exhaust retaining clip has snapped, causing the back box to look wonkey.

Fantastic looking car, and about 95bhp from a 1.4 is great! Great performance considering, and truley fantastic spec for what was a £3000 first car. Not many 18 year olds who work at a supermarket can say they have an N-reg with 15" alloys and black half-leather interior.

When other people get into it, they say "Hey, this is nice!"

Cruises at 80/90 quite happily.

Get rid of it. Problems will kick in now i.e. above 80k.

I would not advise to get rid of it. People jump on the band wagon when trying to slate Rover and say all sorts of things. If the car is looked after properly and not given a hard time you will not have any problems. My 214SEi has done 100,000 miles and still runs like a dream!!

Original writer 2 years later..

Would like to point out that I am now pushing the 100,000 mark, and it is still going strong. It is just as noisy as before, and it probably doesn't pull as much as a less-travelled engine, but otherwise, I am highly satisfied. I am looking out for a new-style 200 SDi diesel to replace it. Oh and my mpg is only about 32-35 at best now.

Incidentally, all drivers out there who ever experience a mysterious cutting out of the engine, or rapid shedding of revs for a few seconds and general difficulties once the engine warms up - and inability to start the engine there-after, advise your dealer to check the CRANK SENSOR. It took my local garage a whole week to locate this fault - even after they had plugged it into their precious (and expensive) fault location computer, and caused me to break down 3 times! - incidentally, Rover dealers and service department still leave a lot to be desired in some areas with servicing and parts costing quite a lot!!

The 1.4 K-series is 103BHP 0-60 in under 10 seconds. Rover are class leaders in performance and engine technology, this is why the K-series is so highly acclaimed.

I own a Rover 214 SEi, it is a great car and well equipped, it has a spoiler fitted (looks fantastic) in charcoal metallic, the 1.4 K-series is an excellent engine with a nice sound to it when revved.

These cars aren't a quick as everyone makes out. They're only good between 3000 and 4000 revs. There's too much body roll when cornering, the steering is far too light and they're very noisy. If you're going to buy one go for the 216, the Honda engine is far superior.

We have owned the car for three years and are quite pleased. The engine is rough when cold and very lumpy. I reccomendif your going to by one to check out the throttle body and the cam belt. If the belt is to tight it will cause rough running. Great looks and a head turner.

Had a 214si and upgraded to a 214sei. very good car. only 18 and this is a very quick car. I can beat xr3i and xr2i and even i.8 Astra Gte's. very good performance for a 1.4, good sound with a k&n. head gasket seems fine on this one. topped 0-60 in 9.2 seconds. top speed 130mph red line 5th gear. goes to 8000rpm and off clock, but this is how I blew up my previous 214.

10 out of 10 car.

On my second 214/414, the K series engine is NOT that quick, however there is plenty of torque so it will pull well in any gear. With these cars, the engine needs to be looked after, ie antifreeze replaced every 2 years/24,000 miles, oil change every year/12,000 miles, cambelt every 5 years, 60,000 miles WITHOUT FAIL or the engine could well either snap the cambelt (normally new head) or blow its head gasket. Both are reported as common maladies and are used by the Rover bashing community, but with careful maintenance, it is VERY unlikely to happen to you. Body wise, these cars are built very well and serious rot is not common, and electrically little goes wrong.

I also own a 214 SEI Rover and have done for over a year now. They are great cars with a very high spec, and as many of you other owners have pointed out fairly good performance etc etc I have covered over 10,000 miles now and my cars is knocking on 70,000 in total. One point I would like to make is that who ever the guy is who made the comment that his rover will top out at 130mph!!! is very...well daft that would be more like 115mph at a push down hill with a strong tale wind. I have driven many cars and not many two liter cars will do that so you have no chance with a 1.4 k series rover...keep dreaming!!! no offense meant...

People rip Rovers apart and say they're old mans cars, but I love my 214 SEI, M reg, got it when it had done 101k, it now has done 104k, I'm only 21 (was 20 when I got it a few months back). Night fire red/grey and the half black leather interior is a fetish enthusiasts dream :D.

I love her, I stuck GTI skirts on it because I'm sad. Only problems I've had are a slight squeaking coming from the drivers seat, central locking doesn't work by key in the drivers door (so long as the remote keeps working that's no biggie) and there's a slightly tapping sound comming from the injection system. It's not the tappets, the sound is comming from further back.

Any light shed on this tapping sound would be appreciated to be honest.

Apart from that I love her, within my price range it's my dream car - I love rover 200's in this style to be honest.

I'm hoping to get a spoiler because with the GTI skirts the car looks slightly unbalanced.

Help on the tapping sound anyone? (It isn't the tappets!:)

Both of my last two 1.4 16v Rover 200 have had the same 'ticking' from the fuel system which you describe. I don't know what causes it, but can only tell you that between them I have covered around 20,000 miles without any problems whatsoever so it might not be worth getting too concerned about.

I too had a rover 214sei, The engine is a total gem, with a k&n induction kit, the car will hit 0 - 60 in 8.5seconds, and will do over 122, (I hit 122 and had to life off!!!) These cars look great alongside newer more expensive motors!

However, These cars do not like water!

I went through a deep puddle, blew the head gasket, the engine sucked in water, which in turn bent the bottom end - NEW ENGINE NEEDED ARRGHHH!!!

Gearboxes are very soft,- I went through 2 in 6 months!!!

All in all a very good car, easily capable of beating any corsa/saxo and most bigger cars at the lights!

Hi, The ticking you experience may well be the injectors on a 16V unit if you have had 8 valve units, you would not experience it. The valves open and shut very fast and with precise fuel metering, I know on Saab's the injectors work at 5v dc and tick, rover ones may be higher voltage hence they are noisier, however it only the valve closing.

I have a Rover 214sei in tahiti blue its in imacculate condition. The only problems I have with this car is the gears are a bit rough when changing and a rattly noise form the back I don't know if its the spoiler or the shelf?

The window allignment is causing the windows to make a loud noise when you close them which is downfall. Apart from that

it's a smooth drive and loud!!!