1994 Rover - Austin 400 420 GSi Turbo review from UK and Ireland

Passenger door central locking motor packed up.

Weeping cam cover gasket.

Driveshaft joint started knocking.

For a practical joke, take off the small Turbo badge and replace the 420GSi one with a 414i item. Then play BMW 328i's at their own game and flash them out of the way at 130, laughing at the exasperated expression on the driver's face as he can't shake the boring looking £800 Rover sat behind him. I did just that and was smiling for weeks. Of course the BMW is a much finer car all round, but it gives you an idea of just how quick this old bus is.

With 200 bhp and very little weight, it's not surprising, but I've long been a fan of this Rover 2.0 turbo powerplant. It has virtually no lag, and delivers massive shove all through the rev range, although sticks the biggest grin on your face between 2,500 and 5,500 RPM. Reliable too - 100k and a tiny (barely worth fixing) oil week from a £5 gasket has been the only mechanical hiccup. Starts on the key, uses virtually no oil and has never been apart. There are lots of horror stories going around about these engines, but providing they're given proper servicing with quality oil and the turbo is treated with consideration, they are as reliable as anything else. My boss ran an 820 Vitesse Turbo up to 160k with no mechanical faults - this car shows no indication of being different.

The car looks sedate and dull, but quickly proves otherwise when you floor it. Reliable too - just £200 spent outside normal servicing in 3 years and 30,000 miles. Not bad for a car that's just clicked over the 100k mark.

For £800, you just can't go wrong.

Interior is well built and still pleasant on the eye. Half leather sports seats very comfortable.

Handling OK, brakes reassuring, steering too light, dealers helpful and reasonably priced. A good package.