1996 Rover - Austin 400 414i review from UK and Ireland

When I got the car the radio / clock LCD display wasn't functioning correctly.

The driver's door handle fitting sheered about a month after I got the car, was around £100 to replace and fit.

Cam belt changed at 60,000 miles due to being unusually lose.

NSR bushes collapsed, £100 to replace (inc. fitting), I suspect the OSR is about to go too (slight knocking on larger pot holes noticed).

Near side rear passenger door doesn't always unlock fully.

Noticed this morning that the first two (of 4) heater fan setting aren't working. Wouldn't be a problem if 3 and 4 weren't so noisy.

Other than that lot just wear and tear: replaced front tyres, and new exhaust (not the cat. fortunately), couple of new windscreen wipers, one side light and headlight.

At first I was very pleased with the car, there were a few things wrong with it, but nothing major.

The electric sunroof is very nice to have (is standard), especially on this model which doesn't have air con.

Performance is pretty good for a 1.4, it'll outrun a friends 1.6 16v Escort any day. Need to get the revs above 4k to get the power though.

The engine is a bit too noisy at 75 - 80, and seems to be getting increasingly noisy at normal running speeds.

It is very comfortable to drive, but suffers a lot from under steer and body roll when pushed; the seats could do with being a bit more supportive.

Too many things have gone wrong with the car for me to give it praise though. The list above is all in the 10 months that I've owned the car.

I also suspect that the clutch is on its way out as the biting point is rather high.

The brakes have always squealed a bit when doing just over 40, but until recently this stopped when braking. Now the brakes go through phases of squealing constantly, even at motorway speeds which is near unbearable for any length of time.

The standard radio is awful, though the speakers are up to the job. A new head unit sorts that problem.

Note if fitting a Sony head unit the addition of the adapter wires create problems fitting it in the space. The wires in mine now run though the heating channels (which are accessible from being the radio) that supply the vents above the radio.

I've fitted a towbar and mud flaps, both of which were relatively easy with a Haynes manual to clarify the instructions provided.

Overall a good car, just let down by the build quality.