1998 Rover - Austin 600 review from Australia and New Zealand
"Reliable, comfortable, powerful (sometimes to its detriment)"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
One of the electric windows stopped working while another works poorly. This seems to be a real Honda problem though, as I used to own an Accord with the same problem. I suspect the window motors may need oiling. Windows require more maintenance if you want to own one of these.
Mostly minor British eccentricities such as dashboard and armrest coming loose. Nothing rattles however. Mostly reflects age of the car.
Electric mirrors don't tuck in properly - one goes full circle while other makes grinding noise.
General comments?
Very comfortable, hard-wearing leather interior. Beige colour really stands out. Lots of dead cow and fake tree make for real luxury. Bit noisy inside though.
Motor is deceptively powerful. Sounds pretty gutless when idling but has serious torque. Can get wheelspins on gravel - this is an auto! Engine is quite noisy though.
Very good alternative to an Accord. Goes just as well, but you get British luxury and the prestigious Rover marque.
Most annoying thing though is the engine is too grunty for the transmission. Pretty rough gear shifts compared to similar sized cars.
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| 1997 - 600 620 Si 2.0 16v SOHC Comfortable cruiser ideal for a runabout hack or budget family saloon |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1998 |
| Year of manufacture | 1998 |
| First year of ownership | 2009 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2009 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.3 DOHC 14 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 7 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 8 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 5 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 154000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 158000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Mazda 626 |
| Date of Entry | 24th June, 2009 |