Top Gear 1989 Rover 200 Series

[symonh2000]

This Rover 200 was the best car Rover ever made. But only when fitted with the Honda engine.

[turricaned]

@symonh2000 Nope, I see just as many R8 214s doing the rounds as 216s - impressive when you realise that some of them are nearly 25 years old! The K got a bad reputation because the design was misunderstood when they bored it out to 1.8 later on. Performance-wise, while the 1.4 K-series couldn't match the top pull of the 1.6 Honda unit (not surprising), it had much more torque across the rev range, meaning it was nippier around town.

[symonh2000]

@turricaned I don't agree, my dad had the 214GSi version at the same time as I had the Honda 216 version. No comparison, the Honda unit pulled better everywhere in the rev range. The 1.4 also blew its headgasket whilst he owned it (sheared dowels), where as the 216 was pretty reliable except once when the electrics in the Dizzy thew a mental.

[turricaned]

@symonh2000 Everyone's experience is different, but I tried a lot of R8s over the years and found the K to be the more consistently torque-y of the two engines. I'm not saying the Honda unit was bad by any stretch of the imagination, but it had a short shelf-life once the new emissions regs came in. The whole point of the K design was that it was doing more with less than the Honda.

[kaybo69]

I had a 216 SLi and a 416 GSi, both were XR3i and XR2i beaters, great Honda engine

[MO3MINI]

'This makes the K series engine a long lasting unit' talking out of his asshole right there, terrible engine.

[symonh2000]

@MO3MINI It was new then, how was he to know what a pile of junk it would turn out to be.

[turricaned]

@MO3MINI Rubbish - the 1.4 K16 was a very good unit indeed - easily as reliable as the Honda if you know how to treat it right (and because the design was so new, a lot of garages sadly did not). My father-in-law is still driving my 1993 R8 214 and the K has had no major work done to it since I bought it in 2001. The problems came when they bored it out to 1.8 and put it in the Freelander, because the people who designed the thing had retired by then.

[MO3MINI]

@turricaned maybe the 1.4 was ok... i don't know never owned that engine. But the 1.1 K series engine in my dads old metro blew its headgasket at 50,000 miles! not exactly a long lasting engines if you ask me.. terrible. I wouldn't buy another. Or bother repairing it

[turricaned]

@MO3MINI I'd bet money that what actually happened was that the coolant level got too low or the electric fan/thermostat switch failed. K-series engines don't like running hot (like any all-ally block) and they carried less coolant than older designs, so you do need to keep an eye on them - if the temp gauge climbs past 3/4, then you don't drive any further until the problem's sorted. FWIW I've seen Fords and Vauxhalls with HGF well before 50k...

[MO3MINI]

@turricaned when it was running it was a good engine. It would keep up with modern traffic and was pretty quite... when the engine over heated there was plenty of water in the cooling system. It didn't over heat on the road. It overheated on the drive way.. so we was able to check the coolant level whilst the gauge was climbing. But the damage was already done, the oil is now full of water. However 3 years later the thing still starts and runs fine.. we haven't scrapped it yet.

[Romamb]

luxury limosine? wtf?

[djdavedoc]

Top Gear at its best. Reviewing an Affordable Everyday car and NOT some ridiculous Super Car that no one will ever buy except for Rich People. 

[HoodedFig900]

I wish we had proper reporting like this in all motoring programs.

[djdavedoc]

@HoodedFig900 I agree. You dont have to want to drive like an idiot in a supercar you cannot afford to be a Petrol Head/ Motoring Enthusiast!

[b41984]

this is when cars were made in the UK... bygone days huh??

[lfcjann]

shit car

[mr47uk08]

lol omg top gear was so bland back then ..

[ChrisPolson888]

Someone should point out that the 216 is basically a Honda Concerto, it was was joint-developed, and the 216 is identical in every way to a 1.6L Honda Concerto... besides minor appearances.

[mrdlgambia]

The 200 one of the best cars rover ever manufactured. I have had S series sei n K series sei, bth good cars.

[alexhamster1134]

4:14 he almost hit that oncoming car. wild boy.

[MrNickcafc]

got a '97 rover 1.6 coupe (k-series).

only done 29,000 miles. lowest mileage R8 out there maybe?

[murdockta]

I managed to drive a few of these quite good cars and the performance and economy was great for the time.

[MrPetrolhead09]

Great classic this rover!

[symonh2000]

We had both a 1400 and a 1600. The 1600 was a better car by far. More reliable faster and hardly any worse on fuel.

[themachman19691]

brilliant.thanks for this.i had the honda version.went for years

[paulyvon97]

Pause at 0:08

[killieguyno1]

@paulyvon97 why what happens??

[paulyvon97]

@killieguyno1 the woman have a funny face

[hunghuge12]

There's really no point trying to say these were reliable. There may be a few examples that have lasted well but when you make so many of something you get a few right by accident. The vast majority were complete shite which is why rover went bump. Build shit cars and sooner or later people won't buy them anymore.

Now if they had built them properly instead of throwing the parts toward them and hoping they stuck they may still have been in business.

[toyotasera55]

@hunghuge12 This really isnt the case,the 214 and 216 were not really a problem. Rover had issues in that it could not utilize the gigantic Longbridge,It was suffering under investment under B.A.E who were looking to get shot of it and a collection of confusing contractual,union and political agreements would prevent it from downsizing.BMW would take over Rover around this time,then it gets even more complicated.Funds were there but with no direction due to Piestechriders(?) hands off approach

[toyotasera55]

@hunghuge12 The main issue for Rover in the 1990s would be that it was told to move upmarket yet at the same time be volume producer which is essentially two different directions. it is difficult to produce for cheap markets (small car) yet being told to price luxury (think R3 200/25 and HH-R 400/45). Other issues were it could not downsize work force easily and essential projects were made to stop start ( Mini/R30). A strong pound for 4 years damaged home and abroad sales significantly too.

[andycarr75]

@hunghuge12

Are you a mentalist? This was the best selling 'Rover' of all time. It outsold most of the competition despite being priced above the competition.

This car is seen as the high point of Rover after the BL days.

So get your facts right.

[blaster2012]

@hunghuge12 I have to disagree with you there,i have owned two 214's,and they were both exellent,never let me down once.So long as you check coolant levels,engine oil and make sure the cambelt is diecent,they are bomb proof. I like these cars so much,tonight i bought an immaculate British Racing Green 214 SEI 2 owners from new,FULL service history,and only 80K on the clock,all for a mere £400. The other Rovers were pretty poor,but they got it right with the 214.The BEST car Rover ever made.

[TheYorkMan]

@blaster2012 I have to agree. Had a H Plate 214SLi a few years ago which I bought stolen/recovered at auction with no reserve, but with 9 months MOT and a full service history for £75. Some salvage locks (£30) later and I was up and running. 45000 miles on the clock, 2 owners and immaculate inside and out. Only problem I had was that the electric window binnacle was too low on the door, and fell in the place where my right knee wanted to rest. Still, 25000 miles later I sold it for £400.

[watanabehefuml]

the good old days. when men were men and homosexuals were reviled.

[cooolcars]

What we are having here people is a debate about rovers reliability. Yes headgaskets did go on the regular and rottet sills didnt go a miss.

your forgetting something thou. Like some of the comments below, their rovers have lasted ages with high miles and origanal headgaskets. If you service these every 5000 miles using engine flush too. flush & change your coolant once a year and check it once a week i bet it will last ages. clean it too

If you look after a car, it will look after you.

[discocreator76]

"lookalike walnut and leather" ??? both the walnut and the leather were real, unlike the rivals wood effect plastic....

[kalam518]

0.46: as per top gear tradition, i was expecting him to hit the other car! lol

[cuddlesducks]

highbrow psschaw. old school top gear's method of reporting was extravagant uselessness. most of it was indistinguishable from the manufacturer's press kit. people who bought the rover 214 wanted a car that got them from a to b without needing towed to c to be repaired. i dont think grandmaster goffey's relaying of the stated cambelt durability would have appeased mr. roverman if his patriotic 30000-mile 214 decided not to start for some fucking reason on a frosty morning in november 1991

[BenH333]

I can't be the only one who bloody loves the look of these cars?

My parents had a 218SLD a long long time ago

[cooolcars]

@BenH333

they have a smily face dont they

[ManOnTheMoon2]

I used to work with Chris, he drove our bus as a volunteer. Great bloke dodgy beard though lol

[90BEATrecords]

Rover 214 SI - 1997/1998 this is magic CAR .

[kikddabottle]

216 switched in late 95/96.the 1.6 power plant from there on in manual is a k but apparently the auto stayed a honda till death.

[framelocator]

I'm interested in a Rover 216 tourer and was wondering when rover switched from honda powerplants to their own k-series engine?

Was it in the summer of 1995 that they started to use their own engine in the 216?

[siraff2]

"ten long bolts hold it together which makes it very rigid and long lasting".

Oh dear, Mr Goffey.

[marshalllucky]

I believe chris goffey now runs a restaurant in corfu. I read it in bella and bella dont lie.

[spoonburger1986]

50 seconds, he looks like he has one leg.

[Cdogpyjamas]

If you can get a rover tomcat cabriolet with a honda engine it might be an idea.

[fekalis]

gay video

[ibzentos2009]

the best car in the world! mine of 1992, over 105 miles and runs like if it was new. The only problem is GAS!

[blaster2012]

My 1991 214si has been great.Never had any problems (yet)! for a 1.4 its surprisingly quick.Had a cam belt change,new coil and rotor arm,now it goes like a bomb!

[Plews]

1991 Rover 214Si. 150,000+ miles by 2005. Original head gasket (it was looked after and serviced by PROPERLY). Once had a new radiator and an alternator - hardly suprising. Otherwise faultless. Need I say more? (also final reason for taking off the road - paint work was terrible after a poor crash damage repair. It still went like a bomb).

[fmlad2002]

i feel sorry for anyone who even contemplates buying a rover

[eoslensman]

My 1996 820i has 303,000 miles on it, you know nothing !! Now I also have a Mk1 820 turbo, will shit on whatever crap you're driving !

[dimgwalltameiben]

@fmlad2002 i love ppl like u!! due to your prejudisted views ppl like me can pick up an unmarked M reg 827SLi on ebay for around £350 - keep the neg comments coming pls!

[SimonBunker]

Rover 75 is the best of the series, My grandad has one and its fitted out like a Jag.

[hamster639]

think about rover p5b it was the envy of anyone with a jag in its day it was better then a jag and rover 75 is better then a jag

[info4jon]

Ive had the 216 Gti, was brilliant, than I got the 220 Gsi, nothing but problems and oil leaks.

The 214 is ok but slow in comparison.

[symonh2000]

I have had 3 of these. 2 216's and a 214. the 216's were briliant, the 214 suffered a headgasket problem plus loads of other problems. The 216 makes a good reliable banger nowadays.

[PatrickIngham21]

ive Had a GSI & a GTI, both brilliant cars, the 1.6 engine is fantastic. oh and i also owned a 214SI but dident like that one as much (had a few bad problems)

[bloozeman101]

K Series -------- fucking head gaskets.

[Weepiest]

yeah? what about them? they go just like the head gaskets in a citroen, or like my friends bmw 316. The k-series engine is an amazing design and now you can get the gasket replaced with the bullet proof MLS one which is was developed by land rover. All cars have there issues, toyota 'death rattle', renault electrics, alfa romeos 'everything'. The rover K, L and T series engines were amongst the best in the world and some k-series have been known to do 300k+ miles

[Leestoners]

ha ha ive got a '96 214 sei and that went, bloody great!!!

[thekillertape]

absolutely rubbish cars tkank god rovers are not made any more

[spider23000]

I still have one - a 1994 214si. I've had it for 5 years and it has never had a major problem. But my 214 has the Honda engine not the Rover one, (it is an ex-company and the engine was changed after 50k miles) and it has a Volkswagen gearbox not a Peugeot one.

[Chalice1017]

Whoaa how boring did Top Gear used to be!! Whoop whoop for this thanks, TOLD people my old car kicked ass. They laughed!!! I had the 'coupe' 214 (not actually a coupe) with a big old spoiler and alloys on her ;-)

[khalithistle]

"the cars built here are significantly different to the concertos built and sold in japan"

yeah, the ones built here fall apart much quicker

[andycarr75]

Actaully - we built the Honda Concertos for the European market in Longbridge.

[tjunction1]

rubbish to much info

[WillThePlank]

Picking up a 1995 214 on tuesday to replace my first car (a 1994 418) which won't pass it's next mot without lots of money =[

But the 214 is mint inside an out and drives and runs really nice! :D

[AlotOfSpark]

you drive a rover mate. you just rolled yourself!

[WillThePlank]

Rolled myself? What the hell is that?

And I will also point out now that the sale did not go through so I ended up with an Audi A3 instead.

Secretly still would have liked the rover though :P

[eurohome]

try to see the cabrio version....much better looking.....and prettier

[anewman1980]

Goffey always complains about the spare being under the carpet, lol. Unfortunately it's the same on almost all cars out there.

[gregorioallegri]

Perhaps car manufacturers should do as they did on my car, where the spare wheel is under the bonnet next to the engine.

[CMalburn]

What is your car? Just curious- I don't know any cars like that...

[gregorioallegri]

Mine is a Volvo 340 GL (although I don't like to admit it to many people). The engine is placed on the right side of the car and the spare wheel is positioned to the left. I think this is mainly because the gearbox is under the rear seats, but what is leftover is a huge boot which must be the biggest available on a hatchback at the time.

[Killtheunworthy]

That car is not pretty

[conceptive89]

maybe, but the coupe version and the cabrio version are so nice!!!!

and the last versions of 1993-1994 who had grille were really nice, for example 220gsi

[anewman1980]

The main bad thing about them is on most of the cars still around the trim bits have faded now.

[NickProductions20]

my first car was the red 216 GSI and i will never love a car as much as i loved that ever again.

[TurboBoy996]

Now this is how Top Gear Should be and should be made like today make Clarkson go back to being like he used to and bring back Chris Goffey and Quentin Wilson

[7137666aeb]

The silver Rover 214 (G963 XHP) died long ago; worse still,it was only four years old,presumably it must have been written off in a crash. The red Rover 216 (G981 XHP) had an even shorter lifespan,lasting only 3 years and 4 months before presumably being crashed to oblivion.

[anewman1980]

Or maybe they were only ever demo models, and were scrapped when the dealer could no longer sell them?

[minismithy90]

the 220 gti is best

[bloozeman101]

Don't Forget about the 216 TomCat Coupe ..

[Weepiest]

sorry to correct you but the tomcat didnt have the 1.6 engine. the tomcat only came with the turbo charged 'T' series. if you mean the coupe then yes they were nice. the coupe came in 1.6, 1.8vvc and 2.0 na T series.

[bloozeman101]

you are right, i am a very big rover fan, very big.

just my family ad a 216 GTi, and had a few problems with the old K series :O

[conceptive89]

no, the best is the "220 turbo coupe" 200 BHP.

[2007GanJaMan]

Nice car, 95hp from a 1.4 in 1989 is quite decent i think, never drove the 1600. Still think they are good cars now.

[discocreator76]

@2007GanJaMan Especially when you consider that Ford 1.8 litre engines only made 90bhp!!!!

[cooolcars]

@discocreator76

wrong. Fords 1.6 litre unit produced 90 bhp, then 105 for the 1.8 and then the newer 1.8 had 115 then the 2.0 had 132.

[discocreator76]

@cooolcars The CVHs only made 90bhp, as fitted to the Sierra and Mk3 Granada, that was what I was referring to. The later Zetas were more powerful but lacked torque and were horribly rough and inefficient

[xfilian1]

@2007GanJaMan Rover 200 a good car? You really have been smoking plenty of Ganja man.....

[2007GanJaMan]

@xfilian1 Owned ours from new and in 165k it never needed anything more then service items. It's just as reliable as my M5. Oh, and by the way, i don't smoke it, i sell it.

[AustinFX4]

Those were the days! Highbrow BBC TV programmes.

[stengineer]

the rover 216 is the better car, with no problems to head gaskets at all. The honda engine is simply a dream machine and will out accelarate most cars of todays standard.

[charliedcgd]

They are awful cars and started to kill of Rover!!

[andycarr75]

Nonsense. It became the UKs best selling car despite its hefty premium over the Golf, Escort and Astra.

While not a 'proper' Rover of old - it was a bloody good modern car that pushed its sector forward by offering injection engines as standard, premium interiors and a high quality fit and finish all over.

[woganfan]

It was a good car, vastly better than the Mk 5 Escort launched some two years later. Rover made excellent cars before BMW shafted them

[woganfan]

It was a good car, vastly better than the Mk 5 Escort launched some two years later. Rover made excellent cars before BMW shafted them

[playstationowner]

omg these cars are such pieces of shit. awful build quality, eat head gasgets and literally fall to bits

[gentil79]

I inherited from my father his 1991 414si. these cars sold very well in Portugal and now it seems they have disapeared, even from UK roads. The car is spotless, always kept in the garage and after 18 years of service and 110000km on the clock, is still going strong.

[vitorskoda]

at 4,16, is that green car a Allegro or a Princess?!

[sejin26]

Its an Allegro

[wranderson88]

A great throwback to the glory days of rover. I love the style of Goffey's presenting, it's so 80's.

[asbalna]

Had the 400 saloon equivilents, a J reg 414Si (in family) and an N reg 416SLi. Both were keep for many years (8+ years each). Superb ride and handling. Quality cars, always liked the black instument panels. Fantastic engines, no probs whatsoever. The 1.4 were quick enough, but the 1.6 seemed twice as powerful, even though it didn't have twice the power. N Reg still going strong locally. Spotless car. I want it back! & would swap it for my 825 Coupe! Yes i'm that mad!!!

[jetboy2]

This was and still is a great car!

[conceptive89]

nice vid!!! thanks!!