... I was not interested in getting anything flash for my first car and customizing it, so my uncle offered me a Rover 200 for £800. Thought I might as well, hopefully the money this review raises will help cover the cost.
I learnt how to drive in a Ford Fiesta and that's the same car as my ... Read review
Advantages: A car that does what it says on the tin, if it had a tin Disadvantages: It's hard to see the quality of the car with a 1.1 litre
...my uncle offered me a Rover 200 for £800. Thought I might as well, hopefully the money this review raises will help cover the cost.
I learnt how to drive in a Ford Fiesta and that's the same car as my mum (she always seems to be coming up in my reviews lately, sound like a right mummys boy) so getting into the Rover would be my first time behind a car of a different make. I remember when I was handing the money over with the sad look ... ...good deal or not. The Rover 200 is a dark green, with 5 doors (easy mistake is to say 4 doors, but don't forget the boot) and a 1.1 litre engine. Probably about as fast starting up as a childs Thomas The Tank Engine toy.
Sitting in the drivers seat the chair is adjustable enough to get into a really comfortable position, and the wheel is a very nice size. There are two small horn buttons on each side, and to be honest in a matter ... more
For those who saw my review about passing your driving test (it got a diamond last month, any excuse to throw that out there) will know that I am now behind the wheel, so everybody in the Cambridgeshire area better watch out. I've never really had that much of an interest in cars, hardly knowing my Fords from my Peugeots, but being able to drive offers fantastic freedom. I was not interested in getting anything flash for my first car and customizing it, so my uncle offered me a Rover 200 for £800. Thought I might as well, hopefully the money this review raises will help cover the cost.
I learnt how to drive in a Ford Fiesta and that's the same car as my mum (she always seems to be coming up in my reviews lately, sound like a right mummys boy) so getting into the Rover would be my first time behind a car of a different make. I remember when I was handing the money over with the sad look on my face, and then sitting in my car thinking I wish I didn't have to pay for it. Sitting in your own car for the very first time is quite something though, and I remember sitting there changing gear, pretending I was driving. My immediate feeling was that the clutch felt so much stiffer than any I'd ever used before, my parents told me I would get used to it, but I was worried I wouldn't.
As I mentioned, I'm not really one to 'soup' up my car although I did want a CD player because I love my music. My uncle had already taken the radio player out before he sold it to me, knowing my plans for a CD player.. plus I'm sure that gave him a few extra bop selling that on. I struggle to decide if I got a good deal or not. The Rover 200 is a dark green, with 5 doors (easy mistake is to say 4 doors, but don't forget the boot) and a 1.1 litre engine. Probably about as fast starting up as a childs Thomas The Tank Engine toy.
Sitting in the drivers seat the chair is adjustable enough to get into a really comfortable position, and the wheel is a very nice size. There are two small horn buttons on each side, and to be honest in a matter of life-or-death when you want to let someone know you're there the last thing you want to be doing is hunting for those. I know I've had a car pull out infront of me in a crazy situation, and as much as I'd love to be one of those young drivers that uses their horns at every possible situation, I was more interested in swerving out of the way and making sure I got out of there with my car intact.
My car does have a rev counter, I thought that was a must-have really, although I've driven my friends car and he doesn't have one yet it doesn't make a difference. Oh well, it's good to have one. The speedometre is the right dial, reading up to 130mph. There is also a temperature and petrol gage on the dashboard, both indicated on a vertical scale. The typical warning lights and lights showing if the handbreak/full beams are on also come included.
I never understood why some cars have the reverse gear next to first gear, although everyone who has driven a car like that have never complained. I just thought having gears that make the difference between going backwards and forwards right next to each other is insane. Knowing me if I ever drove one I'd be so used to my car that I'd put it in the bottom right gear rather than the top left, being so used to my own car. Would I really be that stupid? So yes my car has six years, first to fifth, as well as reverse - situated in the bottom right. The stick is quite stubby, but comfortable.
As far as the handbreak goes, I've got the monster of one. Really long and like all handbreaks it can be on at different levels. I typically only put it on one click if any, but sometimes if you're on a steep hill it can roll back so if I'm just waiting for someone I'll apply the break as well. When I was taught to drive I was always told I should hold the button when I apply the handbreak as well as when I remove it, so that it doesn't wear out the break, and thus I still do that. I really hate it when people tear the handbreak up really high because it makes me imagine the breaks ripping, so if I ever let anyone have a spin in my car for old times sake I try and hold the anger in if they do that.
The left stick coming out of the steering wheel controls the lights and indicators. Twist it twice to put your lights on, or pull it towards you to put your full beams on. As you'd imagine, lifting the stick up makes you indicate right, whilst pushing the stick down would make you indicate left. The right stick controls the window wipers - twisting two different bits changes the speed of the front and back window wipers, and pushing the stick towards you splashes water up on the front window screen to wash it. You can push the stick down to do just one wipe, although that's never usually enough. My back window water doesn't work, although it makes the noise like it wants to work so I presume it's supposed to. I guess we'll find out on MOT day, not that that's something you can fail for... is it? I've never done this before, don't yell.
You can probably find more modern interior, but you can't go wrong with the classic dark colours. It doesn't seem to attract dirt easy, but maybe that's just the people I have in my car. I've been told space in the back is generally not as cramped as other cars, and it seems pretty spacious. Could probably just about get away with it as a family car. I'm not sure the space in the boot could class it as a family car though, but it is big enough for me.
The interior light can be set so it switches on if the door is open, just like the alarm goes off if your door is open and the lights are on. The light is situated in the very middle of the car roof, which can be annoying if someone turns it on as your driving along in the dark. Speaking of alarms, the real alarm is a droan but hopefully that's something I won't have to hear again in a hurry! At least it has one, aye?
My heating dial is really stiff, although I don't really need to change it as I hardly ever get cold in my car. Only time I ever really need to use that is to clear the back window, or maybe even the rest of the windows on a really steamy day. I absolutely hate not being able to see out of windows on my car. Speaking of seeing things, the mirrors are manually changeable (not this fancy electric stuff you get nowadays). One of my mirrors is actually cracked, although it doesn't change my vision at all.
And no I didn't crack it myself. I've only been on the road 2 months, how many accidents do you expect me to have? Although I may have slightly damaged the side of the car, but thats just the stupid Cambridge roads. If you're ever driving around Cambridge as well you want to watch out, as not only will cyclists just come out infront of you (I better cut this off here before I start ranting) but I was in my friends car and one cyclist just wanted to go faster than the slow traffic but still stay on the road and practically took off my friends side mirror. Disgusting people. The petrol goes in the left side of the vehicle, there is an easy to open flap and then you have to use the key to unscrew the stopper. No sunroof sadly, but four manual to open windows and compartment down the sides of the two front doors. An ashtray is situated at the rear of the handbreak for the smokers in the back. Five black seatbelts mean safety for everyone.
I'm really unsure about my petrol gage on my car, and according to my mum it wouldn't be the first time my uncle has sold a member of the family a dud car. It seemed to go up and down a lot when I first started driving, although I've got used to it a bit. It's still not doing the 90 miles to £10's worth of petrol my dad said it should though. I try to limit myself to only spending £10 a week on petrol, as I just don't have enough money to use anymore than that. My car can make an awful squeaking noise sometimes as well, and I think the conclusion is that it's the breaks going, but I don't plan on getting it checked just yet. It's still not that bad for a car that's done over 60,000 miles and is an S reg.
For a bit of fun, I'm always on the look out for funny license plates, and whilst I'd love to get a personalised license plate the best I can do now is keeping mine that has 'BVA' as the last three letters. Get it? Bovva. Nevermind. My friend has 'FKN. Bet you get that, you dirty minds. These last three letters have given our cars names, for example my friend is now the 'FKN Fiesta' and I'm the 'BVA Rover' or maybe the 'Racing Rover' because of how embarrassing it is for my car to get up to speed. Honestly, I can be on the motorway for about 60 seconds with my footdown and still hardly be at 70mph. Once the Rover is up to speed though it does keep climbing and maintains that speed well, good if you're on a long road I guess.
Overall, as far as first cars go I'm not complaining that mine set me back £800 and may have a few things wrong with it. I'm still planning on keeping it in best condition as I can and I love the independance that comes with driving. It's not much more than a first car though. My insurance on it set me back £1,300 as well because I'm a 17 year old in my first year of driving, hopefully it goes down loads next year as I'm not planning on doing Pass Plus. I hope you all enjoyed my first ever car review (it's getting to a stage where there's few things I can say that about on Ciao) because it will probably be the last car review I do for a while. Touch wood.
Advantages: Performance motoring at a bargain price. Disadvantages: Boot space limited, back seats a bit cramped
...this coupe was an ex Rover management purchase at one year old (1700 mls) which came with all the add-ons such as a top line stereo, twin airbags and ABS.
Although, as another reviewer has stated here, this car is begining to look a bit dated now, it still has the ability to turn heads. My model is amaranth(purple) and has the pearlescent paint finish, and even now at six years old still attracts positive comments.
My car prior to this purchase ... ...after a visit to a Rover dealer for a replacement camshaft drive belt). Coincidence?(Perhaps). This resulted in the engine runnning dry without my knowledge(no overheating on the temperature gauge as no coolant in the system to register it). I assumed this had happened fairly late in my journey, and left the engine to cool before reconnecting the hose and refilling the system. However I became increasingly unhappy at the rate the coolant was disappearing ...
RobF 15.04.2004
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: very helpful Review of Rover 200 Coupe
Advantages: Stunning looks, rare to see, fantastic spec, good handling, cheap to buy and maintain Disadvantages: A few niggly faults, the 1.6 k series engine isn't much different to the 1.4
...shared my experience with my Rover Coupe.
My first car was a 1998 Rover 214Si which I bought and drove for just over a year. I was always on the look out for another car and definitely wanted to stick with Rover as my 214 had been nothing but extremely reliable and great fun to own and drive.
I was looking through the Autotrader like I do every week and came across a few Rover 200 Coupes. Wow was the first word that came into my head when I seen ... ...roads and didn't even know Rover made a Coupe.
On this particular week there were only 2 to choose from...a 1998 Tahiti Blue 216 Coupe Auto with 87,000 miles or a 1998 British Racing Green 216 Coupe Manual with 80,000 miles. At this time I was leaning more towards the blue one as my 214 was the same shade and it’s just a fantastic colour. I was put off though by the Auto box. However I thought more on the green one and thought that maybe a change ...
kris214 09.07.2009
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: very helpful Review of Rover 200 Coupe
Advantages: Reliable, Sublime handling Disadvantages: Minor Quality Niggles
...fortunate amongst the somewhat staid Rover 200 line as it is a handsome car that wears its years well. At the end of the day though, it is still a Rover whos design is over 15 years old, so if image is important to you, it might not be the car for you.
PERFORMANCE
As I mentioned, this is the Honda 1.6 version of the car with the single cam engine, however I also own a twin cam K series 200 (the newer shape) and the performance is practically identical ... ...It gets up to 60 from rest in around 9.3 seconds and on to a top speed of just over 120mph. It does generally feel nippy however, and has more than enough pull higher up the rev range. It IS a revvy engine though, and can feel a little lacklustre low down. The brakes are never less than superb, and an average £35 fill up will do 300 miles of rush hour commuting into town.
HANDLING & RIDE
The handling on these cars is absolutely superb, its not ...
dpwilkie 17.05.2007
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: very helpful Review of Rover 200 Coupe
Advantages: Cheap to buy & insure, powerful Disadvantages: Later K series models prone to head gasket problems, handling
The Rover 200 Coupe was built from 1993 until 1998, in this time there were a few variations in engine spec & interior. The early models consisted of a 1.6 a 2.0 nasp and a 2.0 Turbo with interior from the standard 92 to 96 200. Later the 2.0 & Turbo were replaced by the 1.8VVC and the 1.6 got the Rover K Series engine as opposed to the earlier Honda lump, the interior was updated with the dashboard from the bubble 200.
I own a 1998 1.8VVC which ... ...dated now with the normal Rover walnut section included, I quite like it but thats a matter of personal taste.
Safety wise there are airbags for driver and front seat passenger and the doors have side impact bars, seatbelts are fitted with pre tensioners as standard. ABS & power steering is also standard on later models but Aircon is an extra only available if it was chosen as an option when new.
The T bar roof car generate wind noise, to reduce ...
Adavies344 28.12.2003
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: very helpful Review of Rover 200 Coupe
Advantages: VVC Engine or Turbo engines are extremely quick and handle well. Targa removable roof. Disadvantages: Turbo tyre wear, not a very modern dash!
The rover coupe comes in the forms of the 216 normally aspirated (nasp) 1.6 engine, the 220 nasp 2.0 engine, the 218 VVC nasp 1.8 engine and the almighty 220 turbo 2.0 engine.
All are good engines and use pretty much the same body work. Later models have the same dash setup as the 'bubble shaped' rover 200. The 216 is a cheap, good looking car, that is cheaper to insure than the rest and relatively cheap on fuel too. Next up is the 220 2.0 nasp ... ...ask me (many would disagree, but then they haven't owned a VVC and a turbo!). The VVC utilises the same engine that is found in many of the Lotus Elise, MGF/TF and ZR160 cars. 0-60 in just over 7 secs and handling to boot. The top of the range is the 2.0 turbo, becoming hard to find in good condition with low mileage now, but if you can find a good one, it is well worth it - 0-60 in just over 6 secs and topping over 150mph! Impressive! Be warned ...
fezza101 04.04.2006
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Rover 200 Coupe
