Rover 220 Sdi > Reviews (10)

My wife has had a 220Di since April 1999 - so approaching two years old.
It was a replacement for a P reg 220Sldi which appeared to have a better engine. The 220Di is supposed to have the same engine as the 220Sldi but it doesn't seem to perform anywhere near as good as the previosu car.

This was bought on the Select scheme and it is unlikely that it will be worth anything next year as values have crashed since it was purchased in 1999. It doesn't have the bells and whistles of the 220Sldi but has remote central locking and alarm/immobiliser and electic front windows with the central console window switches -(pah!) - and several annoying rattles on the front door/handle area especially at idle. This is a design feature as it cannot be fixed (so don't bother complaining to the garage about it - this from a design engineer at Rover Longbridge). Seats and steering wheel not fully adjustable. Really annoying plastic extrusion on under dash-board which catches your shin if you are not careful getting in and out.

Problems on this car compared to the SLDi - aerial now no longer removal even with pliers! - rear wash/wipe fails regularly. Front tyres need replacing soon even though the car has only done 12000 miles. Brakes fading badly now and handbrake needs adjusting again. And surely there must be something wrong with the turbo/hoses/engine as it doesn't pick up anywhere near as well as the previous 220Sldi. Already had the hose fail on this car within three months of purchase; thankfully not the water ones so no fried engine this time, but a heavily wheezing engine does not inspire confidence for the future.

Longbridge produced cars have been consistently erratic in build quality and reliability - one of the problems which lead to its near closure. I hope that the new cars produced will be better built and more reliable as I would hate to see my former employer go under. (No! I didn't work on the car build side - I was in IT systems).

Buying one second hand I would check (if possible) with the previous owner to see what problems have been fixed since new - this will be a good indication of whther that particular one is a good buy or a nightmare.

Recommend the car if you get a good one but determining that is a real problem and why should you have to do that when alternatives are better.