While my wife’s Vauxhall Corsa was in for repair, the AA and Vauxhall between them hired us a Rover 25 for six days. When I turned up at the Europcar desk in Stafford I was down to hire a sexy black 1800 Seat Leon, which had my taste buds going with excitement. As soon as the clerk learnt ... Read review
Advantages: Cheap to buy and run. Nice to drive. Disadvantages: Image of slippers and carpet sticks however unjust it is
...between them hired us a Rover 25 for six days. When I turned up at the Europcar desk in Stafford I was down to hire a sexy black 1800 Seat Leon, which had my taste buds going with excitement. As soon as the clerk learnt I was taking the car away and wouldn’t be returning it to her branch she changed my car into a Rover 25, so she could keep the Lovely Seat for the people of Stafford!
I should have been happy with this as they ... ...I had “ Roger the Rover “, I drove just over 500 miles in him. The car was a five-door hatchback fitted with a 1400 injection 16-value engine. The car was painted in Wedgwood blue which is a very light blue metallic paint and it really suits the Rover model.
Rover 25’s History
*******************
This Rover model started life as the Rover 200 series back in 1995 and gained a good reputation ... more
While my wife’s Vauxhall Corsa was in for repair, the AA and Vauxhall between them hired us a Rover 25 for six days. When I turned up at the Europcar desk in Stafford I was down to hire a sexy black 1800 Seat Leon, which had my taste buds going with excitement. As soon as the clerk learnt I was taking the car away and wouldn’t be returning it to her branch she changed my car into a Rover 25, so she could keep the Lovely Seat for the people of Stafford!
I should have been happy with this as they hired me a car, completely free of charge that was bigger than the car I was driving. I was however unhappy as it was a boring Rover, and it wouldn’t have impressed me even if it did 200mph on the long drive back to Newcastle. I had it in for the car and nothing would change my mind about it!.
Over the six days I had “ Roger the Rover “, I drove just over 500 miles in him. The car was a five-door hatchback fitted with a 1400 injection 16-value engine. The car was painted in Wedgwood blue which is a very light blue metallic paint and it really suits the Rover model.
Rover 25’s History *******************
This Rover model started life as the Rover 200 series back in 1995 and gained a good reputation as a reliable car. The cars lasted well and for the first time, Rover had a car that did not rust away from underneath you. I have yet to see an example with any kind of body rust on models made after 1995. Rust on these cars usually means they have been involved in an accident or are a mega mileage car so are to be avoided at all costs.
BMW took over Rover and help give the old models a facelift, which again greatly improved the models looks by adding a classic Rover Grill and lights. The Rover 25 was born! It is basically the same car, which has been updated instead of replaced. Saying that is the Rover 25 a bad car?
What I don’t like about the car *******************************
The Radio: - It’s the worst looking radio cassette unit I have seen in a car for a long while and it wreaks of cheap material. It is also ackward to use as its hard to see the display as you are looking down on it from a sharp angle. The steering wheel also has mounted buttons to change the volume and station. I found these easy to knock when turning the steering wheel round fast and had to keep stopping the car to return the station as the pre set buttons did not work in the North East. Its something that takes you attention away from driving therefore as a safety issue I did not like it. Saying that however the radio gives a hard solid sound out via the quaility speaker system. A plus point is that it wont be stolen!.
Interior Parts: - Again some of the dash plastic were cheap and ugly. You could tell things like the surround around the clock had been designed with nothing but price in mind. The different plastics where slightly different shades and therefore did not go together. The dash of a car should be well designed and nice to look at. This happened either when the car was upgraded to the 25 model, or its because my car was a hire vehicle and had been built to a lower spec to help make it cheaper, because previous Rover models arenot built like this.
I am being completely honest and these are the only things I did not like. I have found more things I did not like on a 1999 Mondeo. Therefore Rover must have done something right!
What I liked about the car. ***************************
The Cars Handling: - Believe it or not I loved the cars ride. It was lovely, smooth and made me feel safe to drive it. It hung on around corners like the tyres had super glue on them even in the wet. There is a bumpy road next to us, and it handled the bumps lovely so much so I did not realise that I had gone over them.
The Performance :- It’s got a 1400 engine and because it’s was an iL model it develops 103BHP. There is also a less powerful iE model which only puts out 84 horsepower. The more powerful engine is properly the one to go for, as the miles per gallon are the same on paper. However it gives you an extra 7mph at the top end and it could save you two seconds from the 0 – 60mph time, if you can drive it properly.Normally only rally drivers can drive a car to get the maximum out of a car without wheelslip and wihout loosing seconds changing gear. The car would drive about very happily, without the engine working hard. This car however was a wolfs in sheeps, clothes when you opened the engine up over 4500 revs per minute. The engine would then growl into life and it felt like the car had a Turbo fitted by the amount of extra power that suddenly came rushing in. The car continued to pull well especially in 3rd gear to well over the maximum permitted speed limit.
The Looks: - The front of a Rover now shares the same front-end looks of the Rover 45 and 75 models. You can be driving around in a car that can easily be mistaken for the elegant “Rover 75”. The Rover 75 in my eyes is a masterpiece and a joy to look at when it glides along the road. Yet you can drive a mini look a like for some £10000 less. The Rover 25 doesn’t look like it’s based on a 7-year-old design. Its got that timeless classic look that in my eyes looks better than half these modern cars with there radical looks.
The Package ***********
Rover are always advertising their new models on the radio and in the paper, therefore look out for there special deals. The prices start at only £7995, at the moment for a three door Special edition Impression with the lower BHP 1400 engine.
Included in this they include: -
1 Years Road Tax. 1 Years AA cover 2 Years free servicing 3 Years Warranty
And 1 Years free insurance if you upgrade and get the Impression S model if your aged 21-80
If you consider for a Ford Focus 1400 CL 3 door the price is £10495 or for a 5 door Astra 1400 £11179. Therefore you are could save £2500 and get 2 years free insurance which the other makers don’t offer.
Conclusion **********
I grew more fond of this car the more I drove it. It’s never going to be outstanding in its class due to the age of the design. However it standards up well against other newer cars because of the upgrade BMW help with before disappearing with the Mini name! The car was well equipped with Central locking, Electric Windows and a slightly heavy but extremely positive power stressing system. The car performed well and returned over 42mpg.
The winner for this car is the price. It cannot be better. The New MG models with their excellent good looks, and attractive colours sell for under £10000 and are the smartest car you can buy for the price. One thing I like about the Rover is that they are British, and I have always tried to support British businesses, but in this case the Rover range continue to sell them selves well because of there value for money cars.
Sorry it has not been a technical review but please refer to www.parkers.co.uk or www.rover.co.uk if you require these details. I hope you will understand as otherwise would have got on for too long.
So the Big Question is – Would I Buy One??? Answer is Yes. I would be happy with the car I had on hire, but more than likely would go for one of there sporty Rover ZR models in Trophy Blue. Cos I love them!
Advantages: A good all round car with a smart look Disadvantages: Bit cramped for a tall person
Rover cars have had a tough time recently, well the last 30 years if I am to be honest. The lowest point in the companies history must have been when it was sold to BMW, but for the consumer I believe it was a Godsend. For BMW invested heavily in the company and produced 3 very fine cars and 1 in particular took my fancy, the new Rover 25. I liked it so much that I went out and brought one before Christmas and have never looked back since.
*****Power ... ...front looks similar to the Rover 75 giving you a feeling of superiority of other small car drivers and the tailgate has a great look to it giving the car a good all round look. Your alloy wheels can be changed to a more racier look with the 16-inch ‘Active’ sports wheel, however I went for the more classy ‘Fission’ look which is 15 inch’s.
*****High Performance with Safety*****
The performance of the car is fine, no ...
K-stand 15.03.2001
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: very helpful Review of Rover 25 1.4
Advantages: high BHP for a small engine! Disadvantages: Has devalued enormously!
...this may be influenced by Rover going bust though!
4) Don't know if we are just unlucky, but the bulbs tend to blow alot!
5) Both the back and middle part of the exhaust has had to be replaced already - again don't know if we are just unlucky!
6) Watch out for the ariel, it doesnt like being reversed into a lower garage etc - it snaps right off!
Good:
1) Powerful - being a light car with 103bhp, it's a pretty nippy car!
2) Fuel consumption ... ...pretty pleased with the car, however it is very doubtful that we will buy a Rover again simply because there are so many better cars out there for us - a bigger one will be needed next time and the 45's and 75's do not appeal to me at all! ...
sportyminx 21.02.2007
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Rover 25 1.4
Advantages: Good Handling, Economical and Stylish Looks. Disadvantages: Basic Interior and depreciates rapidly.
...I was given was a Rover 25 1·4 ie so I thought why not give the car the once over and then write an opinion for the Ciao readers.
The Rover 25 1·4 ie 16V looks nice but looks can be deceiving and the interior does not live up to the promise of the exterior. The inside is basic, but it is a basic model so I shouldn't expect too much, you get remote central locking, a cassette/radio, drivers airbag and a sunroof for your £8K+ (prices vary between ... ...The handling is excellent and Rover has carried the good handling tradition of the Rover 200 through to the Rover 25 models. However the power steering is slightly on the heavy side and therefore the handling was not as good as my Ford Focus.
The 16 valve injection develops 84 bhp in this economy model which gives the car a very good pick-up for a car with only a 1400 cc engine. Because the car is an economy model it delivers good fuel consumption ...
Woolyback 06.02.2003
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Rover 25 1.4
Advantages: Cheap to run, good handling. Disadvantages: Starting to look dated now.
I upgraded to a Rover 25 1.4i from my Rover 100, which had frankly seen better days. My immediate opinion of this car was "wow, this thing can move"! Okay, so I'm probably a little biased given I was driving what was basically a 1.1 Metro, but it really was more responsive than I was expecting from a 1.4 Rover - no longer was I having to coax my car at roundabouts and junctions!
Image wise it was a major step-up from the Rover 100, which was essentially ... ...offered by rival manufacturers, something Rover are often a victim of - their designs just do not held the market as well others.
In terms of fuel comsumption, it's really rather economical for a 1.4litre car - I'm not noticing a big difference in comparison to my Rover 100, which is a distinct advantage, and I dare say I'm not getting the best fuel consumption anyway as the majority of my driving is urban.
Space wise, it's not great for the taller ...
KJayT 11.08.2004
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Rover 25 1.4
Advantages: Hatchback for 4 Disadvantages: Old fogey reputation
I've now had my Rover 25 for over a year, and not had a single problem from it (other than those imposed by the local vandals - but that's not to do with the car!). Having bought it off my stepdad-in-law, I also know that he has had not problems with it - so thats 3.5 years of hassle free motoring. In terms of ride etc, it's pretty good - nice tight steering, firm suspension and enough poke to get around in. I made the step up from my 1.2 Punto and ... ...wouldn't recommend going to a Rover garage (my local is a Rover/Fiat - I don't know if there are still full Rover garages after Rover's collapse). Talking of Rover going under, this has also added to the reduction in prices - you can usually pick up a decent 3 yr old model for around £3k - which is a bargain. Don't worry about spare parts - these are usually made by independant suppliers (usually the same guys who supplied Rover in the 1st place!).
...
mightyred 09.02.2006
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Rover 25 1.4
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Advantages: Goo dhandling, responsive power steering & easy to park Disadvantages: Immobiliser/alarm issues & wider than average doors on the 3 door model
I replaced my aging 1995 Rover 214SEi in November with a new Rover25 Advantage model. This is basically the standard 1.4i model with metallic paint, alloy wheels and 3 years or 45,000 miles servicing thrown in.
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