I have had my Rover 25 for 6 years from new (it's a Y reg) and it's done me proud. I'm actually about to change it, but only because it's a 3 door model and my family is now three strong, and getting a small child and car seat in and out of the back seat is extremely difficult.
STATS
Bought ... Read review
Advantages: Roomier than more modern equivalents Disadvantages: Hard to get parts quickly
I have had my Rover 25 for 6 years from new (it's a Y reg) and it's done me proud. I'm actually about to change it, but only because it's a 3 door model and my family is now three strong, and getting a small child and car seat in and out of the back seat is extremely difficult.
<u>STATS</u>
Bought new in 2001 (Y-reg), it's done just over 87,000 miles. It’s had the brakes replaced a couple of times, most recently ... ...oil leak.
When I bought mine I got the standard model with two exceptions, I paid the extra for the full size spare wheel and I switched the sun roof for air conditioning, and it's the air conditioning that's been the only real non-wear-and-tear problem that I've had with my car in the six years I've owned it. It's broken three times. The first couple of times were while it was still under warranty, so it was repaired for free. The ... more
I have had my Rover 25 for 6 years from new (it's a Y reg) and it's done me proud. I'm actually about to change it, but only because it's a 3 door model and my family is now three strong, and getting a small child and car seat in and out of the back seat is extremely difficult.
<u>STATS</u> Bought new in 2001 (Y-reg), it's done just over 87,000 miles. It’s had the brakes replaced a couple of times, most recently in March this year (2007) and it's just sprung an oil leak.
When I bought mine I got the standard model with two exceptions, I paid the extra for the full size spare wheel and I switched the sun roof for air conditioning, and it's the air conditioning that's been the only real non-wear-and-tear problem that I've had with my car in the six years I've owned it. It's broken three times. The first couple of times were while it was still under warranty, so it was repaired for free. The last time was a couple of years ago and I haven't had it fixed since.
It's a good little runner, and while it isn't as quick off the mark as a petrol equivalent, it's by no means sluggish, you just have to know how to drive a diesel car to get the best out of it.
Economically, its fuel consumption is pretty good. I get 45-50 miles to the gallon out of mine, but I do drive hard and fast (I'm not telling how fast). When I took it over to France for a driving holiday I was a little more careful about sticking to the speed limits and most of the time I was on 60mph roads, and then I was getting 50-60 miles to the gallon (plus diesel is so much cheaper over there).
The servicing interval is also quite good. It's 1 year or 12,000 miles. All of my services have been 12,000 mile ones because I used to do a lot of mileage. Most of those 87,000 miles were done in the first 5 years.
It falls in the lowest tax category, but it's a diesel (second highest within the category), so my tax for this year (2007-2008) was £115.00.
Unfortunately with the demise of Rover, it's getting harder to find garages that have even the most standard of parts in stock for unplanned repairs. Mine is currently in the garage awaiting replacement pipe work for the oil system, which has recently corroded through. On the other hand, the parts aren't particularly expensive. Finding a garage to do your servicing is easier, and as you usually book services in advance, it gives them time to get the parts in for you.
One of the biggest problems I've had with looking for a new car, is that I can't get comfortable in the seats after my Rover. The seats are very comfortable and 'buckety', and the lumbar support works a treat. I'm not what you might call svelte, and some more modern cars have seats that are so hard and narrow that I feel as though I'm going to topple off them when I'm cornering. There's none of that with my car.
The suspension could be described as being a touch soggy. Driving along a bumpy road can feel like you're sitting on a trampoline and gently bouncing up and down. Me, I prefer that to the tooth-rattling you can get from a car with a firm suspension. My partner loves it because it makes certain parts of my anatomy bounce up and down, in what he describes as 'a very enticing manner’!
I've done many miles in this car, and many long distance trips, and even with my bad back, I only suffer from the occasional ache.
It's also quite roomy for a small car. My partner is 6'6" (with very big feet) and he doesn't drive. He has enough room in the passenger side (leg, foot and headroom) to be reasonably comfortable even on long journeys. Certainly more so than most more recent small cars. In our hunt for a new car he has sat in every car that comes in a diesel, non-saloon model within our budget (so no Jags unfortunately) and there were only six cars he could get comfortable in, just sitting in the showroom, never mind out on the road. All but one of those were midrange to large cars, two were estates and two were MPVs.
I appreciate that he's an extreme case, but it speaks volumes for the roominess of this small car.
The legroom in the back isn't so good. It's fine for children and adults up to about 5'10", over that and it can get a bit cramped for long trips. Even my partner has managed to sit in the back (behind me) on the odd occasion when the thing we've just bought from Ikea will only fit in the car if we slide it into the passenger footwell, and I refuse to pay their delivery charges. Of course he grumbles about it all the way home and whimpers every time I hit a pothole (not deliberately, honest)
The boot is quite spacious, and you can pack quite a lot into it if you try (more trips to Ikea), and the rear seats fold down with a 2-1 split. They're very easy to fold away. There's a lever on the back of each section which you simply lift, and then push the seatback forwards to fold it down. There's also a loop handle on the back of each section that you grab to pull the seatback back up again, and it just clicks back into place.
In summary, it's a great little car and I'm only getting rid of mine because I have to. I was sorely tempted to try to find a 5-door model to buy, but I decided in the end that I needed something a little bigger to carry all the paraphernalia that goes along when you travel with a baby.
Advantages: stylish design, sporty look for my model, good performance and running cost, feels good on the road Disadvantages: interior looks cheap
...We have been driving a rover 414 Sli model for 3 years. As any old cars (this is a K registration), repairs got a bit pricey year after year. The car has nothing wrong with it. It has passed all its MOTs, has a very good service history and is actually a very good runner. We are quite sad to sell it away. But we know the person who is driving it today and it is a bit of a relief.
So why did we get rid off it if it is a cracker, I hear you say?
... ...eye on a Tahiti Blue Rover 25 2.0l TDi IL model, W registration for under £5300. We checked the value of the car with the help of an online price car checker.
The only downfall was the travelling distance we had to do to view it, about 200miles from our home.
We still phoned the car dealer and obtained more information. We had to go down and see it. So we put a deposit to secure the car.
I am not going to tell about the trip as it has been a nightmare ...
alexandrapontecaille 05.03.2003
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this car review on average: very helpful Review of Rover 25 2.0 TD
Advantages: fast acceleration, reliable engine, good road handling, used prices, understated yet nice to look at Disadvantages: brakes are'nt the best, tax on older models, and skimping on materials on newer ones
I own a rover 25 diesel (101) currently and can't think of a better value for money car. The acceleration is smooth and strong especially after cleaning the maf sensor, and i find my economy is about 50 or just under on mixed driving, though mostly short journeys. It is unfair to fault the L series engine as almost anyone with anyone with knowledge on it will tell you it is 'bulletproof' in its reliability.
Some small build niggles such as the plastic ... ...i would be angry at rover for as cars do have problems, most recently was the solenoid connectors needed replacing which cost £8 and a few hours. The only other 'fault' was i had to replace a section of the exhaust which, lets face it, goes on any car of this age and mileage.
The car has plenty of room for a small family and a reasonable boot, whilst still being light weight enough to move with pace, very few other diesels with this much horsepower ...
captainroll 13.06.2007 (11.06.2007)
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Rover 25 2.0 TD
Advantages: Solid feel and drive to it Disadvantages: the price
This is my third Rover 200 series vehicle, all have been good solid motors and I have had no trouble what so ever with the running of them. the MPG of the petrol version was around 35 miles to the gal, the Diesel gave me between 45 and 60 miles to the gal depending on how I was driving.
The finish of the interior was very nice, and it does look the part.
The road handling was very smoth and you feel you are driving a large car, it feels solid.
... ...price drop, I purchased my current vehicle for £14,000 and two weeks later the price droped to £11,500, this really put me of the Rover.
If I put the price annoyance behind me then I can truthfully say the car runs and performs well and I've had no mechanical problems at all. ...
flightsimer 07.09.2000
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Rover 25 2.0 TD
Advantages: nice little mover Disadvantages: price
this is an ecellent small car with the big feel for anyone, looks cool and sporty especially if in a black or british racing green. Interior is finished off extremely well and the driving is a joy. The diesel version gives a lot of punch and can, using the turbo, move at a good pace. The 100 horse power engine helps a lot here and it does pick up the speed very quickly and smoothly.
The driving feels very solid, you feel you are driving a tank that ...
lindajane 07.09.2000
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this car review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Rover 25 2.0 TD
I bought a rover 25 not too long ago for a good price, with the usual in mind; economy,reliability, price but was surprised to find how well these things drive. i was taken aback by the punchy,smooth 2 litre turbo diesel engine which will give the majority of cars on the road a run for their money! since buying it, i haven't looked back and will definately look to buying a diesel in the future.ok,so they're a bit noisy,and smell slightly more than ...
kona_boy87 27.09.2005
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this car review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Rover 25 2.0 TD
