Rover 200 BRM LE

[GTA]

The fiesta has got to go, its a pile of crap.

However, as I've recently graduated, money is slightly tight. I've got about 3-4K to spend, and while looking around, I discovered that the 1999 BRMs now only cost 2 grand for a really decent example.

And that 2 grand buys a lot of car:

1.8 VVi engine, 1/4 mile in ~16 seconds and 0-60 in ~7.5

Handling is apparantly awesome, since its got race tuned suspension, lightweight 16" alloys and a limited slip diff as standard.

As well as being british racing green with bright red leather interior, aircon, CD player etc.

Looks something like this


What do you reckon? And yes, I know its a ****ing Rover.

[leowyatt]

I've been given a lift in one and it was a good laugh as a passenger

[Flibster]

Good car *even though it is a rover*

Love the interior. The suspension enhancements helped a lot with the car - it's fun to drive - not really that hard or bad on bumpy roads either.

Engine is a normal Rover engine - look after it and all's good.

Plus - it's reasonably rare.

For under 2k - good deal imo.

Simon/~Flibster

[Burble]

The foul orange bit at the front (I've not had enough coffee yet, so the proper term escapes me) would put me off, as would having to replace the headgasket every 20 minutes.

That said, they've very nice to drive and for £2k, it sounds like a good deal.

[Flibster]

Originally Posted by Burbleflop

The foul orange bit at the front (I've not had enough coffee yet, so the proper term escapes me) would put me off, as would having to replace the headgasket every 20 minutes.

That said, they've very nice to drive and for £2k, it sounds like a good deal.

The clown gob?

Thats due to BRM though - well the BRM F1 cars anyway.

Simon/~Flibster

[Dr. Z]

Originally Posted by Burbleflop

The foul orange bit at the front (I've not had enough coffee yet, so the proper term escapes me) would put me off, as would having to replace the headgasket every 20 minutes.

That said, they've very nice to drive and for £2k, it sounds like a good deal.

The whole HGF thing was exaggerated in the extreme by countless morons in motors. People who spank their cars from cold suffer it eventually but its not a dead cert. The only reason it happens is due to the mislocation of the temperature sensor - make sure it is up to temperature and *then* go for it and its many miles of motoring.

For £2k, seems alright to me! Anything else you would consider for that kind of money? You can get 220s for half that money and if you are mechanically minded you can sort any rust issues before they become a problem.

[Burble]

Originally Posted by DRZ

The whole HGF thing was exaggerated in the extreme by countless morons in motors. People who spank their cars from cold suffer it eventually but its not a dead cert. The only reason it happens is due to the mislocation of the temperature sensor - make sure it is up to temperature and *then* go for it and its many miles of motoring.

I was judging it on personal experience but if you wish to consider me as a moron, please go right ahead. Not everyone is a sheep you know, some of us do manage to form our own opinions based on fact.

That isn't the only reason it happens, the head gaskets were poorly designed so that the seals keeping the coolant out of the cylinders would often come away from the gasket.

[GTA]

HGF was a problem, but I was on an owners club forum earlier and it seems like its been solved. As Burpleflop said, the liners would drop, coolant gets in the cyliners, mayonaise everywhere, engine ****ed. However....

What happened was that despite Rover going under, Landrover was still fitting the K-series 1.8 engine to freelanders, and although minor improvements had been made, gaskets were still going. Landrover therefore redesigned the gasket and lower rail. Together, they're less than £100 to buy from Landrover, and are reported to have sorted the issue, if fitted properly. ( another reason for the gaskets going was that the liners were being mounted flush with the block, and therefore not creating a proper seal when compressed. If fitted so they stand proud by a fraction of a mm, then they don't drop, and HGF is at least far less likely )

In any case DRZ, mislocation of the temp sensor was never ever the only cause of HGF in the k-series.

However, yes I would consider other cars for somewhere between 2 and 3 grand. I looked about, and for about that I could get a 70-100,000 mile Golf GTI, or lower milage Seat Ibiza 2.0

I'm very open to suggestions.

[GTA]

Well, the bright orange thing on the front isn't exactly a deal breaker. When the car came out, priced at £18,000 (!) it did put people off, so a few dealers resprayed them silver or racing green. No reason I couldn't do the same. The other option is to fit an MG bodykit, which replaces the front section, and adds sideskirts and a lower rear bumper. Its not a chav aftermarket kit, it was fitted as standard to the MG ZR range, and is pretty subtle.

To look at it another way, with that kit added, its an MG ZR 160, but lighter and with better handling, for 2 grand.

Or to look at it yet another way, its a car with the same performance as a new Golf GTI, for 2 grand.

Like you guys have said, for the money, can't complain.

( P.S. Its faster than Gilly's car, but not advertised by Terry Henry or that poof doctor from Holby City )

[GTA]

You got a 172/182 then gillboy? I stand corrected.