I've got the opportunity of getting a rover 800 2litre for free. It's got six months mot and one week tax. In nice condition but got usual probs with immobiliser and door locks. If I get it i'd have to scrap one of my mondeos to make room. Is it worth it?

New career as a banger racer?? Best thing to do with Rover's i recon!!!

Partridge was always a fan of the vitesse fastback, and the vauxhall labrador too...

Yeh it's my bosses old car and we used to take the p**s out of it but it's free and in really nice condition, whereas my mondeo is a bit of a shed and is probably going to get scrapped come mot time.

I love Rover 800's so I'm biased but say keep it. The 800 was probably the best car (Technically speaking) that rover ever sold.

The Mk2 820 was a very good car --- The early Mk1 with the single point injection had more than a few glitches but all the 4 cylinder 820 models with multi-point injection were near bullet proof, much more so than the V6 versions.

Handling is good but it is a big car so don't expect nimble just very predictable and sure footed however the wet weather handling is truly outstanding.

The 820 Mpi gives roughly 136 to 140 bhp depending on year not a lot for a big car but most of those horses are real with super smooth power delivery.

If the engine leaks oil between the head and block regard it as normal --- its a hangover from the MGB origins of the cylinder block.

If the steering is over light it needs a new rack --- not major and not expensive.
If the brake pedal sinks when very light pressure is applied then a new master cylinder repair kit is required -- easy.
Hand brake should lock both rear wheels on gravel but won't be brilliant --- setup is almost identical to the Sierra with discs.
Speedo may read 20% fast -- quite a common problem can be fixed diy.

Thanks for that guys. There might be a free mondeo estate coming up on here soon. Mot'd and taxed till beginning of January and 1994 so don't need cat for kit car. Drive it home and rip the engine out.

"...If the engine leaks oil between the head and block regard it as normal --- its a hangover from the MGB origins of the cylinder block..."

Thats what I was going to say. I never saw one that didn't seep oil from the head.

adrian

It just need the head gasket changing to stop the oil leak always work on the ones i have done
easy job to do

Trick for a long term cure of the oil leaks was a tiny ring of instant gasket around the oil feed hole in the top face of the new gasket, and tiny bead of same along the nearest edge of the gasket.
Leave it to cure for a several hours before re-fitting the head.

Same trick worked a treat on Chrysler Avenger engines which had a very similar problem.

"It's three days before Christmas, and I drive the Rover Vitesse Fastback to the Royal Norwich Hospital"

i had a rover 800 saloon and loved it, p reg. nicknamed the duchess! did a couple of lemans trips full of mates and their luggage, sold it to a guy who wanted something cheap to pull his caravan, and its still going strong. i'ds have another if i didnt have a 75 at the moment

paul

The 820 Turbo engine in the 75 would have been a nice combination better than a 1.8 turbo or KV6.

Unless my insurance co. puts the knackers on it I think I'll get it. I'd still rather have proper mini though cos mentally I don't think I'm old enough for a Rover.

820 is in about as low an insurance group as any 2litre car can be group 11