Project Dollywobbler's Rover 45 - STOP - Carry on.

[dollywobbler]

Here we go then. A tale of ridiculous stupidity. Times two.

 

I started yesterday by driving the Subaru Impreza from home to Peterborough - a quick 195 miles with impressively little traffic. The Impreza is at the back of this lot.

 

I helped shift some cars, which meant driving the Mk1 Mondeo saloon - an auto with beige interior. I failed to get any photos. I also got to drive a Merc 190E 2.6, which was pleasant. I enjoyed the wiper.

 

Then it was time to start the caper proper, which meant a train.

 

I made a terrible error.

 

I had train envy.

 

I reached Alfreton to collect a car from Mrbollox, but I was quite a lot early. Bub to the rescue!

 

Hilarity was had. I managed not to die.

 

BONUS VOLVO.

 

Mr B was met and he introduced me to his charming Rover. It was covered in dust and cobwebs and full of his stuff. 0/10 for presentation. In fact, some of his stuff is still in it. I dashed off to grab fuel, as the night was young.

 

I also decided to check the tyre pressures, as I thought the fronts look low. I'm a shit judge of tyre pressures. They were fine. However, the rears were both low! For extra LOLs, the offside rear valve didn't reseat properly and went flat while I was doing the other side. Oh how I laughed.

 

The plan now was to head to Birmingham, jump on a train and collect car number two. Trains are shit though, and wouldn't get me to the car until 11pm. Gee, that's useful! So I drove instead.

 

Yes, a 1999 Daewoo Matiz SE, first sold to, er, me! The only car I've been stupid enough to buy new. It was a lot cheaper 19 years on.

 

That meant another one of these. I'd day-insured the Matiz, which I'm leaving with a friend in Brum, so I abandoned the Rover temporarily and set off - complete with a blowing, rattly exhaust, a shafted CV joint, a coolant leak and a humming wheel bearing. She's going to need some love. However, it was bloody great to drive it again. I'd forgotten just how much I love them. It makes the Nippa feel entirely half-arsed.

 

Not that everything was going to plan...

 

This morning, the Nippa was abandoned at my friend's house and I went all public transport again. I didn't catch or get run over by this tram.

 

The Rover was still where I'd left it in Hinckley, so I took it for a wash. Then, I had a business meeting in Stratford, so I drove over there. There was only one place to stop for lunch. Garden centre!

 

On the way over, the brake warning light had been flashing occasionally. It didn't change with pedal pressure, which led me to suspect a low brake fluid level. However, I couldn't open the bonnet, so I announced how shit I was to the world and went for lunch.

 

Afterwards, I discovered that you push the safety catch to the side, not towards you... The level was indeed low.

 

The meeting overran quite dramatically, so I didn't even start driving back home until 1840hrs. By 7pm, I'd stopped for food and felt exhausted. Food perked me up a bit and I got my foot down. Which meant...

 

Actually, it had delivered 30mpg, so no complaints there. However, 223 miles had taken it down to quarter of a tank! Needs moar capacity. It was wonderful for just eating up the miles though. It's a three hour schlep home, and it wasn't a hardship at all. The ride is good, the gearbox is super-smooth, the handling reassuring. It's exactly what I want - a bit of luxury that isn't the size of a house. It fits Welsh roads. 

 

Eventually, home was achieved. I've clocked up over 250 miles in the Rover in a crazy two day spell that included driving four other vehicles. I would relax, but I've got to drive 170 miles in the Invacar tomorrow...

 

Anyway, thanks Mr Boll! I love it. As I suspected I would when you first bought it. Cheers for fixing stuff along the way!

 

[davehedgehog31]

What a fine brace of motors, well bought.

 

Look forward to hearing about them.

 

Re Bubs trike, is that the back seat from a Ford SportKa?

[dollywobbler]

Re Bubs trike, is that the back seat from a Ford SportKa?

 

Yes. Yes it is. It's very upright.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

What a relief!!!! I'm super chuffed that you of all people have taken custodianship of this fine honk of Rovershite. Cant wait to see it in a hubnut film. Long may it carrry on needing to be filled up with juice!!!

[bub2006]

Yes. Yes it is. It's very upright.

Brackets are to be made to adjust the back angle. At the same time I adjust the belts. Never been a priority as I tend to mainly sit in the comfy seat at the front off of a BMW E39

[dollywobbler]

What a relief!!!! I'm super chuffed that you of all people have taken custodianship of this fine honk of Rovershite. Cant wait to see it in a hubnut film. Long may it carrry on needing to be filled up with juice!!!

I did start experiencing regret when the driver's window refused to close properly, but it turned out the seal had just gone a bit funny. Rover life.

[Broadsword]

This will make for a good video, utter madness. I love it. The idea of the V6 Rover 45 is quite appealing to me, I get your logic for buying it. Your enthusiasm for the Matiz is baffling but commendable, I don't know anything about them though. All in all sounds like you've had fun.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Oh yeah it does that admittedly. As long as you dont wind it all the way to the bottom its fine!!! I think it needs the door taking apart to reposition the seal, to cure it properly.

[blguy1975]

How have you brought a Rover 45 V6 that wasn't owned by Craig Cheetham ?

Must be only one

They are lovely

 

Matiz are great too , drive like a Mini

Well brought sir !

[Asimo]

Can thoroughly commend Matiz rear springs for improving my Honda.

[LightBulbFun]

im looking forward to your continued adventures/work on all of this so where do plan to store all of these Awesome cars? if my maths is correct your up to 7 cars now!

 

ill say im surprised no ones pointed out that both TWC and the daewoo have 725 Reg plates I cant imagine there are many of these early? daewoos left on the streets today, but who woulda guessed it that when DW bought the daewoo brand new he would also get an invacar with a similar* reg nearly 20 years later 

 

PS will we get a video on the Trike? because that thing is Fucking awesome   (still boggles the mind how that thing is some how road legal LOL)

[bub2006]

I have folk asking how is it legal. I've yet to find someone who can actually answer when I say why shouldn't it be legal?!

[richardthestag]

+1 on Matiz likeage

 

I must be a closet shite little old lady car lover

[bezzabsa]

Trike is actually one of a few that use as much of the reliant so as to remain legal....

 

strangely a few aerial 3 'Trikes' have started to appear - Looking nothing like an aerial 3 !!!!!!

 

Go figure!

[rantingYoof]

A Rover 45 with window issues?

 

Say it ain't so.

[barefoot]

...It makes the Nippa feel entirely half-arsed.

 

 

Unimpressed as I am with the Matiz, I can only say that a Nippa must be insufferably dismal.

 

Once again Ian, I am lost for words.

[bub2006]

Trike is actually one of a few that use as much of the reliant so as to remain legal....

 

strangely a few aerial 3 'Trikes' have started to appear - Looking nothing like an aerial 3 !!!!!!

 

Go figure!

Front suspension and a frame,rear suspension, drive train,engine and chassis. Along with wheels fuel tank brakes and Speedo all as was on the car. It's certainly more legal than a lot I know of. Either a diy frame and bike engine with reliant reg number or a vw reg number with metro engine and subframe slung at the back. Love the rover. Such an understated motor with that engine.

[gadgetgricey]

Had a Matiz as a hire car years ago.

Don't know if it was the hire car element or the Matiz element, but I loved it.

 

Loved the engine noise when revved hard (see hire car comment above)

[Shonky]

It's a crime that this is the first Daewoo I've seen on AS in a while. I like the prefaces, and I like that colour! Fantastically boughted.

[Crooner]

I thought I knew most Rover Shenanigans, but never knew about a 45 in a V6 flavour. They must of made about as many of these as Panther Rios or decent TV programmes on Channel 5. Also I now find out they made OMGHGF K series in a 1.6! I feel inadequate.

[dollywobbler]

It's a crime that this is the first Daewoo I've seen on AS in a while. I like the prefaces, and I like that colour! Fantastically boughted.

I was also involved with another Daewoo on this site not that long ago. Not financially.

[Felly Magic]

You must be having a real logistical headache with all these cars now. Will we get to see a head to head of the Matiz & Nippa?

[dollywobbler]

You must be having a real logistical headache with all these cars now. Will we get to see a head to head of the Matiz & Nippa?

 

I certainly plan on it.

 

Today was the first time I've been out in the Rover since getting it home. It is most pleasant, though Mrs DW doesn't like that sodding seatbelt, nor the fact that the passenger wiper clears about 10% of the bit of windscreen she looks through. She also finds the seats uncomfortable. Mind you, she still reckons Mini seats are the most comfortable. Her back is that strange.

 

Lots of 'stuck behind people' driving today though, and pouring rain, and diversions due to a road closure. The sort of driving where you just want effortless. Ideal. It remains a lovely drive. I must vacuum the dog hair out of it and clean it up a bit.

[chatsharris]

A Rover 45 with window issues?

 

Say it ain't so.

You'll say the door handle came off in your hand next!

[rantingYoof]

You'll say the door handle came off in your hand next!

HOW ON EARTH COULD YOU POSSIBLY KNOW THIS???!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[dollywobbler]

First longer drive since getting it home. Lovely.

 

Only problem was some hills showing up the hilarious lack of torque. I made up for it by nudging it into Sport mode, which allows it to rev beyond 7000rpm! While not actually going very quickly. In many ways, it's an odd vehicle. Better to sit back and waft really, which suits the character of the car rather more. It's a bit like a W123 Mercedes for the Noughties. It doesn't encourage a hoon.

[Lacquer Peel]

What's the ride and handling like? I gather they're set up a bit stiffer than the previous 400.

[Roverageous]

First longer drive since getting it home. Lovely.

 

Only problem was some hills showing up the hilarious lack of torque. I made up for it by nudging it into Sport mode, which allows it to rev beyond 7000rpm! While not actually going very quickly. In many ways, it's an odd vehicle. Better to sit back and waft really, which suits the character of the car rather more. It's a bit like a W123 Mercedes for the Noughties. It doesn't encourage a hoon.

Quite so - the 2.0v6 coupled to the jatco autobox in my 75 can be hilarious at times. It's lovely and smooth though.

 

I was supposed to be bringing it to North Wales this week, but it's currently will with my mechanic so I'm in the CDTi instead - I suspect the better car for the North Wales terrain!

 

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

[dollywobbler]

What's the ride and handling like? I gather they're set up a bit stiffer than the previous 400.

 

It certainly doesn't have the cosseting ride I remember from my 414 HHR, but it really isn't bad by 'modern' standards. It's about eleventy times nicer than a Subaru Impreza. Handling is good enough - steering is nice and quick, and nicely weighted, but while it'll certainly corner with gusto, it doesn't feel that comfortable doing it. Might be the odd mix of tyres responsible for that. 

[mrbenn]

MOAR DAEWOO MATIZ PLS.

 

Rover does look lovely, though.