Rover 800 coupe: now a very tall brad production

[dieselnutjob]

A colleague has a Rover 800 coupe but is finding it too juicy.

 

+points

V reg

low mileage (will clarify)

most toys seem to work

V6 auto

alloys

green

leather

12 months MOT and 6 month tax

 

-points

drivers door window glass appears to be detached from winder mechanism

front bumper not well attached

numerous small dents and scrapes. From memory the rear quarter has rusted right through in one place

generally a bit tatty looking

apparently a rear light cluster was bodged for the MOT so a new one will be needed

 

will take it for a drive next week to see what it's like, and post pics

 

car is located Welwyn Garden city.

 

will probably be cheap but I have no idea what price to advise to colleague

[warren t claim]

I'm awaiting the opinion of Felly before I decide as to whether this is a good purchase.

[ashmicro]

2 Litre T would probably be worth more than a KV6, V reg sounds like a late one. Probably about 400 bills or so since it has a full ticket.

[dieselnutjob]

yes that's kind of what I thought, but I'd wait for photos.

[ashmicro]

TBH unless it's totally hanging, they kinda bottom out around that money.

[Guest]

I'm awaiting the opinion of Felly before I decide as to whether this is a good purchase.

 

Let me save you the bother.

 

Why? Why would you buy a car like this? I can tell instantly from your description that it will go wrong within three seconds of purchase, is unfit for minicabbing and is only fit for the crusher. If you take it on a track day YOU WILL DIE, YOU IRRESPONSIBLE REPROBATE.

 

What you want is a car sturdy enough to stand ramming someone so that you can make a whiplash claim. I'd suggest a Mk 4 Astra or Golf.

 

END TRANSMISSION.

[Justin Case]

For impartial and helful advice, may I refer you to:

 

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=12725

 

welcome to Groundhog Day

[Felly Magic]

Right smart arse, this car has potential, and the 800 coupe is now getting very rare, and is a future classic. The only real worry IMHO is the KV6, which has known piston liner issues,but as the car has a ticket of 12 months on, and rent in the screen, it gives chance of fixing stuff over the year, without fear of the car being laid up due to no test, plus the list of faults gives a bit of haggle room. Tidy coupes seem to be commanding a premium already

What does concern me though, is if it still has a holed rear quarter, wouldn't that bring out an MOT fail?

 

I do find that there are way too many people on here that when it comes to buying cars, they simply forget about common sense, and let their heart rule their head. This is the gutter end, so cars bought as daily drivers must have as long an MOT as possible, not just 5 minutes, and actually be roadworthy. You have to think 'why are they selling it with short test? Is it absolutely ronnied?' etc Just use yer friggin loafs when buying sheds!

[fiatdaft]

And there speaks the voice of wisdom.

[dieselnutjob]

What does concern me though, is if it still has a holed rear quarter, wouldn't that bring out an MOT fail?

 

It's a small hole which is due to a scrape which wasn't repaired. It's no where near anything structural. To be honest it looked an easy repair for someone that can weld. You would could easily pull the interior side trim out next to the rear seat to access the other side.

 

Worse than that there is a dent in one of the A pillars which (from memory) hadn't rusted but is probably the most difficult thing to repair properly as I guess the screen would have to come out. You could fill it if you are that way inclined I suppose.

 

The other 800 was a saloon, this is a coupe.

The other 800 had little MOT this has 12 months and cost £120 to get it apparently.

The other 800 was 127,000 miles and this one is much lower, colleague said somewhere between 20,000 and 50,000

The other 800 had electric issues apparently, this one just has the window problem which is more mechanical than electrical. The motor still works. I need to verify it but I'm told that everything electric is working.

 

A green 800 coupe with alloys says rich slightly naughty giffer to me. I quite like it.

[scooters]

Felly it depends whether it is a toy or a tool....

 

tools are the cars that you need to totally rely on - you should also not be sentimentally attached to them or bangernomics goes oot the windae!

 

toys - well it doesn't matter how daft, rusty, badly designed or unreliable they are I have always prided myself on being totally irresponsible when considering an autoshite toy - XJ40 V12!, K series v6, Triumph V8, XM serie 1!!!bring it all on!

 

hell, following your rules all our cars would be powered by 4 pot Volvo B engines!

 

cars break down - they all do -

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

END HEAD GASKET.

 

Fixed that for you.

[Cavcraft]

Right smart arse, this car has potential, and the 800 coupe is now getting very rare, and is a future classic. The only real worry IMHO is the KV6, which has known piston liner issues,but as the car has a ticket of 12 months on, and rent in the screen, it gives chance of fixing stuff over the year, without fear of the car being laid up due to no test, plus the list of faults gives a bit of haggle room. Tidy coupes seem to be commanding a premium already

What does concern me though, is if it still has a holed rear quarter, wouldn't that bring out an MOT fail?

 

I do find that there are way too many people on here that when it comes to buying cars, they simply forget about common sense, and let their heart rule their head. This is the gutter end, so cars bought as daily drivers must have as long an MOT as possible, not just 5 minutes, and actually be roadworthy. You have to think 'why are they selling it with short test? Is it absolutely ronnied?' etc Just use yer friggin loafs when buying sheds!

 

You don't half talk bollocks at times.

Firstly when did you become spokesman for what people on here buy with their money? Buying cars with your head rather than your heart is (mostly) the reserve of people who believe any car older than about 8 weeks is an unreliable death trap, or a car that does less than 11 million mpg is a waste of money. You seem to treat people on here like a class full of seventeen year olds in a college lecture who desperately need your sage advice.

 

Regarding cars with short MOTs then how many Autoshiters do you think are completely inexperienced when it comes to buying an old banger? price and the want factor usually dictate what people buy and I could spend a year telling you about cheap runners with little or no MOT that have been perfectly good cars. I could do but I won't as to be perfectly honest you don't half come across as a smart arse at times so I'd be wasting my efforts.

I don't like internet warriors/e-bullies, but sadly it seems nothing appears to get through to you so (apologies to other shiters on here) I'd humbly suggest you have a few pints of STFU.

[dieselnutjob]

STFU.

had to google that one as well. must be getting old or something

[Wilko220]

Just down the road from me. If I hadn't just treated myself by splashing out on a 75, I imagine I would have been all over this...

 

That said, if anyone on here does end up buying it and needs it collecting and storing for a few days then give me a shout.

[Pete-M]

Right smart arse

 

Oh dear, this ain't gonna end well.

 

I do find that there are way too many people on here that when it comes to buying cars, they simply forget about common sense, and let their heart rule their head. This is the gutter end

 

Ok. Let us start again shall we? Welcome to Autoshite where people who when it comes to buying cars, simply ignore common sense, and let their heart rule their head. This is the gutter end, and we relish it. There's a subtle clue in the title, Felly, we buy shite because we like it. It's what we love. It's why the site exists. It's what this place is all about. Those cars that no-one sensible would ever even consider to be a good buy, and some Allegros.

 

FFS, this has to be the only UK Forum with members who own and drive Tagoras, 604s, bubble cars, GSs, CXs, a smattering of Barkas and Wartburgs, obscure old Datsuns, K-series Rovers and weird orientally mutilated Sherpa vans. It ain't WHAT CAR's forum.

 

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't touch a Rover 800 again with yours (I have limits) but attempting to educate most of the folks in here about what is shite is only likely to irritate.

[dollywobbler]

It's also full of people who don't mind spending more than a car is worth to sort it out. Boobydoo and others are absolute legends for their shite-saving and restoring tales. Balls to economics and common sense!

 

That said, the economics of buying shite and fixing it up probably do better than 'must have' cars, because they tend to cost so much more to buy even when knackered. Far better to buy a shite ol' car for a few hundred quid and then throw a few hundred quid more at it to make it nice.

[Lord Sterling]

Blah blah blah....Self-rightous crap....etc.......

 

This guy is fuggin wind up surely?

 

dieselnutjob - As soon as you can get some pics, I'll get someone to bash up an advert on the R800 site, or maybe Lord Sward could do it?

[Mr Lobster]

[AnthonyG]

Right, back on topic - DNJ, I had a R800 Mk2 with a window that come off the runner, the local Rover dealer fixed it for about £20 in 15 minutes, considering labour costs and mark up and all, it probably took about 2 minutes after they got the trim panel off. So it must be a pretty easy DIY fix.

 

OK it was a saloon, but I can't imagine Rover Grope did anything different with the coupe (these don't have frameless windows do they?, bit of memory failure )

[dieselnutjob]

yes i might even fix it for him just for the hell of it

[purplebargeken]

God, I am addicted to buying (when I really have to) automotive shite and long may it continue Must admit that Rover 800 coupe's look rather cool. Shame I have been very recently warned by SWMBO about the peril of buying anything else without getting rid of something first

 

Hope it goes to a good home and gets fettled properly.

 

Ken

[dieselnutjob]

[Rocket88]

Oh, it's green is it? As any fule kno, all green cars are unlucky, unreliable, death traps etc etc, and should all be scrapped immediately.....................................

[dieselnutjob]

the bumper has clearly taken a wack and has actually split next to the number plate.

however I see no evidence of damage to the shell or wings, though there is araldite on one mounting tab of the left headlamp

aircon working

electric mirrors working

passenger electric window working

drivers electric window mechanically broken (glass not attached to regulator or something)

remote central locking working

heated seats not tested

electric seat adjust working but mechanically jammed on the drivers seat. it only moved a couple of centimetres and won't come fully move forward

45000 miles and odo working; my colleague is only the second owner and the first owner was a family friend so it is genuine

it drives nicely with a nice engine noise and changes gear well

front tyres both legal but only just

rear tyres plenty of tread

engine oil and transmission oil look fine and clean with no mayonnaisse in filler cap

[Lord Sterling]

Thanks for putting these up DNJ. I shall get either try and get someone to link to this advert from r800.co.uk unless either Sward or CaptainSlow could do it instead.

 

Doesnt look too bad for somone with a few days to spare and is pretty handy making the car look more presentable, it would certainly be something I'd consider given a little more money and space.

[dieselnutjob]

r800.co.uk seems to be dead

I have to get my colleague to decide on a price. Personally I think it would be a good buy at £500 but then I have a horrible weakness for old cars. I think someone could put two front tyres on this and drive it for a year with no hassle at all apart from the fuel bills.

[Lord Sterling]

r800.co.uk seems to be dead

 

You can say that again

 

Actually its rover800.info/forum, I put r800 by mistake as I was rushing it, my mistake.

 

Was going to say it does look pretty worn for 45k but again, its not something that cant be put right, a good service, tarting up the scraped panels and a few more cosmetics and it should look as right as rain.

 

Aye.

[pompei]

How much is it going up for?

[very tall brad]

Now I do have a soft spot for these Coupes having owned quite a few in the last 19 years. This old crate looks ok to me. Yes, it needs a wash and a polish. Yes, it probably needs the wheels professionally cleaning/repainting to get rid of all the crud. What are you left with? A great car with a dodgy heart - beware, these KV6s don't enjoy life. They are often suicidal and suffer from terminal illnesses which render them useless. Buy cheap, enjoy, scrap. Or get a Honda engined Coupe (1992 to 1996) and drive it forever....