Rover 800 coupe: now a very tall brad production

[very tall brad]

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 )

 

The glass and complete window mechanism on the Coupe is different to regular 800s. There is a 'cassette' system, spacers and lots of fiddling. I had a side glass replaced by Auto Windscreens a few years ago and it took them all day.

[dieselnutjob]

beware, these KV6s don't enjoy life. They are often suicidal and suffer from terminal illnesses which render them useless.

 

it says here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rover_KV6_Engine that "the redesign of the engine and its production facility, prior to the introduction of the Rover 75, cured this problem and it became one of the company's most reliable units".

 

Is this not true?, and, as this is a very late one, produced I think after production of the Rover 75 had started (edit: maybe not) wouldn't this good news apply to this car?

[r.welfare]

I'm willing to be corrected but I'm pretty sure that Coupe production stopped in 1998 so that will have sat for at least a year before registration - my mate has had a couple of late Sterlings (a T-reg 2-litre saloon and a V-reg 825 Coupe) that were both 1998 builds. So I don't think any 800s were fitted with the reworked KV6 as per the 75 which was launched in early '99.

 

That said, it's possible to be lucky - as my mate was with his; for £500 you've got a good chance of a year's motoring in luxurious surroundings before the possibility of another ticket or just weighing it in if something goes tits-up, as Brad says. I reckon that looks OK to me, nothing there that can't be bodged/fixed/touched up to look a lot more presentable.

[purplebargeken]

Love the interior! That would respond well to a bit of care and fettling. Nice.

 

That is a good looking shape and green suits it. Nothing there that couldn't be sorted in a weekend or two. Gotta be worth a punt at £400 to £500 surely.

 

Ken

[Dead_E23]

I had a look round this earlier today whilst DNJ took the photos. (I'm not the colleague selling it btw!)

 

It looks nicer in real life (from a distance, at least), drives well and seems pretty comfy. We both reckoned you could set out on a long journey without feeling it would inevitably end 10 miles up the road in a cloud of steam. Would suit the shabby genteel.

[eddyramrod]

Would suit the shabby genteel tough-yet-tender hero of a new detective series, thus instantly making the Coupe terminally cool and driving prices up through the 550 quid barrier! .

 

EFA

[Mr_Bo11ox]

beware, these KV6s don't enjoy life. They are often suicidal and suffer from terminal illnesses which render them useless.

 

it says here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rover_KV6_Engine that "the redesign of the engine and its production facility, prior to the introduction of the Rover 75, cured this problem and it became one of the company's most reliable units".

 

Is this not true?, and, as this is a very late one, produced I think after production of the Rover 75 had started (edit: maybe not) wouldn't this good news apply to this car?

 

I think the Rover 75 engine had a lot of differences and although its a 2.5KV6 is not interchangeable with a rover 800 2.5Kv6. I think it has substantially different head and block castings, the vee angle might even be slightly different I think.

[Dead_E23]

Would suit the shabby genteel tough-yet-tender hero of a new detective series, thus instantly making the Coupe terminally cool and driving prices up through the 550 quid barrier! .

 

EFA

Inspector Baudot, episode 1: A cloud of steam parts to reveal a velvet-jacketed figure seated on the armco beside a busy main road. He is making a call on a mobile phone...

[eddyramrod]

Opening credits roll over live-action of an Austin FG beavertail picking up said Coupe; "Honest Sid's Garage and Towing" along the sides. Music: Jasper Carrott, "Funky Moped"

[AnthonyG]

Is this not true?, and, as this is a very late one, produced I think after production of the Rover 75 had started (edit: maybe not) wouldn't this good news apply to this car?

 

RW's right I'm afraid, all 800s were made at Cowley and production stopped several months before the 75 (also built at Cowley in 1999 and 2000) got up to speed. So the comments relating to better KV6 engines do just apply to those fitted to 75s.

[Lord Sterling]

Ok, this has been advertised up at Rover800.info - You can thank Captain Slow for that. He's linked to this thread. A few OMG!!! Its not worth it type comments from those who expect an almost brand-new car for a 3-figure sum But hopefully it'll attract a bigger audience and hopefully see it in the hands of a new and more sympathetic owner.

 

Sir Brad is the man for 800s, what he doesnt know about 800s is not worth knowing, he knows more than me and certainly a lot more enthusiastic about them than I am, and thats saying something.

 

MBollox is absolutely spot-on, there are differences in the 75s KV6 engine to the 800s KV6 engine, they are not interchangable. Despite being built at Cowley for the first period, they were built on different lines so were supplied with engines made for the 800s, different to the 75. Many 800s were produced at the end to use up parts and finish the line, but not many were sold, so alot of them were registered a lot later after they were built.

[Rocket88]

The problem with unloved chod such as this is that it's possible to pick up really nice examples for three parts of bugger all, which devalues all the not-as-nice stuff. You could probably get a next to mint example of this for about a grand, but to get this into comparable condition would cost you about that, never mind the initial purchase price.

[very tall brad]

Sir Brad is the man for 800s, what he doesnt know about 800s is not worth knowing, he knows more than me and certainly a lot more enthusiastic about them than I am, and thats saying something.

 

 

Thanks. I guess having owned 180 of them since 1988 helps.

 

The point with KV6 engines whether they are in an 800 or a 75 is that they are complex to service and invariably go wrong somewhere in the cooling system. I have had enough trouble with these engines to know this including two new Rover 75s that popped at 19000 miles and at 55000 miles. One of my current cars, a 1999T Rover Sterling 2.5, was expensively overhauled by a Rover dealer two years ago after head gasket failure at 90000 miles. This car had already a new factory engine at 48000 miles albeit 8 years ago. It failed again at 96000 miles so I had it done again with new heads and at a cost of over £1600 and, 2000 miles later, it's looking dodgy again.

 

But they do make great garden ornaments even if you can't drive the bloody things.

[dieselnutjob]

maybe the answer is to shove a VM turbo diesel in it

[dieselnutjob]

the owner is saying that he wants £500, or £550 if someone wants the flashy stereo as well. It's a Sony unit with ipod dock and all that.

The tax runs out end of May so 5 months not 6.

The MOT was done in December.

The car has a whole ton of documentation but I need to read it see if it constitutes a "full service history" or not. I get to see it tomorrow apparently.

[pompei]

If you had 500 notes and wanted a big Rover, you have a choice of this or Wuv's 75. I don't have any money so it's academic anyway but which would be the better car?

[AnthonyG]

Wuv's 75, definitely.

[dieselnutjob]

got the service history here

 

Ridgeway Garages, Enfield, 10/3/2006, oil filter, oil, brake fluid, anti-freeze, timing belt and pulleys/guide, battery: £1103, 10916 miles

Ridgeway Garages, Enfield, 26/10/2006, Bodywork, £900, 10916 miles

Ridgeway Garages, Enfield, 26/10/2006, Oil / filter, £86, 12072 miles

Ridgeway Garages, Enfield, 30/10/2007, Oil / filter, transmission (oil?), brake pads, £449, 16759 miles

Ridgeway Garages, Enfield, 17/04/2008, Oil / filter, PAS pipe, £544, 21238 miles

Ridgeway Garages, Enfield, 16/10/2008, Oil / filter, brake pads, £318, 22517 miles

Ridgeway Garages, Enfield, 08/04/2009, Oil / filter, £161, 29987 miles

Ridgeway Garages, Enfield, 23/04/2009, Exhaust, £210, 29987 miles

Ridgeway Garages, Enfield, 13/10/2009, Oil / filter, CV gaiter, £464, 34500 miles

Ridgeway Garages, Enfield, 05/03/2010, Oil / filter, brake pads, £176, 38599 miles

Ridgeway Garages, Enfield, 14/04/2010, brake pads, £93, 38599 miles

Ridgeway Garages, Enfield, 12/10/2010, Oil / filter, hose £445, 41793 miles

 

there is other stuff like air filters and spark plugs but I can't be arsed to type it all in

 

spare key

 

instruction manual and remote control for CD Radio

 

current owner is actually owner number 3 I think but the V5 is currently with the DVLA so, hmm. It was sent away before Christmas apparently

 

there is no paperwork prior to 2006, so it's like it was abandoned for a few years or something.

[very tall brad]

Is this (potential) beauty still for sale??

[dieselnutjob]

Yes

[dieselnutjob]

An update.

My colleague again wants to sell this car as the MOT is nearly out. I asked him if he is serious and if he had a buyer would he actually sell straight away (he hasn't gotten a replacement yet). He said yes if he gets a reasonable offer, he will sell it straight away.

Right, the car now only has 5 or 6 weeks MOT left (Nov 15th I think) and a bit of tax.

It still drives well and doesn't overheat or use coolant, and is still in regular use.

It has two good back tyres but I would say one front illegal and one borderline.

Personally I see no reason why it wouldn't pass an MOT, but obviously I haven't crawled around underneath or anything, except it will need a tyre, or maybe two.

He says £300 or thereabouts will make this your car.

He now has the V5 as well.

Nothing has changed on the car since I took the photos basically, and I don't think he's done many miles.

[gadgetgricey]

Hi there.

You mention in an earlier post that the drivers seat is jammed (partially..)

Could you clarify as my Xantia recently failed as the forward back motor on the electric adjust had jammed.

Just wondered if that something that would need sorting for an MOT.

 

Cheers

 

- Dave -

[dieselnutjob]

It moves but with reduced range

the seat isn't loose

it passed the MOT like that last year

[Lord Sterling]

Yo Diesel! I think Brad might be interested in this car, he had recently spoke to me about it, he loves his 800 Coupes and has sold one recently so may be after another one. I shall let him know about it tomorrow.

[RichardMoss]

Well worth a punt at £300

[HereHareHere]

I'm about to try & flog my 800 koop. On the evidence of this inspiring thread that should involve no more than 10 months!!£%$£^F!111!!!!

[dieselnutjob]

If someone had made him a reasonable offer ten months ago I think he would have sold it. Ten months on he wants rid of due to the fuel consumption and cannot be bothered with a pair of tyres or an MOT.

 

I guess that if it doesn't sell I would advise him to put some part worn tyres and a ticket on it and put the price back up.

[very tall brad]

Ooooh. Lord Sterling tipped me off about this being for sale again.

 

Indeed, I have just sold one of my 800 Coupes as it was a sluggish, manual 2 litre. Auto V6 is the only way to drive these cars.

 

I am interested in this car so what do I have to do to get in touch with the seller?

 

Thanks

 

Brad

[HereHareHere]

Hey VTB - if this one doesn't work out, how about mine? It isn't* a sluggish manual 2-litre.

[dieselnutjob]

Ooooh. Lord Sterling tipped me off about this being for sale again.

 

Indeed, I have just sold one of my 800 Coupes as it was a sluggish, manual 2 litre. Auto V6 is the only way to drive these cars.

 

I am interested in this car so what do I have to do to get in touch with the seller?

 

Thanks

 

Brad

 

I will PM his mobile number to you once he clears me doing that.