Rover 200/25 Opinions - Now Citroen ZX Opinions!

[beko1987]

Evening All. Been lurking for a while, but I have a problem I'm sure you can help with

 

My ford puma is rapidly dieing, so since my bonus is due in 2 weeks I've decided to get another car.

 

Narrowed it down to a Rover 25. It will be a commuting car, occasionally being driven somewhere else, both slow/economical or foot to the floor late at night driving.

 

What are the potential pitfalls of running one of these? I've read about the kettle-tendancies, but reckon that 5-6k oil changes and fresh coolant when I buy it may prevent that. Looking around, alot of them have had the head done already, but I don't want some bodge-job repair going pop...

 

EG - http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201234482531517/sort/default/usedcars/price-to/500/make/rover/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/radius/30/page/1/postcode/hp143ta?logcode=p

 

Alternatively, I've been looking at 400's/45's, 800's, hdi'd 405's/xsara's (used to have a 206 2lt hdi, miss that car) and Mundano's. Anyone recommend anything for £600 tops with t&t?

 

Cheers

 

Sam

[Spiny Norman]

I've read about the kettle-tendancies, but reckon that 5-6k head gasket/water pump/entire cooling system changes may prevent that.

 

FTFY....

Wouldn't touch one of these personally, but how fussy can you afford to be for 400 bucks? I always think you get a far better bargain going for something unpopular, or bigger than the small sub-1600cc hatch everyone wants. For 'up to £600' I'd be sniffing round old Saabs/Volvos/Omegas/BMWs etc but that's just me.

 

Hello, and welcome to Autoshite btw.

[Mr Lobster]

At that sort of money I'd just look for anything with a long test that seems decent enough rather than one specific model.

 

I'm sure theres plenty of 200 / 25s that aren't about to die in a cloud of steam* although I'm not sure that a £400 example will be the best of the bunch.

 

And welcome btw!

[Shep Shepherd]

My choice would be a bargain Streetwise D

[Doctormop]

If you can stretch the budget a tad maybe a dizzler could make sense, Have had a couple and never had trouble engine wise, just gearbox, electrics, suspension brakes etc

Seriously, a well looked after oil burner would be reliable, economical and more fun than you might think.

[beko1987]

I see what your all saying, fair point.

 

My first car was a w plate 206 2.0hdi 3rd with 250k+ unverified mileds,and I love it more than a puma.

 

Reckon I could get one, or an equivilant engined car for under 600? 406's look nice.

 

Still pondering a 25 though, looks fun for the b road pottering I do. Scared about anything semi auto now though

[catsinthewelder]

Not saying it's a better car than a 200/25 but a friend of my girlfriend is selling her P reg Clio 1.2 for £400. I passed my test in one similar, then ran it for a bit after and really enjoyed it. Sounds a decent car with sensible miles and plenty of history.

[ashmicro]

I've had one for 10 years.

 

Regular oil changes, and regular coolant changes with the correct OAT coolant. The cars aren't rot prone. Parts are cheap and easily available, and they're piss easy to work on. Keep an eye on the water pump (under the lower timing cover) for leaks, keep an eye on the coolant level and replace the expansion tank cap every year.

 

The cars are nice to drive, easy to drive, quicker than you might think and handle pretty well. Avoid the auto/semi auto.

 

 

With all due respect to catsinthewelder, a R3 shape Rover is a far better, and far better built car than a Clio. (My ex had a 1998 Clio, and at 3 years old it was falling apart, literally)

[garethj]

I've just rolled past 12,000 miles commuting in a Peugeot 205 diesel bought for £500. It's now doing a pretty consistent 59mpg between fillups and hasn't let me down. 59bhp isn't much but the steering and handling makes the most of it. 1.4 petrol engines give a bit more power and a bit less economy, but still with the simplicity of the 205.

 

For your budget there's a selection of Volvos, the 740 I had before the Pug was £400 and drove like a dream. I'd avoid one after 1990ish with the Lambda Sond, it means a catalytic converter and potential big bills with an engine management light but the older ones are brilliant.

 

A Vauxhall Cavalier would come in under budget too, I'm not an expert but I think a 2 litre 8 valve would give a decent mix of performance and economy, plus it should be cheap to fix.

 

What's up with the Puma by the way?

[Pete-M]

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

I'd get a Xantia or 406, or even a late model 405.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

They are rubbish, pure and simple, £400 down the drain along with its coolant. The only one worth a wank is the 2.0 Perkins diesel.

[dollywobbler]

The K-Series is a seriously under-rated engine. Go 1.4 (larger versions are more prone to OMGHGF). It's a really sweet engine, with as much power as you'd ever want. I had a 'bubble' 414 and it was a lovely car - though the clutch pedal position pissed me off no end. Not sure if the R3 is similar in that regard.

 

To avoid HGF, change the coolant annually, keep a religious eye on the coolant level and never thrash a cold engine.

 

Or go for the diesel, which is more economical and a bit more robust.

 

The 200/25 is a good car - probably the last actual Rover design seeing as BMW meddled with the 75 so much. Interior quality isn't the best, and probably got steadily worse as MG Rover ran out of money, but no worse than many of its rivals.

 

For extra quirk value, seek out a CVT automatic. They're great fun!

[MikeKnight]

Forget a 25, go for a later bubble 200 (mine is a 1999 model).

 

The 25 is exactly the same car with different headlights and a lot more tax/insurance to pay on it.

 

Boggles the mind sometimes.

[beko1987]

Thanks for the rover love, I'm going to try and sit in one/maybe drive one just to check I do want one, don't want to buy it and then hate it, even though it is a <£500 car, it's my £500 so will be spent on something I like!

 

I did see a Dizzler 25, think it's sold now though.

 

The Puma (someone asked earlier). List of problem include:

 

Rusty wheel arches (bits hanging off and held in by gaffer tape and mastic)

Rusty chassis rails

knackered bushes

knackered suspension

interesting clonking sounds from the rear on bumpy roads

cambelt (waaaay overdue)

water pump

fuel costs

size

 

so, I could fix some of the points cheaply and easily, but what would be the point when it would rust away anyway. Got tax until October, test until nov so will try to sell it complete, but am tempted to break it then scrap the rest. I do have a 3 month old daughter, and although we have Mummy's Meriva (1.6 50k 2004 with no service history, chopped her ruined corsa c in for it in Feb) for the big stuff, but it would be nice to take my daughter out in my car, so the pram has to fit in the boot and it has to be a 5 door.

[dollywobbler]

Trying one is a very good idea. I've just remembered how much I hate the column stalks fitted to these things. Bloody horrible.

[beko1987]

It's a shame this isn't nearer...

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1994-ROVER-200-218-D-LONG-MOT-HATCHBACK-DIESEL-/261041210944?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3cc744c640&_uhb=1

[dollywobbler]

NA diesel? Not exactly sprightly. I can live with that but they're certainly not brisk.

[beko1987]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1990-SAAB-9000-CDI-S-SILVER-Full-MOT-FSH-122K-High-Spec-/221110146454?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item337b311596&_uhb=1#ht_1330wt_914

 

Or I could go up in the world!

[garethj]

The Puma (someone asked earlier). List of problem include:

 

fuel costs

 

ok

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1990-SAAB-9000-CDI-S-SILVER-Full-MOT-FSH-122K-High-Spec-/221110146454?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item337b311596&_uhb=1#ht_1330wt_914

 

Or I could go up in the world!

Hmmmmm

 

it would be nice to take my daughter out in my car, so the pram has to fit in the boot and it has to be a 5 door.

Good plan, but you can get a cheap stroller buggy for £25 which will fit in any car and having 2 doors just means you've got to lean in a bit further. It's awkward if you've got to do it every day in the pouring rain, but for occasional trips a 2 door car is fine. My kids haven't had any problems with my 2 door cars

[garethj]

It's a shame this isn't nearer...

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1994-ROVER-200-218-D-LONG-MOT-HATCHBACK-DIESEL-/261041210944?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3cc744c640&_uhb=1

I tried one of those a few years ago and if it doesn't have power steering it's quite hard work, and I'm no wimp. Try before you buy

[Rocket88]

A bit left field, but how about the Skoda Felicia [pre Fabia] best one in the world shouldn't cost more than £600, they're pretty strong, and not bad to drive, and have epic autoshite credentials

[beko1987]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1998-SKODA-FELICIA-1-6-SLXi-/190711121838?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item2c6744c7ae&_uhb=1

 

mmm, interesting

[Justin Case]

Time to wheel out the usual Japanese suspects, Corolla, 323, Almera, etc. You should be able to easily find one within your budget that's fit for purpose, and won't do a kettle impersonation on the way home.

 

... occasionally being driven somewhere else, both slow/economical or foot to the floor driving.

 

Sam

 

For the Corolla, both of these are identical

[Volksy]

My Corolla may be available within budget, as I've now taken custody of the Audi 100 from Hillman Imp.

 

It was bought by me for the exact reasons you're looking for a car, I needed something reliable & cheap to run when I was facing a long commute to work. It's been just that, and to be honest it's one of the best and most surprising cars I've ever owned. Think it's on about 108k now, and will have 12 months test in about week. It was previously owned by a school, from the AA pack thats in the car, so doubt it's wanted for anything in it's life. It's the 1.6 16v so is pretty rapid too. What I like is that on the motorway, 70mph puts in just at the start of it's power band, so 70-100mph (on a private track obvs ) is rather quick, gr9 for surprising tailgating Audis

 

The bad points are that it's white, so living in leeds, it looks like a taxi, the interior trim was created in Toyotas LSD phase, the CD player doesnt. But other than that, everything works as it should.

[Spiny Norman]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1990-SAAB-9000-CDI-S-SILVER-Full-MOT-FSH-122K-High-Spec-/221110146454?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item337b311596&_uhb=1#ht_1330wt_914

 

Or I could go up in the world!

 

Oh yeah, I'd do that all night!

 

There's a lovely looking one of these on the UKSaabs forum just now, HERE, but it's in Devon which may or may not be right on your doorstep. (Hint - if we knew where in the world you were we could all waste loads of our time scouring t'internet for a suitable shitter on your behalf. We do that a lot on here, it's a service we offer.... )

[beko1987]

Sorry, have I broken rule 1?

 

Stokenchurch, Bucks is where I reside. I always search within a 30 mile radius, although further afield could be considered. Certainly, anything around Peterborough is fine as I have family there, so don't count that as too far.

 

Corolla, will give that a look. So far, the list looks like:

 

Skoda Felicia

Rover 200

...

 

Time to start looking higher up

[messerschmitt owner]

Can I suggest a Citroen ZX diesel or a Pug 306?

 

Both decent cars.

[ashmicro]

 

The 25 is exactly the same car with different headlights and a lot more tax/insurance to pay on it.

.

 

More to it than that old boy! For example, all pez engine 25s have the suspension set up from the old Vi, different electronics etc.

[Cavcraft]

You're never really going to get similar opinions unless you join a one make forum.

One man's meat is another man's poison etc, and sometimes the car recommended the most can be the worse.

 

Classes example: bloke I know runs a pizza delivery type business and asked my opinion on a Laguna he'd been offered. Told him to run a mile as they're fucking rubbish but he bought it, totally abused it and loved it to bits. Two years and zero maintenance on it's just given up the ghost and he's gutted and said it didn't owe him a penny.