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Dollywobbler's GR-8 Rover - getting better all the time

dollywobbler

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dollywobbler Rank: Matra Rancho towing a Tagora

dollywobbler

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Some interesting options but I'm looking for a car that I can look at and say 'I really like that.' For that reason, I think I should scratch the Rover 600 itch.

KruJoe Rank: Lancia Gamma

KruJoe

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Mk3 Cav CD

 

Dear Rob,

 

You're really not helping me here. Please keep things like that to yourself.

 

Many thanks

Joe Cleland

  • HMC and RobT
  • Like 2
forddeliveryboy Rank: Isuzu Florian

forddeliveryboy

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I've just managed a few paras of your blog and since you're keen to experience another (real) Citroen before they all disappear (there are loads in Holland but the Dutch spend money on them, so few six hundred euro bargains) can I suggest time is running out for the cheap GS/a, rather rapidly. Cheapo Rover 600s will be around for a good deal longer, I suspect.

 

Additionally, a 600 is a totally conventional, boring car. It's a bastard, though, so you may well have to have it - given the BX predeliction! Perhaps you need a boring car - I've an Octavia 90hp at the moment, as needs dictate. So I'm the one to talk. Anyway.

 

A GS is as pure a car as Citroen ever managed - given that this comes from probably the most pur-sang mass manufacturer the world has ever known, that is saying something. It is unsullied by Peugoet fierté and cost accountants - and therefore world-beating in all the important dynamic respects, other than earning the makers a massive profit percentage.

 

Go out on a limb and sample the delights of a boxer four which beats Alfa's one in most repects;  the car with aerodynamic slipperyness it took the next best a dozen years to match, handling which defies belief if you understand how to make a (good) 2cv outcorner many moderns, brakes which are similarly amazing (by modern standards), a top speed which has nothing to do with engine power and abilities to cover miles which border on the insane.

 

You would be energising all your motoring senses after the Maestro non troppo, going from one extreme to the other. From one which gets louder and more buzzy the higher it revs to a motor which stays smooth at the same volume throughout the rev range beyond 3, from one which may need a couple of rebuilds within 130,000 miles to one which lasts an easy 200k with nothing more than oil and filters, from leaf springs to Citroen stuff used as designed, rather than grafted around a cheapo MacPherson setup and so on.

 

GS parts are quick, cheap and easy to source, the only nightmare I've ever come across is a rusty rear brake pipe - they run inside the rear axle, a la deuche, but with the added complication of orbiting the antiroll bar. I routed mine externally - easy! Horror tales abound, since most garage mechanics haven't a clue when faced with boxer engines, fluid suspension systems and integrated hydraulics at the Escrote level, you generally need someone educated to modern McLaren standards. Or a proper Citroen specialist, a tenth of the price.

 

Watching XR3s back off when they run out of engineering is always fun, cruising at a genuine 90 with complete ease in a car which was launched when Minor 1000s were still on sale is surprising. My only gripe - they're so much fun and effortlessly capable you're almost never under the speed limit, once on the open road. Overtaking modern stuff and watching them fail to keep pace on awkward roads is as hilarious as the roll angles the GS loves.

  • KruJoe and garethj
  • Like 2
robinmasters Rank: Renault 16

robinmasters

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Well I'm still in the market for a diesel 600, even if Mr Wobbler' s head is turned by all these suggestions of 'better' 'more interesting' 'better handling' etc cars. I want to be that mid-nineties back manager who was stuck in the past.

  • Lord Sterling
  • Like 1
forddeliveryboy Rank: Isuzu Florian

forddeliveryboy

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Agree, a 600 does make huge sense. What is interesting and 'better' to one is the opposite for the other. Anything modern-ish Rover has to make sense, if only in a social-history sense.

dollywobbler Rank: Matra Rancho towing a Tagora

dollywobbler

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The GS (and XM for that matter) itches do need scratching, but not yet. There's another Citroen in my life that needs a bit of focus. Cheap, capable banger is what I need right now.

Tetleysmooth Rank: Renault 16

Tetleysmooth

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The GS (and XM for that matter) itches do need scratching, but not yet. There's another Citroen in my life that needs a bit of focus. Cheap, capable banger is what I need right now.

 

Volvo V70 2.5 20 valve all day long.

Plenty of power (170 bhp) for the Welsh roads, but jolly good fuel economy. 30 quid lasts about a fortnight in mine.

Bags of room inside and you can do a journey and get out as fresh as you started.

Parky Rank: Isuzu Florian

Parky

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You can get a very late Laguna for within your budget. No idea why of course........

 

Otherwise there are plenty of earlier models (ie ones without the stop/stop technology) for less than a monkey. They are pretty capable and I think still look pretty good. Perfect banger fodder and they made a useful estate model too

Sloth in a bowl Rank: Renault 16

Sloth in a bowl

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*i don't know where Gosport is.

It is between Pompey and Scumhampton and is only worth visiting for the submarine musemn.

richardmorris Rank: Matra Rancho towing a Tagora

richardmorris

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Well I did try and push the xantia your way :-). Not seen the new owner back on here since - hope he's ok :?

dollywobbler Rank: Matra Rancho towing a Tagora

dollywobbler

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Change of plan. Insurance quotes for moderns are damaging my feeble budget, so I'm back to 1994 or older. 600 plans may need to go on hold. Cheap hack with comfort is what is desired, preferably local.

Unfortunately, we've had a big power cut today so searching has become much harder!

cort16 Rank: Matra Rancho towing a Tagora

cort16

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Here's my shite suggestions

 

Mazda 323. Downside, shortish MOT. Upside is I recon these look pretty good and the 1.5 is pretty fizzy. Back in the day one of these was in the company car pool and I used regularly hammer it up and down the road with glee.

post-1514-0-84856000-1405945129_thumb.jpg

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201407185923472

 

 

Big, white, luxury old skool dizzler A6 with low mileage* and long mot . MINT!

 

post-1514-0-17323900-1405945212_thumb.jpg

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201407165861609

 

 

Spirtual successor to the Dastardly Sirion. Extremely short MOT. What could go wrong?

 

post-1514-0-67208400-1405945573_thumb.jpg

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201407135777303

cort16 Rank: Matra Rancho towing a Tagora

cort16

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Check out that Cavalier I just posted in the tat thread. Luxury!

dollywobbler Rank: Matra Rancho towing a Tagora

dollywobbler

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Yup. Up to and including 1994 is ok, but early ones are pretty rare. I'm certainly widening the scope of this enquiry though.

 

The Cavalier is delicious, but bloody miles away. Blue interior though. Fabulous. 

 

I've just found a non-T&Td Volvo in the town that I'm visiting tomorrow. This could be fun...

dollywobbler Rank: Matra Rancho towing a Tagora

dollywobbler

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940 manual saloon. In white. The very height of desirability. If it's any good, it's a drive-home-to-pre-booked-MOT job.

Tetleysmooth Rank: Renault 16

Tetleysmooth

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Of course it'll be good, it's a Volvo :-)

I saw a Volvo 760 on the bay of e yesterday. Zero bids with 2 hrs to go. Really nice car, 2.3 fpt. I asked the seller if he'd let it go for the starting price, which was 300 quids, he got back to me and said he would. I was thinking of ways to sell my V70 on the quick, but the car went for £423 in the end. Bargain

forddeliveryboy Rank: Isuzu Florian

forddeliveryboy

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This is the ad which was origianlly for that BX. Which could put you off? Doesn't look a bad car but suitably autoshite, paintwise. Good handling with short wheelbase, massive boot, few things better on a longer journey, easy to work on, tough. Possibly too interesting for you atm?

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1991-J-Reg-Saab-900-2-0i-16v-Turbo-3-Door-Hatch-Extensive-History-Shabby-Chic-/111402631638?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item19f01d41d6

Tetleysmooth Rank: Renault 16

Tetleysmooth

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I got the final price slightly wrong, but still a bargain I think.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1990-VOLVO-760-TURBO-AUTO-SILVER-/281384950022?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140131123831%26meid%3D8449418566071800007%26pid%3D100170%26prg%3D20140131123831%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D15%26sd%3D281384950022&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=ObFuUVfZ6zK7mcUXDz1NVk3FfdY%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc#ht_402wt_1190

dollywobbler Rank: Matra Rancho towing a Tagora

dollywobbler

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Not sure about too interesting. The Saab 900i 16v I had was thoroughly disappointing. The looks were interesting, but it was exceedingly underwhelming to drive. A bit like your dream night with Kate Winslet only to discover that she'd rather watch Big Brother than do anything naughty.

 

This is a more intriguing proposition.

$_79.JPG

 

Not sure what I'd do about that utterly shit bottom half paint job though. Paint it brown perhaps.

  • KruJoe, Charlie Croker and EssDeeWon
  • Like 3
dollywobbler Rank: Matra Rancho towing a Tagora

dollywobbler

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  • Author
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Aye. I had my eye on that one.

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