Random HH-R Prejudices, please

[Junkman]

Seeing that the Hatsu of die will not keep us happy in the long run, I'm starting to eye up replacements.

One of the cars that repeatedly gets stuck in the comb I comb pertinent websites for buying clapped out old chod with,

is said product from a now defunct British premium manufacturer.

It would nicely put my money where my loud 'Buy British' mouth is, and prevent me from benefiting from an ever stronger pound,

when it comes to spare parts purchases for comparable Continental wares, so it would make* sense* economically*.

It is sympathically un-German and un-Italian, which I like.

 

On paper, the ideal manifestation would look like a cow free saloon in two-litre giffer spec.

Although I would accept a 1.6 if I must, I'd rather avoid it because it is in the higher taxation class by a measly 40cc.

Unless someone can let me know a valid technical reason why one should opt for that model, that is.

I think the 1.4 is out, so is the 45, because I think 45 bacer spec is exclusively one of these newfangled CVTs, right?

Also out is dino juice, because of don't like the smell and little concern for OMGMPGness.

 

Not known for making car buying decisions based on rationale, I would essentially like to know whether they are suitable as

daily transport, or Leyland-like liabilities.

 

So what are they like to live with?

Refined British tweed jacketed mobile tea room for gentlefolk, or botched together international hot spot with no real redeeming features?

Or something completely different?

 

Please advise.

 

[Partridge]

ARONLINE HAS ALL UR HH-R NEEDS WHERE ROVER NOWLEDGE R BELONG 2 U.

 

No seriously, check out the site and search for "Mike Humble". The man is a latter day Rover Rain Man.

[willswitchengage]

 

Collective HHR wisdom, please

 

[Partridge]

[doobietoo]

If i were buying a Grover it would almost certainly be an 89-95 214 16v better looking than the bubble, quick enough with around 100 horses plenty of electricals even in cow free mode and almost totally free of OMGHGF the later ones suffered with it seems.

[Jim Bergerac]

You could get a proper Auto in the 45 with the 2.0 V6 but they were not that common, especially in cow-free spec. 400 Autos were 1.6 Honda engined.

 

They're fine, just a bit boring.

[dollywobbler]

Junkman wants a self-shifter though, which means single-cam Honda misery unless it's a later HHR with the K-Series and CVT hilarity. 

 

We owned an HHR Kettle Series some years ago. Was a very comfortable car, good quality but a horrible clutch pedal. In fact, the R8 has the same annoyance. A light clutch that is somehow sheer agony to use. Auto seems the way to go!

[Sigmund Fraud]

If you want an automatic Ronda sedan, get a 600. Rover may have tried various engine/box combinations in automatic 400s, but they were all disappointing, just in different ways.

 

Unless, of course, you can track down one of the 2-3 automatic SD3 213s that still survive. Three-speed Hondamatic FTW !

[Junkman]

600 is out. The car will be predominantly used by the Junkwoman, and she has a problem with wide cars.

The 600 is 3cm wider than a 560 SEC.

[Junkman]

You could get a proper Auto in the 45 with the 2.0 V6 but they were not that common, especially in cow-free spec. 400 Autos were 1.6 Honda engined.

 

They're fine, just a bit boring.

 

I have never come across a V6 with normal auto, they must be rare as shit from a teethed rocking hen with a single horn on its beak.

[Partridge]

600 is out. The car will be predominantly used by the Junkwoman, and she has a problem with wide cars.

The 600 is 3cm wider than a 560 SEC.

Buy a 600 and chop the passenger side off, then sell that side and half the purchase price.

 

You don't get advice like that where anywhere else.

[Asimo]

Mrs Me had a '97 414 from new, manual hatchback in basic spec. It died of big ends after ten years and almost 150,000 miles. Needed a clutch slave cylinder bracket and a radiator as repairs only, others just things like a battery and discs, belts etc. Jolly comfy for a small car and a complete success as a family hack.

No head gasket issues at all! Not fast but a nice steer and the ride is good compared to contempories like escrotes and golves.

[Sigmund Fraud]

600 is out.

 

Hmmm... Possible 400/45 automatic powertrains are :

 

1600 Honda engine/box : relatively reliable but slow and thirsty.

1600/1800 Kettle with CVT Stepspeed : russian roulette with two bullets.

2000 Kettle V6 with Jatco Stepspeed : engine more shite, gearbox less shite than the one directly above.

 

Verdict : an R8 body with Honda bits wins.

[HH-R]

They're pretty damn reliable machines, there's really not much to go wrong on them. Rear suspension bushes (I think that's right) are pretty much the most awful job. 400s are starting to get a bit frilly in wheelarches but they're old now.

 

Apart from that, the usual OMG HGF on the K series.

 

400 auto was a Honda D-Series 1.6, I'm sure the KV6 in the 45 was a conventional auto a la 75, but apparently they're shite to drive because the programming wasn't altered to take into consideration the lighter 45, so it changes at the rong time or something. I dunno, never driven one.

 

The 45 is a pretty shite drive if I'm being honest, and it had improved handling over the 400! The 1.4 moves it adequately, though obviously more power will be less miserable. The Kettles suffer from driveline shunt really badly and are hard to drive smoothly in traffic. The 75's seats in 45 are crap, they're too big, don't go back far enough, too heavy for the bits of car they're bolted to and take even more rear legroom away from an already cramped car. The SRS light will be on constantly from the passenger seat being moved back and forth to accommodate passengers. The 400 was a more coherent product IMO, the 45 can look odd from certain angles and the interior is a right mishmash of bits that don't fit together (see airbag on steering wheel). I drive my brother's HH-R shape Honda Civic and it is still nice to drive with over 100k on the clock, it's still nice and tight and drives very nicely. I'd have another.

[Sigmund Fraud]

In fact...

 

 

12K miles from new !

[Junkman]

It died of big ends after ten years and almost 150,000 miles.

 

Terminal engine failure at only 150k is not exactly sounding convincing.

So 1.4 is deffo out.

[Partridge]

Further to all this, if it's any help the 45 I had was annoyingly hard to fault. The only trouble it gave me was a leaky coolant pipe, which made for an interesting* drive back from Warrington to Portsmouth.

 

In the end somebody twatted into it in a car park, and despite my best efforts, I could never get the front to go back together quite the same again myself. I never found out who drove into it, and didn't want to make a claim so had to put up with it.

 

Needless to say I coulden't sell it on, so it got fragged six months or so later.

 

It was a good little car, and to be honest I miss it. I always found the clutch OK. It was a 1.6 with cow.

[HH-R]

I didn't realise it at the time, but me, my dad, uncle, brother, auntie and sister had Civics/400s/45s at the same time and they all went to over 100k without much hassle. Uncle's ate a gearbox (Civic) but it was repaired, mine suffered HGF at 60k or something but was fixed and was fine. I sold it to my sister and it looked very rough by the time she sold it (I could have cried), but I was amazed to see it on to road a few weeks ago! It must have a hell of a mileage on it now.

[Sloth in a bowl]

In fact...

 

 

12K miles from new !

 

 

Complete with strange brown staining on the drivers seat. What more do you want?

 

[Junkman]

This has somehow found its way into my heart:

 

http://www.gumtree.com/p/rover/rover-400-61k-on-clock-mot-till-sept-2014-/1085587620

 

Downsides are:

 

- It's on Mongtree

- It's in the higher taxation class because of 40 fucking cubic centimetres. WTF were they thinking???

- The ultra daft numberplate will make me laughing stock.

[Sigmund Fraud]

Terminal engine failure at only 150k is not exactly sounding convincing.

So 1.4 is deffo out.

 

The K-series is a very lightweight, highly stressed engine... 103HP from 1400cc in 1989 ! 150K sounds about right, they'll never do redblock Volvo mileages !

 

 

Complete with strange brown staining on the drivers seat. What more do you want?

 

"One elderly lady owner"... I suppose a good valet would be essential...

[Jim Bell]

I dont even know what HH-R means.  But I say yes.

[HH-R]

200s/25s are worth a look at too, less cramped inside in practical terms than an HH-R (though the boot is smaller obviously), and GR8 fun to drive. Out of a 25, 45 and 75 the 25 was my favourite to drive.

[Jim Bell]

Ah.

[Sloth in a bowl]

This has somehow found its way into my heart:

 

http://www.gumtree.com/p/rover/rover-400-61k-on-clock-mot-till-sept-2014-/1085587620

 

Downsides are:

 

- It's on Mongtree

- It's in the higher taxation class because of 40 fucking cubic centimetres. WTF were they thinking???

- The ultra daft numberplate will make me laughing stock.

 

 

Buying from Mongtree isn't all bad, getting my Kia was very easy.

The Ad is over 20 days old so if not sold by now, go for a big discount.

[Sloth in a bowl]

Junkman, by the way; Collective Wisdom is an oxymoron. Random Prejudices would be a more accurate description.

[Junkman]

I dont even know what HH-R means.  But I say yes.

 

Hanford Hookup Rover.

[Junkman]

Junkman, by the way; Collective Wisdom is an oxymoron. Random Prejudices would be a more accurate description.

 

Fixed it.

[Partridge]

That plate isn't that bad. You used to see a lot of Rover 600s around here with the "CUM" suffix.

[dollywobbler]

 

The 600 is 3cm wider than a 560 SEC.

 

No it isn't!