Rover 214SLi Collection, March 10th

[ScimiOwner]

9:45 and here I am on my way down to Devon to collect this £250 gem of a Rover 214. Writing this on one of those fancy GWR Class 156 'Turbo Express' trains. Air conditioning appears to be on... Not sure why. Also, there's a guy sat on the luggage rack, despite there being plenty of seats... People these days.

[phil_lihp]

Bon voyage!

[Angry Sheep]

I'm going to be reading this and kicking myself.

[ScimiOwner]

9:45 and here I am on my way down to Devon to collect this £250 gem of a Rover 214. Writing this on one of those fancy GWR Class 156 'Turbo Express' trains. Air conditioning appears to be on... Not sure why. Also, there's a guy sat on the luggage rack, despite there being plenty of seats... People these days.

[spartacus]

Good luck, keep us updated.

[skattrd]

I take it this is the ex-Phil raffle motor ... it did look nice.

[phil_lihp]

Yep, he's just texted me, he's picked it up and heading home now apparently.

[andrew e]

[bobble hat]Thats a 166, not a 165 if it has airconditioning[/bobble hat]

[phil_lihp]

All gone suspiciously quiet...

[skattrd]

All gone suspiciously quiet...

 

It's usually quiet when you're driving on a solo collection.

When broken down you have plenty of time to update threads

[Angry Sheep]

Apparently he's home. No need to send a search party along the A303.

[phil_lihp]

I never doubted it!

[The Moog]

Yep, he's just texted me, he's picked it up and heading home now apparently.

If the government is watching you they will be surprised by a succession of men collecting cars from your house.

[phil_lihp]

It's only been 3 in the last month or so, more worrying is the fact I'm down to one car until tomorrow. I don't know how I'll manage.

[ScimiOwner]

Website wasn't working on my phone yesterday, Hence why it posted on this thread twice with the same message. Decided I'd update on the laptop either last night (which didn't happen, ended up helping my cousin fix his motorcycle) or today. Today it is. Friday 11th March. 

 

 

I like trains, owning a car I don't go on them too often, but I always love it when I do!

 

The train journey down went very very well. Too well. Always a boding sign. Class 456 between Aldershot-Ash on the North Downs Line, that was a quick 7 minute journey, driver seemed a little too over-zealous on the power as the train kept wheelspinning. Train was one of the refurbished ones. It was nice, apart from the teenagers that got on and started talking shit. 'France just smelled like BO everywhere' was responded with 'Ew, that's just making me want to spray myself right now'

 

Class 166 'Turbo Express' Ash-Reading was very boring journey, except for one guy that was sat on the luggage rack, for no good reason. There were plenty of seats available...

 

Class 43 'HST' Reading-Exeter St Davids was a long journey, helped only by the fact there was a (reasonably) attractive young lady sat on the seat in front of me, Some scenery of course, as there always is on the GWML. Train was definitely in need of some sort of maintenance, pullaways were very very jerky (I watched the driver with the cab controls after we arrived at Exeter, and he did nothing wrong, very smooth inputs) and at times along the route there was some issues with the coaches jerking around a lot, almost as if the brakes came on and went off. Bit uncomfortable. Bit boring. Sorry. I like details

 

And then there was the lovely Tarka Line on the Class 146... The train that looks more like a bus than a train. Honestly, you could have cut the back ends of two buses off, put them together with some corrugated rubber and stuck 2 train axles underneath each chassis and you'd have a class 146. Rickety old train, but it had it's charm. The line itself was using the old 'Token Block' signalling system, like they use on the West Highland line. The train was noisy, rickety, uncomfortable, but the scenery on the line made it the best train journey I've ever had. I'd happily go down and do just that portion of my journey again and again. Even the train's guard was very friendly, I don't think I've ever come across one that friendly before!

 

Arrival at Barnstaple. Directions I'd been given were very clear, and I found the car no problem! Had a quick look around it, fell in love. Unlocked it, looked in the boot and checked the spare (just in case I would end up needing it). Haynes manual was in there (not surprised at all, I was told it would be there) and the car smelled lovely, just how I remembered my mum's old one! 

 

Got in the car, adjusted the seat, turned the ignition on, went around and checked all the lights, using the car behind me to check the brake lights, all was good.

 

Popped the bonnet, check all the vitals, perfectly happy with everything. Started her up, and while I was letting her warm up I adjusted the mirrors (Yay, leccy mirrors, my mum's didn't have that one, nor did hers have the sunroof!) Passenger window was a little sticky to get down, but it does go eventually. drivers window wasn't quite so sticky, but there is a slow spot in the middle. All was set for the journey home. Drove round the corner to Tesco, stopped for a bite to eat and some petrol (I put £25 in, will tell you how much I used for the 170 mile journey home at the end) and then I proceeded on my journey home. 

 

A361. Oh dear. Something was going wrong. I could smell hot brakes. I lifted off and coasted, the car didn't really slow down very much so I didn't think much of it, there was a car in front of me, so I thought it could have been that car...

 

That car turned off and then I could hear a slight squeal from my right front brake. I turned the radio off, (Sorry Steve Wright, and yes I do listen to BBC R2, that was a nice surprise for me when I got into the car, thanks Phil) and closed the windows. Definitely my car. Now hot brake smell was very very very prominent. Crap. I turned right at the roundabout to get off the busier roads and headed down towards South Molton. I came across an antiques shop in the middle of nowhere and stopped in their 'car park' for want of a better road. Got out and there was smoke pouring out from my right front brake. Oh crap. Immediately thoughts were going through my mind, my phone was nearly dead and I didn't have my charger lead. I went inside and asked if there was a mechanic nearby, explained I literally knew nothing about the area, and they pointed me towards a brake specialist at a garage just down past the Coaching Inn within the confines of South Molton.

 

Brilliant, it's only a mile or so, I could make that! I waited a little while for the brakes to cool down so I would make it. The two people in the shop were both very very friendly, and I thank them for pointing me in the right direction. 

 

Got down to Moors Garage in South Molton,  and asked if they could have a quick look at my brakes, luckily they were able to do it there and then. Would only take an hour or so, so I hung around and had a chat with the mechanic. Told him about my love for Scimitars, he agreed that they're a very good car, and like these Rovers, a very understated and unloved car. Took apart the R/F caliper, piston was a very little bit stiff to push in, but it went in without a problem, the sliders were also good... Removed the inner pad, came out a treat. Outer pad. Oh dear. That was very very much jammed in there. Whoever put the new pads in didn't clean up the rust and shit from the carrier and shims and the outer pad had locked into place.... Much hammering and swearing later,  it finally came out. There was the issue. The pad had got jammed up against the (now with a blue-yellow tint) disc. Uh oh. I was happy with that, and the fact it wasn't a frozen caliper!

 

Did the L/F just for good measure, and £35 later, I was out of there. Of course, I'm a mechanic, I could have done it myself, had I had my tools with me. I don't think a scissor jack and wheel brace would've done the job! 

 

Finally I was on my way home. Sun was still out, it was a beautiful day. Carried on with my journey, got to the M5 junction, absolutely no problems. I put my foot down, see if she had the guts. Boy did she have the guts, I wouldn't have thought this was a 1.4 at all, more like a 1.8! She absolutely flew down the slip road. By the end of the slip road, she was way over 70, nearer 90! I had an even bigger smile on my face.  Did have a small issue with a vibration from one or more of the wheels, so they need balancing. I slowed down to 70 for the remainder of the M5 until I turned off at Yeovil. By this point I had been monitoring my fuel consumption, and so far, all was good. A303, and the sun was starting to set. Traffic at rush hour on the A303. You know what that's like, right? Wrong. It was clear. No traffic. 60mph all the way down. (Apart from the 40 and 50 zones). I was very surprised. I stopped in a layby just after Stonehenge to get out and stretch my legs (I get muscle cramps if I stay in one position for too long) and ate a snack just to get me the rest of the way home. I was still in love. Car was very very comfortable. I was almost wishing for there to be heavy traffic on the A303, just so I could drive the car for longer, but it wasn't to be. 

 

M3, traffic was a little heavy through the roadworks around Junction 4, but was still fairly smooth sailing. 

A331 was clear. Decided to let her go, see what she could do. Sat at 90 on partial throttle, no troubles whatsoever. I slowed down as I went past Ash Vale/Mytchett junction and drove normally the rest of the way home. 

 

Parked up, got out, inspected the car and just couldn't believe I had to say goodbye for the night.

 

She's all gleaming in the sunshine this morning, and I'm tempted to take her out for a spin. 

 

I've still got almost half of the fuel I put in her yesterday. £15 of fuel used to do 170 miles, I don't think you can say fairer than that. I'm more than happy with that fuel consumption. 

 

So a list of thank yous is in order.

 

Firstly,  thank you Phil, for putting the car up for roffle.

Thank you Andrew for winning the car in the roffle, and then telling Dan about it. And then giving me the opportunity to buy it from you. 

Thank you Dan, for telling me about it, even if you were only joking... I don't joke about cars I love, if I can afford it, I'll buy it.

Thank you to the two guys in the antiques shop, without you I would probably have ended up having to call the breakdown and missing out the 155 miles left on my journey. And that wouldn't have been as nice...

Thank you to the mechanic (I'm sorry, I've completely forgotten his name, it could have also been Phil... possibly) for fixing the car on the spot. (I also gave him a £5er and told him to buy himself a pint of his favourite, just as a gesture of goodwill, as he did stop a job part-way through to help get me back on the road)

And finally a thank you to the (now defunct of course) Rover, for building such a fantastic car. I couldn't be any happier with it. I love it, and I wish I was keeping it rather than giving it to my mother. If anyone wants a 2004 Nissan Almera piece of shite, let me know.... I'll have one going, and it'll be going fairly cheap. 

[ScimiOwner]

Another update on the car.

 

Done examining with little technical faults on the car

1) Thermostat, doesn't need replacing, engine comes up to temperature perfectly. There is also hot air getting into the cabin, although it's a little bit temperamental.

2) IACV appears to be working perfectly fine, engine isn't hunting and sits at 900rpm perfectly. Maybe another temperamental issue? 

3) Took the door cards off and greased up all the moving bits for the window mechs, windows working better now.

 

All seems good, planning on using the car for work tonight. 

[stripped fred]

Nice comprehensive write up there. Good to hear you're happy with the car. I quite fancied it myself!

[rantingYoof]

Love the older 200 series Rovers...mine was about the nicest I've ever seen condition wise and I was a muppet for swapping it for the MR2.

 

They certainly seem nippier than the power suggests, but the 1.4 is a wonderfully revvy unit. 104hp or so, it would lug the car around with ease. Compare it to the 1.4s being churned out by VAG at the time - 75hp 8v things - they were on another planet.

 

Well bought and collected with added drama enroute home!

[phil_lihp]

Apologies have already been made to ScimiOwner for my inexcusable incompetence which led to this, he's a proper gent though and has taken it very well, it's great to know the car has gone to someone who will look after it.

 

Sod's law the brakes never played up while I had it following the new pads and discs, while the thermostat never let the engine warm up properly and took forever to warm up at all. Win some, lose some I suppose!

[phil_lihp]

Oh and the ICV is unplugged so isn't doing anything at all! Hence the steady idle! Seems mostly fine without it though.

[ScimiOwner]

Oh and the ICV is unplugged so isn't doing anything at all! Hence the steady idle! Seems mostly fine without it though.

Oh I plugged it back in... Was running fine, and then cold cold starts were a little bit funny, so I took it all apart and have come to the conclusion that I really really hope my local MG/Rover specialist can help me locate one! 

[ScimiOwner]

Another update (yes, another one) I handed the car over to my mother tonight, and she fell in love with her straight away. I've also named her (I name all of my cars, it's a thing), and from henceforth she will be known as Romilly, because it's an unusual name, and I'm an unusual person, but also because Romilly Rover flows very nicely off the tongue. The name fits her.