Insideimsmiling Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 As a sort of Jay Leno on minimum wage and an admitted car addict what should be my next bargain buy? I have a history littered with old mainly British cars and the oil stains on the drive to prove it, however with the days of cheap Triumph and Morris motors over where do I go to get my fix? The time when an Allegro or Vanden Plas could be picked up in the local classified section is long gone and people have now accepted Metros as collectable. Hell I used to be a weirdo for seeing a BRM Rover as desirable and not just an old motor with a tacky interior and a hooker's lipstick. Now I have always thought that the Streetwise was an idea ahead of it's time and I have one as a daily driver, with an MG TF covering the sports car need an old Jag for that pub landlord look, but to get my fix do l go for a City Rover or is that a step too far? I want something from the Firm even if it is an Indian take away and these are yet to go up as modern classic's, so I am thinking a high spec in black with some tasteful alloys.Will the coming Pride of Longbridge include a smattering of CityRovers or are they a step too far and destined to virtual extinction like the Austin Ambassador? Dave_Q, inconsistant and Landy Mann 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulgalour Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 To address your last point first, the Ambassador was never produced in the volume that the CityRover was so it was never going to survive in large numbers. There is a surprisingly large number of people with fondness for the CR. The Tata Indica (India Car perhaps? I'm just guessing) is, in its own way, an iconic bit of dirt cheap motoring for the masses without some of the technical innovations like hydragas suspension that went into the Metro that preceded it. As a Metro replacement they do make a lot of sense but they are a bit too flimsy feeling to really seem *right*. You'd expect some of the Honda influence to carry through and end up with a product like the Daihatsu Sirion where it was moderately well put together and only a bit cheap feeling, but good enough for the majority of potential purchasers. I digress. If you really want a slice of miserable motoring that harks back to the glory days of British disappointment then the CityRover could be just the ticket. I have heard nothing positive about them and plenty of complaints about build quality, flimsiness, noisiness, harshness of ride and general cheapness. It IS a cheap car, that's what it was supposed to be, so I wonder if the complaints are unfounded and coming from people expecting Vanden Plas luxury for Austin money. hauserplenty, Cavcraft, Urko and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Bo11ox Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 These City Rovers seem to be properly crap, I'd love one (for a couple of weeks only) Urko, tooSavvy and oldcars 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cavcraft Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 Vulgalour has absolutely nailed it there. I believe even the most hardcore 'shiters reckon they're awful.When do you pick it up? Urko, Aston Martin and eddyramrod 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiltox Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 They sell for so little it has to be worth trying one? Cavcraft 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spartacus Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 Wow, just had a look on the bay, nearly all of them are under a bag, that's like a brand new car for less than £1000! Other than the aforementioned flimsiness issues what's the problem, do they have an Achilles heel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlo Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 Trouble was they weren't particularly cheap when new, hence all the criticism when they came out. Although of course everything then was compared to VAG products. Urko and Cavcraft 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveo3002 Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 poor old dad treated himself to a nearly new city rover , even then it was crap and couldnt get spares easily Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UmBongo Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 Thy are very cheap so go for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocket88 Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 I reckon the Streetwise will be collectable in the not too distant................................. tooSavvy, cros, Cavcraft and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lacquer Peel Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 They survive in decent numbers for an unloved orphan of a car, that suggests they're quite reliable and hardy.Tata cars are still sold in the rest of Europe so spares shouldn't be a big issue. cort16 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cort16 Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 It seems to be electrical faults that get them (no doubt Rovers work fucking around fitting electric windows or what ever). The best bit in the un identifiable engine that looks like it came out of a small canal boat. Wikipedia says it's Peugeot based, dunno if that;s true. Cavcraft and scruff 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lacquer Peel Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 I think it's based on the design of Tata's 1948cc diesel which is similar to an Indenor diesel but with a belt driven OHC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig the Princess Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 Only experience of one was a Tata version taxi in India. Rode pretty well on awful roads, decent space in the back. One would be on the list for next car. Oh, and I see more Austin Ambassadors than CityRovers, just common round here Lacquer Peel, Cavcraft, Urko and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smellypoo Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 I was actually in a multi vehicle collision in one of these, albeit in India in a Tata Indica. Ok, it sounds a bit melodramatic but the taxi driver who was driving us from the airport to our hotel was a f***ing idiot of the highest order, cocking about with his phone until he drove into the back of a lorry which had (inexplicably, given this is India) stopped at a red light. Then a moped went straight into the back of the car. Thankfully this was all at a low enough speed to ensure nobody was hurt, car was dented both ends but still driveable so we carried on - it was in a crap state before we got in, and a fair bit worse when we left. From that point on, we always got the 'official premium' taxi (this one was an 'official' standard one from the desk at the airport) which was usually some kind of pseudo-suv or mpv like a Toyota Innova. Anyway, none of that was the car's fault, but I remember these hateful little things new and given the vast array of alternatives I'd never want to buy one out of choice. It's neither old enough or shit enough to be amusing nor (irrespective of age/condition) is it good enough to enjoy or be remotely enthusiastic about. Dave_Q, SiC and andrew e 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiltox Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 Wow, just had a look on the bay, nearly all of them are under a bag, that's like a brand new car for less than £1000! Other than the aforementioned flimsiness issues what's the problem, do they have an Achilles heel? I'd be paying less than £500, much less, or feeling ripped off Lacquer Peel 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Bo11ox Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 too right, I'd set an upper limit of £1 Craig the Princess, dugong, Lacquer Peel and 7 others 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexg Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 Absolutely, any money spent on a CR should be considered throw-away money. If you're happy never to see it again get bidding. Lacquer Peel 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexg Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 If you want to get an idea of what you should be spending go to ebay, search 'auctions' and 'completed listings'. Excluding that prototype TATA one that's been kicking about for a while no CityRover in the past few months has made more than £435 (and that was a low miles gem) while on average they're about £200-odd quid. Dismal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 I've driven one. The interior plastics are hilariously awful. In fact, much of the interior is. To drive though, really not bad at all. Nice amounts of torque and reasonable road manners. I think I could actually own one. Buy one NOW, and take it to Pride of Longbridge this weekend. The owner of this one hopes you do! (pic blatantly stolen from Paul Guiness) Cleon-Fonte, egg, scruff and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiC Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 LOL I feel sorry for the poor unloved thing sat all on its own. BorniteIdentity and v8 scania 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doobietoo Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 I'd never want to buy one out of choice. It's neither old enough or shit enough to be amusing nor (irrespective of age/condition) is it good enough to enjoy or be remotely enthusiastic about. Therefore it is prime Autoshite material. If I had not bought the most hated car in Autoshite history, I would have bought one of these.Go for it and be sure to post lots of pics and tell us that we are all wrong and its a super little car.... even if it is shit and you hate it... Craig the Princess 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cavcraft Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 Just had a quick scan of eBay and Autotrader and people want quite a bit for them, all things considered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Felly Magic Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 Wanting, and getting are 2 different things, didn't Rover pay Tata less than £3k each or summat daft for em? Hindsight being great, but if they'd tried to punt em new for under £5k, they'd have probably had queues round the block of gifffers with cheque books in hand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HH-R Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 Rover had just about zero input into these, except their badge and maybe styling of the grille and the suspension damping rates. They didn't even glue the badges on like MG do now. They look quite neatly styled and modern (for the time) but under the styling they are very old fashioned. Verdict: WOULD, probably will one day. But buying one when new at the time over a Picanto or Panda etc, nah. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doobietoo Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 Autoshite colour...... CheckAutoshite spec.........CheckAutoshite price.........Check6 former owners.... WCPGW michael t and Insideimsmiling 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxi paul Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 Never really seen one to be honest so couldn't offer an opinion. I do like the streetwise though. I think they may be worth a punt on a good one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Felly Magic Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 I think you would probably need to buy 2 working cars, and completely strip one for spares these days, as I bet parts now are a total PITA, it was bad enough when they were current The Old Bloke Next Door 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HH-R Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 Whenever I see one of these I can't help but think of the bloke I saw in Halfords asking about paint for his CityRover at the counter, then I went outside and saw it was parked next to us. It looked like it had been rolled down an embankment, there were dents and filler on every panel. He'll have needed a lot of paint... Lacquer Peel 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleon-Fonte Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 To address your last point first, the Ambassador was never produced in the volume that the CityRover was so it was never going to survive in large numbers. Only 7,000 CityRovers were ever brought over (including around 1200 'improved' Mk2s imported by Motorpoint after MGR had gone bust), so it was never a particularly high volume model and in terms of exclusivity it beats most 'normal' cars. A clear case of exclusivity not leading to increased desireability (this place excepted). Wanting, and getting are 2 different things, didn't Rover pay Tata less than £3k each or summat daft for em? Hindsight being great, but if they'd tried to punt em new for under £5k, they'd have probably had queues round the block of gifffers with cheque books in hand According to AROnline MGR paid £900-£1200 for each mail order Indica, then put on new rear light clusters and bumpers in the UK (Tata even did all the engine and suspension adjustments in India themselves before shipping them out, how's that for a bargain?). All in all, the markup on even the basic £6,500 model must have been huge. Personally I'd go for one. If they can take the punishment of Indian roads without simply falling apart then nothing this country can throw at them is going to be a killer and that Peugeot engine of unknown provenance is likely to go on forever (with no OMGHGF antics to worry about). They're even quite speedy according to contemporary reviews. Lacquer Peel and scruff 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now