Dollywobbler's Dead Rover 600 - Replacement sorted

[Petrolize]

 

Good buy! Here's my 600 before being put into hibernation (in the garage in front) now that I'm NZ.

 

 

Must've had it around 5 years now, brought it for the pricey sum of £650 when it had just 34k on the clock

[Laseraligningfoofooflanges]

L series diesel

 

Well bought sannnn well bought.

[Honey Badger]

Well brought Sir, is there cash left over for a Rover ron tuning box?

 

http://www.roverdiesel.co.uk/index.php/menubasics/136-tuning-guide-for-intercooled-200-400-600

[dollywobbler]

I may have to explore that, but not before France. I'm sure there will be performance enough given what else I own at the moment.

[Bren]

It may be worth your while looking for cheap spares - apparently ABS sensors are scarce and so expensive cars are getting scrapped because they need replacing.

[Bren]

Ours was the base 620i - steel wheels, no folding rear seat and only optional extra was leccy roof.

 

It was exactly like the green one for £200 in the photo.

[RoadworkUK]

My Brother-in-law had a 620 GSDi.

 

As the best metaphor I can think of imagine taking an old Ferguson TE20 and encapsulating in sponge, then wrapping it with felt, then smothering it with twenty year old grey Connolly glove leather.

 

I found its roughness rather endearing. Excellent ride and, yes, the waftage was considerable. It was like driving a delicious but rather stodgy pudding.

[oldcars]

Glad you got one, look forward to more photos.

[dollywobbler]

The caper has begun. Nippa for stage one. Headed for Caersws to save an hour on the train.

https://twitter.com/dollywobbler/status/763656867268681728?s=09

 

This seems to be as good as live reporting will get for now. Sorry.

 

Here's the first train.

https://twitter.com/dollywobbler/status/763670775849160704?s=09

[hairnet]

Choo Choo etc

[dollywobbler]

Live reporting is a pain in the arse. On my third train of the day. Should be at the car by quarter past three.

[johngarty]

Only ever had a couple of cars on finance and one was a red one of these, 3 years old. Lovely car.

[Lacquer Peel]

The L series really does sound like a Perkins Prima. It's great. Such a good engine Honda used it in Euro market Accords til 2003.

[dollywobbler]

Excitement is building now. I'll do a full post-caper report this evening. I prefer the traditional way sometimes. @dollywobbler on Twitter if you'd like exciting* action as it happens.

[r.welfare]

The L series really does sound like a Perkins Prima. It's great. Such a good engine Honda used it in Euro market Accords til 2003.

Yes, the handbook for my year 2000 model proudly showed this. The previous model (600 twin) Accord could be specified with the L series in this country in the last couple of years on sale, so I wonder whether Honda were precluded from selling the 98-03 model in diesel form in the UK by BMW, or they felt UK customers found it unsophisticated?

[Sheefag]

It's all gone very quiet........

[billyboy406v6]

It's all gone very quiet........

It always is on the hard shoulder ?

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Maybe he's had an epiphany and hasn't brought it.

 

I do like a 600.

[BorniteIdentity]

Maybe he's had an epiphany and hasn't brought it.

 

I do like a 600.

Twitter indicates differently...

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

It's been brought? Nice 1.

[Sheefag]

No. They've killed him and disposed of the body.

Now they're taking turns wearing his bobble hat and laughing hysterically as they piss in his thermos whilst posting pics on his twitter feed. Bastards.

[oldcars]

Car looks nice on his twitter feed thingy.

[dollywobbler]

Feel free to dump a link over here. Always goes quiet once driving! 50 miles in. Love it. Ride a bit crap, engine fantastic.

[Sheefag]

Rumours of your demise were greatly exaggerated then.

[Lacquer Peel]

Ride a bit crap

 

Oh, Honda.

[vulgalour]

https://twitter.com/dollywobbler/status/763739908167049216

 

[dean36014]

Looks nice or do the pictures flatter it?

[Junkman]

A link to one of those social media sites does not constitute an Autoshite collection thread.

[dollywobbler]

Thanks. I have access to an internet now. So, let's get this caper going properly.

 

First, there was a Nippa.

 

Then there was train one, from Caersws. It takes 30 minutes to drive there, or 65 minutes for the train, which is 20 minutes away from my house. 

 

I was dumped in Smethwick to board Train 2, which had a proper torque converter automatic - ZF if the train geeks are to be believed.

 

That took me to Birmingham Moor Street, which requires you to leave the station to get back into it.

 

However, the train was waiting, so I had to hurry.

 

Apparently, that one is a V16 or something insane. It was delightfully peaceful inside, with curtains!

 

I was worried I'd sat in First Class by mistake, but the guard was too busy dispelling information like Marvin the Paranoid Android to care.

 

That took me to Leamington Spa, where a Croque Monsieur was purchased. I should have taken a photo, as I'm pretty sure the cheese is meant to be INSIDE the sarnie. Oh well. Tasted great!

 

Moments later, Train 4 appeared. Gosh this was noisy!

 

That took me to Oxford, where my next 'train' awaited. Yup, replacement bus. A hybrid thing, with some impressive torque. And the shittest seats I've ever encountered. They were as soft and forgiving as the Women's Institute. Never use their tea cups by the way. Never.

 

Oh, the rail replacement command centre was this shonktastic VW LT left-hooker. Ace!

 

To be continued...

[dollywobbler]

Vulgalour has already given you the money shot, but here it is. My first view of my new car.

 

I can now present a second view.

 

That rear arch is the worst bit. I think it was painted by a five year old with all the preparation of me on a night out (ie throw on a shirt, job jobbed).

 

However, the car drives beautifully well and feels made for the sort of travelling I'm doing next week. RESULT! It has 175,400 on the clock, and was up in Newcastle only a few days ago. We did all the paperwork, which involves computers these days, drank tea, and I headed straight off to that their London.

 

First impressions? Well, the ride is shit, and this is a facelift 600 with the 'improved' 1-2-1 damping, whatever that means. However, it's not as shit as the RAV4 or Perodua, so maybe it's what strange folk call normal. It steers very nicely though, with just a hint of wheel wobble at 70mph. It's doing just over 2500rpm at 70. That's LOVELY. The gearchange is a bit grim though, firm but annoying, like an over zealous parking attendant. There is a clutch foot rest though, something I missed for the entire 18 months of XM ownership.

 

The engine is better too, and I never thought I'd say that. Ultimately, it has less punch, but it has even less turbo lag, pulling from as little as 1200rpm very nicely. There's a good wallop of torque at higher revs too, though it gets rather noisy and unnecessary by then. My only fault is the engine's reluctance to amble along in second gear on tickover. The XM would do that.

 

I like the seats, which are quite firm but the Ti half-leather spec as this is an iLD, or DiL or something. Height and lumbar adjustment and, crucially, I think Mrs DW will find them ok.

 

Not many toys to play with. Rear windows are keep fit, but most other things are electric. It has air con, but I can't really test it as the blower switch gives no joy at all - frustrating as there are FIVE speeds! This will need to be investigated.

 

I've got a ton of history with it too - a stamped book and service bills back to 2001! I particularly like this timing belt bill for almost £700 from 2013. That was reassuring, right up until the moment I noticed that the car has covered almost 48,000 miles since...

 

On a related note, guess what the recommended belt change interval is! Yes, 48,000 miles. CRAP. I guess we've found the reason for sale... EDIT - this may be the earlier L-Series, which has an 84k belt interval. I hope so!

 

I leave you with this shot. I'm sorted for reading material tonight. I love the matching pillow in my guest house for the night.

 

Tomorrow, I have a few hours of meetings before scudding back to Wales. Overall, this seems £230 well spent.