For sale spotted - 1998 Rover 214 - £150

[Station]

Was walking the dog and on the offchance looked in a shop window and found this. Taxed and MOT'd til December!

Is there anything to look for apart from HGF on these. Can't see anything cheaper than this.

[Cavcraft]

Rusty arches, biscuit crumbs and the stink of piss. But it's bound to be the headgasket so not worth the bother tbh.

 

Shove some K-seal in, drive it round 'til it fucks up then weigh it in.

[Station]

Yeah, that's what I'm worried about, it's bound to have the bouncing temp gauge, worth checking out though. My elderly neighbour is selling his R reg Astra (just been taxed and tested) for £100 as he's getting a new Astra, and has offered me that. It's giffer spec, but his sight is going and it's got a few battle scars from the concrete posts on his driveway!

[Lord Sterling]

Your better off with the Astra in long run. Its £50 less than the Rover and has much a better chance of lasting a bit longer. Bodywork is easier to sort out than than head gaskets unless you've got the experience, tools, bits, patience and time.

[Cavcraft]

Yeah, that's what I'm worried about, it's bound to have the bouncing temp gauge, worth checking out though. My elderly neighbour is selling his R reg Astra (just been taxed and tested) for £100 as he's getting a new Astra, and has offered me that. It's giffer spec, but his sight is going and it's got a few battle scars from the concrete posts on his driveway!

And you're still sitting here talking about it? Fuck me vicar, if you don't have that Astra I will chief, pm me his details if you don't mind.

[ashmicro]

As others have said, HGF. When they get down to this age and money, what are the chances that it's had a coolant change at the required interval - nil.

[Station]

The Astra's here, behind the red one. I've done all the few repairs for MOT on it over several years. He was trading it in on a new Astra, and Lookers offered 100 quid, so that's what he wants.

 

[Dukestar25]

Lucky bugger... looks ok too, what's the mileage?

[sporty-shite]

Lucky bugger... looks ok too, what's the mileage?

It's 100quid, who gives a fuck

 

Get on it, Dave. Now!

[warren t claim]

The Astra looks very tidy.

 

GET IT BOUGHT!!!

[Cavcraft]

Dave, srsly like mail me if you are not having it. If that green Astra is tested I'll have it.

[Alexg]

Worth it totally, it might be fine! Even if it does run hot it's worth baring in mind that anyone who has an overheating K series panics and thinks HGF without checking the cause. Many a bargain could be picked up due to a faulty thermostat or fan or waterpump.

[ashmicro]

True. And Billy still hasn't forgiven me for saying that the Nova is shite, so he may be a little over critical of Rovers

 

Just kidding, all advice from Cav is good here.

[pogweasel]

I hope that Astra is a 1.4 HI TORQ.

They are the cars of WINNERS.

[Cavcraft]

 

I want to like Rover 214s/216s but you just know they're going to fuck up big time at some point.

Mind you, you also just know Novas will dissolve on the driveway one evening.

[ashmicro]

It's like anyting else Billy - if it's been looked after. Engine-wise, Vauxhalls of the generation in question here are pretty tough. The same can't be said of the K series if it hasn't been looked after. The K is a better engine, by miles, but requires too high a level of scrupulous maintenance for a car in this price range.

 

It's OK if you're a fucking mentalist like me who has some weird sentimental attachment to your Rover which makes you change every fluid, filter, plug, every belt and the water pump and stat, as well as the brakes and discs, every year. When the car covers 2k miles per annum, and clean it obseesively. Then the Rover shows it's massive superiority. The real world isn't like that.

 

NURSE!!

[AnthonyG]

A Rover 214 is a nicer car than an Astra Mk3, but for £100 that Astra is the far better bet, simply because you already know the car.

[gearoil]

In a strange sucker for punishment fashion, part of me wants to get something K powered and fix it so it stays fixed.

 

My Dads late 416 had one two rounds of HG fun. First was a gasket / skim, second time was a bit more involved alloy welding, skimmed, seats cut, waterpump, stat, belt, rad & hoses and still it made mayo and steam a couple of months after that.

 

It made £80 at the scrappy. He paid £11400 new when he retired. Still kicks himself he didn't stick to Hondas....

[Station]

Yeah, I have a love-hate thing with the K-series, they're not bad to work on though. I can do the head gasket in three hours start to finish now.

The number for the Rover is going to answermessage thing (on mobile), so either he's raped with millions of interested customers and switched it off, or he used a spare sim and binned it when the car was sold (wise). Either way, it doesn't look likely, although I'd like to have seen it.