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A Grand Monday: Cherished 1998 Rover 800, £899

Published 02 February 2016

If you’re into your Rover 800s, then this 1998 Rover 800SLi for sale at £899 is well worth a look. It’s a 2.0-litre automatic with 70k on the clock that’s obviously been well cared for.

Finished in metallic Nightfire Red with grey, piped velour interior it’s said to be free of all the usual 800 problems. So there’s no warping dash or rust – and the seller reckons it's in excellent condition, both mechanically and bodily with an MoT until 4 November.

It comes with three sets of tailored Rover interior overmats, including carpets for summer, rubber for winter.

The spec is impressive too, with driver and passenger airbags, air conditioning, a radio and cassette player with a multi-changer CD. There’s remote central locking, heated rear windscreen, electric mirrors, as well as an electric tilt and slide sunroof, and electric windows.

Rover 800 (3)

There’s fog lights, alloy wheels (with locking wheel nuts), Rover mudflaps all round, remote boot and fuel flap release. And, despite a bit of laquer flake on one of the wheels, the seller reckons it looks even better in the metal than it does in the pictures.

So getting to Barrhill in Scotland isn’t too much of a hassle, then it definitely looks like it’s worth checking out.

According to the advert, the car ‘drives superbly and smoothly, without clonks or rattles. Everything works correctly, although the windows could do with some lubrication as they open a bit slowly.’

It continues, ‘The interior is like new, and the ashtray and cigarette lighter have never been soiled.’ It even has the original owner’s wallet (complete with handbooks), the radio code, spare wheel, jack and tools. In short, it sounds like a must-have for any Rover 800 enthusiast.

Rover 800 (2)

Comments

madf on 1 February 2016

I had two Rover 800s in teh 19990s as company cars (no choice!).

They wallowed like preganant hippospotamuses - S curves were not recommended - and were prone to all manner of minor faults (like window switches 6 times in 6 months) - and some major ones (like HG failure at 60k miles).

Recalling them is rather like a movie where everything is shoruded in mist but you don't really want for the mist to clear as you will see the full horror in front of you.

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Teddington on 1 February 2016

In response to ma***

Absolute t***! The 800s neither wallow or have problems on any type of curves. The electrics are no less reliable than any other car. Superb car in every respect. I should know... I've owned 6 of the cars. Each one covered over 150k. Without ANY problems.

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GORDONROY on 2 February 2016

Got to agree with teddington I had an ex Strathclyde police rover 827si albeit with the Honda 24v 2.7 litre engine

At the time I also tested the cosworth granada

Both great cars with the ford handling slightly better as it was the 4x4 version

The 2.7 was a flyer and never let me down in the 2 years I owned it

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kiwichas on 3 February 2016

If that is a classic, then so am I

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Lord Brasic on 4 February 2016

I have owned loads of these, mostly the 2.0 manuals and auto, I used them for my private hire taxi bussines and they were great cars. Comfortable good on fuel and I never had any problems with any I owned. I also had a 89 2.7 Vittesse auto that was the best of the lot, along with an 87 825 sterling that also had the Honda engine. I have only had a couple of the later V6 Rover engine cars but they were also good.

A classic? I think so, if your playing the numbers game they have got to be a good bet.

sjw77

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