Rover 25 (1999 - 2005)

25ILTD
Engine looking for a car.
I had previously owned a 200 L series Rover which was a very capable workhorse and regardless of the badge snobbery was very well put together. The 25 was built under the BMW tenure and it showed. The L series engine was uber reliable, no issues there and the gearbox was bombproof, but the rest of the car had been cheapened in it appears to maximise cost returns. Plastic scrivets holding panels where on the 200 real screws and bolts were used. Plastic surfaces that were just not hard wearing and scuffed easily. Noticeable that the tin worm got a hold on the bodyshell along the leading edges and bottoms of doors where the paint is thin. Finally traded in before the rust got to the C pillar structure point. I don't expect rust in a modern day car and the way the bodyshell rotted spoke volumes as to how the car had been cheapened. But right up to the end, the L series Rover diesel just kept on going so yes, an engine looking for a car.