New car (Rover), what to look for?

InvaderGIR

InvaderGIR

InvaderGIR

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Bristol
Ok, so my girlfriend's Clio snapped it's cambelt and knackerd the engine earlier this week, and seeing as the car is a general piece of crap (apart from looks/rust), it has been scrapped.

Now, she's been offered a 1.6 1999 Rover 200 for £1000, it has 56k on the clock, and has had a new HG (YAY HGF!! :p), now from the sounds of what she's been told by the mechanic that has offered (family friend) the car it's had a reskim on the head, as well as a new more modern (less prone to HGF) HG, but I don't know if I 100% trust the guy on that.

I will be at hers this weekend, and she wants me to come along for a test drive. I should be able to get behind the wheel aswell, because from what she said she's transferred her insurance (I'm on her insurance) already (:rolleyes:).

What should I be looking for on this car, other than rust. I really don't want her spending £1k on a car that's going to die in a couple weeks or whatever, she doesn't have much money, so £1k is a lot (and loans are not an option - tried that route already as she was thinking of changing cars anyway).

Are there any specific areas I need to pay close attention to, or is it a case of generally looking over the car, and driving it to check for noises/bumps etc.?

InvG
 
Heater fan only operating on maximum setting and SRS fault light on are two common problems, both easy to fix though.

Did it have a new cam belt and tensioner when the head was done?

Apart from that just check the usual things, signs of accident damage, all electrics working, no knocking from suspension etc.
 
As yet I don't know, I'll chat with the mechanic though. He sounds like a compentent and sensible bloke...but wants rid of the 200 as it's taking up space, so I just want to make sure he's not flogging my girlfriend a heap.

SRS?

I'll make sure to check the fan then. As for accident damage, I'll tell her to get one of the web check things...whilst not 100% on showing all it gives an idea. Also I don't know the number of previous owners...hopefully it isn't many, else something could be up with it. I will also stick my head in/around/under the whole car...I'm not fussed if I offend the mechanic...even if she is. :D


InvG
 
SRS is the airbag light, basically there are some yellow connectors underneath the seat which become corroded. A quick clean and the SRS light stays off, it happened to my MG ZS.
 
Just done some looking on Autotrader, and Rover 200 1.6 are asking for around £1500 with like 80k on the clock. So £1000 should be a good deal?
My girlfriend did say something about normally it'd cost like £1400, but I think that's what the mechanic said...which makes me think something is up really.

InvG
 
I paid near that for a '98 1.4 on 87k at the end of last year, which was probably a little much, so its not a bad deal if its all in good shape, but its not deal-of-the-century either.

If there's water around the spare wheel, its either cause the rear lights leak or cause the tubing to the rear washer has broken where it goes into the hatch at the top.
Also, make sure that there isn't a fault that caused the headgasket to go thats been ignored.
 
act smiley said:
I paid near that for a '98 1.4 on 87k at the end of last year, which was probably a little much, so its not a bad deal if its all in good shape, but its not deal-of-the-century either.
Click to expand...
Ok, so it seems like a fair deal, I mean on Autotrader there are some much worse deals certainly. Most on there though are 1.8 or 1.4s. not many 1.6s,


act smiley said:
If there's water around the spare wheel, its either cause the rear lights leak or cause the tubing to the rear washer has broken where it goes into the hatch at the top.
Click to expand...
Ok, I'll be able to check that, I take it it's in the boot? (I'm used to pug 205 + 306, which have it slung under the boot).


act smiley said:
Also, make sure that there isn't a fault that caused the headgasket to go thats been ignored.
Click to expand...
Urmmm, not much I can do really other than ask the mechanic really though? And he won't know all that much as it was brought into him with it. He has aparantly done the cambelt aswell as HG etc. so it should all be fine, especially as he's apartnaly put a better HG on...one of the ones that doesn't go easily.


My girlfriend is a little impatient as the clio has died, and she said she wants to pick up the 200 tomorrow (I'm going to hers tomorrow), which means that I'll only be able to look at it when/after it's bought, which is a pain.

I know she wants/needs a car asap, but I'd rather she acutally gave some time to allow me to check ip up, and speak to her away from the mechanic, oh well.


InvG
 
The advice shown looks good to me

Check the coolant and the coolant level - if this runs low the engine can overheat causing problems. I'd check the coolant on a fairly regular basis and let the engine warm up before ragging it and it should be fine

The uprated headgasket he mentioned could well be the Land Rover one - this is indeed much tougher and a common choice on the MG Rover forums (http://forums.mg-rover.org/). Might be worth posting there too as they'll be happy to advise you
 
Seeing as it's my girlfriend, there won't be much ragging of it...especially as she said she wont let me drive it, even though I am on the insurance...why doesn't she trust me...maybe it's the silly speeds I got to in the Clio...:D

I'll ask if it is the landy one, as from some of the readings on here, that is the one to go for to ensure no HGF for a while.

I'll try to embed the idea of checking levels, and getting it serviced in her, but I don't know how much I can do. On my car I always check it every couple of weeks, even if it isn't being used much. But she uses her car everyday and as far as I know only tops up the screenwash.:rolleyes:

Cheers for the link, I'll be on there soon and asking away. :)

InvG
 
I paid just over 800 for a T reg 218iS with full leather and in mint condition. 61k on the clock and no sign of head gasket issues.
 
If you do buy it then you need to stress to your woman just how important it is to check the coolant level at least once a week. Small coolant leaks, combined with owners never checking the level are a big cause of HGF since the engine holds so little coolant to start with. If the mechanic has done a good job on replacing the gasket the engine should be fine for a long time yet.
 
SpeedFreak said:
I paid just over 800 for a T reg 218iS with full leather and in mint condition. 61k on the clock and no sign of head gasket issues.
Click to expand...

Well in her area (Taunton/Yeovil area), there are no sub 60k cars for sub £1k. Which is what the car is. I shall be finding out more later on today, as we are going to see it aparantly.

As for the oil/coolant levels, I'm going to try to instill in her the fact she needs to do it (whatever car she has, the Rover or another car if this isn't a worthwhile one). I see her prettymuch every weekend, but I don't fancy having to check the fluids on her car every weekend.

I don't want her breaking another car, so will try to get her to get a garage to give it a full service every 6months/6kmiles depending on which is sooner - this also means if she doesn't check the levels too often it isn't such a big deal.

InvG
 
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