1998 Rover - Austin 200 214si 1.4 from UK and Ireland
Summary:
Built for those with a breeze-block for a right foot!
Faults:
Radio/Info display on dash was damaged when I bought the car (few LED's out) - heard they are expensive to replace.
Exhaust slightly rusty when I purchased the car. Although I suspect this is surface rust it's a little unsightly.
General Comments:
Very quick for a 1.4 liter engine provided your willing to get the revs up and it handles well too especially for a "bigger" small car which was built for comfort. I'm impressed.
The clutch pedal, however, was obviously designed for an Ostrich as the distance between the foot-well and the position of the pedal is phenomenally big! Also, the clutch itself is a little sharp and needs to be treated carefully for long life (and to prevent back injury if you stall - which is very easy to do if you've never driven a Rover before!!!).
The seats and driving position, whilst a little high are extremely comfortable - long journeys are made a lot easier in this car.
The rear-view mirror is so big you can see the whole world out of the back window! Definitely a plus point.
Unfortunately there is no ABS standard on this model which is a shame because heavy breaking usually goes hand-in-hand with speed, which, this car achieves with ease.
The Power Steering is very very light. some may like this (I know I do), however it does reduce the "feel" of the vehicle underneath you.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 24th February, 2003