Rover 820i
ENGINE 1994cc/4-cyl/DOHC POWER 134bhp@5900rpm TORQUE 131lb ft@4500rpm MAXIMUM SPEED 124mph 0-60MPH 10.2 sec FUEL CONSUMPTION 28-33mpg TRANSMISSION FWD, three-speed auto MoT 12 months from sale ODOMETER 25,101 miles
WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?
Exactly how you would imagine a 25k-mile car would – superbly. It starts on the first turn of the key and the engine has a healthy idle with no smoking, ticking or surging and the water temperature gauge sits bang in the middle once it’s up to full operating temperature. Everything still feels fresh and smooth and it glides effortlessly thanks to the under-stressed 16-valve engine and automatic gearbox. Performance is ample and the motor provides even power delivery through the gears. The steering is well weighted and the car drives straight and true, including under braking. It’s comfortable without feeling too soft when cornering and handles well. The brakes work well and don’t suffer from fading, squealing or juddering.
BODYWORK CHECK
The bodywork is immaculate – we couldn’t find a single blemish or swirl mark in the paint, let alone any sign of rust. All of the plastic and chrome trim pieces are in similarly good order and there are no chips or scratches in any of the windows. All four wheel trims are near-flawless but while the tyres – Toyo Proxes CF1s all round – are well-treaded, they are beginning to crack, so should be replaced. An inspection underneath the car reveals no unpleasant surprises – everything appears to be in good order.
HOW’S THE INTERIOR?
There’s nothing fancy in here – it’s typical Nineties cream cloth Rover – but it’s comfortable, clean and in excellent original condition. Everything – from the electric windows to the manual sunroof – works as it should and the carpets are clean and dry and show very little signs of wear. The seats are firm yet comfortable, again showing no discernible signs of wear and tear. The dashboard is not faded or damaged and the mix of wood and leather trim pieces are all intact and in good shape. There are no squeaks or rattles from broken or poorly assembled trim when driving along, either.
UNDER THE BONNET
This 820 has one of the cleanest engine bays we’ve seen in a while though it’s almost a shame that the date ( June 2019) and mileage of the last timing belt change has been scrawled in white paint on one piece of trim. There are no leaks, no signs of rust and no build-up of road grime. Suspension and braking components all look good, too, with no evidence of damage or deterioration.
THE CCW VIEW
This low-mileage 820i has so far escaped the dreaded tin worm and is in excellent condition overall. It’s a roomy, comfortable and surprisingly capable cruiser that returns pretty decent economy to boot. Not the most exciting Rover 800, perhaps, but still a great classic with a comprehensive service history.