I liked the Tomcat valuation so much that I bought the car!
A very big thank you to CCW and particularly to Russ Smith, who writes your Value My Classic pieces. I emailed you after reading the valuation the other week regarding the Rover 220 Coupé (CCW, 8 June), and read that the owner was thinking of selling. I asked if it was possible to get in touch with the reader because I was very interested in the car. With the reader’s permission Russ managed to put me in touch, and I arranged to view the car after we'd had a good chat. After a horrific five-and-ahalf hour train journey from Swansea to Portsmouth – train breakdown, signals, and so on – I was finally able to view the car and was not disappointed. There were a couple of scuffs on the bumpers but everything else was good; even the clock was working! The car had had two new tyres and a new battery in the last few months and timing belt and clutch less than 1000 miles ago. I’m pleased to say that I bought the car, which I’m more than happy with, and a lovely comfortable 200-mile trouble-free drive back to Swansea via a bit of Salisbury Plain followed. I have now joined the Rover Sports Register and the Rover 200 & 400 Owners’ Club. The Rover’s now been booked in for full Waxoyl and I am looking to take it to a few shows. I plan to do around 4000 miles a year and the car is a keeper. Once again, thank you from a 67-year-old lifelong Rover fan – and now the happy and proud owner of a Rover Tomcat.
Dave Blatchford, ❚ Swansea
You’re very welcome, Dave. We look forward to seeing your Rover at a show very soon! – Ed.
Why no Lexus?
I am sure you have received plenty of correspondence about potential cars that owners feel should have been included in your top ten piece on fast and affordable classics (CCW, 8 June). My suggestion would have been the wonderful Lexus LS400/430. They are decently quick when required, very comfortable and good ones are available for well under £10,000.
Howard ❚ Plummer, via email
Our experts were looking to find the quickest accelerating buys out there for less than £10k. The LS400 missed the cut, but with a 0-60mph time of 8.3 seconds it’s certainly no slouch – Ed.