Rover 200 (1995 - 1999)
BY JONATHAN CROUCH
| Build |  |
| Comfort | |
| Depreciation | |
| Economy |  |
| Equipment | |
| Handling | |
| Insurance | |
| Performance | |
| Styling | |
| Value |  |
Rover felt that what was now their smallest model should be thought of more as a personal coupe (even the five-door versions?) than a compact family car, so if rear leg room matters less than a classy cabin and elegant styling, the 200 could well be for you.
Rovers stylists did a remarkable job of updating what is, after all, a new body on existing, if modernised mechanicals and platform components. Both three and five-door versions combine the traditional Rover grille and touches of chrome with up to the minute styling and a purposeful stance. Inside, there's a familiar Rover feel to the cabin, with high quality trim and switchgear as well as wood inserts in a fascia which accommodates driver and passenger airbags, depending on the trim level of the version youre considering. The front seats have very long-travel runners to boost front cabin space, since the marketing men always felt that most potential owners would use the back only for young children.
The lowest price youll see a 200 advertised for will be around £1.000, though it will no doubt be a relatively basic 214 eight-valve three-door. If youre after one of these late 1995 cars, youd probably be better off paying only another £150 or so for the added convenience of five doors. An even better bet would be a 16-valve 1.
4 or 1.6-litre car. The extra power makes quite a difference to the performance and economy wont suffer very much, either. You should expect to pay a minimum of about £1,200 for the first 1.
6 N-plate three-door (or a 97P 1.4), while a five-door will be around £100 or £200 more. The first of the 97P-reg 1.8-litre three-doors are commanding in the region of £1.
425, expect to pay around £25 more for the option of five doors. The entry-level 211 replaced the 100 (nee Metro) in 1998 and prices range from £1,350 for a 98R three-door. But go for the extra power of a 1.4 8-valver if you can, for another £300 or so.
As for diesels, youll need to spend about £800 which should secure you a 1996N entry-level 220D. The SD and SDi offer a better deal, so consider something like a 97P-plate 220SD for roughly £1,325 or a 99T-reg SDi for closer to £1,850.
Long gone are the days when a British-designed and built car also came with quality question marks. The Longbridge assembly and general refinement of the 200 has always been first rate and thats not always the case with some of the European competition. Corrosion isnt a particular problem but check the sills and rear doors carefully, not forgetting telltale stone chips on the bonnet. Automatic 200s use a constantly-variable transmission and its wise to have this checked by an expert for wear, as problems can be tricky and expensive to rectify if the system has been abused by an over-enthusiastic previous owner.
(approx. based on 1.4 1995 Hatch) For most parts the prices are quiet reasonable and worth the money. Expect to pay around £95 for a full clutch assembly, £485 for a full exhaust system (including the catalyst), around £80 for a headlamp and up to £115 for a radiator.
Brake pads should cost about £45 for the front and £35 for the rear, an alternator is around £175 and a starter motor around £120.
Performance wise, the 200 series is a mixed bag. In the 214, rest to 60 occupies just 12.5 seconds on the way to 103mph, while the 200vi manages the standing start sprint in only 7.5 seconds, on its way to a maximum 127mph.
More importantly, even the little 214 feels good to drive. True performance after all, doesn't really have very much to do with speed. Rather, it's about two things; handling and ability, both of which any 200 has to a high standard. Criticisms (if you discount the intentional diminutive size which makes travelling four-up something of a friendly experience) are few. The driving position is rather high and boot space is, as you might imagine, at something of a premium. Still, the class out-weighs the carping.
It may not be Above All but its certainly a Rover. These days that means class which, in this case, neednt cost a lot.
