Rover Montego (1984 - 1995)

Models Covered: SALOON, ESTATE 1.3, 1.6, 2.0, 2.

0 TURBO DIESEL [BASE, CLUBMAN, L, LX, LXI, HL, SL, SLX, SLXI, SL, SLX, SI, GTI, MAYFAIR EFI, GSI, VDP EFI, MG EFI, MG TURBO, D CLUBMAN, DL, DLX, DSL, DSLX, D COUNTRYMAN]

BY JONATHAN CROUCH

Build
Comfort
Depreciation
Economy
Equipment
Handling
Insurance
Performance
Styling
Value

It's easy to see the Rover Montego as an outstanding used buy. Plenty about, cheap prices, lots of dealers, spares easy to come by. Remember on the other hand, that the Montego comes from an era that earned Rover the kind of reputation it has since successfully lived down. Shop carefully and buy a later model however, and you could still end up with bargain family motoring.

A lot of car for the money. Higher-spec models were quite well equipped with items such as power front windows, mirrors and sunroof and six-speaker sound systems.

Of course you could pay very little and buy yourself a £50 wreck. Here, however, we're assuming that you want quality family motoring, in which case you should restrict your search to the last five years of production 1990 to 1995. Even here, prices are on the cheap side of affordable with £1,000 being about the maximum youd pay unless you come across a real beauty, which is highly unlikely.

Early Montegos are trouble; the two-litre cars occasionally caught fire when a fuel line leaked. Rust also gets early ones everywhere and late cars in the rear wheel arches. Plastic bumpers dont take knocks and crack easily. Watch for leaky cylinder head gaskets, cam and valve wear and check that the drivebelt has been replaced on schedule.

Earlier interiors fell apart quickly.

(Appro based on a 1994 1.6 saloon) A clutch assembly is around £125, while a full exhaust system should be just under £290. An alternator will be around £85 and new front brake pads about £65. A headlamp should be around £70, a radiator around £70 and a starter motor about £150.



Performance isnt too bad and the two-litre model has lusty pulling power from low revs. Handling is par for the contemporary course but the ride was always good. The diesel is loud and sometimes a bit smoky but quite economical.

The Montego can be a good buy - but you have to know what you're doing. Buy as late a model and as low a mileage as you can afford, ask expert advice and you'll reap the benefits of its dowdy image by paying peanuts.