Rover 25 (1999 - 2005) 1.4 Impression S 5d (2004/04) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

yes I know it has the image of an old man with a pipe and slippers with a tartan blanket on the parcel shelf but i don't care. It shows I'm a nice practical person with no ego problems!

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

my family loves the car, all driven it and said it was great. They also like the way it looks, and so do I

Would you buy this car again and why?

Yes i probably would but in the form of the MG ZR 1.8. Looks so much sportier, and goes like the clappers!!

What are you likely to buy next?

Either the MG ZR 160, the Alfa Romeo 147 GTA 3.0 V6 or the Seat Leon 1.9TDi 150.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Independent

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£2,600

When did you buy the car?

September 2007

Did you get a good deal and why?

Yeah i got a very good deal! it had 30k miles on the clock and was cosmetically almost brand new. I'm still seeing the same car, same miles etc going for up to 4 grand!!

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

i had an aging Vauxhall Corsa and just got a new job which doubled my mileage so had to get something newer. Dismissed it as just a Rover at the dealership until my mate told me to take it for a drive...That was it, I HAD to have it!!

What was the dealer like?

Seemed to be a good bloke, helpful etc until i found out he only puts the cheapest warranties on his cars that don't cover electrical items such as the alternator!!!

What's it like to drive?

it feels sporty but not hard. Sits well on the road, very planted, feels stable and 'chunky'. Holds the road very well with the tyres i had fitted. It's gutsy enough when you get the revs over 3000 rpm and change up at 4000/4500 rpm. The steering is niceley weighted so gives an informative response. Really fun car to drive all in all!!

What's it like to park?

dead easy to park, no real rear visibility problems, all round visibility is very good actually!

Have you had any problems with the car?

The alternator went at 35k miles, the clock in the dashboard was frozen (til i took it out and re-fitted it), the lock on the boot sometimes whines when i lock the car, the ignition key doesn't actually open the driver's door lock (but i use the remote anyway), NOV 08 update!! - the resistor pack that controls the speed of the heater fan burnt out (easy to replace) and the clutch cable snapped. The foam in the driver's seat is disintegrating and now i can feel the metal frame of the seat in my back!!! What else is gonna go wrong??

What's most practical about your car?

It's insurance group 4, economical on fuel and comfortable on long trips. Easy to park.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

Traffic master in the dashboard