Rover 600 (1993 - 2000) 620 ti 4d (1998/R) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

Most people just see it as an old rover, and think "old man." Thats until you put your foot down. Passengers get scared, GTi / Type R / ST / BMW driver get surprised. It's the unexpectedness that gets people.

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

They don't know what it is. They did say it looks quite plush for the money I paid for it, which is true. Friends like riding in it up front, but not so much in the back due to crushed knees.

Would you buy this car again and why?

Maybe. If you can get a good example at a good price they can be fun, but probably not the best bet if you're no good at fixing things and don't know where to go to get spare parts. A 3 series is a better all round drivers car, a mondeo easier to run, but both common and not a quick.

What are you likely to buy next?

No idea! Maybe a Seat Leon Cupra 20VT.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Didn't buy from a dealer

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£500

When did you buy the car?

April 2010

Did you get a good deal and why?

Not especially. The car looked very tidy and was sensibly priced, with lots of history, but suffering from the usual rover-honda niggles: Window glass getting stuck, oil leaks from cam cover, AC not working, ariel not coming up. Nothing major, but stuff that needs doing.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

Looks very understated, but goes very quickly and has sensible insurance rating and ok fuel economy. Probably one of the fastest and most tuneable cars available for the price.

What was the dealer like?

What's it like to drive?

Pretty ordinary, but for the performance. The suspension has been stiffened up a lot over the standard 600, and an LSD fitted. So the ride is actually pretty hard, but it corners flat and controlled, and it gets its power down effectively with only a little torque steer, in the dry at least. Wheelspin in the wet is easy to achieve, especially in the lower gears. This car needs good quality rubber on all 4 wheels to go, stop and steer properly, so don't skimp in that department! Otherwise its pretty average. The steering and brakes don't offer much feel or inspire any confidence, but the performance keeps things interesting. Cruising is relaxed and comfortable. Good on the open road and motorways. Bumpy around town.

What's it like to park?

Same as any other family saloon. Light clutch, steering and gearchange, although reverse can crunch quite a bit on engagement. Not that easy to see where the back ends though.

Have you had any problems with the car?

Just the usual niggles: Faulty window glass regulator, cam cover oil leaks, stiff breaks. Surprisingly this is one rover engine NOT prone to head gasket failure. Its usually oil leaks, a blowing turbo, or overheating. So run the engine to full operating temp and give it some go and watch out for smoke and oil drips. Also check for clutch slip and crunching gears. All are expensive to fix.

What's most practical about your car?

Its a typical family saloon. Practical enough, but not much leg room in the back, especially if the driver is even remotely tall. A mondeo hatch is more spacious and practical really.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

The 2.0 turbo engine. It's what makes this car fun. Lots of turbo lag below 2500RPM, but after that it has acceleration to keep pace with much newer hot hatches and sports saloons. That plus the fact it looks almost identical to a 618i is what make it so amusing. Being a turbo engine, a lot more than 197bhp is on offer with a few tweaks, although don't stress it too hard or it will go bang, and engine parts for these cars are as rare as hens teeth now.