Rover 216 GTI Review

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Rover 216 GTI
4.3 stars
Average rating for this product is: 4.3 out of 5

From 8 ratings and 24 reviews

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Charles Conway's Review of Rover 216 GTI

29th May 2004

Overall Rating

2 stars
  • Value for money
    5 stars
  • Length of ownership
    4 months
  • Practicality
    3.5 stars
  • Year Manufactured
    1991
  • Performance
    4 stars
  • Reliability
    4.5 stars
Good Points

Very quick for a 1.6 with the 16 valve Honda engine
So many people are wary of unreliable Rover engines that old ones like my "H" reg can be found very very cheaply and the GTI with the HONDA 16 valve is very reliable.


Bad Points

Poor handling, strange power steering, and although it will corner hard this requires concentration and a lot of confidence.
Prone to rear suspension bush failiure which causes even stranger handling.
Quircky electrics,


General Comments

All in all I am very impressed by the performance of my "Rover 216 GTI old banger". I purchased it with a full MOT for less than £200 as most people who had looked at the car were scared off by the Rover reputation and the noisy gearbox which I replaced for £20 second hand.
It is very quick for a 1.6, and although I am over 50 now I cannot resist "burning off the local lads in there newer and supposedly quicker cars.
The Honda engine will run right round the rev counter. The gearbox seems to have closer than average ratios and a faily low top gear making the car very noisy at motorway speeds (80+). However the good top end output and the close gears and 195x55x15 tyres I have fitted endows it with rapid "country lane" performance. On the other side of the coin; get into town and the honda displays good flexibility at low revs. too. Should the occasion ever arise, I would buy another 216 GTi although as a family man it is a little on the small side. I feel that I will keep this one for as long as I can probably until it rots away! Its such fun car to drive!

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