Dan's 1998 Rover 820 Sterling Coupe Auto

[DLR]

Whilst I am awake with little else to do I thought I'd start a new thread for my latest purchase. As seen here, I have bought Brad's 820 Coupe.

My Si has been temporarily SORNed as on my return home from Christmas it has blown a gasket or seal or something. It was running hideously rough anyway, so I am going to save it for the summer and strip it down and see what's what. Until then I needed something to get me back to Burnley, so a deal was done and the day after Boxing Day I became the owner of this fantastic car.

It really is a lovely car to drive. I wouldn't call it slow, but it is most definitely "relaxing". It's everything Brad said it was and it is clear it has lived a pampered life. Replacement engine at a cost of over £1300 in 2008. Fabricated filler pipe fitted in 2010! Brand new fob from a specialist dealer, power steering pump, the list is literally endless. Some slight rust on the sill but nothing to worry about now. The only thing I am in the process of sorting is the faulty speedo.

Sadly my ownership has not been entirely smooth so far - I think every car I've owned has had some sort of "fail to proceed" moment within the first few weeks of ownership, I think this is a combination of Sod's law and the traditional "Rivers Family Luck". Offside Caliper seized on my return north which delayed my plans somewhat. Hey ho, such is life. New caliper fitted and all has been well since. then.

It has been lovely to pootle about in - it is very smooth, if a little underpowered. I don't think the auto gearbox and 2 litre engine are the perfect match but it does the job and is positively effortless around town. It is almost as if the car wants to get you there just that little bit slower so you can spend more time embraced in that cocoon of leather and wood, bathed in a soothing orange glow and in turn you arrive at your destination safe, relaxed and ready to tackle the day. Plus the amount of admiring looks and comments this car gets really do make you feel important - got to be honest driving round this olde-worlde northern town I do feel like one of the local recreational substance salesmen..!

Enough babbling. You want pictures! Here are some poor photos from the ebay school of photography, taken on a genuine substandard mobile phone camera.







I'll be honest I was not initially planning on keeping this car long term as I was going to use this until I can get my Si back on the road whenever that may be, but now I am not so sure. I have a feeling that this will be in my possession for a long while. Suits my intended career image better than the saloon!

Thank you for reading my late night/early morning babbles. Insomnia is a wonderful thing.

[Very Tall Brad]

Lovely jubbly, Dan. I'm up late, too, preparing for an audience in Court early tomorrow with a hopefully friendly Judge ( - I'm defending, not an accused!).

Keep those wheels clean, Dan. A weekly soaping in Fairy is all they need, no acids or other harsh cleaners.

Brad

[DLR]

All the best minds can be found wide awake at silly o'clock! Although I've been watching edinburgh comedy fest live on iplayer and happened across that Terry Alderton gent you mentioned on collection day, what a simple yet effective performance. Thought it was very Clever. Polar opposite to what I have in mind, but more on that when it happens.

And yes I shall try and keep the wheels in a good state of cleanliness - I'm still quite nervous when parking and things in case I curb them, never had a set of alloy wheels in such good condition before! (another good point about this car, 16 inch Prestiges in ruddy good condition).

Also the only drawback of coupe ownership - those doors! I didn't realise they were so big, makes it somewhat comical for me to get out of the car in the small college spaces, fighting with the seatbelt where I have the seat so far forward and seeing the amount of space behind the drivers seat. It makes me chuckle to see all that wasted space. But who cares? I look good in my new automobile

Think it's time for sleep now.

[deano]

I love the Coupe doors, especially the fact there is no pillars around the glass.
The drawback for me is the black plastic trims

I was sorely tempted by this motor,
Having had so many 2.5/2.7 engine go Kapput , i was gonna try out a 2.0l instead and this looks a fine example.

Did you fix the speedo ?

[rovercoup]

Glad your enjoying the coupe Dan and looking to keep it as I don't think there is a better drive anywhere for such poultry money.

[Very Tall Brad]

Glad your enjoying the coupe Dan and looking to keep it as I don't think there is a better drive anywhere for such poultry money.

Just the car for a hen night

[rovercoup]

Certainly room for a couple of chick's in the back

[Dajazar]

Better be careful. If you're scratching around in the back on a fowl night you might find yourself up before the beak the next morning for being such a pest. If he hears the full story you might get tarred and feathered but then that's better than getting fried. Clucking marvellous!

[FrazzleTC]

Fantastic-looking example, and I reckon that Coupes are very smart indeed. Just beak careful.

[DLR]

Ah, so we it has come to this has it? You ruin my thread with your mocking(bird) jokes and puns? Well Toucan play at that game! da-dum-tish

I love the Coupe doors, especially the fact there is no pillars around the glass.
The drawback for me is the black plastic trims

I was sorely tempted by this motor,
Having had so many 2.5/2.7 engine go Kapput , i was gonna try out a 2.0l instead and this looks a fine example.

Did you fix the speedo ?

Don't get me wrong, Deano. They are fantastic in design. Just compared to my stature the doors feel ridiculously huge, especially with my driving position. It's not a problem, just an observation.

I've not fixed the speedo yet but I have diagnosed the problem - the speed sensor isn't broken, but missing entirely. Rich M has a couple he is going to send to me once he's got a postage quote and hopefully then I should know how fast I am going! I think it wasn't put back right after the engine swap as the mileage at the time of the swap was 187,000-and-something and now it is on 189,909.

[Very Tall Brad]

Swift progress

[Very Tall Brad]

Your tern

[rovercoup]

Tis a lot to swallow but we are heading towards summer and lighter nights

[DLR]

At the end of the day, though, I drive a very nice Starling.

[Richard Moss]

I've not fixed the speedo yet but I have diagnosed the problem - the speed sensor isn't broken, but missing entirely. Rich M has a couple he is going to send to me once he's got a postage quote and hopefully then I should know how fast I am going!

Thanks for the reminder - sorry for the delay!