Rover800.Info

The last few winters have left me a bit stuck when the floods and snow arrive - as they seem to with great regularity. I really need a car that will get me about on those few days when I would normally be stranded.

I have chosen a Frontera Sport S Apache 2 litre petrol as the Vauxhall dealer is three miles away, I like the knockabout image, the roof and all rear windows are removable and it is cheap and easy to work on. A car to use, never lock and not worry about. It had anew cambelt and water pump at 69000 miles and now has 81000 on the clock. Oh, it has a tow bar, too. Just need some of those knobbly tyres now...

Total outlay so far on this car is £300 and about 8 hours of my time.

Here are some pics - it wasn't quite like this when I got it a couple of weeks ago but it has now been steam cleaned underneath and in the engine bay, the chassis rails are filled with engine oil, the body has been TCut and polished and the interior (literally) washed. It looks okay and has a great shine to it.

Nice condition Brad, but I must confess I hate Fronteras!!

A set of "General Grabbers" and it will do the job quit well.

check out http://forum.difflock.com/ for all things 4x4, you will find loads of info on the best tyres for your intended use.

Considering your penchant for all things Rover, I am surprised you did'nt get a landy though.

Mal.

I've been looking at 4x4s again as well. Having never had one before the Jeep I'd never missed them but on the off the chance the weather worsens again it'd be nice to have one.

Where'd you get it from Brad? Prices on ebay are usually too much for the sort of banger I'm after.

I'd be interested to know what you think of it as they usually get slagged off by the "experts".

Very Tall Brad wrote:.....the body has been TCut and polished ..

Fine winter knockabout, you're not going greenlaning or crossing the Sahara, so don't let the 'experts' put you off.

BUT don't tell 47P2 about the T-Cut, or confusing polish with wax!!!

Thanks for the tips.

It's a bit noisy inside but very comfortable. There is none of the jiggling and bouncing you get in a small Suzuki. The interior is very car like and plain, making it easy to keep clean. This car is all about practicality, rather than pace and economy. The furthest this car will go is into town - about three miles - should the weather be bad.

It has a newish Vauxhall battery and loads of receipts for work done. It's been well cared for. It's had a recent radiator and oil cooler, both Vauxhall branded.

The offside corner of the front bumper was a bit stoved in so I jacked it out using an 800 car jack and some wood. Job done.

The MoT and tax are short (about a month) and the two rear tyres have slow punctures - the ones with the best tread. The front tyres are a bit worn but stay inflated. The underside is really impressive. No rot. I have sprayed it with a 75/25 mix of engine oil and WD40 using a garden sprayer.

Chris asked where it came from. It belonged to my mate's girlfriend and cost me £300 delivered to my door.

Mal - I didn't buy a Land Rover as they are too pricey. A 'tame' Land Rover like a Discovery or Freelander I just know won't work unless I get a recent one. My budget was low so the choice was Isuzu Trooper, something like a Vitara or a 4X4 Granada. The Frontera came along at the right time.

Things to do...

MoT
Re tax it
4 knobbly tyres - might get some retreaded tyres
Cover for the spare wheel
Get air con re gassed
Wait for the snow or next Summers heatwave.

So far, I am please and find the car less utilitarian than I expected. An underrated hack.

Great car Brad, I remember it from before. I was given a lift in it a few times. I also had to change the wheel on it (Standard jack and a few blocks ) Not driven it but did drive a 4-door version which to be honest was quite tatty and under-serviced. I'm sure this one is better.

This'll certainly be a good car for getting out and about in places a normal would struggle to go.

Clarkson does a review of a similar one to yours on the old Top Gear

Vauxhall Frontera, Top Gear, 1991

Lord Sterling

Nice. You jammy git. I do like Fronty's.

Quite like them.

Didn't consider Jeep as well then Brad?

There can be some bargains with them, and they are generally reliable.

TheOldMan wrote:

Very Tall Brad wrote:
BUT don't tell 47P2 about the T-Cut, or confusing polish with wax!!!

I use T Cut as it works well on old cars which have little value. I then used some old BLUE COLOURED car polish to finish it off and remove any T Cut I had left behind.

Waxing? Why would I want to do that?

MikeMedford wrote:Quite like them.

Didn't consider Jeep as well then Brad?

There can be some bargains with them, and they are generally reliable.

I did think a bit about a Jeep and also about a Ford Explorer. But they were too nice for what I need them for.

Nothing's too nice if it's cheap.

Just curious Brad on it's origin as I'd have one at that price. I have my eye on a couple of cars at the minute.

Very Tall Brad wrote:Mal - I didn't buy a Land Rover as they are too pricey. A 'tame' Land Rover like a Discovery or Freelander I just know won't work unless I get a recent one. My budget was low so the choice was Isuzu Trooper, something like a Vitara or a 4X4 Granada. The Frontera came along at the right time.

So why not a Range Rover Classic? Mine was £412 with the LPG already fitted, had it over 2 years now and would not be parted with for anything! Nothing has failed while I have had it although a few things have been fixed! Only one oily part, the VCU on the centre diff was shot, as for eth rest, cruise switches needed claning, as did the seat switches and the heater motor was shot. It is a rare car now, in that it's a Vogue SE with everything working! but did not take long, worst part was the heater motor as the whole dash had to come out! will admit its now reserved for foul weather use only. last winter I span it on snow and landed it in a ditch.. low range foot down and back on my way!! Oh it also makes a nice noise..

The reciepts for it show it was a bit of a bargain though.. at 74K miles it had a JE engineering motor fitted, Xbolted with top hat liners, 3 K miles after that the LPG conversion went on. The shot VCU did make it drive like it was drunk and I think alarmed the previous owner (like an old landy stuck in 4 wheel drive)

Hi Stewart. I don't need the complexity of a Range Rover. I just want to be able to get out of my own drive, along the road to the town and back again.

If I was going for a Range Rover, I'd go for a later model like John 47p2's as they are huge and moch more reliable and civilised.

Can't deny you got a bargain, though!