1989 Rover 827 V6 Review - British Luxury with Velour - Buy it, Try it, Sell it with Geoff Buys Cars

1989 Rover 827 SLi V6 in Lynx Brown Review - The Geoff Buys Cars Rover 800 Buy it, Drive it, Sell it
I finally got around to posting the Rover 827 footage from well over a year ago! Filmed badly, on a potato, with no camera mount or microphone insight.

[@yarcoPenfold]

I bought a white 827 ex police car back in the early 2000s. It used to scare me it was so quick. One of the best cars I've ever owned. Always loved the old rovers.

[@jchisholm1968]

I owned an 825i in 90s & the kickdown on it turned the car into a Rocket Ship. Happy Days!

[@danvitesse]

Very rare car now thanks to the scrappage scheme which youve made a great video on. I own two Mk1 827 fastbacks an SLi and a Vitesse i have owned saloons in the past but always preferred the fastbacks. Within the last four years ive restored seven 800s which were all rehomed within the club. I remember when this came up for sale i was tempted as its a very clean example in a rare colour but i had two many cars at the time. Its great to see it found a new home and was clearly appreciated by yourself

[@anthonytelford7876]

Great work restoring so many!

[@petrichor649]

I had one of these, it was excellent. Everything worked, great ride, nice torque steer, comfortable.

[@anthonytelford7876]

Thanks for posting this video about a very rare and lovely car! It is actually an early 827Si, not an SLi. Rover-era geeks like me (I spent much of my youth in the back of one of these, fortunate lad I was) will point out that the SLi had alloys, more wood and coloured door-mirrors, plus an even posher fabric. This one is unusual in having an electric sunroof -they were manual as standard. This car is in such good condition, it needs looking after as only the Sterling-spec ones survive in any numbers.

[@chiefrocka8604]

You say very rare I say unpopular as they were not rare new That’s the bottom line

[@anthonytelford7876]

@@chiefrocka8604 Most 35-year old luxury cars are pretty rare nowadays, but this particular '827si' variant is especially rare as most of the cars produced were the more prosaic '820' versions. The scrappage-scheme has caused a serious decline in such cars.

[@johnj3577]

It seems to be a mid-facelift car which I never knew existed... It's a 2.7 rather than a 2.5 and hence has the later shifter and clocks, but it still has the smaller bumpers fitted to the earlier 825. My Dad had both (an 825SLi on a D plate and an 827SLi on a G plate). Remember them well, lovely cars.

[@tomdrives]

Nice good for £600 I’ve got a 827 Vitesse myself, love it

[@alexanderrabagliati5872]

I loved these Rovers in their day. Every advert for them though always finished by saying "Above all it's a Rover" where I wanted to add "underneath it's a Honda"

[@1COLNET]

I had the first of the 800's, it was a 1986 825i before they brought out the 827. It was a pleasure to drive, more electronics than the space shuttle for its day (full computer under the radio cassette with display showing if any lights were not working or doors open), reclining rear seats and literally could balance the old 50p on the engine whilst revving it. Only issue was with all rovers of the day, front window popping out when winding up but all solved with silicon spray. Later bought an 1997 825 Sterling with the KV6 engine.

[@matthewgodwin3050]

Those early KV6 engines were a nightmare back in the day (ex Rover Sales employee), as they were essentially hand built motors, and quality control was all over the place. By the time the Rover 75 came online (the intended origin of KV6), most problems were ironed out as the KV6 went into large scale mass production. The late model 800s were the test bed for the new engine, a lot going into the Coupe as these were low volume models by then. We had no end of warranty claims on them. They really did the last of line 800s no favours, and many cars were scrapped prematurely because of engine failure. You're more likely to find an earlier car with the Honda V6 nowadays, but some do still exist. Personally, I prefer the Honda engine, but any KV6 engined 800 or Coupe should have been properly sorted by now. The Coupe in particular is a beautiful looking car. Very elegant, and time has been quite kind to it.

[@1COLNET]

@matthewgodwin3050 I bought my 825 Sterling which was a 1997 with 6500 miles on it. It was a very rare manual gearbox; granted, big mistake with the hydraulic clutch, but was so much quicker off the mark than the automatic which, in my opinion was geared wrong. I got them to do the cylinder head gasket on it since this was the main problem on the KV6. I never had an issue with the car other than the clutch going at 44K but could of been a result of the master cylinder going faulty then eventually failing. Comfort, what can I say, I have only had a few cars that we comfier, XJ and Stype Jags and a Ford Scorpio (but did not drive as nice)

[@matthewbrown2037]

Many years ago I briefly owned an early 825, on a D' plate, so first year of production. I know the 800 will never be remembered as Rover's finest effort, but I still like the way they look and drive, so will always have a soft spot for them.

[@Adamgreen735]

Tbf... The fact that its still cruising at its age and looks in real good nick for being on british roads all this time is i guess a testament to the quality of it if there was any which to be still here there must of been some, but ive never thought rover with quality in the same sentence, because rovers i dont feel had the quality name about them, but this was one rover i liked so to be still cruising around, and it feels like your driving sitting on your living room setee, with them big comfy chonky seats, and the ride was smooth as butter, or atleast the one my mates dad had was like that, but yeah, so good even today for its age, and they felt damn quick back then for its massive size, with that kickdown auto, im surprised to see it only had 167bhp, it felt like alot more back then, well probs felt like 200-250ish maybe abit more. Think i was 18 so 1999 time, they defo were pokey for the size, and i'd say for 600 quid i think u've done well lad, sure you cud make some profit if you do sell it, sort of a rare beast in a way.. Right??? Think ive seen 2 about personally over the last 30 years, very unique tbh. I,d have one just for a sunday cruise.

[@Deanyfromtheburgh]

That's a 827Si,the SLi got A.C. and electric seats. The early F plate dials were better with extra gauges for oil pressure and battery voltage.

[@johnrossewingiii3270]

Exactly this one I had too and I loved it incredibly. Because of the colour I baptized it Golden Brown as it got a very dark husky growl from exhaust which had a little hole and sounded more like a V8. At exactly that timr Britain was governed by Prime Minister GORDON BROWN which had a ver dark growling voice. HZence the name 😂😂😂😂😂 Unfortunately one day Gordon Brown refused to start and no one in Germany wanted to maintain it. With no spares available, Rover gone, disastrous supply of spares by Caterpilars Xpart took 12 month to source replacement water expansion bottle which leaked so the car had to go. It was bought by the scrappers shourt before xmas.😢😢😢 The saddest xmas in my whole 55 years😢😢😢

[@Batesandrw]

Fantastic buy! Very nice motor.

[@heathen-greaser]

Awesome car I don't care what anyone says about rover I love them, well not those city rover things but a good old classic rover

[@stevehensonuk]

Love these big beasts, liked the later facelifted model even more!

[@jackiechan8840]

Some really interesting car choices my boy!

[@mathewjohnson5090]

I'm sold. Sunroof is the most important

[@tonybhogal8112]

I'd love a first gen Rover 800, dad had a 1987 820Si and I loved using it

[@bastogne315]

Is dad dead?

[@tonybhogal8112]

@@bastogne315 the fuck is it to you!?

[@Critical_Stinking]

Yes. I hope you feel bad.

[@FinalVibes]

This car uses Honda's V6 which is super reliable. Same engine as the Acura/Honda Legend (first generation). Awesome car.

[@craigo40]

My dad had one of these nice cars, thanks for the video

[@bastogne315]

How is he?

[@johnj3577]

S4 means you've got the transmission in sport mode. Press the button by the shifter to put it back into normal mode. In S4 it wont shift into 5th gear either, it'll stop shifting up when it reaches 4th gear hence the 4 in S4.

[@jonathanpardoe8722]

My everyday hack is a Rover 800 Vitesse with 400k on the clock . The reason I keep it is its so economical and comfortable . Its more comfortable than my virtualy new series 3 Daimler V12 ! its very reliable but if anything goes wrong , say suspension components or other consumable parts , all are obscolete and very difficult to source . I do a 250 mile blast down the M5 every week end and the Rover is absolutely ideal for this type of journey . Forget Rimmer brothers for parts as they are abjectly useless and overpriced if they do supply anything at all !

[@jammy_rex3038]

Is that an 827 Vitesse which you own with the lovely Honda V6? ( I presume so). Wow 400K miles is amazing, I'd love to hear more about this car! How long have you owned it and how many miles have you put on it yourself? What sort of condition is it in?

[@jonathanpardoe8722]

@@jammy_rex3038 I have had it 3 years now and bought it as scrap from a garage in Gloucester . Its a 800 tubo not an 827 . The sills had gone rotten and the wheel arches at the rear were also rotten , however Rimmers supplied the parts and the car has been used every day since including through the pandemic and has been very reliable except for a rear main seal leaking which cost me £300 to have the engine removed and the seal fitted . Problem is that all suspension components are now obscolete and have to be bespoke made by engineers . but the car remains economical and comfortable with its unmarked leather interior . I enjoy my 50 mile commute each day and the car is beautiful to drive despite the mileage and looks great . Its a better more solid car in many ways than my old E38 7 series BMW which was always breaking down and put me off beamers for ever . Sometimes the electric seats heat up for no apparent reason and the heater is simply baffling ! but on the whole I would have another maybe a low mileage Japanese import ??

[@alfredsedgewick2184]

​​@@jonathanpardoe8722Please forgive my naivety, but wouldn't parts off a Honda Legend be more easily obtainable and compatible for your Vitesse?

[@jonathanpardoe8722]

When I checked recently , parts for the Legend Mk1 were even rarer .@@alfredsedgewick2184

[@irishman6124]

Very original looking

[@paulspindler5849]

And today the Mini is worth 10 times the price and the Mercedes 100! I did have an L reg 820SLI for a couple of years, was not a bad car really, lots of toys but everything rattled, replaced with a Mk1 A6 2.6, which was in a totally different league.

[@harryhausi4626]

I have a ROVER 827 Coupe -- it is the best car I ever had PUT it is heavy to get Parts

[@2kcars507]

what hapened to the blue MG ZT estate? Did you do the video yet?

[@thomasshepard6030]

Had the same car late 80s same colour but the 825i with the Honda engine with grey leather automatic great car never had any problems with it

[@julesviolin]

We had an 827 Sterling, blue with the stunning quality light grey leather. Took it from 60k to 190k. Engine was 100% reliable and required nothing but filter changes etc. Then we bought the 30k miles 825 Sterling Coupe which was a superb car, oozing the quality of a hand-built car but the KV6 engine was such a disappointment after the Honda Legend lump. It lacked power and was unreliable Fond memories of the 827. After the Coupe we had the 820 Vitesse Fastback in BRG. Exiting car but suspension rock hard after the Sterlings !!

[@stevengore578]

I’ve just bought this car. Paid way too much but just had to have it when I saw it for sale.

[@GeoffBuysCars]

Tell me more! I like to keep track of where the Geoff cars go geoffbuyscars@gmail..com

[@stevengore578]

@@GeoffBuysCars Bought from Brightwells auction. Some bodywork recently carried out, change of wheels and tyres etc.

[@GeoffBuysCars]

@@stevengore578 That's ace! Keep in touch!

[@JamesToward]

I got given one of these when i was 17 years old and a friend put a battery on the wrong way round! Massive cloud of smoke and i never even got to drive it!!

[@GeoffBuysCars]

that's tragic!

[@bastogne315]

Are you dead?

[@onandup8006]

Mint

[@lewis72]

Back in the '80s, your car roof illustrated where you were on the social ladder: Sunroof: None - Pleb. Worthless member of society. Sunroof: Tilt-only. Glass - Working class. Sunroof: Tilt/Slide glass. Manual - Working class, middle class aspirations. Sunroof: Tilt/Slide glass. Manual - Middle class & Boy-done-good working class. Sunroof: Tilt/Slide glass. Electric - Middle class. Middle-upper management. Sunroof: Slide-only steel. Manual - Junior middle class. A bit leftfield. Sunroof: Tilt/Slide steel. Electric - Middle class. Surgeon/dentist/chief engineer. (Think Audi 200 Turbo Quattro Avant)

[@simonwalker6727]

Looks good in Malvern

[@emmanueladeyosoye4070]

This had the Honda engine . Nice buy

[@onandup8006]

Got a green saab 9000 cse, been watching since you had yours.. must admit this is the one car youve had thats equal to the Saab in my opinion

[@JamesToward]

scarab green?

[@GeoffBuysCars]

They are such great cars aren't they! I loved Pablo, had such a bond with this car because of the long roadtrip.

[@ShropshirePastPresent]

Wow you got that cheap me and my dad had a couple of these after the 3500 sd1's but only the 820s and the 820si fastback

[@neilmustow368]

Very tidy Rover 800 saloon

[@michaeljames1468]

Had an 820 'Si 90 model, bought it at a Rover dealer in 93. This is a strange model the instruments and badges where revised for the 90MY. This has new instruments old badging. Remember the day I bought it the sunroof open but then refused to close. Called the dealer and there's a key and socket n a flap on the headliner for such as enentuality. Can confirm the seats are remarkably comfortable but reliability was awful.

[@bastogne315]

How's life?...........?..??

[@michaeljames1468]

@@bastogne315 Rough mate....don't have one.

[@garywordsworth9302]

Cook Pass Babtridge

[@redvalhalla99]

PS. Nice car that. 👍 👍 👍

[@Salman-sc8gr]

Change the transmission fluid, fuel filter and timing belt.

[@redvalhalla99]

£30 phone..... Give over that was filmed on a potato 🥔

[@GeoffBuysCars]

it was a potato, but i was due for upgrade, so know what i got next? a Swede. Ba Boom, TSH!

[@Imacomingtoo]

@@GeoffBuysCars is she nice

[@Jag-leaper]

Funny the things we find important...the old dead bones of others..have no more existence..or meaning in this life...all of us are eventually forgotten...just like we don't know them..future generations won't know us....all cemeteries will eventually come to this ..dilapidated then...nothing

[@bastogne315]

Anyone who bought one of them new is now dead...sobering thought!

[@stevenphillips1311]

Honda rover was built by Honda with rover badge

[@jwh1776]

Nope rover built it. Honda supplied engine, suspension, transmission and some brake parts. I'm a 1991 Sterling 827sl owner and I've owned many true Hondas. Lots of parts are swappable with an Acura Legend, but it was built by Austin/Rover. It blew a head gasket 15 years ago and sleeps with some jags at a farm.

[@sichere]

@@jwh1776 I've never heard of an 827 blowing a head gasket !

[@mikewhite9296]

Hello Iam working on a Sterling Facebook Group.If anyone wants to help,send a post.best Mike

[@stevenphillips1311]

If with Honda engine gearbox then yes all rover no