1997 Rover 200vi Goes For a Drive

The most forgotten hot hatch of the 90s, the Rover 200Vi was the flagship of the R3 Rover 200 range. More nimble than a Mk3 Golf, faster than an Astra GSi and more comfy than Peugeot 306, but out sold by all of them.
Thanks to Diamondbrite for their support of there channel, clean and protect your car with diamondbrite.co.uk AND get 10% off your order with code FD10
See my Amazon store for all the Draper tools I use and help support the channel www.amazon.co.uk/shop/furious...
Theres a Merch store!! Head over to www.furiousdriving.co.uk to find the T shirts, hats, mugs, key rings, badges and more soon on there!
All the other Furious Driving, Rover, Alfa stickers, mugs, T shirts HERE - rdbl.co/3AhvDLL on Redbubble
Hit the Channel Member JOIN button and become a Furious Driver or help support the channel on Patreon here: / furiousdriving
Post me stuff for Junk in the Trunk post bag section!
Furious Driving
PO Box 477
AYLESFORD
ME6 9LE
Check out my new Photography channel 'Click Bait' - bit.ly/2Xek1Y1

[@FuzzWoof]

Out of the 18 Rovers I owned (don't ask, I had a bit of a problem) I never had a single head gasket problem with a K series. But then, I also owned a flawlessly reliable Alfa and a Lexus which was an unreliable money pit, so I think I must live in opposite world. I had the VVC engine in a Coupe, I'd imagine it's loads of fun in a bubble.

[@ftw1540]

I blew the gasket on a 98 vi..100 plus in 3rd gear and a very fishy smell on exiting the car 🐟🐟

[@MonkeyHunch1]

If you owned 18 Rovers you cannot have had them long enough too blow a head gasket.

[@matthewchannel9981]

"It's almost like a 911..." Was not a line I was expecting to hear in this video. It's aging well though. Great video.

[@ljones396]

Tenuous might be the word 😂

[@maxidyne]

So glad you saved this car! Proper little hot hatch. Needs the same treatment as Quentin. Great video Matt.

[@jamesblake3846]

Great video as always. I think this is becoming one of my favourite cars on your fleet. The nineties-ness of the whole car brings back lots of happy nostalgic vibes!

[@danmccarthy4700]

And here I was thinking the 2400 unit production run on my car was low... THIS car is a true unicorn.

[@BartMGRX]

Had one in the same colour but with the full leather interior, great little car which surprised a lot of people at the lights. Small correction: the 1.4/1.6 engines came with R65 gearboxes but the 1.8 had the PG1.

[@furiousdriving]

yeah, I recorded it both ways as I couldnt remember which box!

[@chickyb27]

The R3 200 has aged very well and is still a good looking car. I had high hopes for the model when I replaced my trusty R8 214SLi with an R3 216Si. Had so many issues I traded it in after only 7 months as I lost faith in it. In between trips to dealers it was a fun car to drive. I remember the interior boot light on mine still having the Austin Rover logo embossed in it as did the side repeaters.

[@gryfandjane]

As a hot hatch fan (Fiesta ST), I really like this one a lot. And that engine note… wow!

[@furiousdriving]

You dont expect that from a Rover!

[@GentilsGarage]

It’s amazing how you came across this car and saved it, when many would have scrapped it. I remember when they first came, but weren’t on this planet for long. A work colleague had one in red many years ago.

[@aslandama]

Another cracking little car you've brought back to life, well done Matt!

[@Legotyres]

My Dad had one of these and it was rapid in its day. He used to say, are people actually trying when he used to put his foot down 😂

[@DarrenJones042]

I loved my little R3 bubble Rover, it's was only a 3 door 1.4 sli but with 104 bhp felt as quick as my previous XR3i, so your vi must feel blisteringly quick.... also loved my R8 220 Gti 3 door.... 2 cars I miss terribly

[@IAMJASON444]

Back in 2001 at the age of 20 I bought a 3 year old 218iS, fabulous car with so many wonderful memories 🤗 the R3 was a well made car and the quality is far better than the 25 and ZR especially the facelift cars. Millionaire me has a 200 BRM in the car collection 👌😎

[@nitrosilvia]

I had a 218is, the 120bhp 1.8 non vvc version. Same seats, suspension and equipment as Vi. Absolutely loved it. Best car i ever had. Missed it so much i have another one now but still not on road yet :(

[@louisboshoff9142]

My typical sporty hatchback when I was your age, but in SouthAfrica these Rovers were never available..... Loved my Golf 2 GTI 16V which had similar performance. The Golf and Opel Kadet were our go to performance hatchbacks then. My Golf had leather sports seats and was much more in your face sport hatchback than your Rover. By the way, Brfore the Golf I was a proud and devoted Rover 3.5 V8 Sport owner her in South Africa in 1981. I loved it and it saved my life in a huge accident where the cab was intact after an accident where nobody could identify which car it was when the wreck was than away. I love your Rover P6, please get it on the road.... I am sure your problem is insignificant but not obvious.

[@petertrinder3127]

Great review Matt, glad it’s up and running again. Keep you special cars on the road love them . Peter

[@scrapyardwarriorvlogging]

I had a N-reg 214 Si 1.4 about 15 years ago, my god was it quick! Achieved three figures on a private test track very easily. Yours is looking great Matt.

[@furiousdriving]

they are surprisingly rapid cars considering the brand image!

[@ianwilliams3872]

Great video and review as always, Matt! Do you remember the 218iS, which was the non-VVC version? I owned a 218iS around the turn of the millennium on a ‘98, R plate, in nightfire red. At the time most people knew of the Vi, but hardly anyone knew of the iS. Visually identical, both outside and in, to your Vi

[@roverboy1687]

I had a grey R reg 218is with same trim I’m thinking later vi’s had half leather unless it was just a option 🤔

[@furiousdriving]

I do, not many of those left either

[@furiousdriving]

leather was an option

[@martyldl6238]

I love the vi for the same reasons as you, I remember when they came out but think they went under the radar for alot of people, great to finally it on the road, welldone 😏

[@Thanos.m]

Great video on the Vi as always the blanking plug next to the hazard lights would have been the A/C button if the first owent had optioned it

[@markonmotoring]

I remember first seeing the artist sketch for the R3 HHR and many other MG/Rover models that were due over the coming years in a magazine article. The R3 looked so fresh and exciting at the time. Considering how successful the R8 had been for Rover these should have been a class leader but I think they say in a strange place at the time being a bit bigger and more expensive than some other small hatchbacks but too small to cut it in the segment above. The Vi was a pretty rare thing even in period let alone today.

[@peterriggall8409]

Great that you got this car Matt. I think this will be a keeper. Sadly we did not get any of this era of Rover in Australia.

[@glmm2001]

The missing dash button is aircon; I got it on my 1997 Cabrio and still works pretty good even in this infernal weather…..

[@Captain_Scarlet_SIG]

Great review Matt, so glad you saved this one, I’m a big fan of these as I own a 1.6IS 25 & an MGFVVC both a hoot to drive, if you compared the Vi to the true competition a Fiesta & Corsa I think it was streets ahead in quality,refinement and looks. As you said the Rover brand didn’t really grab the youngster’s imagination hence the re-birth of the MG brand in the ZR,ZS & ZT in the 2000’s but the plus side is the Vi,Gti,s 1.6 & 1.8 200 & 25’s are under the radar can be easily tuned and are bargain buy’s so let’s keep the secret. 🤫

[@benday1218]

Thanks Matt. I think the designer was Oliver 'le' Grice (assume from French background). He also did the Evoque concept, which an ex-school mate of mine (Jeremy Waterman) was also exterior designer on.

[@furiousdriving]

yes, he was one of the 5 young designers under David Saddington, his idea made it through to production with very little change

[@iDayno]

Great video, I have a BRM and it's surprisingly quick, will do about 70 in 2nd!

[@GoldenCroc]

Always had a soft spot for these (Well, the 25), since I passed my driving test in one (Rented for the day). Nice little car.

[@mikeclifton7778]

We had an R3 220SDI 5 door in red which was a cracking little car, very nippy especially after the Italian tuneup it needed every few months to keep it breathing well. Very peppy performance and 55mpg, we added a towbar to ours and towed a 13 foot caravan without bother while also containing two adults, two kids and caravanning stuff.

[@davecoleman7431]

Great video mate One of my favourite channels

[@furiousdriving]

Thanks!

[@richardhargrave6082]

Nice video! Brings back frond memories of my Door SLi in Amaranth! (Replacing a 220Gti) Wanted a Vi, but they were difficult to get, was just about to order a MG ZR160, when it all went down the tubes! I always liked the handling and I really wanted more power, but that was that. I'd like a BRM as well.....

[@ronswanson6252]

I loved my 200Vi, I cried when I sold it... and then again 10 years later when I learned that it has rotten away in a backyard. I had custom spoilers, MG ZR seats, big music... amazing car it was! Still missing it :(

[@furiousdriving]

That is doubley gutting to know it wound up like that

[@Roverjoe]

Brilliant Review Matt, The 200Vi's are fab cars. There were a few other upgrades i believe with the part leather seats and purple velour, some even had a purple carpet!!

[@metalman4141]

Really enjoyed the review

[@tomcole020]

I love my MG ZR it’s only a 1.4 but I had Kmaps remap it to 125hp at MG40 last weekend and wow the difference is incredible it’s amazing how strong the 1.4 K series can feel. And on the country lanes there’s not much that can match the ZR for fun factor, My dad drives a 325hp insignia VXR but he said that drive in the MG was the most fun drive he’s done 😂

[@darrenwilson8042]

My only experience of the R3 was when I had a 1995 Astra 1.7 (low pressure ) DT. It was rear ended and whilst it was being repaired I got a sort of base model 214 petrol from what I recall. The Rover felt better built but as a base model had even less than my Astra base model. Also although it drove better its achilles heel was the boot. Having recently had our fist child the Rover was just unable to take the pram that the Astra swallowed with ease. The Astra was replaced with another when the time came because baby 2 was on the way and we would have faced the same issue with a Rover. The equivalent Escort at the time seemed little better than a Lada Samara it was so wooden

[@hoddy121john]

Great video matt 👍, should do a video of the clock repair

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

So Matt there's more Rover 200 BRMs on the roads than these.

[@furiousdriving]

yes, I was amazed how many there were at Pride of Longbridge

[@michaelarchangel1163]

I absolutely love this car. Great sound when you revved it hard. Make sure to molyslip it when changing the oil, and grease those door hinges ! I spotted a touch of rust there. Be careful, or they'll make untoward noises, like unspoiled virgins, aka squeakers.

[@Tokyodrift5000]

My Mum had one of these in white but the turbo diesel model. Until the turbo apparently seized so my Dad and his friend thought it'd be a great idea to kick it's head in up the dual carriageway. Not sure if it worked but that was the last I heard of it. I loved that car

[@andyarmstrong1493]

Must feel so good to be able to enjoy the fruits of your hard work. Brilliant and rare car. Ever thought of using PDR on those smaller car park dings? I'm no expert, but I got great results on my black Santa Fe.

[@furiousdriving]

yes, planning to give that a go soon, might even save the rear panel a bit

[@retrogaming_loft]

Must admit don’t know much about the Rover family but that one is a lot of fun and shapely in a good way. Didn’t expect a Corsa reference but never appreciated the speaker housing before. Interesting too that it was overlooked here at the rear.

[@nigel.w]

0-60mph time of 7.5s is very quick for an n-a 1.8. In 1989 I had a 1.6 DOHC 16V Turbo (160bhp) Ford Laser TX3i Turbo (badge-engineered Mazda 323 Turbo for the Australasian market, but with FWD (lots of torque steer) instead of the Mazda's AWD) that had a 0-62 (0-100kph) time of 7.7 or 7.8 secs, which was half-a-second faster than a Porsche 944. It was one of the quickest non-exotics on the market. I love my exotics, but my Dad had a 1989 Mk1 Rover 827 Sterling, and I had a 93 827 Coupe, so I appreciate Rovers, too. That Porsche 911 driver that turned his nose up at your car is just ignorant. IMO, the styling has stood the test of time.

[@georgeg9959]

I have had my vi for 10 years with a few light mods and decent tyres you can just about squeeze into a sub 7 second 0-60

[@NEILB1989]

Lovely car. My first car was a green 214 1.4 16v. I have the same material covering my speakers in the interior of my 2000 Jaaaaag XKR

[@Cazkumali]

I remember this car been changed to just the number 25 in later models there was also an MG baged one called the ZR

[@nikosgiangkampozof5342]

0:06 I LOVE YOU ROVER SOUND

[@6643bear]

Great video, I had those alloys on my Rover 420 Gsf, yiu have a lovely car, I wonder if compares to rover 25 gti . Great cars from that era . Regards mark

[@PaddyWV]

You get the same old whinge about these being long in the tooth later on, but it occurred to me that the Citroen Xsara and Xantia were hanging around for almost as long with only a minor facelift.

[@abethegamerful]

I remember when I was young my mum had one of base model versions. Had it for years until the engine blew. Great little car though

[@leightondavies6867]

My dad used to have a 2litre diesel model, still remember the reg p908fkn, if you check the mot history is was a flaming shed but I think he knew someone who used to MOT anything for a price.

[@chrisfoulds6767]

I had a 200vi in Silver - cracking fun car.

[@profrumpo]

Such a great looking car with a touch of Alfasud about it which is no bad thing. I had a base 3 door 214 8 valve in poverty spec. I loved it though it was still quite nippy and comfortable. The only annoyance was the lack of remote locking which was a bit of a pain.

[@furiousdriving]

amazing that wasnt included on base spec even then!

[@specifyish]

Blanking plate next to exterior mirror switch is headlight beam height control on later models. Other blanking plate is for just in case they forgot something?

[@furiousdriving]

nice to have a spare?

[@BunnetGuy]

There were (at least) 3 options of that could appear there. Headlight levelling as mentioned and a rear electric window lockout switch can both go here which are both on my ZR. But I also believe on Tourers the electric sunroof switch was here. 89ish% certain it was on my R reg one!

[@andysllt155]

Got to do the jobs done on my vi as I miss it so much such a in sheep's clothing my one has Aircon and sunroof cracking looking car and I for one loved building them too

[@mesco8200]

Great engines, love revving 7k all day 🎉

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

Excellent review Matt a very underated little car but also a good little sleeper car for people not in the know.

[@furiousdriving]

total Q car, no one knows its special unless they spot the tiny badge

[@Exploringtheplanet12]

Love a nippy hatchback just got my mito back on the road needs body work but all running

[@DashCamSerbia]

4:52 First time I see a bird poop on an engine cover. xD

[@furiousdriving]

it was a determined pigeon

[@DarkSphinxx]

Parpy very very parpy, great parp - love the parpy parpy parp of that horn

[@DarkSphinxx]

fantastic parp

[@CliffordRutley]

So wish I still had my Vi! 😟

[@rickydub6950]

I do like these cars, everyone should own a rover at somepoint in their driving career 😁 my wife was gifted a 51 plate 1.4 25 in approx 2007. I did advise to sell on as head gasket will go, which it did approx 2011 😂 i had a gifted 98 414 too in the mid 00's 👍 nice review as always 😎👌

[@johnclarke2997]

Be a nice car once you have finished your work. Well done Matt.

[@MarkieC1990]

Nice little underrated car, was looking forward to that 0-60 scream and you tootled it up to there 😂 don’t be scared, K series love to rev 😁

[@furiousdriving]

check the second pull!

[@MarkieC1990]

Better, nearly there 😜😜 they sound brilliant up top those VVC’s. Well done getting it back on the road 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@rimmersbryggeri]

I think Ive only seen the late MG versions of these. Probably didnt sell very well here in sweden.

[@aaroncable340]

Not going to lie really like 90s hatchbacks now I own one always have really and 200s hot hatch and Normal hatchbacks but now I remember seeing the brm's at the nec classic car show a couple of times I think before probably a photo of one and possibly one of these too I either saw them a few times or once atleast at the nec tho that was when I was growing up around the 2000s or 2010s

[@markfourtyeight]

Nice little car Matt, you should review the MG Maestro Turbo, now that was a fast hatchback 6.7 0-60 and 129 top speed, a very quick car even by todays standards, I had the injection model, that to was also a very good car. A great 80s hot hatch.

[@LosAngelesRaiders]

Great review Matt, I'm more of a Rover 800 collector/fan but did briefly have a 25 (although not a VI, just a standard 1.4 base model, I must admit, as underpowered as it felt, I do miss it). It looks like a well sorted car but when you did the interior review, I noticed no floor mats! I think you need some original Rover 25 rubber floor mats for and I do have a set if you are interested?

[@furiousdriving]

Im after some carpet mats, I think it needs the 'luxury' feel!

[@tomaszdabrowski8021]

"This thing redlines at 7000rpm" so I'll change gears at 5500rpm where its at 120bhp at max. :D VVC has rev limit at 7300rpm and max power is around 6900rpm - you have to rev it to feel what VVC is all about.

[@furiousdriving]

unfortunately the local speed limits are not compatible with doing that

[@andrewtwinam8528]

Has the bumper been off, there seems to be a lot of panel gap between the bonnet and headlights.

[@furiousdriving]

its had a bumper knock, you can see the scrape on in

[@arturseversons3444]

Panel gap central 😂

[@jimmyquinn9639]

Good video 🚘🚙🚗👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@AJT296]

I always thought these looked pretty good. I seem to recall contemporary road tests saying it was too small to be a Focus/Escort/Astra rival and was better viewed as a Fiesta rival (but too expensive as such). I think it was always praised for handling. Used to see stacks of the MG variants around in about 2002

[@furiousdriving]

yes, they pitched it as an odd size/price point, trying to be a Metro and 200 replacement so it was too small and too expensive

[@newkidd9129]

@@furiousdriving Yes, Rover did cars in half sizes, one of the (many) reasons they failed (imo)

[@SparkyMAWy]

I do like that car.

[@MrFlazz99]

I'm sure I recall the major problem with the R3 was that the company needed a Metro replacement but tried to pitch it at 'Rover' price levels. Then they belatedly cheapened everything for the nomenclature change to '25' but fell foul of everybody being wise to the move. It was either small for the money or pricey for the goods anyway. If they hadn't insisted upon putting the 'Rover' name on small cars, they might have done better by being honestly cheap. Instead they demeaned and ultimately destroyed the name of Rover. I would never have touched anything that came out of Solihull, regardless of the brand name on it, so maybe I'm biased, but I'm old enough to remember how awful the Rustin Metrot, Mustrot, and Montegone were, even against the mediocre standards of the early '80s. Once a bomb. always a bomb.

[@LeMonkeyFondue]

I don't think the clock area ever did anything other then clock duties on these. Certainly didn't in any of the 25/Zr I've seen/had.

[@furiousdriving]

the 216Si I had (N reg) had the radio display up there, that was a very early one

[@LeMonkeyFondue]

Oh! Posh!

[@jasoncornell1579]

Did u use the tea shelf?

[@furiousdriving]

no, it would fall off!

[@mickadatwist1620]

had one like that , great too drive unlike its built quality. Sunroof leaked! and other things...

[@vitorpassos309]

1.8, small car and low weight, seems perfect :D

[@VSTV1993]

That nearside wiper park position is doing my head in lol, call it OCD but its bugging me 😂

[@furiousdriving]

It needs painting as well!

[@darwenrover8910]

HubNut would be ripping hairs out too. Triangle of doom and all that…

[@commodore665]

You might say the Rover is a bit of a sleeper , which I think is good .

[@robertfoster6070]

Here is the link to the introduction to the Rover 200 series in 1987. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iqPQkmSbf8uNgM0

[@CagedPaps]

Based on the later rebranded 25 model, but did you ever get your hands on the MG ZR? I'm pretty sure that had the same engine.

[@furiousdriving]

other way round, the 25 was based on this! The top of the range ZS got this 1.8 VVC, they all got a version of the K Series but most were smaller

[@CagedPaps]

@@furiousdriving That maybe didn't read well, I was trying to say the ZR was based on the later rebranded 25 so not exactly what you're driving here but it made me think of the ZR. The ZR 120 did have the 1.8 too though, the ZS did have this but in the 120 trim, the top of the range ZS had the 2.5 V6 (ZS 180). Interesting line.

[@furiousdriving]

@@CagedPaps ah yes, se what you mean! Yes, the ZS was spun off the 25 when MGR was trying to give the brand a more youthful refresh

[@pashalive3898]

I own a Rover 200vi in ​​Turkey. I've been following you since you bought the car. At the end of 4 years, unfortunately, the head gasket burned in my vehicle. This happened after I started watching you. Congratulations, it's time to do the head gasket for my Rover 200vi car together. I invite you to Turkey :D How can I access the shock absorbers you use on the hood?

[@furiousdriving]

Thats unlucky, at least it wasnt too hard to do the head gasket (with Jame's help!) The bonnet lift struts are from Discount MG Rover Supplies (tell them you saw them here!)

[@In_memory_of_Dad]

Mean lean green machine...👍🙂👍

[@lesklower7281]

My 1997 Toyota Hilux has working air conditioning l think its working l haven't used it in a couple of months the airconditioning but the heater works l live in Australia

[@furiousdriving]

you guys need A/C there way more than we do!

[@dantheblacksmith]

Cracking stuff as always... I was excited to recognise that you were zooming up and down my commute to work in this vid! If I'd have seen you in the real world you would have definitely received a friendly parp or two! 📯🚗

[@jasoncornell1579]

They aren't over door handles they're FM handles😁

[@batonrover]

I have one, the gasket blew out 3 times

[@user-me2ow1tu4d]

7.9 sec 0-60 had similar 0-60 time golf vr6 mk3

[@user-me2ow1tu4d]

Its a good car

[@alexander1485]

That would be a compact in the usa, not small enough for sub compact

[@bezelyesevenordek]

is the dashboard leather?

[@furiousdriving]

no, leather look plastic rubber

[@user-me2ow1tu4d]

I had leather in it already

[@cosmicsman666]

driver side front light looks to be sitting a little high.

[@furiousdriving]

the bumper is a bit low, so it looks that way

[@user-me2ow1tu4d]

13grand vs 17grand golf mk3 vr6 price

[@ianstewartorr8455]

I had a rover metro 1.1S and it went like shit off a shovel greetings from Scotland 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@christineayres7199]

As its an old engine it took around 10 secs to hit 60mph dont want to sound silly but my 1.1 Mitsubishi colt can do 60mph in 11 secs so yeah engine tech has advanced a lot in the 10 year gap between when this was made and when the colt was made

[@Imp5011]

The official 0-60 of a Vi is 7.5 seconds.

[@christineayres7199]

@@Imp5011 Yeah but I timed it 2 times in this video and it did not get under 10 seconds so obviously lost a few bhp over the years and E10 don't help lol 😆

[@Imp5011]

@@christineayres7199 And if you watch the rev counter he only takes 6000rpm in 1st gear and 5000rpm in 2nd so not really troubling the red line.

[@christineayres7199]

@@Imp5011 Maybe but the Rover 220 turbo was way quicker to 60mph I think 6 secs back in the day

[@chilternman]

I thought these had the PG1 gearbox rather than the R65

[@furiousdriving]

I recorded it both ways, couldnt find the answer before filming and was editing very late last night so forgot to check some more

[@usuallyfixingtinkering]

matt that drivers headlight is not sitting right!

[@furiousdriving]

no the bumper has had a parking knock

[@usuallyfixingtinkering]

@@furiousdriving ah I see!

[@nigelrudd670]

It’s a rover 😢🤓👍

[@ratspeedgarage]

Think it's the PG1 box on that?

[@furiousdriving]

I recorded it both ways, couldnt find the answer before filming and was editing very late last night so forgot to check some more