No Budget Reviews: 1998 Rover 1.6 Coupé/216 Coupé (R8/Tomcat) - Lloyd Vehicle Consulting

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-One 1998 Rover 1.6 Coupé/216 Coupé (R8/Tomcat)
-One Mobile Phone
-No Fancy Outfits
-No Obscure In-Jokes
-No DSLRs
-No Shotgun Microphones
-No Fluid Head Tripods
-No Idea about Exposure
-No Budget Whatsoever
It is time for the newest instalment in that beloved cinematic automotive KZbin experience where we film practical cars that can be bought for less than £1,000 in a manner befitting of their inexpensive value! This may go horribly wrong...
This time we examine a 1998 Rover 1.6 Coupé/216 Coupé (R8/Tomcat), a later version of the first car ever filmed on the channel in collaboration with Mr Matt Richardson from the furiousdriving KZbin channel. This time, we get excited about Tomcat handling, fawn over optional leather interiors and talk about very little of any importance at all.... Nothing untoward, then!
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No Budget Reviews: 1990 Rover 216 (R8) GSi Automatic - • No Budget Reviews: 199...
Tweed Jacket Reviews: 1993 Rover (R8/Tomcat) 220 Coupe - • Tweed Jacket Reviews: ...
As an independent vehicle consultant, I take potential buyers through the whole car buying process from choosing a make and model to a vehicle handover and road tax. In addition to information on this service, I also have a selection of written and video reviews of cars that I have owned, hired, borrowed or have somehow come into my possession. Please use the Contact Me page on my website to get in touch, visit my Facebook page for latest updates and share this video if you like it! Thank you for watching.
Website: www.lloydvehicleconsulting.co.uk
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[@markonmotoring]

Oh Sir you really are spoiling us with all the Rovers and with leather interiors too. I'm surprised you found the back of the Tomcat so tight, never been in one myself but expected it would have been no worse than my Megane. I'd forgotten that later 1.6 had moved from D to K series. Still a nice car in a great colour though I do have a preference for the tea shelf over a bubble dash. Another great review on a great car.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

It was definitely worse in there, sir, as I first found out in 2019! I managed to get into yours without too many problems. We have more Rovers with beige leather interiors coming soon. That's right, after Rover severed ties with Honda, they only used Honda engines for the 416 HH-R automatic, all other Honda engines were discontinued within a year. I thought you would like the traditional R8 dashboard...

[@ian6985]

Best windscreen mount shot yet. Mount hardly visible at all!

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

The mount didn't completely disappear, it had at least to be a little bit visible...

[@GentilsGarage]

You’re killing me with these R8 reviews, please stop. Ps: I actually mean, keep going. Love these cars!

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

We shall keep going, sir! I have more Rovers from the 1990s and 2000s coming up, don't you worry...

[@PlanetautoUK]

Rovers galore, i am quite partial to this shape, thank you Joseph

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

No problem at all, sir! The Tomcat is fast becoming a bit of a classic, isn't it.

[@adamtoms2726]

Another stellar review. The night fire red really suits the Tomcat, this example is in stunning condition for it's age.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Glad you enjoyed it, sir! The Nightfire Red paintwork is something of a classic Rover colour of the era, although I would prefer dark green, as most people would probably guess!

[@hoddy121john]

Great review Joseph, love the look/style of these cars,it's beautiful. Suitable for a couple or singleton.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

We do like it, sir, don't we? They are starting to become proper classics now.

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

Do you remember celebrity squares, presented by Bob Monkhouse in the 1990s, I'm sure one of these and other Rover models were prices, I even recall a red 800, and an R8 Cabriolet and a 100.

[@revivedfears]

I remember a few similar ones were prizes on wheel of fortune too! 😂

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, I remember Celebrity Squares, and I remember an R8 Cabriolet on there too!

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting I remember the very dark metallic Midnight Blue almost purple and a turquoise metallic one

[@paul1153]

I like this Rover than the one you had on the channel the other day.Very nice indeed.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

I prefer the facelifted ones too, although I sort of like both of them!

[@bazzaclarky7445]

Stunning condition for its age. I had a 1994 216 with the Honda power unit, and absolved that car. As a 20 Yr old lad, it was a great thing to skelp about in. Regret selling that car so badly that I've actually started looking for a well priced one to relive my youth! 👌

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, since this video was made just under eighteen months ago, prices for good Tomcats have continued to rise, so there probably aren't too many well priced ones left, sadly...

[@stevestaff7425]

Fantastic stuff as always. I'd take one of these any day over a luxury German barge . Has to be one of the nicest cars to come out of the Rover group. Still looks fresh today in my opinion

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

We did enjoy this one, sir! Glad you liked the video, I can't believe that these are still available at No Budget Reviews money at the lower end...

[@stevestaff7425]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting I wish I could find one 👍

[@roygardiner2229]

I really enjoyed the video. I can tell you really enjoyed the driving experience. That reassured me. Yesterday I was on the AROnline website and a reviewer there was very scathing about the handling of the Rover 200 series in general. What do I know? I don't even own a car at present.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

The R8s definitely handle better with alloy wheels and the Tomcat has firmer suspension than the standard ones, so this explains the exemplary handling. The ones I had, both with steel wheels, definitely didn't corner as well as this, but they weren't terrible.

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

I had forgotten that they made a 1.6 normally you associate the Tomcat with the 220 or 220turbo but this is a beautifal example finished in Nightfire Red.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

It is very nice, sir! Having driven two Tomcats now, I have realised that I do quite like them, it would seem, especially as my first R8 was also finished in Nightfire Red...

[@asw16177]

ooh I had a P reg one of these in BRG... looking forward to the review :)

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

I hope you enjoyed it, sir!

[@alaricbragg7843]

There used to be a one-make racing series for these cars in the UK. Some came to New Zealand and were even modied for FWD drag racing!

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

You are absolutely correct, sir! There was a one make championship for these back in the day.

[@alaricbragg7843]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting Thanks. I remember that's how Tim Sugden got his BTCC break, after doing well in Rovers.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@alaricbragg7843 , I am not very good on Touring Cars, but I am sure that you are correct!

[@Maestroaustin]

I've a Rover 216 coupe red nightfire the 1996 in exceles condi Honda engine D16A8. Here in Italy, is very rare car into register's storic car; i love it all original the rear spoiler buy to Rimmer Bros teen years ago; I 'll desire found a set interior leather seats but here is impossibile.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes, far easier to get parts over here for Tomcats than in Italy.... I hope that you manage to find an interior for yours. Thank you ever so much indeed for watching and commenting!

[@darthgardner]

Thats an R3 interior alright not seen that in one of them thought it used previous dash (honda concerto) its bizarre it could be a bubble R3 while your sat in it yet its not outside.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

As I think I explained in the review, the early Tomcats have the old dashboard shared with the Honda Concerto, but the later ones (from around 1996) have the R3 dashboard. The Tourer and Cabriolet also received it at the same time. It is strange that they didn't really change anything on the outside.

[@RogueBrit]

Tomcat was the turbo project only

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Probably...

[@seancooke7332]

The Rover R8 was the top of the class in the mid 90s. Sadly I couldn't afford a Rover when I was graduating from Peugeot 205 to the class above. So I went for a facelift Vauxhall Astra F 1.4 which was roomy, comfortable, quiet and economical. Had it been my first choice of R8 1.4 it would have been powerful, whisper quiet, gorgeous, fine handling and luxurious. All of which the plucky Astra was not. Should have earned more money really, shouldn't I ?

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Yes sir, even the lower end of the range saw some pretty fantastic R8s, mostly superior to the Astra Fs, apart from possibly the rear passenger space and perhaps some of the interior trim. Never mind, though, you can always buy an R8 these days!

[@seancooke7332]

@@lloydvehicleconsulting the K Series scares me, although now that I have Robin the ex MG Rover Mechanic on my side, I am more confident. The R3 was too small at the time but is very attractive these days also. Currently I don't own a modern classic. My younger brother has stolen a march on me with his light green 2003 Volvo XC70 which he is enjoying immensely while at the same time tidying up sympathetically as he goes.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@seancooke7332 , yes, the R3 was a bit small at the time to compete against the Astra and Escort. Having an ex-MG Rover mechanic around is an absolute blessing, I can assure you. Mr Coleman also knows these cars backwards....

[@mpersad]

Great to see such a lovely example of this car. I love the 80s and 90s Rovers so more of the same is just fine by me!

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Well, sir, we have more 1990s and 2000s Rovers coming, so I hope that you enjoy those too!