J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

davyboy

Looks like some badly applied lipstick.

Dream Weaver

It was a BRM thing, but the MG stylists really are clueless.

Jap2Scrap

Hmmmm.. I'd quite fancy one of these instead of the VTS, less common and arguably quicker.. (I say arguably cos although they're faster on paper the VTS really does handle well and can carry a fair lick through a tight bend with a great turn in).. But I'd HAVE to get that front end sorted.

Chris L

It got better, they then went on to do the Streetwise - without doubt the worst piece of design in the entire history of car.

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

The front end thing, its a stick on plastic nose cone that comes off (easily) and can be painted in whatever colour your heart desires of left off alltogether, as for the rest of the styling, I have always thought that the later shape 'Bubble' 200 is a good looking car in 3 door form, the BRM is in Proper British Racing green and has a decent looking set of alloys and the side trim in silver works well, all in all not a bad looking car and I sort of agree on the nose cone but I am going o leave it for the time being as I quite like it in a perverse kind of way, its bottling out to paint it and lets face it there are quite a few other dubious style statements paraded on SN such as Lexus lights (on anything other than a Lexus), Gold Wheels and spoilers, its funny seeing BMW drivers spoiling for a blast when they see the beak in the miror, it cost less than three grand and it goads drivers of 30 grand BMW's into wanting to race it, its happened twice now, why bother, it wont beat a 330 Coupe !

As for performance, I came from a Fiat Coupe Turbo so its quite a bit slower but still usefully quick (161 bhp), it corners well but the seats arent that supportive and the leather creaks. It does 35 mpg (Fiat 25) and doesnt use a litre of oil a week !

Not sure how much quicker it is than a VTS, probably on a par, never underestimate a VTS, quick litle cars, one other thing about it, it doesnt really say much about you other than 'oddball', nobody can quite work out why you would buy it, whether its a boy racer car or whether its anything special, its the only car I have had where people have taken photos of it (honest) and the alarm keeps bleeping at people noseying in it, maybe for Top Gear's carbage section but so what, I like it.

As for the Streetwise, not to my taste but I can sort of see why somebody may want one, I mean people buy Mini's, Beetles etc and they are truly hideous and generally unreliable.

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

'Even if BRM designed the car it must have had to have had the final nod from MG/Rover bosses'

Dont think BRM exist any more, purely a Rover product trading on past glories, they did however sell 795 of the things over here and a good few abroad so somebody must have bought them, they are quite hard to place nowadays though unless cheap (Ask Crofty who has a minter for sale at 3 grand)

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

MGJohn hasnt appeared yet, must be under an Austin 1100 somewhere snorting Hydrogas.

Jap2Scrap

not in the for sale section he hasn't

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

There you go,

http://forums.mg-rover.org/showthread.php?t=47835

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/det...?i=29698&s=158

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

'Looks like some badly applied lipstick.'

Any chance of some tips ?

crofty

Thanks J4CKO for the threads! mine is still forsale

Jap2Scrap

Looks nice and tidy. Mileage is a bit more than my Saxo, but I'd think the Saxo ('99, 44k miles, bodykit) is worth a bit more so I might be able to swallow the mileage difference with a few quid in my pocket from selling that.

Couple of questions:

When's the next big service?
How much am I looking at for things like servicing and belts, etc?
MPG on a motorway run?
Any basic performance figures for these? 0-62, 0-100, 1/4 mile? Anything along those lines, don't really want to go even slower (already stepped down from GT4 and MR2 to the Saxo)

Cheers

Ray

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

0-60 is between 7 and 8 depending on who you listen too (7.6 would be about right), 0-100 in about 20 and a bit seconds, the BRM is a couple of tenths slower than the standard vi due to gearing and tyre differences, in reality no difference plus the BRM handles a lot better, the 30-70 time is pretty good which is a good measure of real world performance, its 6.8 or therabouts. It would be interesting to try it against a VTS as I know they always punch above their weight performance wise


MPG, I got 35 on the first tank full, urban 27, extra urban 45, combined 36.6, so you would struggle to get under 30 whatever you do.

crofty

Just had the big one cam belt etc another 60000 to the next belt change! J4CKO has answered the other questions ( thanks ).

Jap2Scrap

Showed the other half the pics and I don't think she liked it.. lol.. guess it's an acquired taste.

I'm sure someone on a thread recently used the words "easy kill" when talking about a VTS versus their BRM. Sorry to say but with those figures the VTS would easily hold it's own. I think they're written off as chav cars, trying to look like something they're not, along with the Corsas and Puntos (I myself would have said the same 3 months ago) but they're no slouches and they're not group 16 for nothing.

Thanks for the specs guys, will give it some thought.

Ray

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Thats weird, my wife wouldnt be seen dead in the Merc M Class her dad gave her (chopped it in for a Sharan) yet loves the BRM !