I'm still waiting for a possible job to come good, and hopefully join Scoobyworld. However, my car is showing signs of just not working anymore, and it's too old to bother keep going (Rover 216GSi, 133k 1992J).

So, I found a Rover BRM with 29k, for £5k which I would hope to get down a little.

Has anyone got any thoughts of this?

Its not got a bright orange mouth on it has it?

If so I think I would rather walk ...........

My uncle has one and loves it, has given a 225 TT a run for its money so reasonably quick and the orange mouth is easily removed and painted in something less lairy (Silver ?). FOr 5 grand they its not bad value and has a lot of extra kit over the normal vi, like a Limited lip Diff, bigger wheels and a pimpin red leather interior. I say go for it.

Due to the MG versions/Elises etc being about now there is also plenty of tuning kit.

For cheap performance, have a look at Honda Civic VTi VTECs. IIRC they are 160BHP in standard trim, which on a car so light is very useful. Loads of tuning potential too, the Yanks love 'em (F&F). Reliable too.

Had a Rover 200VI which by all accounts is the same as the BRM, even though the BRM was supposed to be quicker than the VI it was'nt, (so i read). Had mine for 18 months and found it ok, had a few repair bills. Watch out for the reluctance rings on the ABS, mine split due to corrosion, apparently common, couple hundred quid to replace, or over £500 with Rover dealear. Not the cheapest to insure, my scooby only cost £100 extra to insure.:)

PS think about what you will get when you want to sell it, lost £4000 in 18months on the VI. Seems they hard to shift. Just a thought. :)

Actually, this ones mouth has been resprayed silver, which is a little better :)

I've read that the VI is a little quicker than the BRM. The BRM is a tad heavier, but has a much better handling setup.

Yeah, heard that they're hard to sell on. Could always give it to my missus once she's passed her test..

Thanks,

Mark.

The BRM is a cracking car - I personally like the leather and styling too, each to their own IMHO, don't see it any worse as stickering up a scoob or neons etc. At least its there as a tradition.
Its not the same car as the VI, engine wise yes, and it is a little slower, but the BRM has 16s and is lowered more, different suspension as well as a close ratio gearbox. The BRM is regarded to have the best suspension put on a rover and was used on the 25 GTi due to its success on the BRM. The 25 again was an underated car.

They are good cars, good spec for the money, and you won't see many about - go for it!

Girlfriend has one.

very light, quick car with seedy red leather interior :)

fuel economy always over 30mpg even with constant short journeys around town. Quicker than most of the popular cars of the same insurance group (14) savo vts, fiat bravo 147 & 155, pug 106 gti, Focus ST170, pug 206 gti.

Can pull to the side a littele when gunning it through gears due to lsd, so you need to hold onto that steering wheel!! but really does pull well through the gears.

And suprisingly are holding there price well currently, girlfriend has had a V reg for a year now and paid £4800 for it at the time with 33k on the clock, and i think ive only seen 2 advertised at less than that on autotrader in the last couple of months, all the rest are around 5k and up!!!

Mark

Bright orange mouth it may have originally, but I've seen a couple with them sprayed silver. looks far better for not much cost and at least its something different, even rare! :)

edited to say "duh, read all the posts next time" to myself :rolleyes:

[Edited by rossyboy - 1/27/2004 6:46:21 PM]

1.8 16v 142bhp 0-60 7.5 127mph.

Not bad, most rovers have decent power spec.

Yeah, even my 216 is supposed to be 0-60 in 8.5 It's really not bad in a straight line (never been in a Scooby you see!), just goes a bit wonky around those corner type things ;)

I think I remember reading that the BRM had slightly different gearing, giving it better acceleration but a lower top mph. Anyone else read this or got figures?

I had a BRM - great car but a bit noisy above 70MPH. Not meant for cruising on the Motorway, but a complete hoot to drive.

TONY

Oh and there is an appalling lack of storage for your odds and ends

TONY

I have the autocar road test at home ill psot the figures later, but it definately has a shorter ratio gearbox than the vi.

from memory i think top speed is 123mph.

Mark

Hmm, it's had FOUR owners in 4 years. That can't be good can it?

Figures for the BRM from Autocar road test are as follows :-

Max 126 mph 0-60 7.7 0-100 20.3 30-70 6.8

For the vi

Max 124 mph 0-60 7.1 0-100 20.5 30-70 6.7

Both slightly quicker than a 306 Gti-6 or Rallye acceleration wise to give a guideline

BRM has different gearing and a LSD

Cracking cars

As already said, a tad slower to 60 than the vi due to extra weight and different gear ratios. Very underestimated hot hatch due to horrific price they were new. Complete bargain now, only 600 or so made (they each have limited edition numbers).

About half of them have air con, lovely interior, fantasic red leather!! As far as interior storage goes, there're door pockets, and in the 3 door there are spaces to either side of the rear bench. Couple of holes in the dash, and if it doesn't have a passenger airbag you can easily fit the Rover 25 dash tray in place of the blanking plate.

One caveat - make sure it has a full Rover service history as you really don't want to entrust the vvc mechanism who doesn't understand it. As I understand it it's more complex than the vtec - instead of having 2 different cam profiles if has a continually variable one.

I would certainly have one. I have a R25 1.6 (suspension basically the same as the vi/BRM) and it is a nice drive, not too much roll and turns in very nicely. Feels like a go-cart. I say go for it if it has fRsh, you won't regret it!

Oh, and it's heresy to respray the nosecone!! The Brooklands Green/Orange combo is from the 50s BRM jet car, so there is a heritage behind it!!:D

200 BRM suspension is TOTALLY different to 200 Vi and 25. Different league completely than 25. Thicker anti roll bars front and rear, stiffer springs and dampers, 205 tyres, LCD etc etc.

Owned a BRM for 1 year excellent car, great handling, especially compared with standard 200 and 25's setup.

<double post>

[Edited by NiceCupOfTea - 1/30/2004 1:06:23 AM]

Wasn't aware there was any difference between the BRM and vi setups. However, the 25 does have the same setup as the vi, which is far better than the standard 200, so don't lump standard 200s and 25s together! :)

25 has a different setup to 200 but it isn't identical to 200 Vi. Just look at the ride hight of a 25, it's no different to a standard 200, compare that with a 200 Vi which looks much lower.

Having owned a standard 200 and 25, the 25 does handle better than 200 but not as good as the 200vi or BRM

Just what I heard. I understand that the basic setup is the same.