Anyone here had a Rover SD1 before?

Daim · May 13th, 2011, 19:20

Hi there!

As you lot seem to be rather British

I wanted to quickly ask... I've been looking at a Rver SD1 3500 Vandan Plas (pretty pretty) from 1984 with 3 speed automatic and am interested in hearing what experiences have been made here...

I know this is a Volvo forum, but hey, other mothers have pretty daughters aswell (old German saying

).

A long time ago, around 1987, my parents had a golden SD1 3500 with pretty brown interior and that was a car I kept in my mind. I've been wanting one for a long time, but since then, the world has moved forwards and the SD1s have aged...

Is it worth looking at or even trying one?

Thanks

Damien

gillberry · May 13th, 2011, 19:24

I have had several , they are lovely comfy cars with decent oomph and that v8 sound is glorious . Rimmer brothers do all the spares so virtually everything is obtainable .

gulavelt · May 13th, 2011, 19:26

Great car, especially in in v8 vitesse form, let down by dire build quality, same old story sadly.

scr8pdo · May 13th, 2011, 19:29

Yep had 4, a 2000, 2600 and 2x 3.5 V8s, lovely motors, like driving round in your front room, just dont get a baddun, 2600 fell apart on me, but a well cared for one would of had all the gremlins on it sorted by now, I had mine years back when they were banger fodder, would love a twin plenum one today Mmmmm!

GMad · May 13th, 2011, 19:38

Yes, I've had several of them..
Great cars that were way ahead of thier time.
Nowadays however, it goes without saying you will need to keep an eye out for a well looked after examle! Tin worm was an issue back in the day and build quality wasn't especially brilliant!

mikealder · May 13th, 2011, 19:41

Had a 2,600 to start with, the cam siezed at very high speed and totalled the engine, not worth fixing to be honest.

Had a 2,300 next and the cam belt snapped at Sandbach services while on the way to a ski trip in Italy (Thanks to RAC I made it to Gatwick, car cost a bloody fortune to fix though)

Next went for the 3,500 Vitese (Speeling..) great car, one thing I would suggest you do if you get one is remove the intake manifold and clear out any sludge build up in the "Vee" of the engine as this can make a real mess of the internals due to oil starvation to the cam followers.

Build quality was never good and the electrics were great "fun" heavy car with poor fuel ecconomy compared to more modern vehicles but still a very sleek looking car, best one I have seen which is road legal but better observed on a race track is powered by a RR Meteor engine with a capacity of 27,000 (thats not a typo 27 litres and goes at a hell of a pace) - Mike

scr8pdo · May 13th, 2011, 20:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikealder

Had a 2,600 to start with, the cam siezed at very high speed and totalled the engine, not worth fixing to be honest.

Had a 2,300 next and the cam belt snapped at Sandbach services while on the way to a ski trip in Italy (Thanks to RAC I made it to Gatwick, car cost a bloody fortune to fix though)

Next went for the 3,500 Vitese (Speeling..) great car, one thing I would suggest you do if you get one is remove the intake manifold and clear out any sludge build up in the "Vee" of the engine as this can make a real mess of the internals due to oil starvation to the cam followers.

Build quality was never good and the electrics were great "fun" heavy car with poor fuel ecconomy compared to more modern vehicles but still a very sleek looking car, best one I have seen which is road legal but better observed on a race track is powered by a RR Meteor engine with a capacity of 27,000 (thats not a typo 27 litres and goes at a hell of a pace) - Mike

I seen that 27 litre one, matt black one innit?

mikealder · May 13th, 2011, 20:09

Yup, thats the one, it belongs to one of the PPC Mag chaps, the black Rolls Royce will be a hoot though if they get the Jet engine fitted and working - Mike

scr8pdo · May 13th, 2011, 20:09

Not keen on the front bumper on this, there are a couple of cheap 2600 on as well

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1985-ROVER-SD1...ht_1244wt_1139

Daim · May 13th, 2011, 20:10

Thanks for the tips so far...

It is of course a 3500... Yummy V8... According to the owner, it has a little bit or rust - hey, it's 26 years old - and it is on Porsche rims (http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...m=180663284545) but it actually looks tidy... I've not been able to have a look, as it is in Berlin...

I've been watching the market for them here, as you don't get many offered (weren't popular) and that is basically a very good price - at least at the moment...

It has a few "faults" but like said, it is 26 years old and the AC still works!

Has only done 120.000 km (about 75.000 miles)... It would be a project car, as in anouther 4 years it would be classed as a "classic" car and would get low tax rating etc.

How capable are the rear axles? My dad said he always had problems with the rear axle in his old golden one. He said as well "don't bother getting a 2.6l - they aren't crap, they're sh*t!"

I think it would be the most "usable" classic for the future...

How is the MPG on these things? Is it possible to get the 3.5l V8 with slush box around 20 mpg?

May 13th, 2011, 19:20	#1
Daim Brit in Germany Last Online: May 18th, 2024 19:59 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Bremen	Anyone here had a Rover SD1 before? Hi there! As you lot seem to be rather British I wanted to quickly ask... I've been looking at a Rver SD1 3500 Vandan Plas (pretty pretty) from 1984 with 3 speed automatic and am interested in hearing what experiences have been made here... I know this is a Volvo forum, but hey, other mothers have pretty daughters aswell (old German saying ). A long time ago, around 1987, my parents had a golden SD1 3500 with pretty brown interior and that was a car I kept in my mind. I've been wanting one for a long time, but since then, the world has moved forwards and the SD1s have aged... Is it worth looking at or even trying one? Thanks Damien __________________ The Best Nation Is Imagination 2010 V70 (Type 135) D5 (D5244T10) Automatic (TF-80SC)

May 13th, 2011, 19:24	#2
gillberry VOC Member Last Online: May 23rd, 2024 15:37 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: norwich View Photos By: gillberry	I have had several , they are lovely comfy cars with decent oomph and that v8 sound is glorious . Rimmer brothers do all the spares so virtually everything is obtainable . __________________ 1968 Amazon estate (Gracie). 2003 Vauxhall astra estate (her car) 2009 XC90 (Jo) . Not forgetting 1967 Cheltenham Nyala (caravan)

May 13th, 2011, 19:29	#4
scr8pdo Premier Member Last Online: Aug 27th, 2016 13:21 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Greater Manchester	Yep had 4, a 2000, 2600 and 2x 3.5 V8s, lovely motors, like driving round in your front room, just dont get a baddun, 2600 fell apart on me, but a well cared for one would of had all the gremlins on it sorted by now, I had mine years back when they were banger fodder, would love a twin plenum one today Mmmmm! __________________ SAAB 9-5 HOT Aero Audi A4 1997 TDi Avant (old smoker!) Iveco Turbo Daily Recovery Lorry Last edited by scr8pdo; May 13th, 2011 at 19:31.

May 13th, 2011, 19:38	#5
GMad Premier Member Last Online: Nov 5th, 2014 09:53 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Telford	Yes, I've had several of them.. Great cars that were way ahead of thier time. Nowadays however, it goes without saying you will need to keep an eye out for a well looked after examle! Tin worm was an issue back in the day and build quality wasn't especially brilliant! __________________ SHOULD ANYONE BE OFFENDED BY ANY OF MY POSTS THEN IT SERVES THEM RIGHT FOR STICKING THIER HEAD ABOVE THE BARBED WIRE FENCE THAT IS LIFE !

May 13th, 2011, 20:09	#9
scr8pdo Premier Member Last Online: Aug 27th, 2016 13:21 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Greater Manchester	Not keen on the front bumper on this, there are a couple of cheap 2600 on as well http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1985-ROVER-SD1...ht_1244wt_1139 __________________ SAAB 9-5 HOT Aero Audi A4 1997 TDi Avant (old smoker!) Iveco Turbo Daily Recovery Lorry

May 13th, 2011, 19:26	#3
gulavelt I've Been Banned Last Online: May 16th, 2011 17:25 Join Date: May 2011 Location: crewe	Great car, especially in in v8 vitesse form, let down by dire build quality, same old story sadly.

May 13th, 2011, 19:41	#6
mikealder VOC Member Last Online: Nov 6th, 2016 10:18 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Blackpool UK	Had a 2,600 to start with, the cam siezed at very high speed and totalled the engine, not worth fixing to be honest. Had a 2,300 next and the cam belt snapped at Sandbach services while on the way to a ski trip in Italy (Thanks to RAC I made it to Gatwick, car cost a bloody fortune to fix though) Next went for the 3,500 Vitese (Speeling..) great car, one thing I would suggest you do if you get one is remove the intake manifold and clear out any sludge build up in the "Vee" of the engine as this can make a real mess of the internals due to oil starvation to the cam followers. Build quality was never good and the electrics were great "fun" heavy car with poor fuel ecconomy compared to more modern vehicles but still a very sleek looking car, best one I have seen which is road legal but better observed on a race track is powered by a RR Meteor engine with a capacity of 27,000 (thats not a typo 27 litres and goes at a hell of a pace) - Mike

May 13th, 2011, 20:10	#10
Daim Brit in Germany Last Online: May 18th, 2024 19:59 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Bremen	Thanks for the tips so far... It is of course a 3500... Yummy V8... According to the owner, it has a little bit or rust - hey, it's 26 years old - and it is on Porsche rims (http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...m=180663284545) but it actually looks tidy... I've not been able to have a look, as it is in Berlin... I've been watching the market for them here, as you don't get many offered (weren't popular) and that is basically a very good price - at least at the moment... It has a few "faults" but like said, it is 26 years old and the AC still works! Has only done 120.000 km (about 75.000 miles)... It would be a project car, as in anouther 4 years it would be classed as a "classic" car and would get low tax rating etc. How capable are the rear axles? My dad said he always had problems with the rear axle in his old golden one. He said as well "don't bother getting a 2.6l - they aren't crap, they're sh*t!" I think it would be the most "usable" classic for the future... How is the MPG on these things? Is it possible to get the 3.5l V8 with slush box around 20 mpg? __________________ The Best Nation Is Imagination 2010 V70 (Type 135) D5 (D5244T10) Automatic (TF-80SC)

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