Mk3 Vs Mk2 Moterway driving

dreaddan · Post by **dreaddan** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 1:04 pm

Right, I'm planning on replacing the wifes colt with either a 200 Mk2 or 200 Mk3 (aka bubble shape) as she's now doing alot of moterway driving.
But as I've not driven either - I was wondering what your experances of driving both on the motherway are.

edit: slightly reworded it to reduce confusion..
Dan

simonptomcat · Post by **simonptomcat** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 1:17 pm

Don't you mean a MK2 or MK3 200?

As the MK2 wasn't a bubble?

I have driven both so can tell you which i prefer once i know what you mean!

dreaddan · Post by **dreaddan** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 1:25 pm

Erm.. I know the Mk3 was the bubble but I only put that because previouly ppl didnt know.

but to clarafy..
MK2

MK3 Aka the bubble shape.

simonptomcat · Post by **simonptomcat** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 1:32 pm

Forget it, the way it was worded seemed like you thought the MK2 & 3 were bubbles! Anyway.....

I would much rather drive the Mk3 on the motorway, it feels alot more solid at higher speeds, especially in the wet. I have driven all sorts of mk2's on the motorway but only the 1.4 bubble and i would choose the bubble for ride, handling, and overally comfort any day. But i think the Mk2 looks better!

dreaddan · Post by **dreaddan** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 4:02 pm

I've reworded it now, hopfully it's alittle clearer now.

Dan

simonptomcat · Post by **simonptomcat** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 4:07 pm

lol! specially for ickle old me aka special needs tomcat lol

Hope my comments helped!

mach1rob · Post by **mach1rob** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 4:19 pm

Can't say that I've noticed any real difference between driving our K reg 214 and my dads '51 reg 25. Get the wife to drive both, see which she prefers, but I'd just say buy the newest and best you can afford at the time

Craig · Post by **Craig** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 7:10 pm

The Mk 2 220 is very nice on the motorway. It cruises easily and quitely at motorway speeds (plus!) and in many ways is like a much larger car.

matty200vi · Post by **matty200vi** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 12:14 am

i have never driven a mk 2 but have had my mk 3 200vi for just over a year now i my trip to work involves 15miles of motorway each way and it's great. Comfy, stable - even in this stupid weather.

Mine has also got lots of poke and overtaking is no probs but that obviously depends on which one you get!!

Best think would be to drive both but like someone above said get the newest and best you can afford and thus hopefully minimise any probs that may occur if you unlucky like i always seem to be!!! :cry:

Martin · Post by **Martin** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 3:10 am

In my opinion the Rover 2 litre is well suited on the Motorway, so I am going to say either a 2 litre NASP Mk2 or a 2 Litre Mk3 diesel. The K Series and D Series all appear to scream at 70+ whereas the 2 litre is smooth and refined.

I remember back when I only owned a Mk3 216 Si, I went out in Sysdumps 420 NASP and couldnt believe how quiet the engine was at speed.

Lovepug13 · Post by **Lovepug13** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 8:32 am

MK3 200, simply no comparison. Its a newer design, its unfair to directly compare them, however, the newer mk3 is much dearer than the ageing mk2.

Hope this helps, if you do buy, take cash and haggle, dealers need the money this time of year.

Good luck,

Adam Ferrand.

AndBurG · Post by **AndBurG** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 2:35 pm

mk2 simply because you have a footrest for your left foot makes long motorway journeys much more comfortable. Not to mention the seats are much nicer.

andy

200SEI · Post by **200SEI** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 6:49 pm

Im with the mark 2..

Better seats, i wouldn't say the D series scream at 70 tho?

Maybe the D16 DOHC as the gear ratios aren't motorway friendly.

My 214 SEI is by far the most comfortable i have ever owned, a bigger engine is the way forward for m/way cruising.

Perhaps a nice 220GSI......mmmm

radddogg · Post by **radddogg** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 6:52 pm

Get a vitesse sport lux. That is a motorway cruiser with the most comfy seats fitted to a rover ever, period!

Sheaf · Post by **Sheaf** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 7:01 pm

If it's mainly motorway whatever you do dont get a coupe.
The wind noise is quite loud. It doesn't bother me too much cos I just turn the stereo up, and I'm used to it now, but I must admit when I go in my mates Omega, or my parents volvo I realise how loud my car is at speed.

Also, I'd say the D16 SOHC still screams at 70+. It does about 3500rpm at 70, or 4000rpm at 80, which can be fairly annoying if you want a relaxed cruise.

No idea what's better out of Mk2 or 3 though, only ever driven Mk2s.

stuartm · Post by **stuartm** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 7:10 pm

Lovepug13 wrote:MK3 200, simply no comparison. Its a newer design

Was a step forward making the rear NON indepenant :wink:

Si · Post by Si » Wed Jan 19, 2005 7:10 pm

My car destroys motorways, even after a 3 hour drive i don't feel uncomfortable. Overtaking is effortless and will do 30mpg sat at 90mph. The foot rest is ace too.

Never really driven a mk3 far though, the mk2 is certainly better if you have a lot of stuff to carry.

200SEI · Post by **200SEI** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 10:23 pm

A 620 ti seems to be the most amazing motorway cruiser i have driven for the money. My mates sits at 100 mph at around 3000 rpm

Gary · Post by **Gary** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 10:26 pm

200SEI wrote:A 620 ti seems to be the most amazing motorway cruiser i have driven for the money. My mates sits at 100 mph at around 3000 rpm

Must be using a different box as the Ti does around 3000rpm @ 70mph. Be nice to have a 6th gear that would allow 100mph @ 3k rpm

. If had the power and the car didnt fall to bits thats 200mph @ 6000rpm. Me likes

200SEI · Post by **200SEI** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 6:32 pm

3000 at 70?

He does just over 2500 at 80!!!!!

Wheres the box from then.....?

Mule · Post by **Mule** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 6:42 pm

200SEI wrote:3000 at 70?

He does just over 2500 at 80!!!!!

Wheres the box from then.....?

Flippin' eck, you sure?

My coupe does 4k at 70 in 5th.. bloody NASP gearbox :roll:

200SEI · Post by **200SEI** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 1:08 am

Deffo, ive driven it.

2500 - 2750 at 80 in 5th.

Its a '95 620 ti. Re-con Gearbox was fitted a while back due to diff bearings falling out........Surprise surprise.

I assumed it just has great ratios for high speed cruising.....Maybe its a Vitty box or something!?

Mule · Post by **Mule** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 1:27 am

200SEI wrote:Maybe its a Vitty box or something!?

Or they've stuck a DERV final drive in it??

Gary · Post by **Gary** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 1:28 am

Dunno, they probably bodged the speedo drive unit, no rover with a pg1 would have such long ratios. I'd like something similar for 5th/6th but in reality you would need a lot of power for that ratio to be of any use.

Might be an idea to get another car side by side (or a GPS device)

Gary · Post by **Gary** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 1:29 am

Mule wrote:
200SEI wrote:Maybe its a Vitty box or something!?

Or they've stuck a DERV final drive in it??

Good point there batman. Good point indeed, most likely. They probably heard Rover turbo and assumed that there is no chance its a petrol in a 'grandad' car as there known.

I should have thought of that :oops:

Hyper · Post by **Hyper** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 3:52 am

I prefer the Mk2 on motorways, my Mk3 1.6 had a tendency to wander at high speed and I found the constant need to correct the power steering annoying and sometimes worrying.
R

Gary · Post by **Gary** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 3:13 pm

That was your car as i have had quite a few mk3 and they only do that when the tracking is out, or something wrong with shocks.

Hyper · Post by **Hyper** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 8:35 pm

It was a brand new Mk3 unkerbed, undamaged which I returned to the main dealers 4 or 5 times to try and get it sorted which they failed to do. Thankfully a truck wrote it off while it was parked.
My second Mk3 did the same to a lesser extent until the shocks and springs were upgraded to Vi parts.
R

Hyper · Post by **Hyper** » Sat Jan 22, 2005 2:05 am

It was a brand new Mk3 unkerbed, undamaged which I returned to the main dealers 4 or 5 times to try and get it sorted which they failed to do. Thankfully a truck wrote it off while it was parked.
My second Mk3 did the same to a lesser extent until the shocks and springs were upgraded to Vi parts so in respect to your post you may be right about the shocks.
The Vi had superior standard suspension. If Rover had updated the suspension across the range of 200s they would have sold more Mk3s. All IMO of course.
R