Rovertech 2.0

Never hear much mention of the 2.3 litre Rover 623, especially the "sporty" predecessor of the 620ti, the 623iS.

Does anyone own one? I, er, don't.

Si

was one for sale in our cars for sale section not too long back, there are a few around but they are quite a rare car, no too many were sold originally

Bloody good car TBH

I disagree, while the kit level was impressive and they cars looked well finished the h23 or h22 overbored block as it stands is very weak. I belive its the worst engine ever put in a 600, dont believe everything you read on Ebay auctions :p Its one of the reasons why there arent that many about.

However I really do want one for my project.

Having drove a 620sli ffor a fwe months, the only thing it could of done with extra was a little more umph. I would be surprised if the 623 was a horrid attempt at this.

Obviously the Ti is a little less refined but more powerful outright...

my dads last company had 3 as company cars. all were run to 150k miles and the only thing that went wrong was a guy broke a gearbox. the engines were fine never used oil, and were generally quite rapid for a standard nasp car. i was always quite impressed with them. Isnt it the same engine that was in the 2.3 honda prelude of the same era, that got rave reviews as an engine.

Of course the trouble is, since Rover started badging all variants as simply "600", you never know if it's a 618, 620, 623 or whatever.

Was the 623iS actually any different performance-wise to other 623's?

Biggest shame with the whole 600-series was the lack of a V6. That would really have helped its executive aspirations.

if i remember correctly, the iS was the only one you could get with a manual. i could be wrong please correct me if that is so

I don't think there was any performance difference.
A woman near me has one it's the spitting image of my ti.

IIRC it's suspension and interior that were different to the normal 623's.
Just remember, Crackey head

The iS wasn't the only one you could get as a manual. There are plenty of manual 620s & 623s about.

The main difference between the 623iS and the other Honda powered 600s was the uprated suspension that was fitted as standard. I enjoyed a brief flirtation with one a few years back, but sold it on as it had suffered neglect and the top end of the engine sounded like a diesel.

It was, however, pretty nippy and handled surprisingly well.

And yes, the 623 range is fitted with the same H23 engine as was used in the 2.3L Prelude.

I was told by a guy a couple of weeks ago, that rover where very close to securing a deal with honda for the 2.2 vtec to be used in the 600 but it fell through

that would have been fun! would have like to have a go in one of them.

My old neighbour had the 2.3 and the v-tech prelude, i had a go once it was great

vitessesqauddie wrote:that would have been fun! would have like to have a go in one of them.

Well in a few month mine will be ready

And like Fluke said, the 2.3 (h23) has head problems, and yes the preludes had them too.

If this appears twice it's because my computer's playing silly buggers...

Quote <Biggest shame with the whole 600-series was the lack of a V6. That would really have helped its executive aspirations.> Unquote

Remember reading on the Rover800 Yahoo Group that Rover themselves toyed with the idea of a 627 around the time the 600 range was launched; even got as far as putting some prototypes together (some of which escaped from the crusher).

With a manual gearbox that sounds like a nice motor...suspect there was insufficient performance differentiation between a 623, a 627 and a 620ti to justify the effort and expense...

There was an immaculate white late-reg 623iS in my local breakers recently. No idea why the car was there - things folks throw away nowadays. I was most impressed by this car's interior - very smart seats. A day later those seats and much of the interrior was gone.

Scott Wrote:

>>Obviously the Ti is a little less refined but more powerful outright...<<

Less refined...puzzled by that .... engine or car?

suspect there was insufficient performance differentiation between a 623, a 627 and a 620ti to justify the effort and expense...

A silky 2.5 V6 would always be a more executive option rather than the all out performance of the 'ti but would have made the 2.3 superfluous.

Honda Accord - best selling car in the US for ages. Shame Rover couldn't sell the 600 into that market.

Rich620turbo wrote:I was told by a guy a couple of weeks ago, that rover where very close to securing a deal with honda for the 2.2 vtec to be used in the 600 but it fell through

I'd have loved that. I had a 2.2 VTEC Accord coupe while I was living in the US for a while, and I always wished they would put that engine in a 600. Of course, the Accord Type-R version of that engine would be even nicer.

(First post outside the padded walls of the newbie section! Woohoo! )

does the accord type-r run an h22a?

The Accord Type-R is an H22A7, I think. It's been a while since I had to think of Honda specs, so I may be completely wrong.