Chris and Nicks road trip

Post by **Chris_C** » 18 Jul 2006 12:17 am

As some off you know, me and Nick (Nick_C) are going on a small expedition in September, driving from London to India to sort out a rally route for an endurance rally next year.

We got to go and have a play in the car we have been given today, an 06 plate City Rover (stop sniggering you in the back there....) Considering the reviews we've all read on the City (and we all know what the reviews of the 300 say) it's a really decent car, responds well, goes well, rev's well. Brakes are a tad sharp, but thats being sorted, and the seats are sh*t. But, 300 seats will be fitted, along with some harnesses. Overall, the things the reviews moan about, i.e. price and plastic dashboard, we don't care about!! It's a K series engine, so powerful considering it's size, and we are only gonna be doing around 10,000 miles in it, so we won't have to worry about the head warping either

I was dead impressed, it did get a lil skittish throwing it through the lanes, but I reckon that'll sort out with our kit in the back.

Anyway, a few piccies

Post by **petefarrell360** » 18 Jul 2006 12:22 am

Excellent stuff mate, looks like it could be a good laugh! Please, becaredul using that swear word though beginning in R, thought they'd stopped making them things!? You say it's a rebadged SsangYong? Spose that's one way tog et rid of them give them away! Only joking mate, can't grumble at that, enjoy!
Pete

Post by **redline** » 18 Jul 2006 07:50 am

In a way you are actually taking the car home

India firm rolls out next Rover

By Rory Cellan-Jones
BBC business reporter

Tata Motors, the Indian firm that is building MG Rover's next car for the UK market, has been showing off the City Rover, which is due to go on sale in November.
Tata, a former truck maker that expanded into consumer automobiles in the 1990s, is making the City Rover at its plant in Pune, in the western Indian state of Maharashtra.

If the project goes well, the Tata's alliance with MG Rover could expand into a deal whereby Indian-designed cars are constructed in the UK, says Tata boss Ratan Tata.

MG Rover's new small car is modelled on the Indica
In an exclusive interview with the BBC, Tata Motors boss Ratan Tata said he anticipates the two carmakers could work together on other models.

good luck with the trip guys

I'm sure we can look after Kate for you while your away

Post by **SteveP** » 18 Jul 2006 09:12 am

Argghh.. ShittyRover...

I sat in one of these at a dealership, and laughed infront of the salesman, horrid horrid car.. but as you say, doesn't matter about the interior. K series? I didn't think any of these had K series lumps, the 1.4 engine is Peugeot sourced!

Post by **5lab** » 18 Jul 2006 09:22 am

you got given one? nice..

and.. if you think its good, you should really get out of your 300 and drive a different modern car

Post by **SteveP** » 18 Jul 2006 09:24 am

5lab wrote:you got given one? nice..

Well you wouldn't want to pay for it, would you?

Post by **5lab** » 18 Jul 2006 09:51 am

wouldnt want to be given one either tbh

Post by **Chris_C** » 18 Jul 2006 11:07 am

Ok, I stand corrected

Would make sense as to why its only making 85bhp, and not 105...

Credit where its due though, it does fell go-kart like, which I'm happy about. I wouldn't have one for a daily, or a rally car tbh, but for what we want it for, I reckon it'll be ok.

Post by **SteveP** » 18 Jul 2006 11:18 am

Yeah I supposed you can thrash the living hell out of it without feeling guilty, think of each time you redline it as a slap to the people who thought rebadging a Tata would help Rover...

Post by **5lab** » 18 Jul 2006 11:26 am

Chris_C wrote:Ok, I stand corrected Would make sense as to why its only making 85bhp, and not 105...

Credit where its due though, it does fell go-kart like, which I'm happy about. I wouldn't have one for a daily, or a rally car tbh, but for what we want it for, I reckon it'll be ok.

have you discovered yet that while the rev counter goes up to 8,000 rpm (from memory) - the rev limiter is at 5,500rpm?

p.o.s. at least vague steering is better on the crappy roads out there. and you'll not get carjacked

Post by **Chris_C** » 18 Jul 2006 12:21 pm

Limiter is at 6,200 on this one

found it yesterday

Hav no idea why the rev counter goes so far... and the redline is really hard to see on those dials.

Steering is a tad light, but that'll be useful I'd imagine after 7,000 miles and not much sleep!

Post by **Ronnie** » 19 Jul 2006 10:12 am

Sounds like a proper adventure - you routing through former soviet block to avoid the Mad Mullahs?

The car's not important - it's free and new and should last the trip just fine. Well done for getting hold of it! I knew a guy who drove to India and back in a 2CV, twice. Lightweight and low powered is the way to go if you're not using 4x4

Post by **Nick C** » 19 Jul 2006 10:36 am

Ronnie wrote:Sounds like a proper adventure - you routing through former soviet block to avoid the Mad Mullahs?

The car's not important - it's free and new and should last the trip just fine. Well done for getting hold of it! I knew a guy who drove to India and back in a 2CV, twice. Lightweight and low powered is the way to go if you're not using 4x4

that would be too easy - We're going through Iran!

The plan seems to be very much in favour of travelling light, a 4x4 would also be far too easy!

Post by **Ronnie** » 19 Jul 2006 12:05 pm

Nick C wrote:We're going through Iran!

I guess that means going through South Pakistan too? - that's the most dangerous part of the trip. Iran is quite a disciplined country with a very high profile police/military. Rural backwaters of Pakistan can be pretty sketchy though... Especially with what's going on politically in the world these days.

Basically, you're brave to take this on! Will you be in convoy?

Post by **redline** » 19 Jul 2006 12:16 pm

[/quote]

is it just me or can anyone else see the similarities

which leads me to this rather worrying image

good luck guys !!!!!!!