Rover 600 - The Japanese Rover (1999 623GSI Road Test)

Рет қаралды 17,209

3 жыл бұрын

The Rover 600 was released late in the Rover/Honda partnership, but sadly doomed to failure when faced with the Ford Mondeo and an unfortunate lack of input from Rover. But that doesn't stop it being a charming modern classic, as Phil explains.
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Пікірлер: 65

@sakuraitakashi42 2 жыл бұрын

33 years ago, my father paid for my graduate school. In aporeciation for this, 25 years ago, I bought 623 SLi Nightfire Red for my father's 60th birthday. He did not like Mercedes or BMW but could not afford a Jaguar. So, his choice was a Rover. To surprise you all, we are Japanese and lived in Tokyo. Rover was kind of rare there, more outstanding than a Mercedes. But, maintenance costs were as cheap as a Honda 'cause some good Japenese mechanics knew how to make use of Honda parts. He loved 623 until he died 12 years ago. Although I live in New York now, I cannot throw his 623 away and drive it in Japan for a few weeks every year...

@tech4pros1 Жыл бұрын

just FYI, now the car is 25 years old you can easily and legally import it into the US.

@JC-hu1wd 6 ай бұрын

Nice story. Japanese engineering is great. It's a shame Rover died.

@tofu7397 4 ай бұрын

@@jamespasifull how is that an issue? just eat less mcdonalds- problem solved

@andrewnichols1023 3 жыл бұрын

This car was very stylish unlike the mondeo it had lots of chrome, wooden interior and on the high specs, leather and piped seats. Lots of attention to detail the mondo just didn’t have. Being a Honda underneath also had Japanese reliability. It had the best of both worlds, Japanese engineering with British attention to detail.

@athlonian11 3 жыл бұрын

I always loved these back in the day and to my mind, it struck the perfect balance between "modern" and "old school" style & luxury. In this spec with the extended door veneers and fluted leather it's almost like a mini X300 XJ on the inside. The 75 (whilst indeed nice) always seemed like a theme bar and I never liked it as much as the 600. Great video and thanks for the trip down nostalgia lane :)

@Minimead 3 жыл бұрын

Had two of these in the nineties - the first one was 623i and the second a 600ti. Both were reliable, comfortable and the ti was very quick. Happy memories.

@leeallen7491 3 жыл бұрын

The motoring press always had a downer on Rover , even though the cars were good cars , both mine are of the Rover / Honda era a 1989 SD3 and a 1994 R8

@evo5dave 2 жыл бұрын

Autocar used to rave about the Rover Metro and the 200 series.

@matthewgodwin3050 3 жыл бұрын

My dad had two of these back in the day; a 620Si in Anthracite Grey, and a 620SLi auto in Nightfire Red. Both lovely cars, and both evoking very fond childhood memories. I'm biased of course, but I always thought the Rover was a cut or two above contemporary Ford or Vauxhall offerings, and I think it's a tad more stylish than the Accord sister car too. A chap local to me runs about in one with just over 200k miles on it. It looks tired and a bit tatty, buts it's still going strong, a testiment to Rover/Honda build quality.

@bensmithkent22 3 жыл бұрын

My memory of this is my nans funeral. Suffered as an average sized 14 year old in the back of somebodys new shaped 200 3 up then was grateful to make the return journey in my second uncles 600. Was almost equally as miserable in the back. How 3 real adults ever mAnaged is beyond me. That day was a real rover fest as i got a lift home the longest journey of the day in my other uncles 800 sterling which actually had space. Id always wanted to go in a 600 and it was terrible space wise.

@neilearl3874 2 жыл бұрын

I had a Rover 600 automatic as a courtesy car and it was a delight to drive around Oxford.

2 жыл бұрын

In june of 2020 I buy a Rover 600 (618i) from may of 1999, with 117.000 kms and only for 1.100€. Literally, it's a "couch with wheels". Very relaxing to drive in the highway... I like to enjoy the driving. I usually drive at 100 Km/h with 2200 RPM, and only petrol consuption 7 litres per 100 Kms. I want to preserve the engine for a lot of years. The best buy in all my life. Very proud of my Rover 600... old style... to avoid chav's and some bad crap people for stealing my car of some parts XD XD Regards from Spain.

@LoudModeOn 3 жыл бұрын

My dad had one of these for a few years, drove it pretty hard and never put oil in it. He said it was the best car he ever owned. The thing would just keep going and going and going, and when he sold it he had such a lot of interest he got what he paid for it. They all wanted that engine! Great car and this brought back great memories. This is such a cool channel.

@ClassicsWorldUK 3 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed, thanks for the kind words!

@hermanmunster3358 2 жыл бұрын

I hope you mean your dad never had to TOP UP the oil between services? I am a great believer in regular oil and filter changes, and that has served me well, so far.

@LoudModeOn 2 жыл бұрын

@@hermanmunster3358 No, I meant what I said. He never put oil in it, ever. The oil that was in it when he bought it was the oil that was in it when he sold it. Obviously that's not the best way to take care of your car engine, in fact it's the worst thing you can do. The point is the engine was so good, you could mistreat it badly and it would still run and run.

@webspaghetti 3 жыл бұрын

The factory where I worked had one of these along with Cavalier, Mondeo and Citroën BX pool cars. I often had to go off site and was always happy when they gave me the Rover. It was so smooth and relaxing to drive. In comparison I hated the Mondeos. They felt like cheap taxis.

@hermanmunster3358 2 жыл бұрын

Many Mondeo's WERE taxi's, at some point in their lives. Usually with multiple owners, and sketchy history. One of the reasons why I never bought one. And Ford diesels of that era, always seemed noisy, clunky, and smokey, akin to a well used tractor. I remember my next door neighbour had a diesel Mondeo, and on cold winter mornings, you wouldn't need an alarm clock to wake you for work, with one of those warming up next door.

@35geordielad Жыл бұрын

I had two Rover 600 one petrol and one diesel and loved them . The Rover 600 was certainly underrated !

@paulillingworth1242 3 жыл бұрын

Had x2 600s absolutely superb cars, recently sold my 99 620 (had for 14 years never missed a beat) fantastic cars. Lovely drivers car and very handsome looks.

@thatlonelydriver4956 3 жыл бұрын

I drive the accord that this one is based on as a 2.0 5mt. And its such a joy to drive, smooth and yet sporty when you really want to. Great car with great style

@davidvickers4228 3 жыл бұрын

My wife had one years ago tremendous car 👍

@jamespasifull Жыл бұрын

I had a 623Gsi, in white, with black velour interior! I loved it, for tons of reasons, good looks, reliable, fantastic engine, smooth as silk ride, went like a stabbed rat on the motorway, & for a pretty big motor, it was surprisingly economical. The one & only reason I got rid of it was because the alarm developed a fault, & it wouldn't have been worth it for me to pay more than the whole car originally cost me, to get the problem fixed. I often think I should have just paid to fix the issue, it was such a great car, I miss driving it!

@Ribeirasacra 3 жыл бұрын

For me there are two issues. One: No estate or hatchback. Two: the cabin was a little on the cramped side. I feel it is a much better looking car that the 400/45 (HH-R). Both inside and outside. Shame 600 most are diesels here in Spain.

@TOILETGUY115 3 жыл бұрын

The GSI head room is too cramped as there is a sun roof mechanism that takes away the space.

@FrightfulAccountant Жыл бұрын

The Rover 600 for me is the legacy of the company at his last hight. A very attractive well rounded good performing car that did find a sweet spot in the market. I never liked any Mondeo as being very generic cars and for sure I never liked the archaic looking 75. For sure, P5 lovers hate the Honda years, but they overlook the fact that in the 90s and 00s most in the market would not had bought a car that would had looked like a museum piece. The 600 was just a great Rover being a good at being a 90s car in the 90s.

@Pmjs 3 жыл бұрын

I used to own the 600s sister Honda Accord 2.0 in Pirates Black with spoilers.

@willwelch5700 3 жыл бұрын

Looking back this, I think it has aged well in comparison to other rovers. It's a shame it didn't quite cut it against the fleet group, but to the same time I think that's what makes it cool. You have found a great example and I am sure it will scrub up well after some TLC.

@JeeGee114 Жыл бұрын

Well it did cut it in the looks department compared to that Ford or Vectra.

@spainter1985 3 жыл бұрын

Likewise, think the 600 looks far more resolved than the Accord equivalent. Great looking car!

@admiralalcatraz6080 2 жыл бұрын

I'm quite a fan, however I like the rear of the 600, I don't dislike the front, however prefer the accord front end.

@6643bear 3 жыл бұрын

Nice review., that’s one of last of that model, I have driven the 600ti very nice abs fast and like my rover 800 vitesse . If you get chance ti review the 600ti that be great . Regards mark

@marksterriker4724 3 жыл бұрын

A company I worked for had the rover ,and also a vectra that we used as pool cars ,and i always loved driving the rover over the vectra , obviously makes sense 😀 But I have to admit Until I watched this video I completely forgot about the rover even though I preferred driving it back then.

@hermanmunster3358 2 жыл бұрын

I bet your boss wasn't happy, having to repair the Vectra after you "drove over it" 🤣

@Lot76CARS 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks, great film, great car massively underrated and a Rover high point.

@ClassicsWorldUK 3 жыл бұрын

We'd agree! Thanks for watching 😁

@JeeGee114 Жыл бұрын

If the 600 had not come along in the Netherlands they would have been gone much earlier. I remember it did quite well. I had one of the first ones in green with (the horror) unpainted bumpers. All of them were painted by de dealer organisation. It was a really good car.

@ALNOE_ 10 ай бұрын

My family had an old 216 or 414 (cant remember but it was one of the two). We had it for quite a few years. Was a lovely car. The engine was bullet proof in it with it being a honda engine. The body work was also very lovely. We ended up scrapping it in 2010. At the time we just done that but now I wish we didnt as now hardly of them are left. Going up in value to. If Rover stuck with Honda, they'd probably be still around today. Soon as they went with BMW, it went down hill from there. Esp as BMW are known for being unreliable up to that point. Esp with headgasket issues.

@owendunne9889 3 жыл бұрын

Great job guy with the video could have been from a TV channel review

@matimati9554 2 жыл бұрын

Very nice car, I like style of Rover 600💪👍

@ciaranburke3243 3 жыл бұрын

What a lovely car in it's day , really do like them also 👍

@GadgetMart 3 жыл бұрын

Rover had a real future with Honda. They got what they deserved tbh

@allan_7752 3 жыл бұрын

Nice cars 😍😍😍

@gaddmeister 3 жыл бұрын

Reminds me of the triumph acclaim cd interior.

@Thanos.m 3 жыл бұрын

You forgot to mention the 620Ti with Rover 2 litro turbo engine and 200hp those where seriously quick cars

@Richard-Bullock 3 жыл бұрын

Have I remembered wrongly, or was there a 600ti with the 2 litre DOHC 16 valve turbocharged T Series engine?

@ClassicsWorldUK 3 жыл бұрын

There was indeed, a surprisingly fast car!

@Richard-Bullock 3 жыл бұрын

@@ClassicsWorldUK I bet it was. Pity I never got to drive one. I'm a bit of a Rover fan. My dad had 3 when I was a kid. a P6 2200 TC, a P6 3500 S, and an SD1 3500 SE.

@Thanos.m 3 жыл бұрын

@@Richard-Bullock I've driver a couple 620Ti they were really decent cars and as mentioned very quick in fact much quicker than than my current 75 v6

@jamesgallagher1992 3 жыл бұрын

Still a v good lookin car👍👍👍

@doveronefoxtrot4417 3 жыл бұрын

Honda are the toughest most reliable cars ever built.

@claretbuck1882 3 жыл бұрын

Awesome bud cheers 👍🏻

@alexandermathar7780 Жыл бұрын

I wonder why there was no MG NSX !

@woodrow_mayes 3 жыл бұрын

aesthetically it's handsome if a bit bland (the Honda elements are to blame)

@jdmguy44 3 жыл бұрын

Honda weren't responsible for the exterior styling though....

@mateuszmateusz1 3 жыл бұрын

Sell?

@mohsinsiddique4960 2 жыл бұрын

Interested in rover 600? Automatic. I got one to sell, with 69000miles on the clock

@Victor-DOOM 3 жыл бұрын

I had one in 2004 it was ok I guess crap on patrol I like better the Montego

@hermanmunster3358 2 жыл бұрын

A Montego? Clearly, a man with no soul 🤣

@Victor-DOOM 2 жыл бұрын

@@hermanmunster3358 I have a Morris ital in the body shop at the moment hopefully ready for shows next year I'm a member of the Morris marina and ital register. My daily driver is a Mercedes w202 .guess I'm a saddest lol

@maureenwalker9308 3 жыл бұрын

The mondeos is a piece of cheap looking tat compared to the 600, hence you don't see mondeos of that age now at all, engine and build not even close. nowhere near as smooth comfy ride quality. You see a 600 they still look tidy at 25 plus years, if you do see a mondeo that age it looks like hell

@hermanmunster3358 2 жыл бұрын

If you do see a Mondeo of that age, its probably a "barn find" and not a particularly exciting one either.