Rare Beast - Page 2

Spike · 2nd January 2015, 09:35

When they stuck a Rover badge on a Montego, it was the death knell for Rover as a quality brand. I used to have a C-reg 1.6 Montego and was never happier to see a car go.

thomas 75 connie · 2nd January 2015, 10:44

Great cars always loved montegos.
They never actually stuck a rover badge on montegos the badges looked similar ie the shape but they just said there respective title ie maestro montego.

Graham1961 · 2nd January 2015, 11:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by thomas 75 connie

Great cars always loved montegos.
They never actually stuck a rover badge on montegos the badges looked similar ie the shape but they just said there respective title ie maestro montego.

Yes Thomas, you are right.

The Montego's build quality varied and to be honest many owners had no trouble at all with them and I worked at a Austin-Rover dealership in 1988, they went well and were roomy and comfortable...however back to build quality, many of the panel gaps and fit of doors/boot on many were poor and rust hit the rear arches and below the windows behind the rear doors very quickly.

I used to see 2-3 year old examples being traded in for Rover 213/216 (SD3) and rust coming through the areas mentioned and bootlids.

However it is great to see one looking as nice as the one advertised.

lamuff · 2nd January 2015, 20:28

I had a flame red 2.o efi vanden Plas
Lovely car but for the tin worm

alanjay · 2nd January 2015, 22:19

A lot of diverse views about Montego's here so here's my twopeni'th worth.
Montego was launched at a time when anything from Cowley or Longbridge was much derided.
My employer allowed free choice of company cars between Montegos, Cavaliers and Sierras. The Montego's were the only ones that never needed anything other than routine servicing and returned the cheapest annual running costs.
I had two company Montego's and when I moved to a job without a company car, I owned a further two.

All in all 4 cars and not one of them ever broke down, best of all, in the days of deep snow, whilst Cavaliers and Sierras had cold start problems, my cars always started first turn of the key.

So I reckon as with any car, it all depends on whether it was built on a good or bad day at the factory.

Spike · 2nd January 2015, 22:53

Mine must've been built on a salty day in the factory because you could almost chart the advance of the rust on a day-to-day basis! As for reliability, it was the first car I owned with an ECU and the thing was a nightmare! Oh for Phil T4 in those days!

klarzy · 2nd January 2015, 23:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spike

When they stuck a Rover badge on a Montego, it was the death knell for Rover as a quality brand. I used to have a C-reg 1.6 Montego and was never happier to see a car go.

my ex-wife had one.... I was bloomin glad to see that go down the road as well!!

2nd January 2015, 09:35	#11
Spike Posted a thing or two Spike, Burt & Daisy Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Murcia, Spain and sometimes South Wales Posts: 1,550 Thanks: 352 Thanked 427 Times in 295 Posts	When they stuck a Rover badge on a Montego, it was the death knell for Rover as a quality brand. I used to have a C-reg 1.6 Montego and was never happier to see a car go. __________________ Spike has the rubber boots. I'm James and mine are leather.

2nd January 2015, 22:53	#16
Spike Posted a thing or two Spike, Burt & Daisy Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Murcia, Spain and sometimes South Wales Posts: 1,550 Thanks: 352 Thanked 427 Times in 295 Posts	Mine must've been built on a salty day in the factory because you could almost chart the advance of the rust on a day-to-day basis! As for reliability, it was the first car I owned with an ECU and the thing was a nightmare! Oh for Phil T4 in those days! __________________ Spike has the rubber boots. I'm James and mine are leather.

2nd January 2015, 10:44	#12
thomas 75 connie This is my second home Rover 75 launch car x2, Rover 800 Vitesse Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Plymouth Devon Posts: 8,463 Thanks: 1,115 Thanked 1,083 Times in 653 Posts	Great cars always loved montegos. They never actually stuck a rover badge on montegos the badges looked similar ie the shape but they just said there respective title ie maestro montego.

2nd January 2015, 20:28	#14
lamuff Avid contributor ROVER 75 TOURER CONNOISSEUR SE Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: plymouth Posts: 234 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	I had a flame red 2.o efi vanden Plas Lovely car but for the tin worm

2nd January 2015, 22:19	#15
alanjay Passed Away Rover 75 Connie Tourer Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Guildford Posts: 2,582 Thanks: 682 Thanked 979 Times in 612 Posts	A lot of diverse views about Montego's here so here's my twopeni'th worth. Montego was launched at a time when anything from Cowley or Longbridge was much derided. My employer allowed free choice of company cars between Montegos, Cavaliers and Sierras. The Montego's were the only ones that never needed anything other than routine servicing and returned the cheapest annual running costs. I had two company Montego's and when I moved to a job without a company car, I owned a further two. All in all 4 cars and not one of them ever broke down, best of all, in the days of deep snow, whilst Cavaliers and Sierras had cold start problems, my cars always started first turn of the key. So I reckon as with any car, it all depends on whether it was built on a good or bad day at the factory.