As a used vehicle, they are pretty good to own if you have skills, tools, patience and a place to do the work. Parts are available and they are generally easy to work on. If you don't mind doing maintenance and fixing small issues here and there as they crop up, you will like owning a L/R. Might want to take one on a LONG test drive to see if you like it. They drive a little different. I've taken mine to Utah, WY, MT, CO twice and never had any problems. Not only that, I was in the middle of nowhere on sparsely driven off-road trails by myself and I wasn't too worried. Gas is a bitcII tho.

 

My first Rover and I have fallen in love with the truck. Great visability and the best 4 wheel drive I have ever seen.

 

well, i dove in today. picked up a rioja red 98 D1 that just turned 78k as i drove it the 150 miles home. ill be starting on the 60k/i just bought it service tomorrow

 

Welcome to the club. Remember that I am close by if you need anything.

 

Thanks leadfoot, i may have to take you up on that. I do have 2 technical questions.
1. Are the speedometers completely mechanical, cable running from the dash to the transmission? (mine seems to not want to work when its really cold, but then does when it warms up a bit)
2. Had the parts store read my check engine codes. came up with 2 P1187 (O2sensor heater upstream) and P1179 (Maximum Negative AMFR Correction Fault) they cleared the codes and they havent come back. That was about a week ago. could it be that the weak O2 sensor is causing the truck to overcompensate (run rich) and thus giving me the 1179 code? or are the 2 completely unrelated?

 

Q#1 - it is mechanical - download the RAVE from my signature - it will provide all you need to know! (except how to blink test your ABS :-) )
For Q#2 - I would wait until after you have completed the 60K Service to see if they re-occur. Weak spark could generate those codes as well. New plugs (cheap Champions) and new wires (NOT cheap 6/7mm - get 8mm wires) may clear this up, as may a new fuel filter...

My advice would be to complete the service, run a can of Sea Foam through it and see if they return.

Of course...that's just me...

 

Sounds like a good start. How are you finding DI's with sucjh low miles on them?

I want another one, now that my first one is pretty much straightened out. My wife and adult son are driving it a lot these days after giving me hell when it first started having problems.

I enjoy working on mine, if you did a 72 Spitfire, your'e ahead of most newbies as far as dealing with quirky English vehicles.

I usually check with Rover's North for replacement parts. They have the right stuff at great prices. And they only deal with Rovers so you can have confidence in getting the right part every time.

 

Ive just been hunting and found em. the spitfire was easy. there are zero electronics and the only sensor is your nose. hell the thing only has 3 glass fuses. the only thing that worries me about the discovery is all the electronics and sensors, im used to more strictly mechanical vehicles, but i guess i'll have to join at least the 20th if not the 21st century eventually.

 

My Dad's doctor had an Austin Healey 3000. He used to borrow Dad's Country Squire and Dad love driving that AH3000. I remember the MGBGT with the 3.5 in it, whew.

 

I want another British car....I still kick myself for selling my '75 MG Midget(yeah, I know. It had a rubber bumper). My brother has a '69 Spitfire, had a '76 Spitfire, my dad has a '80 MGB and a '66 MG Midget. I love working on those cars.