Late 400 vs. early 45 - which is best?
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- Опубликовано: 2 дек 2022
- The Rover 45 is to me a massively underrated car and so was the 400, but how Di they compare to each other?
1999 was the last 400, and 2000 was the first 45, and I happen to have both, so why not?
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My first car was a Tahiti blue 416 iL saloon with blue leather seats and carpet. Took me all over. Wish I’d kept it. Can’t wait to get another
Lovely 😊
I’ve had a couple of rovers the 1st was a black 620si with the Honda engine and a red tomcat with the 1.6 Honda engine and was a automatic, when I got the 620 back in the day 1997 the window dropped down on the drivers side and the remote locking didn’t work . I live near Cowley and had a drinking partner who was a Forman at Cowley, he took the car into work and that evening dropped it off , new window regulator and the drivers door solenoid replaced, Fantastic Dave what do I owe you, well the chap that did it said 50g of golden Virginia is ok , I’ve had so many cars over the years but I will say the Rover is one I will always have a soft spot for , Great review Paul , I’m back on autotrader now looking
Thank you. Great story 🙂
Nice comparison!
Changes were noticeable but subtle, same vehicle, different styling, trim.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!
you needed a facelift 45 to do the ultimate comparison! Great video again!
Yes that's the plan
@@ProjectNigel in my opinion like you said the 45 is very much a throwback to 60s styling cues - in contrast the face-lift looks pretty standard for 2004 with the headlights, they did a really good job on penny budgets.
Lovely Jubbly video, and I agree with you Paul.
Thank you 🙂
Excellent video. I want both and / or either of them. The perfect small saloon.
I think they're perfect too
Wowser! This starts off quiet professional looking! Sat on a bench, talking to the camera. Im not sued to this level absence of waffle and nonsense! (a few minutes later) Nonsense resumed regards seats.
Yeah I can't keep it up
@@ProjectNigel You're leaving yourself open for a Boaty thumbnail quote there. Lol
I prefer the 400 front end over the 45.
didnt know they put a d series in earlier autos,.i have a 216gti tc d16a9 probably best engine the 200 ever got,not the fastest of the bunch but that iron block T series though reliable was a bit heavier,the 400 was better screwed together than 200,1.6 k is best capacity (over square) ran a v6 2.0 auto 75 yes very thirsty though more reliable than 1.8k turbo which replaced .now run a late 2.0l diesel 75 .project drive did cheapen the feel of the 75,yes all wood and chrome went plastic but little touches did make last of line just a bit less special.still a rover guy as is brother(rover 45 w reg)and dad rover 100 p4 and 76 sd1 3500 which he still has .
Yes they most definitely did
An excellent and informative video Captain Sir. 👍
Thank you also 😁
Strangely enough what always attracted me to the 45/ZS is the, imho, very eloquently designed back of the car. I don’t know what it is, but i just adore the rear lights and nothing confirms that more than the shot @ 2:27 of the video.
The back looks good too 🙂
Better than the 75 dare I say. Richard Wooley I believe did a superb job on turning to hatch into an elegant saloon . The saloon was referred to as a mini Bentley in many publications , many years before the same comparisons were made with the 75.
Would be nice to do a comparison with the R8 generation, had both in mid spec 1.4 guise. I have my own opinions but going to keep them to myself for the moment.
I would agree that's another good comparison to make.
Great video as always Paul👍🏼 love the rover videos
Thank you 🙂
I was fortunate to have both, 400 416 si and the 45 1.8 Club. The problem I found, particularly with the 400 is the door handles so much so, during the cold and icy weather, my door handles cracked and had to order two handles, new parts to replace them with. Though generally, I did like the cars!
I think they should have made the 45 as the 'classy' car. However should have kept the 400 front for the hot version.... Like the 1.8t engine they never fitted 😆
Interesting idea
I really am enjoying your car reviews Mr Mustard! Although all the technical stuff is very interesting, you actually manage to give the cars a bit of character, as well.
This is a good comparison of two rovers that I never really thought a lot of when they were in production( and also Rover didn't do an estate model) and yes, as mentioned, I have driven a 400 before. But now I'm changing my views thanks to your fair and frank appraisals. You do wonder, if BMW had really been interested in the brand, whether Rover might still be around today! By the way those same style of chrome 45 door handles were used by kia, though Kia's were actually plastic and they also pulled out when pulled too hard by over zealous children!!
Thank you. I do have some ideas of designs to draw of the cars they failed to make that might be a nice video.
Both nice cars , excellent video 🎉
Thank you 🙂
Great video Mustard. I prefer the 45, purely because it is more "Rover" than the 400.
I had dealings with one of the Phoenix 4. Not pleasant, and he renaged on a contracted personal financial commitment.
I'll tell the story when he is dead.
The 45 is so distinctive compared to other cars of its time because it IS Rover, if only they weren't under pressure to look like everything else eh...
At least Harry Hill didn’t try to find which is better by making them……. FIGHT !!!!!
He did try to though
I don't think they did a bad job on the 45 styling wise. Then in 2002 and the silly project drive nonsense the quality of materials went through the floor. The 45 went from mid range model to a dodgy skip in a few short years. Same with the Mk1 75, a 1999-2001 model is a luxury motor for Mondeo money. I paid £400 for a 2004 Mk1 and although it looked the same as the early cars it was miles away in terms of materials and fit and finish, cheaper carpets, less sound deadening, boot trim was crap, felt like a 90's Daewoo.
Given what they had to work with they did a great job.
Terrific, well informed review. The detail was brilliant, I was going for the later car until you highlighted the door handle weakness.
There aren't many 400s about now
Glad you sorted that out.
😆
You currently have the best of both worlds with these two.... plus Nigel 🚗🇬🇧🚗🇬🇧👀🚗👍🚗👍.
I am indeed 😀
You could get coloured seats and carpet in an early 45 as part of the 'Personal Line'. Catkin Green, Neptune Blue and Copperbeech Red as opposed to the 75 personal line, Deep Sea Green, Aubergine and Neptune Blue. The 400 and 45 are nice cars, but have one big problem shared with the Honda Civics, bulkhead rot.
Will the bit where the 400 and the 45 have their inverted tug of war push-off appear in another video?
Ah I forgot to record that bit
@@ProjectNigelNever mind, the very slick opening shots make up for it. You can tell you’ve been knocking about with Top Gear presenters 😂
Really nice video
Gaddy's is nice very nice but come on Alfie munn he's the one wish I had spare cash to buy him great video as usual
Thank you 🙂
This is better than the tf review
Thank you 🙂
The gear stick on the 45 is bigger. The seats on the 45 are a bit on the large side but they are all comfortable like the 400's. (Best feature of these cars over modern cars). You can drive all day and your bum will never ache! The 45 has ht leads on top of the engine. Also the radio has a bmw connector instead of the more common iso connector. The 45 has an arm rest in the back, and is very well rustproofed underneath. (evangelrose hubby)
Brilliant 👏
Nice Video 😊. Have you plans to seel the 400 with wax to protect it from the salt of the streets? Especially under plastic covers where it hardly dry?
Yes it's not finished yet.
Probably your best video ever. As of 06/08/23. Not that you'll ever see this comment
Surprise! Thank you 🙂
@@ProjectNigel Wow. Surprised I am 😯
And look who just happens to be vid bombing the review 😍😍 still aloud in the review bing the diesel fariant full fat car mentioned as she is a connie witch is top spec for a r45
Yeah you can't miss it 😄
I really want an early 45. I don’t like the way the 400 looks and the facelifted 45 lost the classy looks of the early cars. Recently I saw a bright red one in a car park in Milton Keynes, should have left a note!
The facelift looks good as the ZS but the 45 definitely looked suddenly cheap.
Great Comparison video, that 45 is a really classy and smart car, looks in very nice condition too, no wonder you like driving it.
The 400 is a nice motor as well, a tidy motor, I tend to forget that some of the 1.6 engines in those were Honda engines, I wonder if anybodys done a review of the K series 1.6 and Honda 1.6 and see how they compare? 🤔
Early 45 vs late 45 please
Will do that 🙂
I am a avid rover collector the 400 by far a better build quality better sound proofing more durable compared to 45 which falls apart much easily
Hi, great and interesting video, I owned an 1997 400, with the 2 lt engine and was very nippy car compared with later R45 and spec compared with the later r45 and Mg Zs , as you said , I would been interesting what would the r400 fitted with t series engine turbo ad fitted to R 820 vitesse and R620 ti spec went like . Also my Rover 420 gsi had the wooden trim like you have in R 45 with electric windows all round and very nice comfortable full leather seats my one like yours was with beg. Yes the door handles is an issue with later cars especially my 2004 Mg Zs door handles break I have slowly replaced them with R400 handles as you know built a lot better and lower profile and looks a lot better . I sold my R400 to a friend and at the time done over 13800 abs still sweet as a nut. I also notices on my Mg Zs lack of nose deadening material compares to R400 . Regards mark
The T-series certainly had a bit of clout!
Another good video 🚘🚙🚗⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️👍👍👍👍👍
😊
Cover the other cars during winter!
I do prefer the look of the 45 but I'd stick with almost everything else from the 400. I'd be the same with the 25 and 200 too! Would the 45 front end (wings included) fit straight on to a 45 I wonder? 🤔
So as it turns out you are going to keep hold of Alfie while running Gladys or will Alfie still be for sale? (or will Gladys?)
Interesting video. How do they differ in terms of ride and refinement? Do you have any thoughts on the 1.8 compared to the 1.6? I'm told the 1.6 is a little a sweeter. The 1.8 has a useful amount of torque though.
The drive is pretty much the same
@Project Nigel I did read somewhere , many years ago , that the very late 400s had the same suspension settings as the soon to be launched 45. Nothing announced , but possibly gearing up for the assembly of 45. Its not hard ti imagine some 45 dampers made their way on to the 45. Early 400s are definitely softer riding especially on 14 inch steel wheels - the ride is fantastic on those.
Would have been great with the T-series turbo out of the 620ti. Did the diesel engines come from BMW?
If you think about it their nearly the same car just look different
The 45 had a bigger engine, slightly more power and torque and a larger boot!
Think the 45 had 5hp more power so not much haha
Yeh i have a 45
My wife is complaining about our 25 because she says that the seats are uncomfortable and that she can feel every bump. I know that the 25 got what had been the sports suspension on the 200, and yes it is a little harsh. If I get a 45 will it ride softer and are the seats more comfortable?
Yes the 45 is more comfortable
@@ProjectNigel the other thing she hates is no grab handles in the interior of the roof. Does the 45 have those?
400 forever😢
FULL ROVERS
Same woman just different dress on that k series was a joke in the end it helped kill the brand