No Budget Reviews: 1987 Rover 213 S (SD3) - Lloyd Vehicle Consulting

-One 1987 Rover 213 S
-One Mobile Phone
-No Fancy Outfits
-No Obscure In-Jokes
-No DSLRs
-No Shotgun Microphones
-No Fluid Head Tripods
-No Idea about Exposure
-No Budget Whatsoever

It is time for the newest instalment in that beloved cinematic automotive YouTube experience where we film practical cars that can be bought for less than £1,000 in a manner befitting of their inexpensive value! This may go horribly wrong...

This time, as we test a 1987 Rover 213 S, made famous by the 1990s BBC sitcom Keeping Up Appearances. Hold onto your seats as we have to cope without power steering (again), use a very nice Honda gearbox, experience rather acceptable road holding, wish for some wooden dashboard inserts and continue to get even more nostalgic than ever before. Nothing untoward, then...

As an independent vehicle consultant, I take potential buyers through the whole car buying process from choosing a make and model to a vehicle handover and road tax. In addition to information on this service, I also have a selection of written and video reviews of cars that I have owned, hired, borrowed or have somehow come into my possession. Please use the Contact Me page on my website to get in touch, visit my Facebook page for latest updates and share this video if you like it! Thank you for watching.

[davidfos]

I'm glad to find a fellow relatively going chap so enthused about what could be perceived as ancient, mundane cars. To me, they're just so interesting and I can't explain why.

[markonmotoring]

Oh Joseph this has made my day. I have been waiting so long for an SD3 review.
Before my Grandad had Rover R8's he had both pre and post Facelift SD3's
The nostalgia is running wild.

[petersimpson]

My parents had an identical car, but in targa red. Everyone who went in it commented upon its smoothness and quietness. Ultra smooth little EV2 loved to rev and sound great. An equivalent Vauxhall or Ford felt rough and brittle by comparison.

[richardhaywoodh]

Those 213 Honda engined cars were a pleasure to drive and very reliable. On the secondhand market sellers would say 'with the Honda engine' to distinguish it from the unreliable oil leaking Leyland 1.6. Unfortunately they did have rust issues.

[stratpluslover]

I love these cars and have done for about 30 years great memories of the car if i had a driveway or a garage i would have one tomorrow and keep it forever . This car is a great example and in good condition too. great review 👏

[zebedep]

Yes! It's so nice to see one of these again. My dad had one brand new as a company car in 1988 on an 'F' plate and 5 year old me was delighted :)

[edwinreid]

This brings back memories of my Auntie Heather & Uncle Frank who had both the pre & post facelift models of this, me my brother & older cousin riding in the back. At least unlike Mr Bouque, you don't have Hyacinth being an insufferable Back Seat Driver 😆

[seancooke]

Liked this even more than I thought I would. Smooth, comfortable quality product. Why buy a base model BMW 316 with no options when you could have a top of the range Rover SD3. The Vitesse and the Vanden Plas very desirable cars. Love it.
Richard Bucket was a Car Guy, Who would have thought it?

[scalewarmachines]

Hardly ever see these, I inherited my granddad’s cream 213 and ran it for a few years with a green replacement door until the rust killed it and it wasn’t worth the work for the MOT. It was a gutsy little beater perfect to leave on a London street. Thanks. Great trip down memory lane. I quite liked the interior features too.

[mpersad]

Another once ubiquitous car that is now so rarely seen. Top review as always!

[friendlyhorseuk]

Lovely. We had a 216SE. Ours was a 1986, C reg. Gold with a chocolate brown interior.

[ettinold]

My mum had a lovely early B reg'd 213S in gold. We used to call her Hyacinth. I remember the R8 coming out to much-deserved hype. Several family members brought them, with an Uncle buying a brand new 3 door 216gti.

[badbooks]

You have been enjoying yourself Sir with these British delights. Very Solid looking car, Interesting about the boot update, practical carpeted door bottoms. East Anglia registered car ‘EW’ as was MR Buckets ‘ FL ‘ car.

[mattw]

The SD3 has a special place in my heart. Back in 1997 I wanted to buy a used 213 back in the day ( or an Astra mark 2) but sadly it never happened and ended up buying a boring Escort instead. Both my mum's friend and my sister owned 216 Vanden Plas (C reg and E reg respectively). Oh yes, a former friend had a red G reg 213 SX like the one you saw at Gaydon. His dad bought it brand new or pre registered.

[frothe]

It is unfortunate that I see this as a rebadged Honda, but I am not surprised of the driving experience. I can see the blanking plug under the fan switch where the a/c switch would be (if it could be equipped as such, and definitely equipped on US Honda Civics).
Keeping Up Appearances and One Foot In the Grave are excellent British comedies, especially the later, and love the references!
Thank you Joseph for this review!

[hoddyjohn]

Great review Joseph, my first rover was a 1988 same car same colour, got it when it was 2 years old, loved it Great car, brought back a lot of Great memories 👍

[David_H-]

Lovely seeing an SD3. They really were a cut above back in the day. My dad had two 213S, an 85 in beige with a chocolate interior and an 88 in moonraker blue. That one had the wooden door capings retrofitted by the first owner so looked a bit posher inside otherwise it was like the one you drove. Unfortunately they both rusted away far to quickly. After that my dad moved onto Hondas.

[stephennorris]

My mum had one of these in black, brilliant little car which I got to borrow from time to time, sweet gearbox.

[Roverjoe]

Very nice video sir I do know that the window winders are the same as they are in a Rover R8 200 and also the R3 200 and 25s :)

[lordstiffupperlip]

Hello Joseph, A friend of mine who worked at a Rover garage in the 80s and he said to me that when Honda came along with their design and engines, gearboxes that Rovers stopped breaking down and they never gave any trouble.