Rover SD1 by James Taylor

Author:James Taylor
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781785001925
Publisher: The Crowood Press

Autocar gave the 2000 model a thorough road test for its issue dated 20 March 1982. The car was a white one, registered LOV 729X, and had the optional power-assisted steering which, said the magazine, was ‘an essential option for those who have experienced the 4.5 turns from lock to lock of manually steered cars’. Build quality generally was of a high order:

Paintwork and panel work on the test car were excellent. Much better trim fits were apparent and those people previously rather put off by the ‘clang’ that used to accompany door closure will notice the more solid-sounding door shut.

It was sometimes necessary to work engine and gearbox hard to get the desired acceleration, but

once the driver re-tunes to a more leisurely rate of acceleration, he finds the car gets along very nicely, easily matching most of the 2-litre ‘executive class’ opposition on both straight line acceleration and mid-range performance.

In addition:

Bar a suggestion of fluffiness when asking the engine to pull away from very low rpm, the engine is flexible and untemperamental. Power delivery is smooth … the main discouragement to hard use being the increasingly thrashy sound emanating from under the bonnet once revving above 4,500rpm.

On the downside, overall fuel economy on test of 22.8mpg (12.4ltr/100km) meant that economy was no better than that of the 6-cylinder cars.

The magazine found the 2000’s brakes very good indeed, and with good resistance to fade. The testers did note that the absence of a front spoiler made this version of the revised SD1 range just as susceptible to crosswinds as the earlier models had been.

Motor also tested a 2000, this time LOC 726X, finished in red and also featuring power-assisted steering: clearly the press office knew that unassisted steering was not going to be a selling point. The magazine had somewhat mixed views about the car:

We find the 2000 a difficult car to come to terms with. Undoubtedly an attractive alternative to the 4-cylinder Ford Granada and, indeed, a likeable car in its own right, the crudeness of the engine seems at odds with standards of refinement and luxury attained by the rest of its design. With neither performance nor economy to commend it, we can think of no good reason for not spending another £500 for the 6-cylinder 2300.

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