Do you know anything about the Rover Streetwise?

I found the UK too hard on drivers with constantly rising costs, so I have moved to France. Yesterday I was offered a car by a French neighbour. He tells me the cam belt jumped the pulley, and he can't be bothered with repairing it. It is a Rover Streetwise. I have never heard of it before. It has a diesel engine, and again for Rover this is something new to me, although I believe they had some connection with an Italian diesel producer at one time. It is a hatchback, 2004 date of manufacture; apart from a few scratches it looks quite smart. Do you know this vehicle? Is it worth bothering with?

Asked on 12 May 2011 by DN, via email

Answered by Honest John

The was based on the Rover 25, and if it's a diesel it has the old Rover 2.0-litre diesel engine that was reliable and economical until something catastrophic went wrong, as it has in this case. Valves will have his pistons and the engine will probably be scrap, rendering the whole car scrap. A bit of a no hoper, as your French neighbour has realised.

Tags: model changes diesels specification engine problem

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