I did own a "G" registration (i.e manufactured in 1986 or 1987 in the UK) Rover 216. My experience with this wasn't as happy as with my current 420. I disposed of it after it was stolen for the second time, and the thieves did a lot of damage to the steering and ignition.

It had one alarming fault; it didn't like trips to the seaside. On three occasions after visiting my parents, who live on the Pembrokeshire coast, the piston which carried the carburettor float needle would get stuck in its cylinder. So at traffic lights, it would cough and then refuse to pull away; then after a prolonged run at 70 mph on the motorway, I would take my foot off the throttle and find that the car actually accelerated; not a pleasant prospect with a roundabout approaching at the end of the slip road !



(Prior to that, I owned a Triumph Acclaim. It didn't do well in the German export market, since its name translates as "Sieg Heil". It had exceptional performance for a 1300cc engine, because it was made very light. Too light in fact. In my case, the battery kept breaking its stays and going for a waltz across the top of the engine, and it blew a hole in a piston, under no particularly heavy load. Eventually it rusted, faster than an apple turns brown when it falls off the tree.)