<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"><tr><td valign="top"><div>Wow, that makes me want to get an SD1! I seem to always fall for orphans and like a challenge. It's what made me like British cars, because my brothers told me not to get them. <br /><br />Roland, Roverless.</div></td></tr></table> <div id="_origMsg_">
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Robert Heimerl via Rovernet <rovernet@rovernet.org>; <br>
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Rovernet <rovernet@rovernet.org>; <br>
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Robert Heimerl <robertime4@gmail.com>; <br>
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Re: [Rovernet] SD1 redux, apologies to Robert <br>
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Mon, Aug 29, 2016 6:26:27 PM <br>
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<td valign="top">Thanks for your additional comments, Lance. As noted elsewhere, I have<BR>often been quite critical of the Rover SD1, emphasizing British Leyland's<BR>difficulty getting it to market in the midst of bankruptcy, this car's<BR>wholly indifferent assembly quality and cheaply made interior materials, in<BR>particular, plus BL's lack of concern for customers who had to deal with<BR>such glaring inadequacies in a rather expensive vehicle -- as well as<BR>practically every other issue you've chosen to highlight in those selected<BR>quotes. In fact, I have thoroughly read the compilations of those same<BR>articles and even have many of the original magazines themselves in an<BR>extensive collection of Rover SD1-related literature.<BR><BR>I often describe the SD1 as "a sometimes-rolling showcase of all that went<BR>wrong with the British auto industry in the 1970's and 80's," and did so<BR>when
speaking with the author of the Curbside Classics piece you posted for<BR>Rovernet readers. For whatever reason, he chose not to use that quote --<BR>perhaps because he wished to emphasize this car's positive aspects, which<BR>occasionally shine through despite its many well-documented shortcomings.<BR>Further, having on a few occasions interacted with Rover P6's, I agree that<BR>their doors close with a fully satisfying sound (rather than a clang) and<BR>note that the materials used do not seem to reflect the cost-cutting that<BR>became rampant as financial concerns became BL's chief priority. And, yes,<BR>at least Rover could have included outboard-mounted disc brakes at the rear<BR>when they went to a live axle with a Watts linkage and Boge load-levelers<BR>(not itself a bad alternative to the independent rear suspension found on<BR>the P6 -- when everything's functioning properly it handles/rides very<BR>well). A manual
transmission-equipped version is better by far than those<BR>equipped with the Borg-Warner 3-speed automatic. It feels as if you're<BR>driving an entirely different car. [I've never owned one so equipped, a<BR>fully conscious choice.]<BR><BR>It's generally agreed that the problem with the SD1 was not so much its<BR>design as its poor execution -- although I can also offer criticisms of the<BR>design (the roof line's too low and the door handles, inside and out, are<BR>cheap-feeling and/or poorly-placed). One insightful comment on this subject<BR>that comes to mind is that of the much-revered Spen King's, who said<BR>shortly before his death that the main problem with the SD1 was "the lack<BR>of a sufficient number of production engineers." That somehow makes<BR>sense. Then there was that extensive labor unrest. Karen Pender's<BR>well-documented book, Rover SD1: The Complete Story (Crowood Press, 1998),<BR>provides the most
thorough study available concerning this car's troubled<BR>history. I shared a copy with the gentleman who was thinking of doing this<BR>article during our discussion ("You've made my day!" he declared upon<BR>seeing the Rover at the show field's entrance). Indeed, I've consistently<BR>recommended that book to anyone seeking an understanding of how such a<BR>disaster came about in the face of the glowing predictions that greeted the<BR>SD1's introduction. Indeed, when you get into detail, it's not just one<BR>thing, it's many, many things! [Note: I worked as a consumer advocate at<BR>an organization co-founded by Ralph Nader and Consumer Reports, so warning<BR>others about the short-comings of automotive products comes naturally --<BR>regardless of any personal stake I may have in a particular model's<BR>reputation. The Sterling/Rover 800 produced an astonishing number of<BR>complaints and as the person responsible for monitoring
European cars, I<BR>read each and every one, also spoke with many disappointed and, yes, angry<BR>owners. To this day, I've not dared own a Sterling -- but have somehow<BR>managed to deal with quite a few SD1's. Both gained reputations for being<BR>"difficult."]<BR><BR>Finally, here's a link to what remains one of the best summaries of what<BR>went wrong with this particular model Rover, written by a fellow RCC member<BR>who owned another of the many dozens of lemon(?) yellow examples that made<BR>it to our side of the Atlantic, but who also includes a very nice P6 3500S<BR>as part of his ever-growing collection of intensely interesting (and<BR>typically quirky) cars:<BR><a href="http://www.automobilemag.com/news/autp-0704-1980-land-rover-3500-sd1-history-2/" target=_blank >http://www.automobilemag.com/news/autp-0704-1980-land-rover-3500-sd1-history-2/</a><BR>and<BR><a
href="http://www.gq.com/story/jamie-kitman-a-man-and-his-cars-life-of-a-car-enthusiast" target=_blank >http://www.gq.com/story/jamie-kitman-a-man-and-his-cars-life-of-a-car-enthusiast</a><BR> The magazine containing this very funny/very sad story arrived at my door<BR>one day in 2007 while nearby another Turmeric Yellow Rover SD1 was<BR>masquerading as a lawn ornament, awaiting endless hours of devoted<BR>attention before it went on to block the driveway of another masochistic<BR>(?) owner who has yet to succeed in his effort to bring it back to life.<BR>The increasingly infamous example Jamie owned was itself passed on to an<BR>enthusiast in Texas last year, IIRC. That optimistic fellow is also hoping<BR>to get it back on the road someday soon. Which may be the point. It's a<BR>rather challenging task, but it can be done. And I hope others among<BR>Rovernet's readership will be willing to take on one of the few
surviving<BR>SD1's and, by doing so, help tell the story of how what looked like a<BR>surefire success story instead became a curse to many of its owners --<BR>while helping in the long run to bring about the demise of what once had<BR>been one of Britain's finest carmakers. It certainly could have turned out<BR>differently. My own Rover runs fairly reliably at the moment and it often<BR>evokes inquires along the lines of "where can I find one?" After I explain<BR>in more detail the difficulties involved in SD1 ownership -- regardless of<BR>the relatively low cost of initial entry -- interest typically wanes.<BR><BR>Despite everything I know about these cars and the negative comments one<BR>occasionally encounters, I've managed not to completely lose my own<BR>enthusiasm for owning something so different as a Rover. I certainly<BR>appreciate the supportive comments and encouragement offered by club<BR>members. If I part
with the SD1 someday, it will largely be due to<BR>discomfort with its seating position -- it's not well-suited to my<BR>particular build -- not to these other factors.<BR><BR>Thanks,<BR><BR>Robert<BR><BR>On Fri, Aug 26, 2016 at 6:40 PM, LANCE LA CERTE PSY D via Rovernet <<BR><a ymailto="mailto:rovernet@rovernet.org" href="javascript:return">rovernet@rovernet.org</a>> wrote:<BR><BR>> First, it is obvious that Robert and others (Kent in particular) took<BR>> umbrage at my comments. For that I truly apologize. I appreciate how<BR>> much time and energy Robert put in to his SD1 to get it sorted out, and I<BR>> suspect it is indeed a very nice ride. That being said, despite being a P6<BR>> owner, I grew up in Los Angeles, where there is an abundance of Rovers<BR>> (unlike the dearth in Colorado where I now reside). I had the opportunity<BR>> to drive/ride several SD1s, and none of them rose above
the moniker<BR>> 'monstrosity'.<BR>> I've provided some extracts from an even more extensive article<BR>> <a href="http://www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/cars/rover/sd1-rover/the-cars-rover-sd1-" target=_blank >http://www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/cars/rover/sd1-rover/the-cars-rover-sd1-</a><BR>> development-history/ on the SD1.<BR>> Autocar magazine reported on its Rover 3500 automatic, which it ran for a<BR>> year and 11,900 miles: ‘The most disappointing feature about the Car Of The<BR>> Year was the sad lack of quality control during building and the minimal<BR>> pre-delivery inspection. Most major fault was a gap between windscreen and<BR>> pillars, which allowed in rain and draughts. Hatchback door was badly<BR>> fitted, and the front doors were re-hung and adjusted to get them to close<BR>> properly and to cut down wind noise. The general fit and finish was also<BR>> poor.’<BR>> The weekly also disliked
‘the sadly cheap sounding clang with which the<BR>> doors shut – most inappropriate for a car of this class.’<BR>> Car magazine ran a similar specification SD1 for 20,000 miles. The vehicle<BR>> suffered from numerous defects. The magazine added: ‘The finish in the boot<BR>> annoys us to; it is carpeted, but looks more like a DIY job than something<BR>> stemming from Britain’s most modern car factory…The latest bit to go on our<BR>> car is the plastic cowling under the drivers seat which just fell to bits…<BR>> It needs and deserves to have silly things like the wind noise eliminated,<BR>> it should have a more appealing dashboard and better instrumentation, the<BR>> feeble plastic bits should be replaced by good quality fittings and the<BR>> cabin would benefit from more attractive upholstery.’<BR>> Autocar also ran a 2600 automatic. One of its journalists wrote: ‘Little<BR>> things saddened me; the
way the fascia and instrument binnacle covering PVC<BR>> material is crudely creased and stuck down at corners, the doors shut at a<BR>> certain tinnyness not found on cars that cost half as much… Without a<BR>> partial respray the bodywork would now be very tatty. Rattling noises from<BR>> the hatchback area indicate a degree of poor breeding in a car of such good<BR>> looks and distinguished pedigree.’<BR>> So, that's where my apology ends relative to the SD!. Bache had some<BR>> great ideas, and obviously the V8 was (and still is) a great engine, but<BR>> when BLMC was in chronic chaos and pushed a car to market so poorly made,<BR>> there is no comparison to the far lesser amount of work it still takes to<BR>> sort out a P6. The interior alone, especially with Ambla upholstery is<BR>> far more sturdy than the cloth interior and cheap plastic which filled the<BR>> cabin of the
SD1. Most every one of the SD1 owners I knew in L.A.<BR>> complained about almost every electric switch in the cabin being toast.<BR>> Clearly Lucas is the Prince of Darkness, but the electrics in my P6 never<BR>> needed the overhaul an SD1 needs. Of course we can nitpick all day, but<BR>> despite the difficulties of installing rear brake pads in the P6, there is<BR>> no excuse for an "advanced" car such as the SD1 to have thrown out the<BR>> DeDion rear suspension and then outiftted it with rear drum brakes!!!!<BR>> Really?<BR>> If nothing else this has created a spirited exchange. Again my apologies<BR>> to anyone who was offended, but I for one appreciate the ability to agree<BR>> to disagree. I will never tell anyone there comments are inappropriate or<BR>> uncalled for, especially when the subjective criticism is about an<BR>> inanimate object. I will vociferously
condem anyone who makes<BR>> inappropriate personal comments.<BR>> Touche'<BR>><BR>> Lance La Certe, Psy.D.<BR>> Belief is so often the death of reason<BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>> -------------- next part --------------<BR>> An HTML attachment was scrubbed...<BR>> URL: <http://rovernet.org/pipermail/rovernet_rovernet.<BR>> org/attachments/20160826/28003c12/attachment.html><BR>> _______________________________________________<BR>> Rovernet mailing list<BR>> <a ymailto="mailto:Rovernet@rovernet.org" href="javascript:return">Rovernet@rovernet.org</a><BR>> <a href="http://rovernet.org/mailman/listinfo/rovernet_rovernet.org" target=_blank >http://rovernet.org/mailman/listinfo/rovernet_rovernet.org</a><BR>><BR>-------------- next part --------------<BR>An HTML attachment was scrubbed...<BR>URL: <<a href="http://rovernet.org/pipermail/rovernet_rovernet.org/attachments/20160829/860e9533/attachment.html"
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