Rover 3500 S

extract of comparison test

with Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV, Audi 100 Coupé S and BMW 2002 tii

As it would be misleading, even impertinent, to divide this quartet into winners and losers, don´t flip to the last paragraph to see what´s best. We don´t say. Each is a civilised performance car of redoubtable reputation, differing from the others more obviously in character than in merit. Debriefing after our usual four-man 800-mile return convoy to Wales didn´t produce an unanimous worst or best, underling that it´s more a matter of personal taste that counts here rather than the accumulation of marks on a score sheet.

What we can say is that we enjoyed and respected each and every car, though not necessarily for the same reasons. None of them is perfect mind you, and some are a lot less perfect in certain respects than others. As four sound but different ways of spending £2500, we found it an intriguing exercise.

The Rover is something quite different. No sporting dashabout in the Alfa/BMW mould but no dignified sluggard that´s too big for its boots either. With a relatively large V8 engine and manual transmission, the 3500 S is a real go car. Moreover, it´s beautifully finished and appointed and imparts through its opulence a feeling of luxury and well-being that the two more sporty imports lack. On paper, it makes the Alfa and BMW look rather expensive, yet it wasn´t everyone´s first choice by any means.

Performance

As we´ve said often enough before, engine capacity is a poor guide to performance. True, the Rover 3500 S, with a V8 engine that´s nearly double the size of the Audi´s and 1.5 litres greater than that of the Alfa and BMW, has the highest maximum speed of 119 mph. But what modest extra power it´s got is offset by much greater weight (26.1 cwt is a lot for a car of this size) so on acceleration the Alfa and BMW, each weighing little more than a ton, have the edge on it all the way to 100 mph. In a straight drag race, the Alfa - aided by its better gear ratios - would reach three figures first in a creditable 27.2 sec, fractionally ahead of the BMW with the Rover not far behind. Although the 21.3 of the Audi is no sluggard, it can´t quite live with this company against a stopwatch, though it had no trouble keeping up with the other cars on the road. All four are at no more than a canter at 100 mph - an especially easy cruising gait for the long-legged Rover and Alfa Romeo.

Even the Rover´s massive low-speed torque is not enough to better the lower geared BMW in top gear acceleration below 60 mph, and there´s precious little in it at higher speeds. The Alfa will better them both in fourth gear and it´s not far short of them in its overdrive fifth. Again, the Audi trails the field, its smaller engine having the most work to do on a power/weight basis. Although it´s by no means inflexible at low revs, you have to make full use of the lower ratios to get the most from the Audi´s 1871 cc´s worth.

None of the fours, though, have quite the silken delivery of the Rover´s V8 which is easily the smoothest and normally the quietest of the group - except at high revs when its usual remote waffle becomes a distinctly frenzied drone. Not that you need to exploit the upper reaches of the modest rev range very often.

With the biggest engine in the heaviest car the Rover, predictably enough, is by far the most thirsty. On our brisk group test run it recorded a hefty 17.7 mpg whereas the sprightlier BMW, under identical conditions, managed respectable 24.6 mpg. Just to put things in perspective, though, remember that the Rover costs £292 less than the tii, enough for 22.000 miles even on five-star fuel.

Transmission

There´s little to choose between the gearchanges of the other two cars. The Rover´s is perhaps the more precise and the movement of its tiny lever nice and short. But the lack of leverage accentuates the baulking of the synchromesh to make the change a bit notchy, especially when you rush it.

Gear noise was practically inaudible in the Audi. In the Rover it was thrown into prominence by the quietness of the engine, but was not obtrusive. You could also hear it quite plainly in the Alfa, despite the gruff note of the engine.

Handling and brakes

The Rover is altogether different. To start with, it is more softly suspended than the Alfa and BMW and rolls a lot more when pushed through the turns. Hurrying some tortuous Welsh lanes, it became very untidy indeed, wallowing and lurching uncomfortably with its big understeering tyres, scrubbing their sidewalls. Quite safe, mind, because the car clings on quite well long after the point when its behaviour discourages more spirited driving. While disappointing when extended, we feel that many drivers would rate the Rover as the easiest (and maybe nicest) car to handle on account of power steering, that´s very light and high-geared, the ideal combination for effortless parking and sharp bends. Moreover, on fast main roads where steering feel (which is poor) or ultimate grip don´t come into the reckoning, the car feels immensely stable and reassuring even at speed on long corners. Easy, safe and effortless: yes, all these but not very rewarding for the enthusiastic driver.

Comfort and control

The Rover and the Audi are in another league altogether here, both being exceptionally comfortable and well appointed cars. The Rover, as we´ve said, has a more resilient ride than the Alfa or BMW, floating smoothly over most well-made roads without the slight jittery motion of its two more sporty rivals. It copes less well, however, when extended on twisty secondary roads, heaving and jolting over the bumps, especially those it encounters in mid corner. These circumstances apart, however, the Rover rides very smoothly.

Deeply dished seats hold you in place well but, as we´ve observed in previous tests, the cuhsions are too flat and you tend to slide forward on them, especially under braking. As the steering wheel is adjustable for height and reach, however, everyone should be able to tailor an excellent driving position. As in the Alfa and BMW, the pedals are poorly arranged for heel and toe changes (not that most Rover owners will notice) but the major controls are otherwise well placed.

We liked the chunky easy-to-grip switchgear knobs, too, though their location and operation is rather confusing at first. Again, better use could be made of the column stalks. The heating and ventilation is superb and the seat belts are easy to clasp and comfortable to wear. Although neither wind nor road noise is especially well isolated, there is in the Rover an almost tangible feeling of refinement and isolation not evident in the Alfa or BMW.

Fittings and furniture

Although the cheapest car of the group, the Rover is the most luxurious inside and, despite the use of plastic wood on the door cappings, also the best finished we thought. The interior is well planned, too, if not as roomy as the Audi´s: the facia design, for instance, with its exquisite instrument cluster, and let-down shinbins beneath a really useful facia-top tray, is still a model of how it should be done.

In conclusion

In some respects, the Rover is outstanding. It´s fast, smooth, quiet, comfortable and very well appointed. On a long transcontinental journey, it would, by a small margin, be our first choice - provided we could affort the heavy fuel bills. But on the twisty bits the car is too soft and wallowy to endear it to the keen driver. It depends how - and where - you drive.

Motor / UK January 1973

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