Mine has been my everyday car since I got it, and has never let me down (apart from when I left the lights on so the battery was flat in the morning, but that was my fault not the car!) My 3 yr old is going to be gutted, he generally introduces himself to adults with "daddys Rovers got a V8" then, if the car is available proceeds to show any interested parties the V8 badges. I have no doubts that one day I will get another, as no other classic I have owned or driven can match it as an everyday vehicle capable of keeping up with modern traffic but at the moment finances dictate that it has to go! In case you are wondering when the rover has gone it will be back to my 1972 beetle (tax exempt, slightly better fuel consumption - but not as much as you might think and spares so cheap they might as well be giving them away how does £27.50 for a brand new wing grab you? or £59.95 for a bonnet again brand new or even £80 for a full set of barrels and pistons that will take the engine up to a far more useable 1600cc) Obviously its not going to be as good an every day car as the Rover but as we have an every day car as well I cannot justify keeping them all.
I know what you are thinking why not get rid of the Beetle and keep the Rover? well apart from the tax exempt thing the beetle was my wifes first car, she bought it when she got her first job after Uni, then in 1995 it had a complete 'body off' restoration and was used as the brides transport to our wedding, hence huge sentimental value in our family. After that it was used less and less frequently and has, mainly due to neglect become a bit scabby and so is not worth as much as the rover. oh well at least when the next sprog arrives I will be too tired to lament the loss of my car and not really care what I am driving!
Cheers
Al
