Rover Streetwise
Registered from 2003 to 2006.
About this model
The Rover Streetwise is a compact British car made by MG Rover. It was based on the Rover 25, but had an increased ride height and chunkier bumpers. The car was marketed by Rover as an 'urban on-roader'. Production ended in April 2005, due to the bankruptcy of MG Rover, but reappeared in March 2008 in China as the MG 3 SW, following the purchase of MG Rover's assets by Nanjing Automobile Group.
From the Wikipedia article Rover Streetwise, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2004 1.4 petrol. 95 of 318 tests failed, 30%.
Better than 32% of 2004 cars. The typical one fails 28%, across 750 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Body and structure | 43% | 41 |
| Lights and electrics | 29% | 28 |
| Brakes | 27% | 26 |
| Exhaust and emissions | 27% | 26 |
| Visibility | 23% | 22 |
| Suspension | 20% | 19 |
The defects inspectors cite
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
- Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
- A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
Where it stands out against its peers
- Body and structure: failed more often than 90% of 2004 cars — 43% of its 95 failed tests, where an ordinary 2004 car has 23%.
- Visibility: failed more often than 90% of 2004 cars — 23% of its 95 failed tests, where an ordinary 2004 car has 9%.
Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.
NHTSA's investigations are American; no European regulator publishes an equivalent record, so this section has nothing to draw on for a European car. There is no European equivalent of the service-bulletin register either.
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Brakes — 27% of its failures
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
- Exhaust and emissions — 27% of its failures
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
- Suspension — 20% of its failures
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
- Lights and electrics — 29% of its failures
- Body and structure — 43% of its failures
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
- Visibility — 23% of its failures
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
When it starts failing
At 100–120k miles this one fails 30% of its inspections, against the 29% an ordinary car of the same age fails.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20–40k miles | 24% | 17% | 38 | |
| 40–60k miles | 24% | 22% | 66 | |
| 60–80k miles | 27% | 25% | 81 | |
| 80–100k miles | 39% | 28% | 71 | |
| 100–120k miles | 30% | 29% | 46 |
302 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 60k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.