[Mr Teddy Bear]

Yes I think so. The result was 30 odd votes in favour and 4 votes against. So the membership carried the proposal.

[GTiJohn]

It's there in 'announcements'

And Tim has a good memory!

[Paul_1978_yorks]

Got it cheers guys. I really don't like the bubble shape 200s and they don't share (m)any parts with the R8, but of course welcome to any additional members
ps Quite like 400s however!

[GTiJohn]

Got it cheers guys. I really don't like the bubble shape 200s and they don't share (m)any parts with the R8.....

In fact they share a considerable amount of parts. The front structure and front floor were carried over into the R3 as was the HVAC hardware.

The new engine installations and additional crash structures designed for both cars and introduced on R8 at 96MY.

The rear suspension was a necessity to improve both the packaging and the costs and used much of the original tooling with mods to suit the installation and improve the handling.

Ended up being a cracking car IMHO. But then I'm biased....

[Montegoman]

The R3 is a much better handling car than an R8 in standard form. Great fun to drive, particularly the diesels. Unfortunately BMW chose to over price it at launch and try to sell it as a family car when it was designed as a supermini. My wife has driven R3s for the past 17 yrs!

[GTiJohn]

My wife loved her 200 so much it was the only thing she noticed changing when Ford bought Land Rover from BMW!

She was indignant that she wasn't allowed another one on the company car scheme and had to have a Ford instead

Saying that, she loves Fiestas now and I can't see why....

[Paul_1978_yorks]

Got it cheers guys. I really don't like the bubble shape 200s and they don't share (m)any parts with the R8.....

In fact they share a considerable amount of parts. The front structure and front floor were carried over into the R3 as was the HVAC hardware.

The new engine installations and additional crash structures designed for both cars and introduced on R8 at 96MY.

The rear suspension was a necessity to improve both the packaging and the costs and used much of the original tooling with mods to suit the installation and improve the handling.

Ended up being a cracking car IMHO. But then I'm biased....

That's interesting John cheers.

So in terms of safety, the very last R8's are safer than even the 1995 models?

I love my 216 SLi and I used it as my family car and ferry my kids around in it - I'd get a later and safer R8 if there is such a thing.

[220 GSi turbo]

I was never a fan of the 'HHR' 400 series: they well and truly trimmed it down to make it look at home in the Astra/Cavalier class. The R8 interior was always a nice place to be, the HHR dash looked very 'average' IMHO. And somehow the exterior looked nothing special, either. (those black plastic door pulls might have had something to do with it).

I the summer of 1995 I ordered a highly-specced R8 as my next company car, rather than having the new model. I do think the Rover 45 made the HHR into a decent car, though: just a shame they never kept the 2.0 T-series engine going. Some of the later 420 GSi versions had an extremely good spec at the time (aircon, cruise, electric everything)

I was also diosappointed with the rear styling of the 'R3' 200 when it was launched and it took me a long time to warm to them.
But after the Mrs bought a 25 GTi (1.8VVC for those who don't know ) to replace her 216 GTi, I was finally converted

When the time came to replace my 201000-mile 'R8' 214 SEi daily drive, I got myself a 220 SDi and am now on my third 25 diesel, which is definitely a keeper. (Although I now have a 55-plate ZR diesel standing by just in case )

I am pleased that we will now be including the R3 and HHR in the club, as I am sure that many owners may end up being inspired to buy R8s as well. Also, there has never been a better time to buy one of those later cars: values have just about hit rock bottom and there are some nice cars to be had out there at the moment.

[GTiJohn]

Got it cheers guys. I really don't like the bubble shape 200s and they don't share (m)any parts with the R8.....

In fact they share a considerable amount of parts. The front structure and front floor were carried over into the R3 as was the HVAC hardware.

The new engine installations and additional crash structures designed for both cars and introduced on R8 at 96MY.

The rear suspension was a necessity to improve both the packaging and the costs and used much of the original tooling with mods to suit the installation and improve the handling.

Ended up being a cracking car IMHO. But then I'm biased....

So in terms of safety, the very last R8's are safer than even the 1995 models?

The crash test changed around that time, to include offset barrier tests, so the crash structure got some additional strengthening to the front longitutinals and a bar connecting them together just in front of the bulkhead to transfer loads from the one taking the impact across to the other one.

It was also handy for mounting the brake pipes on

And of course the dash had the option of a passenger airbag, something that the original R8 dash couldn't have.