The history of Rover cars goes back more than 90 years. The Rover 100 Series has all the class and character of its big brothers. And for sheer style and value for money, Rover's small car is hard to beat.

Take the Rover 100 Ascot, with its attractive 'Doric' seat trim and contrast piping. Tinted glass and a high quality stereo radio/ cassette player are standard. A headlamp levelling control helps to avoid dazzling other drivers. And like every Rover 100 it's well protected, with an antitheft alarm and passive engine immobilisation.

The Rover 100 Ascot SE offers further refinements, including convenient remote control central door locking. a sunroof and burr walnut veneer in the fascia all at a remarkably modest price.

Drive the Rover 114SLi and you'll enjoy still more of that unique Rover elegance, with smart body colour door mirrors, and inside a traditional fluted seat style. An added bonus is the verve of the 75Ps 1.4 litre Rover engine.

With electric front windows, alloy wheels and the option of leather seat trim and wood door cappings, the Rover 114GSi is the most exclusive small car you'll find anywhere. And if you're looking for sheer fun for your money, get behind the wheel of the Rover 114GTa; it feels as sporty as it looks.

The Rover 100 Series boasts an engineering pedigree which other small cars might well envy; giving you the advantage of stateoftheart power units, low running costs and exceptional refinement. It's also fun to drive; nippy and agile through the bends, and with an astonishing knack of smoothing out the bumpiest roads. Most surprising of all, perhaps, are the affordable prices at which Rover prestige can be all yours to enjoy.

So, Rover has been around more than 90 years, eh? Anyone taking bets on whether they'll be around another 90 years? Nine years? Anyone?

It's true they're doing some interesting stuff with their current range of cars - bolting bizarre moulding onto them and calling them MGs - but does anyone know of any "mass" car manufacturer that stands alone in the world, without partners? I can't. Let alone a "mass" manufacturer than manufactures around 200,000 cars a year. At its peak, the Metro by itself sold almost that many.