I wouldn't touch anything related to Rover if it's got a petrol K series engine in it, unless you want to spend money on having the head gasket done, because it will go.
Buy bland, Ford-my missus has a '03 1.3 Fiesta, slow & boring but has done 130k & never faultered. Or look at Toyota-older corolla or something, cheap as chips & as reliable as anything is going to be at that price.