The Rover 75 after 14 days - review
in [UK Drivers]
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From: Ret. on 12 Jun 2010 07:04 Ed Chilada wrote: > On Fri, 11 Jun 2010 23:45:17 +0100, Harry Bloomfield > <harry.m1byt(a)NOSPAM.tiscali.co.uk> wrote: > > >> My only complaints are that I don't like the way the memory seats >> operate, its FWD > > The V8 one is RWD! > > >> The dash instruments are also of rather an eccentric retro >> look styling > > I kinda like those! So do I. It's those little touches that set the 75 apart from the average Euro box with its dull and uninspiring slab of black plastic dash. I went and had a look at the new Vx Astra yesterday. Wasn't impressed. The interior appeared rather cheap and nasty. Tons of silver painted hard plastic just looked tacky. -- Kev
From: Ret. on 12 Jun 2010 07:06 Mike P wrote: > On Sat, 12 Jun 2010 02:21:54 -0700, Derek C spouted forth: > >> On Jun 11, 11:45 pm, Harry Bloomfield >> <harry.m1...(a)NOSPAM.tiscali.co.uk> wrote: >>> I said I would post my findings after owning it for a while, so here >>> goes... >>> >>> It is a late 2004 Rover 75 Mk II Contemporary SE CDTi (rather than >>> the Connoisseur SE I originally suggested) in a metallic black >>> colour, with a bit more mileage under its belt than I really >>> intended (90K), but my opinion from the feel of it is that they are >>> mostly motorway miles. It has every conceivable option already >>> fitted. 17" wide low profiles, sports setup, Satnav/TV, electric >>> everything, power folds, all leather and a manual box, Traffic >>> Master, instrument pack, Xenon's. >>> >>> All it lacked was a tow bar + electrics, which I fitted the first >>> weekend and it was slightly over due a full service/inspection, >>> prior to which it had FSH and a fresh MOT. >>> >>> Over the past couple of weeks I have been working my way gradually >>> around the car, finding and sorting out the few minor problems I >>> could find and doing the service / inspection and finally running >>> the diagnostics - which indicated no faults at all recorded or >>> current. >>> >>> The car had by far the least number of problems of any vehicle I >>> have ever bought second hand, yet by a fair margin, with all of its >>> built-in toys, is the most complex one. >>> >>> My only complaints are that I don't like the way the memory seats >>> operate, its FWD and it lacks a 'global close' for the >>> windows/sunroof. If you press a memory button whilst on the road, >>> it does a shuffle to the new set position, rather than taking the >>> quick short route to the new position like my old car did and you >>> have to manually close all of the windows. The dash instruments are >>> also of rather an eccentric retro look styling and the clutch pedal >>> is heavy. >>> >>> The paint work is just a tad below being immaculate, I found no >>> sign of any rust anywhere in it including the underside. If you >>> asked me how old it were, from my inspection I would say a matter >>> of months, rather than years, it also drives the like new. It is in >>> much better condition and feels newer than my 18 month old works >>> hack. >>> >>> I sorted out one suspension level sensor (for the xenon's) which had >>> been pulled from its ball joint, an handbrake lever with excess >>> travel and a rather odd case of a loose bolt each on two small >>> suspension sub-frame braces. One bolt was hanging by its last >>> thread and I suspect these were not tightened correctly at the >>> factory. >>> >>> It has an annoying twanging front O/S suspension spring - which I >>> have still to resolve. >>> >>> I have so far clocked around 500 miles in it, between working on >>> it. On the road, it is more than capable of making good fast >>> progress and its handling is good if a little soft particularly at >>> the rear. It feels a little cramped inside, when compared to my old >>> motor - which was almost an identical overall size, if a bit faster >>> and a little more powerful. Interior noise wise it is about the >>> same, but a little quieter on noisy road surfaces. Despite >>> continuously swapping on a daily basis from manual to auto, the >>> Rover feels so like my old auto, I'm tending to forget I need to >>> manually change gear. The car oozes quality of build. >>> >>> Am I happy with it - absolutely. It handles well, is extremely >>> comfortable, it is far from slow and it is between 2/3 and half the >>> fuel cost to run as my 3L petrol. This was the first 75 (or any >>> car) I looked at in the flesh this time around and I agreed to buy >>> it after just a ten minute run in it - with not much clue about its >>> true condition. I'm a terrible car buyer and I hate buying them. >>> I'm good at finding and fixing problems, but it takes me a good >>> couple of weeks of effort to really judge the condition of car. >>> This car I now know is spot on, which straight away doubles its >>> value to me. >>> >>> The 75 has a very active web forum inhabited by some very >>> knowledgeable enthusiasts and parts seem not to be a problem. >>> >>> -- >>> Regards, >>> Harry (M1BYT) (L)http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk >> >> Nice to know that us Brits can still do decent engineering. > > Ignoring the 75 for arguments sake, when has there *ever* been a good, > high volume production car made in the UK, by a British company since > about 1965? > > The only one that springs to mind is the SD1, and good design though > it was, they were often of shocking quality.. I drove them as traffic cars in Cheshire and I agree. Very poorly put together and, IMO, too tank-like, cumbersome and unwieldy. -- Kev
From: Ret. on 12 Jun 2010 07:10 Dave Plowman wrote: > In article > <18d8dfe9-7765-4a3a-9283-4a7aba36a24f(a)t10g2000yqg.googlegroups.com>, > Derek C <del.copeland(a)tiscali.co.uk> wrote: >> On Jun 12, 11:21 am, Dave Plowman <d...(a)davesound.co.uk> wrote: >>> In article >>> <27c0651f-b319-4f9c-8dba-bddf4644d...(a)b35g2000yqi.googlegroups.com>, >>> Derek C <del.copel...(a)tiscali.co.uk> wrote: >>> >>>> Nice to know that us Brits can still do decent engineering. >>> >>> Courtesy of BMW? >>> >> Only the new Mini (better than nothing). > > The 75 was mainly engineered under BMW control. Many of the parts on my 75 are pure BMW (including the diesel engine!). Even the fuel filler cap has the BMW propellor on it. > >> The Germans obviously value their engineering companies much more so >> than the UK does. > > If only the UK government had helped BWM to finish modernising BL, we > might have still had a major car maker. Indeed. If BMW had stayed in control I have no doubt that the 75 would have achieved far greater success. What put many buyers off was the uncertainty surrounding the future of MG/Rover - the car itself is excellent. The new Mini was being developed alongside the 75 and, because BMW took that with them, it has become a cult car. The 75 would have been regarded as a 'BMW' and hence far more covetable if BMW had remained at the helm. -- Kev
From: Brimstone on 12 Jun 2010 07:24 "Derek C" <del.copeland(a)tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message news:cb7d58db-6589-4b01-a78c-72dbe627b284(a)h13g2000yqm.googlegroups.com... > On Jun 12, 10:28 am, "Brimstone" <brimst...(a)hotmail.com> wrote: >> "Derek C" <del.copel...(a)tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message >> >> news:27c0651f-b319-4f9c-8dba-bddf4644daca(a)b35g2000yqi.googlegroups.com... >> >> >> >> >> >> > Nice to know that us Brits can still do decent engineering. Shame that >> > Mrs Hatchett, Mr Bliar and Mr Broon thought that Financial Services >> > and the service industries generally where the only way to go. Now >> > that bubble has burst, we need to get back to making and selling >> > things that people want to buy. But how? >> >> > When I was threatened with redundancy a few years ago (didn't happen >> > in the end) I was sent on a business opportunities course. The >> > lecturer was totally dismissive of anything to do with manufacturing >> > industry, because it requires a lot of capital to develop things and >> > the payback time is too long. He advised that it is far better from a >> > personal wealth point of view to buy a franchise in a kebab chain, or >> > to be a financial advisor! Mind you, the businessmen who bought and >> > eventually bankrupted Rover personally did very nicely out of it, >> > thank you very much! >> >> > Why do we have such wet politicians? No wonder the country has gone to >> > the dogs! >> >> Your lecturer was, in one sense, right. Most people want a quick return >> on >> their investment and we get the politicians we deserve.- Hide quoted >> text - >> > Quite a few people made vast fortunes from manufacturing industry in > the past! > Indeed, but it was over the longer term and after significant capital investment.
From: Nick Finnigan on 12 Jun 2010 07:24
Dave Plowman wrote: > In article <huvp5g$fgg$4(a)news.eternal-september.org>, > Mike P <stickit(a)up-uranus.com> wrote: >> Ignoring the 75 for arguments sake, when has there *ever* been a good, >> high volume production car made in the UK, by a British company since >> about 1965? Original Disco ? >> The only one that springs to mind is the SD1, and good design though it >> was, they were often of shocking quality.. > > Does the Sierra fit? Or was it basically a german design? Does Ford count as a British company? |