Rover 75 Pricing

Herzlos

I think that sums it up pretty well. Yet the diesel engine is the previous generation BMW lump from the 3/5 series, and a lot of the parts are BMW, so there's no head gasket risk there. It's probably an issue on the smaller petrol (1.8l) engines though because it's a heavy car.

I had no problems with the clutch, the only issue I had was the plenum drain thing getting blocked and messing with the ECU. It's a small drain-hole under the front windscreen that can get blocked pretty easily with leaves and stuff, giving it a regular prodding with some wire usually prevents issue. However I swapped cars with my dad and forgot to mention it, and he parks it under a tree, and it started having related problems after about 2 years of drain neglect.

Beyond that and some dodgy aftermarket wiring it was fine

I've now got an older petrol version (2.5l) which has been pretty reliable too, a set of air-flow sensors needed replaced and I had the clutch done at about 58k but it's much lighter than the diesel one and I'd abused it pretty badly in a comically steep car park. I think it was about £400 inc labour to change the clutch, maybe £50 inc labour for the sensors.

I'd definitely recommend joining the mg-rover.com forums, they're pretty spot on with technical advice and problem solving when required.

Lum

At this age, the insurance cost is king. If those Rover 75s are cheap to insure for an 18 year old then who cares what MPG it's going to get when insurance on a smaller car could easily be over 4 grand depending on where you live.

Dvorak123

Why do teenagers ride around in Corsas and Saxos and whatever other cars when it's more expensive and less pleasant? I've never understood that.

I'm more concerned about mechanical life, and (having done a bit of reading) about parking the thing - apparently it's a bit of a boat. Would you declare aftermarket parking sensors to the insurers? It seems to put my quote up by about £30.

Thanks for the information, Herzlos. I will be careful with the drain!

Herzlos

Big cars aren't popular with new drivers because; they are harder to drive, uncool, and people assume they must be expensive because they are big. It's this fact and the fact that everyone is obsessed with fuel economy that makes luxobarges such a good deal.

Repair costs can be a bit higher because it's a fancier car and not as common as a Corsa, but the difference in insurance will make up for that easily.

You'd need to declare aftermarket sensors, yes, but I think they'd be worthwhile (A new back bumper, painted, comes to about £300).

And yes, it's a bit of a monster of a car, taking up more parking area than a lot of 4x4's, but not bad once you get used to it. The only difficulty is that both the front and back slope off so you can't see exactly where they stop, but turning on the lights and watching the reflection helps, as does familiarity and there's nothing stopping you jumping out to double check (I'm 28 and have had them for years and still do - it's a better idea than bumping into someone!).

Lum

I'm assuming you've only just passed your test, or haven't driven since doing so.

It's going to be better for you to learn how to handle a big car on your own than to learn in a small car and then change later. Much easier to switch from big to small than the other way around.

Dvorak123

I passed last summer and since then have been driving all manner of Ford Fiestas, most recently a 59 econetic, which I fear may have spoiled me a bit! (The R reg rustbucket definitely didn't spoil me).

Big cars are cool! There's nothing less cool than a second hand hatchback with a mid-sized petrol engine and average spec. Or maybe I'm odd.

I'll splash out on a set of parking sensors and whip the bumper off as soon as I get it, then. Thanks for the tips - I'm out in the country so have to do a fair bit of reversing up narrow roads.

bigjl

Are people seriously calling a Rover 75 a massive car?

It is no bigger than your average family saloon or hatchback such as a Vectra or Mondeo.

It isn't exactly and S Class Mercedes is it!

The clutch problems were in true press tradition exaggerated.

The simple fact is the diesel ones are fairly roomy and economical, buy a workshop manual or Haynes (if available) and you can do most of the basic servicing yourself.

The first ones, 99T had very strong self centering on the steering but there wasn't many of those and it was sorted fairly soon.

The early diesel was less powerful but the early ones were also better built!

The first two or so years were the best apparently then cost cutting started around 2002 or so.

The facelifted ones were less attractive IMOH and also had issues such as headlight bulbs being a pain to change.

Honestly I would try and find an automatic.

They are not hard to park and not sure what 4x4's they take up more space than, maybe a Diahatsu Terios or Suzuki Jimny!

They are actually a little cramp in the rear which was about to get dealt with by a long awaited LWB version which was within weeks of release when the company went bust.

The diesel 75 was very popular in the London Private Hire trade for many years and was dependable a mate was a fleet manager do a largish firm and he leased over 200 of them over a couple of years, he never had any problems with the manuals but drivers and customers preferred the automatics.

Avoid the petrol ones unless really cheap and then you should have no intention of fixing the head gasket if it was ever to go.

Though, again, this was slightly exaggerated by the Audi/VW/BMW biased middles class motoring press.

Look at some back issues of Car Mechanics Mag and you will find they rated the car, with a Diesel engine, very highly indeed.

If I needed a cheap estate and a decent 75 diesel turned up I would have no problem owning one.

Though I prefer the MG version.


Buy with confidence if the one you have found is a good one.

Much better than the Brown Allegro I had when I was in my early 20's.

mcjordi

decent motors with it being the diesel.. not a k series engine. i believe they are bmw or pug engines.
cheap enough..nab it..

rev_henry

Just thought I'd drop by to claim the credit for finding the car.

Not sure why all this fuss about MPG? It does almost 50!

Gloomendoom

Herzlos wrote: »

And yes, it's a bit of a monster of a car

It's a Rover 75.

It's not that big!