Buying a Rover 75. Talk to me!!

[EssDeeWon]

I need* (*dont need, just want to buy one) a car, just something to waft about in at the weekend, probably only do about 3000 miles a year, im thinking about a 75, ideally a 2.5 V6. I prefer the earlier non face lift cars (1999-2001) and ideally a Connoisseur.

 

Are these that bad? Quite a few listed as spares or repair but they cannot be that bad if I find one with sub 100k and FSH? Although apparently these cars contain the spawn of all evil................ a cambelt/s??

 

Am I better off catching the bus and investing my money in the latest African scam or are these Rovers actually OK?

[cort16]

They're a pisser to work on but they're so cheap they're almost disposable. Find the nicest one in your budget and enjoy. until it blows up.

[brickwall]

Base spec ones seem to have  a poor turning circle so find the best one you can and it will be fully loaded. Seats are uber comfy and the AC is very good and the dash is pleasant. SE is a neat model

[Jim Bergerac]

Manuals have week clutches, I'd suggest you seek out an Auto specifically for that reason. They were decontented over the course of the Phoenix era so the 1999-01 period you mention is probably the best bet of them.

 

Great cars.

[254575]

Avoid manual ones, the clutch setup is a pain.

 

Drivers intelligence pack is the added extra to have, gives you rear parking sensors, auto wipers and a trip computer

 

This page should help you out:

 

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=22249

 

I had one for a few years, a Tourer connoisseur SE. Best car I ever had. So much for your money, don't waste your time with Club and Classic trim levels.

[EssDeeWon]

Yeah I don't like the Club models much, the Connoisseur looks a much nicer car with those lovely wheels, looks a very executive barg for the grand or so they seem to be selling for. My eyes are peeled and cash is waiting which means a nice one locally wont pop up now!!

[EssDeeWon]

Manuals have week clutches, I'd suggest you seek out an Auto specifically for that reason. They were decontented over the course of the Phoenix era so the 1999-01 period you mention is probably the best bet of them.

 

Great cars.

 

Much prefer an auto when buying larger stuff so that suits me!

 

Cheers all.

[Six-cylinder]

Just sold my MG ZT-T 2.5, I bought it as a very nice 98k with FSH inc belt/waterpump change at 88k. I had to replace the clutch Master cylinder, rear road spring, coil pack, battery, metal water transfer pipe in engine bay, all in the 14 months and under 4k I owned it.

 

Loved the car though but a bit of a time bomb you never knew when it is going to go off!

[Rocket88]

diesisel auto tourer.if you can find a good 'un.

[EssDeeWon]

Would have to be a petrol saloon, don't do dizzlers and estates.

[Cavcraft]

1.8T. One gallon of fuel and four head gaskets to the lamppost.

[Wilko220]

A 75 with the 2.5V6 is a fantastic car to drive, and will return 30mpg if you're sensible.

 

The 2.0V6, however, is underpowered, underwhelming and in my experience the fuel consumption is no better.

 

Whatever engine you go for, they're a lovely place to be.

 

Reliability-wise, I've owned two 75s over a total of about five years and I had one breakdown (electrical related). Maintenance is expensive if you don't do it yourself, and if you do do it yourself, they're a bastard to work on.

 

I would have no hesitation in recommending one though. Merits firmly outweigh the drawbacks.

[Wilko220]

A 75 with the 2.5V6 is a fantastic car to drive, and will return 30mpg if you're sensible.

 

The 2.0V6, however, is underpowered, underwhelming and in my experience the fuel consumption is no better.

 

Whatever engine you go for, they're a lovely place to be.

 

Reliability-wise, I've owned two 75s over a total of about five years and I had one breakdown (electrical related). Maintenance is expensive if you don't do it yourself, and if you do do it yourself, they're a bastard to work on.

 

I would have no hesitation in recommending one though. Merits firmly outweigh the drawbacks.

[purplebargeken]

Buy and enjoy the waftiness.

[dollywobbler]

A good one is a great thing. A tired, neglected one is a world of pain. Overall, too bloody complicated for me. 

[purplebargeken]

The 75 forum is pretty bloody good though, lots of knowledge, etc. 

[wuvvum]

I would definitely roll another 2.5 75.  Far quicker than it looks like it should be, the 5-speed auto 'box is a good 'un and as others have said, it's no worse on pez than a 2.0.  And stupidly, stupidly cheap.

[purplebargeken]

Yeah!!!! ^^^^

[Skizzer]

Lovely driving experience - 2.0V6 sounds good even though it's actually quite slow; I can well imagine the 2.5 is better.

 

As well as the above, watch out for water leaks to the interior from front and rear screens. And it's a KV6, so guess what, the cooling system responds badly to less than diligent maintenance.

 

ABS light is almost certainly gungy sensors - these aren't too expensive but the old ones often need drilling out, a job requiring much care and some swearing. (I have some spare ABS sensors if anyone wants.)

 

Airbag light is often on, and may be fixable by jiggling the wires under the front seats. It was on mine. Make the most of this, not much is this easy to fix. I once spent half a day and half a pint of blood changing a headlamp bulb.

 

Mine almost had the full house of Rover 75 nightmares: dubious cooling, leaking rear screen and driver's door seal, due to run out of cambelt, dead ECU from blocked plenum drain holes. Clutch was ok though.

 

Dead ECU + huge list of other non-fatal faults = end of life vehicle, very sadly. Would be happy to find a tidy low mileage one and look after it, though - early ones will soon be rare.

[Split_Pin]

1.8T. One gallon of fuel and four head gaskets to the lamppost.

Excuse me whilst I fetch a shovel to clear up all those great big massive chunks of MFA that I just LOL'ed all over the floor!!

[Junkman]

Buy a Jag instead.

[purplebargeken]

^^ and be always fixing underneath rust. Get a bloody Rover and enjoy.

[Angrydicky]

Nice to drive but the autos are quite thirsty and as mentioned, they're horrible to work on with very little spare room under the bonnet. ABS sensors fail, which are difficult to replace as they often have to be drilled out, and the cambelt is a royal pain on the V6 cars. Having driven both I'd go for the 600 over the 75 simply for ease of maintenance. 

[EssDeeWon]

Well its unlikely I will end up with one, they all seem to be for sale with dealers or completely borked or both! But if a gem turned up for sale down the road im not sure I could resist. I dont do enough miles to worry about fuel consumptions, its just a number to me

[CortinaDave]

I've been really pleased with my ZT. Its taken a hell of a punishment. Ive had 100s of cars and this is one of the very few I've owned thats stood up to the kind of mileage I do for any decent length of time.

 

For my money theres not a lot to touch them at the moment, The build quality (on mine at least) is good and its wearing its near 160k well. Its the diesel though. When you look at the equivalent Audis, Beemers etc they are three times the price and for my money not as nice.

 

Most of the issues Ive had have been electrical annoyances, plus it needed a clutch. Supplied and fitted that cost me £250 which I dont think is bad.

 

have a look at your local auction. R75s fetch bugger all at the moment. I saw a tidy tested connoisseur on an 03 plate with 68k go for £320 a few weeks back.

 

OK there will likely be issues, but at that money you've a repair fund.

[purplebargeken]

Plus if you get a Jag you will end up wearing the headlining like a bedouin tent. A very flappy tent at that. It is irritating.