Rover 75 1.8t - Much love??

[NorthernMonkey]

Ok folks....need some shitely guidance here.

 

My better half took this in a px deal today. It's a 52 Club SE saloon in that pale metallic green, velour trim, MOT failure sheet as long as your arm. It'll weigh in for about £200 in total including alloys, cat etc.

Normally, it'd be a fair acompli. However, here's the rub.

 

It's done 74k miles.

The engine, clutch, gearbox etc are all sweet.

Inside, it still smells of new car.

Outside, there's barely a mark on it.

It's obviously been looked after and comes with stacks of receipts.

 

As I said on the Pug 306 thread I started the other day, you can't save them all, but somehow, this one has got under my skin.

 

For a ticket, it needs both front to rear brake pipes, a very small patch welding on the inner sill right at the back, a tyre, a drop link and a few other bits and bobs, bulbs etc. It also has loads of advisories for corrosion on rear bottom arms, brake discs all round, etc etc. The discs are a bit ropey but everything else is just general underbody wear and tear...a hour or so with a wire brush and a tin of stone guard and it'd look a million dollars.

 

So here's the rub....I could get it back up to scratch for a days work and maybe £150 in bits and test fee but is it worth it?

 

The only ones that seem to get much love on eBay, trader etc are diesel tourers, connoisseurs with leather etc whereas this is a green veloured manual saloon with a 1.8 kettle, albeit turboed.

 

What's people's thoughts on the 1.8t? If I ran it around for a month or two, would there then be much interest in a raffle?

 

It's currently sat in a corner, waiting to be de-catted and thrown on the back of the truck ready for its final journey on Monday morning but even though it's just another lump of metal for which I have no personal use, this one is tugging at my heart strings...

 

Please, you lot, talk some sense into me. The reg for MOT perusal purposes is YS52CWE.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

It won't be worth much even with a years ticket sadly, I think even at £350-400 it would be an uphill battle trying to rehome it. It does sound nice though. Make us all squirm with a few pics!!!

[NorthernMonkey]

That's my fear tbh. I've probably weighed in more valuable stuff than this in the past without a second thought but believe it or not, this is the first 75 I've ever driven....most of the stuff I deal in is low mileage superminis etc...and it's really opened my eyes to what Rover had achieved in the latter years.

Even the divine MrsNJG was impressed....her exact words were 'Why does anyone bother buying a Jaguar?'!! Mind you, her experience has been of X and S types....yet to get her in a properly sorted series 3 or even a X308.

[AMC Rebel]

I'll easy have a couple of tickets (at least).  When I bought my ZT-T I had been looking for a good one for ages.  I had a spec in mind, but wasn't bothered which engine.  I got the KV6 - and I was pleased because they don't typically suffer from OMGHGF.  Except mine did, and when they do, they are an absolute bastard to fix because they "never have that problem".  

 

I concluded at the time that I would like to have a 1.8t as - they are nearly as powerful, and even if they do the HGF thing, there's a much better industry set up around fixing them, and there's more space in the engine bay and only one head to remove, and the cambelt is much easier.

 

Those suspension arms can be real rotters though - 

 

[Mally]

I have been looking for one. Recently bought a Diesel Tourer at £650 which seems ok so far.

Prices range from £200 to £2000 for an immaculate one.

They are really nice to drive, if you ran it round for a bit you might keep it. But repair costs, mean many are being scrapped.

Prices may rise when fewer are available.

From a sensible point of view, best to let it go. Even at £500 you wouldn't make enough for your troubles.

If someone wants it however it may be worth their trouble.

I'm looking for a towbar, they cost as much second hand as a new one, cant understand that.

[dollywobbler]

I was all set to dismiss the 1.8t as utter rubbish, until I actually drove one. It was lovely! Far more refined than I expected, and enough power too.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

What's the solution to those rotten arms, are new ones available???

[oldcars]

It's not my time and money so i say fix 

[oldcars]

What's the solution to those rotten arms, are new ones available???

Yes i think so, need to look into it as mine as getting a bit tatty. Whats the ones on yours like?

[Cheggers]

I was all set to dismiss the 1.8t as utter rubbish, until I actually drove one. It was lovely! Far more refined than I expected, and enough power too.

That's good to hear, because it sounds like a really odd car/ engine combination.

 

 

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[Sir Snipes]

That's good to hear, because it sounds like a really odd car/ engine combination.

 

 

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Yes I always thought so, too. I'd be more inclined to the 2.0 v6, though even that seems pointless compared to the 2.5. Turbo k seems more suited to an MG than a Rover.

[EssDeeWon]

What's the solution to those rotten arms, are new ones available???

 

This is the number one thing I worry about every MOT.  They are ££££ to source and £££ to have fitted.  I believe its about a £500 job all in?

[oldcars]

This is the number one thing I worry about every MOT.  They are ££££ to source and £££ to have fitted.  I believe its about a £500 job all in?

Off to clean mine up and paint as soon as weather dries up then 

[NorthernMonkey]

My next door MOT man has just wandered over for a brew and a nosy. He confirms my suspicions....the brake pipes are more of an advisory in his opinion, although they're that simple to do, it's a no-brainer. Everything else is quite saveable....the rear arms are a bit unsightly but structurally fine so a wire brushing session and some stone guard is the order of the day...so it looks like it's got a reprieve for now. It won't make any money but at least it'll keep the old thing on the road and hopefully make someone a good reliable motor.

[NorthernMonkey]

I'm going to set too with the steam cleaner and the tfr later so I'll stick up some pictures to whet your appetites for the inevitable summer roffle

 

By the way, the boot is as dry as a very dry thing...isn't that something worth saving it for alone?

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Good man! Must admit, I'd love to try one, a turbo K sounds like a splendid engine for one of these in principle.

[Alexg]

Does anyone here not own a 75?

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Car of CHAMPIONS

[cort16]

The k turdo replaced the 2.0v6 didn't it when some co2 rule changed and they had to scrabble to get something to replace the v6?

[oldcars]

Dry boot   

[rantingYoof]

A colleague at work got rid of his 04 plate 1.8 Mazda 6 which he'd had from new and took to over 200k and bought an 05 plate MG ZT with the 1.8T and a receipt for a just-done cambelt/waterpump AND headgasket.

 

At first he was of the view that he should have bought the V6, but then he realised he wasn't keeping it in gear long enough and now he says it's ample. He's investigating a light remap for about 180hp but says it's definitely not 'required' to make the car lively mid-range.

[Lacquer Peel]

Ahead of their time, the standard petrol engines for most bigger cars are 1.8-2.0 turbos.

[tooSavvy]

Car of CHAMPIONS

..... more of a NGK myself!

 

TS

[BorniteIdentity]

The turbos are great. I had one back in 2012 and they're perfectly capable. Keep it under 3000 rpm and it's serene and rover like - once it spools up it moves along pretty briskly.

 

Would again.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

I'd buy it, and stick it straight on Ebay. You may make a small profit, or at worst break even. But you've saved a nice car from being shredded and that's what matters. 

[NorthernMonkey]

Crucial development in this saga and it's not good news, I'm afraid....for reasons unbeknown to myself, I left it until now to actually take a closer look under the bonnet and guess what?

 

Yep, empty coolant reservoir and milky oil on the dipstick. FFS. Can't believe I didn't check earlier!!

 

Oh well, it makes the inevitable decision easier.....

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Oh well. Lets ask the Godfather of Soul.

[EssDeeWon]

Pics anyway or it hasn't happened. 

[NorthernMonkey]

Pics, you say.....

 

 

There you go. Will spare you the sorry sight of it on the back of the truck minus it's wheels.

It's not pretty.

[EssDeeWon]

That colour is Moonstone I believe.

 

Nice old bonus Rangie Vogue in the background.