DirtyDaily Posted January 23, 2022 Share Posted January 23, 2022 So after hijacking another thread where someone was asking for a large motor for sub £500 gadgetgricey mentioned that over in rover land there was a 75 going for free. Ever the opportunist I had to have a look and thought I would drop the gentleman a message. His reasoning behind it being free was that he was going to scrap it due to the clutch being on its way out so he would rather someone take it on. The post didn't mention the reg or contain any pictures. Just that it had a vinyl roof. After I managed to register to the rover forum and send him the message only 10 or 15 minutes later I got a call from an unknown mobile. Surely not. But it was and we had a 15 minute conversation where he told me how much he had cherished the car and that he spent a few grand over the 10 years he had it (receipts for proof), had it treated with krone rust proofing and so on. I still didn't have any pictures but 30 minutes after putting down the phone I was on my way to Loughborough from sunny Stockport. 2 hours later I arrived and there it was and in remarkable condition. Though the outside was a bit mucky you could see that there wasn't any dings or scrapes, a good wash and polish will reveal if there is any, inside is pristine. Everything works, engine started quickly and smoothly. Gears engage and the car moves. Good start. After driving it more and more I think the owner was being pretty harsh on it. I suspect that the peddle feel isn't what he was used to and attributed it to the clutch going. All I can say is that the clutch grabs, isn't that high on the pedal travel and there is no slip. I suspect its got more life left in it than he initially thought. The car is on 217k miles, MOT'd to October 2022, came with over half a tank of fuel, remapped bro to 160hp init (felt meh but my comparison is a jaguar xj8 with 300hp or the worlds slowest volvo 240 so my hp barometer is a little vague), heated seats work, radio works, no knocks or creaks, no untoward noises, front offside caliper is a little sticky but I think a food clean and maybe a rebuild but we shall see. "What's next with it you tight f***?" I hear you ask. Well I dunno long term but a good wash, A good polish (clay, compound and the works), remove the offside front caliper, grease it up and clean to see if that improves it but it's not all that bad anyway and maybe try and bleed the clutch and see if that improves pedal feel, other than that I guess just drive it. Anyone want it for a grand? JMotor, timolloyd, Dirk Diggler and 28 others 31 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schaefft Posted January 23, 2022 Share Posted January 23, 2022 Always love a good bargain, this definitely was! Good job on committing to it, being fast usually pays off, definitely did here! eddyramrod and DirtyDaily 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gadgetgricey Posted January 23, 2022 Share Posted January 23, 2022 Heated seats, sunroof and cruise as well, by the looks of it. Should have dropped him a note myself. Those seats look fantastic. Did like my old R75's. DirtyDaily 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snake Charmer Posted January 23, 2022 Share Posted January 23, 2022 Nice, seats look a similar style to the original P6. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyDaily Posted January 23, 2022 Author Share Posted January 23, 2022 Can confirm seats are very comfortable and look smart. Cruise, heated seats and sunroof correct. All working too. Remarkable really. mk2_craig and wuvvum 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddyramrod Posted January 23, 2022 Share Posted January 23, 2022 You got a good deal there! I won't have another manual because I find the clutch awfully heavy, but you're so right about the seats. Well done! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave_Q Posted January 23, 2022 Share Posted January 23, 2022 Just to confirm, you've been for a day out to collect a free car and now you want someone to give you £1000 for it? GLWTS and all that, for reference a mate once bought a bargain* diesel 75 with a clutch problem and co-incidentally £1000 is what it cost him to fix the clutch (master and slave, clutch kit and DMF, mates rates on labour) although this was in about 2008-9 so parts may have got cheaper and labour more expensive since then. With the possible/suspected clutch problem it seems unlikely a shitter would want it at that price but a less forthcoming ad on ebay might get you there as it looks nice. Poweredbyhopealone, Cavcraft, SiC and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyDaily Posted January 23, 2022 Author Share Posted January 23, 2022 Just to confirm, you've been for a day out to collect a free car and now you want someone to give you £1000 for it? GLWTS and all that, for reference a mate once bought a bargain* diesel 75 with a clutch problem and co-incidentally £1000 is what it cost him to fix the clutch (master and slave, clutch kit and DMF, mates rates on labour) although this was in about 2008-9 so parts may have got cheaper and labour more expensive since then. With the possible/suspected clutch problem it seems unlikely a shitter would want it at that price but a less forthcoming ad on ebay might get you there as it looks nice.I was joking about the grand. Would be a very hard faced bastard to do that. AnnoyingPentium, cort1977, juular and 4 others 4 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave_Q Posted January 23, 2022 Share Posted January 23, 2022 You definitely got me there Car does look good and I've definitely done similar, got a 2 door E30 for free once, just had to get the megabus to South Wales and drive it home to Nottingham. N Dentressangle and DirtyDaily 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mally Posted January 23, 2022 Share Posted January 23, 2022 I worried about my 75 clutch for 3 years. It was still working when I sold it. My Saab clutch however lasted 9 months. DirtyDaily and mercedade 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyDaily Posted January 23, 2022 Author Share Posted January 23, 2022 Thanks chaps. I like it. The drive home was very relaxing and the mpg i suspect is much better than the jag and volvo so daily duties might be beckoning. Dirty diesel daily... I'll get my coat davidbeesley0 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardK Posted January 23, 2022 Share Posted January 23, 2022 24 minutes ago, Mally said: I worried about my 75 clutch for 3 years. It was still working when I sold it. My Saab clutch however lasted 9 months. They don't have a thing like BMWs have do they? On fast aggressive changes it feels like my 323 slips. But no other suggestion of clutch problems. Turns out there's a weird restrictor to stop the clutch engaging 'too quickly'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somewhatfoolish Posted January 23, 2022 Share Posted January 23, 2022 Jolly germans don't condone anti-social behaviour like traffic light GP. AnnoyingPentium 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuboy Posted January 23, 2022 Share Posted January 23, 2022 well done.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schaefft Posted January 23, 2022 Share Posted January 23, 2022 9 minutes ago, RichardK said: They don't have a thing like BMWs have do they? On fast aggressive changes it feels like my 323 slips. But no other suggestion of clutch problems. Turns out there's a weird restrictor to stop the clutch engaging 'too quickly'. I once had the clutch changed in my E39. When I got it back the specialist said he removed that restrictor/valve because he didn't agree that it belonged into a car like this. RichardK 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sierraman Posted January 23, 2022 Share Posted January 23, 2022 Run it until the clutch goes and send it on it’s way to Zanussi and collect £200. Sometimes they can go for a while with a heavy clutch, obviously once it starts slipping on the flat then its not got long. Shite Ron and SiC 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuvvum Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 With the symptoms described, I would hazard a guess that it's more likely the slave cylinder will shart itself than that the clutch will start slipping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardK Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 Of course there's that release arm that blighted MGFs, doubt it's the same box but that's an easy fix* *temporarily by dousing the thing in spray grease. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sierraman Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 Not always that often it’s the clutch material itself that shits itself these days, it’s frequently the bits around it like the DMF or the hydraulics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HMC Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 I tend to find the clutch feel on these is a bit crappy anyway. The master is up under the dash beside the pedal box soeasy to get to, the slave famously is in the bellhousing so isnt, hence the chunky bills on these that clutch hydraulic issues often generate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyDaily Posted January 24, 2022 Author Share Posted January 24, 2022 Previous owner said he did the clutch job about 10 years or so ago. Which would sound like it's probably a 10 year/ 100k mile lifespan on these. I am now of the opinion though that's its fine. Also I'm daft and when I checked how much MOT it had left I was looking at the tax. Dumb dumb. It's MOT runs out on the 17th March. Might put it through one and see what comes of it... Shite Ron 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somewhatfoolish Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 1 hour ago, RichardK said: Of course there's that release arm that blighted MGFs, doubt it's the same box but that's an easy fix* *temporarily by dousing the thing in spray grease. Don't 75s use those funny ring-shaped slave cylinders? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunglebus Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 That vinyl roof is...interesting. definitely an acquired taste shall we say Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barefoot Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 I wonder if I should get an RAC badge for mine... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grogee Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 12 minutes ago, bunglebus said: That vinyl roof is...interesting. definitely an acquired taste shall we say I don't get it. Either it's a factory option that I've never seen on the road, or it's aftermarket. If the latter, who the hell was fitting vinyl roofs in 2001? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyDaily Posted January 24, 2022 Author Share Posted January 24, 2022 It is a vinyl roof. An acquired taste is putting it politely. Yes it is aftermarket. It will be staying on as I dread to think of what the paint would look like upon taking it off AnnoyingPentium and bunglebus 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeordieInExile Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 One random, please...? DirtyDaily and Poweredbyhopealone 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulgalour Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 The vinyl roof is the very epitome of "I don't hate it". It's delightful that the 75 has become the chariot of choice for the sorts of owners that lavish attention and as many primary colours as they can cram into a single engine bay with no thought whatsoever to the cost. I'm glad people are still having fun with their cars. timolloyd 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bren Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 Love the car. But not that vinyl roof. In fact it wouldn't look out of place with whisper driving it in Live and Let Die. timolloyd 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timolloyd Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 31 minutes ago, Bren said: Love the car. But not that vinyl roof. In fact it wouldn't look out of place with whisper driving it in Live and Let Die. Hopefully the passenger mirror can fire poison darts. Bren 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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