Rover 75 - Discuss

[blackbird]

OK , so ,These Rover 75's have been catching my eye

anyone own or owned one ?

What are they like

Is this a wise (shite ) buy ?

1.8's to be avoided ? what if the uprated gasket fitted ?

Go for the MG ZT ?

Derv Conny SE the one to go for ?

 

Please Discuss .............

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Defo Diseasel. They are so cheap now that there's not much point in risking a 1.8 or a V6. 75Diesel Tourer - what a wagon for 1200 quid or whatever. A mate of mine bought such a chariot on a 52 plate for £1250. He's had it a year now with minimal problems - just a running issue caused by a vacuum hose, cured for about 50p.

They're certainly decently made and a njice place to sit - even if it is waiting for the AA.

[scooters]

get the diesel and get the higest spec you can possibly get - they are great cars - real 40mph on the outside lane-tweed homburg- grey shoes - bad BHS anorak old giffer mobile - ideally in automatic...I would steer clear of petrols full stop unless you bung in a bottle of K seal as a precaution...if you have minimal mies then maybe get the V6 Auto which is a very nice drive and probably beter in the smaller 2.0 version.

 

Am considering a Diesel top spec for next year as my 'work' car - superbly comfortable and will at some point become a classic.

 

they are only going to get cheaper

 

ZT - good car but I'd buy an old 535i if I wanted a performace car - 75 is for Bowling Club AGM whereas the ZT is for going Bowling...if you get my drift....

[Guest]

I had a 54 plate conn cdti 135. It was a nice comfortable old thing. I did the 100 mile round trip to work for four years in it and it was a nice place to be. Pretty good mpg, when you put you foot down it didn't hang about. I kept mine as standard but I understand it is pretty easy to modify the bmw engine. I would deffinetly go for the tourer if I had one again though as the saloon despite having a reasonably sized boot wasn't great for shifting stuff about.

I got rid because I moved house and wasn't doing the long commutes I was doing before otherwise I would have kept it. Check for rust where the wing mirrors meet the doors, I got mine when it was three years old and this was already a problem.

[Albert Ross]

They're a bit cramped up front, with shit visibility..... if you're a fat bastard like me, avoid.

[RoadworkUK]

I can actually, through my ultra rose-tinted fantasy specs, envisage a time where these things are sought after.

 

I'd evern go as far as to say that lunatics will, someday, hand over high three figure sums for a well preserved 75 with the KV6.

 

Yes, the diseasel is probably an infinitely wiser undertaking, but there's something about a 75 with a refined, woofly exhaust note wafting around that was totally without any comparison. It literally had no rivals, being so totally different (and admittedly more limited) in appeal to everything else. Buy one and take care of it.

[Pete-M]

If they worked, I'd be tempted.

 

I ran an 05 plate diesel one for a few weeks. Excellent at slightly illegal speeds on the motorway runs. Quiet enough, comfy enough, nice place to be.

 

Unfortunately, despite having only done 40k or so it threw its clutch after a few weeks so it went, never to be replaced.

 

 

The ZT-T 260, on the other hand. Ho yuss. Best thing Rover ever built.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

If it worked, it wouldn't be tempting shite!

[Lord Sterling]

Not really much more to add that has already neen said, but yeh, go for the 2.0 Diesel one, there is a 75 Connoisseur CDT SE local to me that has full black leather, that said, I did try a MG ZT diesel and was left rather underwhelmed though I do know there are 2 versions of the ZT CDTi being 116ps and 135ps. Avoid the 1.8 like the plague unless you like unwhelming performance, have very deep pockets and dont mind being without a car for weeks on end.

 

If considering a 2.0 or 2.5 KV6, do your homework on these first. Check that the cambelts have been done, as KV6s are a quad cam there are 3 belts and it is a big job. Also check the KV6 have been fitted with MLS Multi-Layered gaskets and that the thermostat changed. I've not heard heard anything about the KV4 engines or problems so do your homework on those too before buying.

 

Good luck with whatever decision you make.

[pompei]

I looked at one a year or two ago - nice place to be, but incredibly heavy clutch which really spoiled it for me. I'm told they are all like that? Even Mrs P was impressed despite old giffer image.

[Lord Sterling]

I looked at one a year or two ago - nice place to be, but incredibly heavy clutch which really spoiled it for me. I'm told they are all like that? Even Mrs P was impressed despite old giffer image.

 

May have been something wrong with it then, I understand that 75s do suffer with some sort of clutch issue, either that you had been driving an auto/very light clutched car. The 75s I've driven have all had reasonably light clutches.

[R9UKE]

I too have been tempted lately looking at the prices. It would have to be a petrol V6 for me. I always thought the 2 litre V6 was a misprint. The only other 2 litre V6 I remember is the Nissan QX Maxima thing. There's probably loads more out there. Is the bigger V6 a 2.5 or 3.0?

[Lord Sterling]

There is a 2.0 V6, the bigger V6 is the 2.5. The biggest engine fitted to a 75 is the one found in the MG ZT 260 which has a 4.6L Ford Modular V8 from Mustang.

[Guest greenvanman]

Fatha GVM has had a V6 one for the best part of the last 10 years without any real hassle and loved it. And there was me thinking he'd (understandably) never buy another Rover after the shitbag 400 that spent half it's life coming home on a trailer, largely with electrical issues and the seemingly inevitable HGF. He'd had a couple of 214s before that but they were Hondas anyway, weren't they?

 

For me it's easily the best looking Rover made in about 30 years, and the estate is one of few of its type that doesn't look like some sort of hideous accident/afterthought. Never driven one like, so I've absolutely nothing practical to offer on that front.

[Lord Sterling]

He'd had a couple of 214s before that but they were Hondas anyway, weren't they?

 

No, only on certain models was the Honda used. The 214, (Assuming its the 89-95 R8 'wedge' model you Dad had) used the K-series straight-4 engine. It was only the Rover R8 216/416 (1.6L) that used the Honda engine.

[Guest]

They look a bit chintzy and rubbish, but I like chintzy and rubbish cars, so they're alright in my book.

[Guest greenvanman]

No, only on certain models was the Honda used. The 214, (Assuming its the 89-95 R8 'wedge' model you Dad had) used the K-series straight-4 engine. It was only the Rover R8 216/416 (1.6L) that used the Honda engine.

 

I stand corrected then, I always assumed his must have been the Honda-engined ones because they not only worked, but ran up fairly hefty mileages. He was commuting from South Manchester to Liverpool at the time. Fair dos, I owe Rover an apology after all these years

[ashmicro]

95 and earlier had the closed-deck engine block, so less susceptible to HGF. That may explain it. Proper and on-time coolant changes are a MUST on K's. Also, some Rover radiators are made from dehydrated camel dung, and must be very carefully checked on a regualr basis. I've had 10 K series cars and never suffered an HGF. The K4 with the plastic inlet manifold can suffer shrinkage or failure of the gasket between cyl 3 and 4. Gaskets are cheap and it's not a particularly difficult job.

[Pete-M]

I looked at one a year or two ago - nice place to be, but incredibly heavy clutch which really spoiled it for me. I'm told they are all like that? Even Mrs P was impressed despite old giffer image.

 

May have been something wrong with it then, I understand that 75s do suffer with some sort of clutch issue, either that you had been driving an auto/very light clutched car. The 75s I've driven have all had reasonably light clutches.

 

That's the clutch fault the one I had developed. Clutch went spectacularly heavy all of a sudden, and stayed that way.

[barefoot]

I've been looking at these for a while & have managed to work out that the diesel is the only one to consider.

I've never actually owned a diesel ever & this may be the car that converts me,

...or possibly a Citroen C15...

 

Not driven a Rover but sat in one recently, I'm not a big bloke, but there wasn't a deal of room - ace cup holders though.

[ashmicro]

IIRC the manuals have the slave inside the gearbox housing, which makes it a bit of a faff to repair/change. My uncles has an 01 Conny SE CDTi, and has had it for years. It's an auto, and the only issue on the whole car was the kickdown control, which was fixed for about £40.

[ChinaTom]

Thumbs up from me for these. I run a 2.0 Auto diesel saloon as a daily and love it to bits. Vision out is lousy, but you get used to it. Perfect for dual carriageways, but you'll wish for another 30 horses on B roads. Also agree that the tourer would be a better bet to live with. Headlamps are not great, but Halfords can sort that for £80. Facelift cars look better imo. Stereo awful in mine, but I'm comparing it to a high spec 5 series and a Jaguar, so maybe unfair.

 

Mine is apparently worth £2650 as a 54 reg Connoiseur SE with 60k miles. Absolute bargain. I inherited mine, so never bothered about the value.

[tonedepear]

Headlamps are not great, but Halfords can sort that for £80.

 

What do halfords sell for £80 that will sort the headlamps? I'm intrigued!

 

Actually, knowing halfords, 2 uprated bulbs probably come to £79.98

[scooters]

Headlamps are not great, but Halfords can sort that for £80.

 

What do halfords sell for £80 that will sort the headlamps? I'm intrigued!

 

Actually, knowing halfords, 2 uprated bulbs probably come to £79.98

 

 

ANGLE IEZZZZ and a pair of really crap, rectangular underslung FOGGYZ wired in a very bad way

[tonedepear]

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_192717_langId_-1_categoryId_165538

 

^ these are GR9.999* if fairly irresponsible

 

*apparently

[ChinaTom]

Headlamps are not great, but Halfords can sort that for £80.

 

What do halfords sell for £80 that will sort the headlamps? I'm intrigued!

 

Actually, knowing halfords, 2 uprated bulbs probably come to £79.98

 

 

errrr.... Yup, 2 x uprated bulbs £39.99 each. Made a hell of a difference around these dark Norfolk back-roads. Probably overpaid, but was in the store to get a new wiper blade and I walked past the bulb section on the way out. Thought it made sense at the time. What should I have paid?

[yes oui si]

I too have been tempted lately looking at the prices. It would have to be a petrol V6 for me. I always thought the 2 litre V6 was a misprint. The only other 2 litre V6 I remember is the Nissan QX Maxima thing. There's probably loads more out there. Is the bigger V6 a 2.5 or 3.0?

Mazda 323 V6... Was that a 2 litre? All I can remember is a test against a VR6 in some nineties issue of Top Gear mag...

 

*n

[dollywobbler]

Think the 323 was a 1.8 V6, same as the Mazda MX-3.

[ProgRocker]

I too have been tempted lately looking at the prices. It would have to be a petrol V6 for me. I always thought the 2 litre V6 was a misprint. The only other 2 litre V6 I remember is the Nissan QX Maxima thing. There's probably loads more out there. Is the bigger V6 a 2.5 or 3.0?

Mazda 323 V6... Was that a 2 litre? All I can remember is a test against a VR6 in some nineties issue of Top Gear mag...

 

*n

 

Oh yes. And the Mazda Xedos 6 too (remember those?! ) And the Mazda MX-3 had a 1.8 V6 too.

 

I'm becoming more of the fan of the 75 myself. Nice to know that the diseasel engined one is the best one.

[loserone]

It's the 2.0 V6 I'm looking at at the minute, though if might not actually by a 2000CC of course.

 

Gallondrunk pointed me at this recently,but I haven't had a chance to read it yet, and it won't help when buying a diesel 75.