Rovers - were they really that bad?
Discussion
The 75 won a few awards, and since this list was compiled a few more as secondhand buys.
What Car? ‘Car of the Year’ 1999.
What Car? ‘Compact Executive Car of the Year’ 1999
What Car? ‘Diesel Car of the Year’ 1999
Auto Express ‘World Car’ 1999
The Journal / AA ‘Business Car of the Year’ 1999
Italian ‘World's Most Beautiful High Class Saloon’ 1999
Bild am Sonntag ‘Golden Steering Wheel Award’ 1999
The Society of Plastic Engineers ‘Innovative use of plastic’ for the 75's V6 plastic intake system 1999
British International Motor Show ‘Best riding and handling front wheel drive saloon in the world’ 1999
Japanese 'Import Car of the Year' 1999
Middle East Wheels & Gears ‘Car of the Year’ 1999/2000
Japanese 'Import Car of the Year' 2000
New Zealand's National Business Review 'Car of the Year' 2000
Executive Class ‘Portuguese Car of the Year’ 2000
What Car? ‘Compact Executive Car of the Year’ 2000
The only executive car to be short-listed in the 2000 ‘European Car of the Year Awards’
Used Car Buyer 'Used Car of the Year’ 2000
Used Car Buyer ‘Used Car of the Year’ 2001
Diesel Car Magazine ‘Compact Executive Car’ 2001
JD Power customer satisfaction survey ‘Only European car in the Top 5’ 2001
Auto Express Used Car Honours 'Best Diesel Car' 2002
Used Car Buyer 'Best Used Medium Car’ 2002
ITM ‘Car of the Year' 2002
Australian Institute of Transport Management ‘Car of the Year’ 2002
Used Car Buyer ‘Used Car of the Year’ 2004
Used Car Buyer ‘Best Used Family Car of the Year’ 2004
‘Most popular British Forces Germany tax free car purchase’ 2004
Auto Express Drive Power ‘Best Ride Quality’ 2006
Auto Trader Used Car Awards 'Best Family Car' 2007
What Car? ‘Car of the Year’ 1999.
What Car? ‘Compact Executive Car of the Year’ 1999
What Car? ‘Diesel Car of the Year’ 1999
Auto Express ‘World Car’ 1999
The Journal / AA ‘Business Car of the Year’ 1999
Italian ‘World's Most Beautiful High Class Saloon’ 1999
Bild am Sonntag ‘Golden Steering Wheel Award’ 1999
The Society of Plastic Engineers ‘Innovative use of plastic’ for the 75's V6 plastic intake system 1999
British International Motor Show ‘Best riding and handling front wheel drive saloon in the world’ 1999
Japanese 'Import Car of the Year' 1999
Middle East Wheels & Gears ‘Car of the Year’ 1999/2000
Japanese 'Import Car of the Year' 2000
New Zealand's National Business Review 'Car of the Year' 2000
Executive Class ‘Portuguese Car of the Year’ 2000
What Car? ‘Compact Executive Car of the Year’ 2000
The only executive car to be short-listed in the 2000 ‘European Car of the Year Awards’
Used Car Buyer 'Used Car of the Year’ 2000
Used Car Buyer ‘Used Car of the Year’ 2001
Diesel Car Magazine ‘Compact Executive Car’ 2001
JD Power customer satisfaction survey ‘Only European car in the Top 5’ 2001
Auto Express Used Car Honours 'Best Diesel Car' 2002
Used Car Buyer 'Best Used Medium Car’ 2002
ITM ‘Car of the Year' 2002
Australian Institute of Transport Management ‘Car of the Year’ 2002
Used Car Buyer ‘Used Car of the Year’ 2004
Used Car Buyer ‘Best Used Family Car of the Year’ 2004
‘Most popular British Forces Germany tax free car purchase’ 2004
Auto Express Drive Power ‘Best Ride Quality’ 2006
Auto Trader Used Car Awards 'Best Family Car' 2007
The most influential car in the last 50 years is the Mini. The Mini with the transverse engine changed small car production forever. At the time of its introduction virtually every small car had rear wheel drive, Now virtually every small car worldwide has front wheel drive. (Al la Mini). The real tragedy of the Austin/Morris/Rover etc debacle was that such a huge advance led to literally nothing for the company that produced the car. Despite that fantastic advance and opportunity Rover lost the lot. VW another pioneer of innovative motoring with the Beetle, saw the light of the Mini and every VW nowadays has FWD. As did every other major European car maker and indeed the majority of the Worlds car makers. Rover never got to grips with either making reliable durable cars at an affordable price or ensuring that the rust peril was addressed. In consequence Rover failed financially despite three massive bail outs and massive subsidy from the taxpayer in the UK. They were really that bad.
sjc said:
The 75 won a few awards, and since this list was compiled a few more as secondhand buys.
What Car? ‘Car of the Year’ 1999.
What Car? ‘Compact Executive Car of the Year’ 1999
What Car? ‘Diesel Car of the Year’ 1999
Auto Express ‘World Car’ 1999
The Journal / AA ‘Business Car of the Year’ 1999
Italian ‘World's Most Beautiful High Class Saloon’ 1999
Bild am Sonntag ‘Golden Steering Wheel Award’ 1999
The Society of Plastic Engineers ‘Innovative use of plastic’ for the 75's V6 plastic intake system 1999
British International Motor Show ‘Best riding and handling front wheel drive saloon in the world’ 1999
Japanese 'Import Car of the Year' 1999
Middle East Wheels & Gears ‘Car of the Year’ 1999/2000
Japanese 'Import Car of the Year' 2000
New Zealand's National Business Review 'Car of the Year' 2000
Executive Class ‘Portuguese Car of the Year’ 2000
What Car? ‘Compact Executive Car of the Year’ 2000
The only executive car to be short-listed in the 2000 ‘European Car of the Year Awards’
Used Car Buyer 'Used Car of the Year’ 2000
Used Car Buyer ‘Used Car of the Year’ 2001
Diesel Car Magazine ‘Compact Executive Car’ 2001
JD Power customer satisfaction survey ‘Only European car in the Top 5’ 2001
Auto Express Used Car Honours 'Best Diesel Car' 2002
Used Car Buyer 'Best Used Medium Car’ 2002
ITM ‘Car of the Year' 2002
Australian Institute of Transport Management ‘Car of the Year’ 2002
Used Car Buyer ‘Used Car of the Year’ 2004
Used Car Buyer ‘Best Used Family Car of the Year’ 2004
‘Most popular British Forces Germany tax free car purchase’ 2004
Auto Express Drive Power ‘Best Ride Quality’ 2006
Auto Trader Used Car Awards 'Best Family Car' 2007
All well and good until someone pushed the button on Project Drive:What Car? ‘Car of the Year’ 1999.
What Car? ‘Compact Executive Car of the Year’ 1999
What Car? ‘Diesel Car of the Year’ 1999
Auto Express ‘World Car’ 1999
The Journal / AA ‘Business Car of the Year’ 1999
Italian ‘World's Most Beautiful High Class Saloon’ 1999
Bild am Sonntag ‘Golden Steering Wheel Award’ 1999
The Society of Plastic Engineers ‘Innovative use of plastic’ for the 75's V6 plastic intake system 1999
British International Motor Show ‘Best riding and handling front wheel drive saloon in the world’ 1999
Japanese 'Import Car of the Year' 1999
Middle East Wheels & Gears ‘Car of the Year’ 1999/2000
Japanese 'Import Car of the Year' 2000
New Zealand's National Business Review 'Car of the Year' 2000
Executive Class ‘Portuguese Car of the Year’ 2000
What Car? ‘Compact Executive Car of the Year’ 2000
The only executive car to be short-listed in the 2000 ‘European Car of the Year Awards’
Used Car Buyer 'Used Car of the Year’ 2000
Used Car Buyer ‘Used Car of the Year’ 2001
Diesel Car Magazine ‘Compact Executive Car’ 2001
JD Power customer satisfaction survey ‘Only European car in the Top 5’ 2001
Auto Express Used Car Honours 'Best Diesel Car' 2002
Used Car Buyer 'Best Used Medium Car’ 2002
ITM ‘Car of the Year' 2002
Australian Institute of Transport Management ‘Car of the Year’ 2002
Used Car Buyer ‘Used Car of the Year’ 2004
Used Car Buyer ‘Best Used Family Car of the Year’ 2004
‘Most popular British Forces Germany tax free car purchase’ 2004
Auto Express Drive Power ‘Best Ride Quality’ 2006
Auto Trader Used Car Awards 'Best Family Car' 2007
http://www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/facts-and-figures/...
http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/showthread.p...
Steffan said:
The most influential car in the last 50 years is the Mini. The Mini with the transverse engine changed small car production forever. At the time of its introduction virtually every small car had rear wheel drive, Now virtually every small car worldwide has front wheel drive. (Al la Mini). The real tragedy of the Austin/Morris/Rover etc debacle was that such a huge advance led to literally nothing for the company that produced the car. Despite that fantastic advance and opportunity Rover lost the lot. VW another pioneer of innovative motoring with the Beetle, saw the light of the Mini and every VW nowadays has FWD. As did every other major European car maker and indeed the majority of the Worlds car makers. Rover never got to grips with either making reliable durable cars at an affordable price or ensuring that the rust peril was addressed. In consequence Rover failed financially despite three massive bail outs and massive subsidy from the taxpayer in the UK. They were really that bad.
I have said this before elsewhere, but my father was a shop steward at Longbridge in the '70's, I remember well him being home more often than being at work during the strikes, and the electricity always being off - I think I was more used to candle light than light bulbs, such was the way in that period (something I don't think younger people could ever relate to)Anyway, my dad bought a brand new Austin Maxi 1800 at some point, and just as were heading off on holiday, I wound down the window and the it seemed like the whole mechanism, including glass dropped/collapsed in the door cavity, and I was left with the door handle (or was it just the know..) in my hand. I got a right whacking for it - but it was just so shoddy!
It is a shame now, because I believed that by the time MG/Rover closed, the workers were doing a great job and had finally got their collective act together, and it showed. It was/is a great pity.
I used to drive over a 1000 miles a week back in the late 70's and into the eighties.
I had a 2600 SD1 in 1978 , took her to 160000 miles
Paintwork was s
te bit never once failed me.
Then a 3500 auto SD1 , to 100k , paintwork was fine and she never failed me. Felt underpowered from what I was expecting .
Then an 825 that was superb , took her to 165,000 miles , rust to the front wheel arches , but never let me down.
No problem with Rovers from my experience of over 300k miles.
I had a 2600 SD1 in 1978 , took her to 160000 miles
Paintwork was s
te bit never once failed me.Then a 3500 auto SD1 , to 100k , paintwork was fine and she never failed me. Felt underpowered from what I was expecting .
Then an 825 that was superb , took her to 165,000 miles , rust to the front wheel arches , but never let me down.
No problem with Rovers from my experience of over 300k miles.
KTF said:
All well and good until someone pushed the button on Project Drive:
http://www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/facts-and-figures/...
http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/showthread.p...
Yep, I mentioned Project Drive a few posts back.http://www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/facts-and-figures/...
http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/showthread.p...
pimping said:
...
Recently I got rid if my 99 rocker 420 from 1999. It was a fine chariot though my new stter shows that the rover drank heavy around town. It was nippy but definitely old school though I like that. Eventually a not failure killed it and if I am honest unless it was on the motorway the t series engine was thirsty for no reason. I liked the old mans chairs and fake wood and crappy nostalgic rover radio. I miss it actually but it was its time to due.
Recently I got rid if my 99 rocker 420 from 1999. It was a fine chariot though my new s
tter shows that the rover drank heavy around town. It was nippy but definitely old school though I like that. Eventually a not failure killed it and if I am honest unless it was on the motorway the t series engine was thirsty for no reason. I liked the old mans chairs and fake wood and crappy nostalgic rover radio. I miss it actually but it was its time to due.
Ignoring facetiousness (sorry
), very highly regarded cars 
.C'mon guys, lets not forget one of the best engines ever produced, the ubiquitous Rover V8, which, its various guises, has powered Britains motors for years. It was used in many great cars, Tvrs, MGs,
Stags, LDVs to mention but a few, not to forget the many that were transplanted into a massive variety of vehicles. (Like my old Chevette), Yes, I lnow, I bow my head in shame at admitting ownership of one of them. It was at its best in the SD1, I had several of these over the years, one of which featured in a 1988 copy of Max Power. It was "boy racered" to a 3.9 with twin ceramic hybrid turbos, ful race cams, lightened, balanced, hybrid pistons, forged and fully kicked about, to produce 556 bhp at the wheels. 1/4 mile at Santa Pod was seen off in 11.98 seconds, as was 7 gallons of fuel in half an hour!
As you would expect, below 2.5krpm, due to the cams it sounded like a bucket of spanners being rattled, but above that it sang like a thunder storm in a concert hall. At full chat it hit 178 mph, and drank fuel at a rate of 7mpg, or 12 if driven sensibly. So, in answer, yes, the cars themselves may have been disgraceful at times, but the mighty v8 Rover engine is, in my humble opinion, one of the best ever made. (Despite its origins being American!
Stags, LDVs to mention but a few, not to forget the many that were transplanted into a massive variety of vehicles. (Like my old Chevette), Yes, I lnow, I bow my head in shame at admitting ownership of one of them. It was at its best in the SD1, I had several of these over the years, one of which featured in a 1988 copy of Max Power. It was "boy racered" to a 3.9 with twin ceramic hybrid turbos, ful race cams, lightened, balanced, hybrid pistons, forged and fully kicked about, to produce 556 bhp at the wheels. 1/4 mile at Santa Pod was seen off in 11.98 seconds, as was 7 gallons of fuel in half an hour!
As you would expect, below 2.5krpm, due to the cams it sounded like a bucket of spanners being rattled, but above that it sang like a thunder storm in a concert hall. At full chat it hit 178 mph, and drank fuel at a rate of 7mpg, or 12 if driven sensibly. So, in answer, yes, the cars themselves may have been disgraceful at times, but the mighty v8 Rover engine is, in my humble opinion, one of the best ever made. (Despite its origins being American!
Fun Bus said:
Build quality on the 75 slipped over the years it was in production. The early cars were very well put together.
Project Drive was partly to blame, but the prodution line move from Canley to Longbridge hurt quality too; the Canley plant seemed to be capable of better and more consistent build quality.I've had a few of them.
1995 Rover 214sli - absolutely fantastic car, done over 100k no HGF. Really well put together, handled well and was surprisingly sprightly for what was a 1400cc engine. Compared to what my mates were driving it felt like a proper quality product but suffered a bit from the pipe and slippers image even then.
I would buy another of these in a heartbeat.
Replaced with a 1996 rover 414i, one of the first of the new shape. Not a bad car but not in the same league quality wise. Still miles better than an escort of the same period. Suffered HGF twice, head was porous, plastic dowels etc engine was not built to same standard as the earlier 214 I had.
Had a rover 100 as a stop gap car after that, it was an amazing car but rusted like nothing else I've owned. Safety wise and image wise it was completely out of date but with a bit of work could have morphed into a proper decent city car.
I'm not going to wade into the BMW / Phoenix four / who killed rover debate, but I will say its a shame rover went west, they were producing some really credible cars in the 90's but just seemed to stand still.
The MG rover cars were a brief return to form and to me show what the talent in rover could do on a shoestring, couldn't help thinking with proper investment they could have been one of the big manufacturers today - look at jaguar for example
Shame SAIC are likely to just fill hyundai's old position as budget motoring provider
Anyway enough waffle, I'm off to browse ebay for a pre 2001 rover 75 now!
1995 Rover 214sli - absolutely fantastic car, done over 100k no HGF. Really well put together, handled well and was surprisingly sprightly for what was a 1400cc engine. Compared to what my mates were driving it felt like a proper quality product but suffered a bit from the pipe and slippers image even then.
I would buy another of these in a heartbeat.
Replaced with a 1996 rover 414i, one of the first of the new shape. Not a bad car but not in the same league quality wise. Still miles better than an escort of the same period. Suffered HGF twice, head was porous, plastic dowels etc engine was not built to same standard as the earlier 214 I had.
Had a rover 100 as a stop gap car after that, it was an amazing car but rusted like nothing else I've owned. Safety wise and image wise it was completely out of date but with a bit of work could have morphed into a proper decent city car.
I'm not going to wade into the BMW / Phoenix four / who killed rover debate, but I will say its a shame rover went west, they were producing some really credible cars in the 90's but just seemed to stand still.
The MG rover cars were a brief return to form and to me show what the talent in rover could do on a shoestring, couldn't help thinking with proper investment they could have been one of the big manufacturers today - look at jaguar for example
Shame SAIC are likely to just fill hyundai's old position as budget motoring provider
Anyway enough waffle, I'm off to browse ebay for a pre 2001 rover 75 now!
Jawaman said:
Anyway enough waffle, I'm off to browse ebay for a pre 2001 rover 75 now!
Jawaman...your carriage awaits...1200 quid.http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/showthread.p...
sjc said:
That is VERY nice. I've never owned an auto anything before, how do these compare with a manual box in the same car?Also stupid question but I assume they have 3 3 point belts in the back?
I'm not strictly in the market just yet, I'm going to use my trusty mk3 mondeo shed through winter and then think about changing.....I didn't read the links to here but I assume there was some friction on PH comparing R75 with mondeos
Jawaman said:
Anyway enough waffle, I'm off to browse ebay for a pre 2001 rover 75 now!
Sure I can't tempt you with a post-2001 example? It has its issues, but for the sort of money it's on for I honestly think mine's a steal: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161166492639?ssPageName=...Chris71 said:
Sure I can't tempt you with a post-2001 example? It has its issues, but for the sort of money it's on for I honestly think mine's a steal: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161166492639?ssPageName=...
The interiors of the 75/ZT's seem to be very high quality and wear very well, better than most cars, I think. Our 53 plate ZT-T 190 still looked brand new inside when we part exchanged it, not even a hint of wear on the seat bolsters.g3org3y said:
My only experience of a Rover was the 820Si we used for a charity rally.
It wasn't awful! The ride was decent and smooth and there was masses of interior room and boot space. Managed to take the four of us (and luggage) in relative comfort round the 2000 or so miles. It also managed 120 speedo indicated on the Autobahn.
Ergonomics were however terrible, seemed very much an afterthought. Wasn't intuitive and smacked of "it'll do". Engine was rather rough and the the autobox rather dimwitted with a lot of torque convertor lag. Handling (as expected) was nothing to write home about. I could see the appeal but I suspect an equivalent from the German opposition at the time would satisfy more people more of the time.
Will look on it favourably though as we had a fabulous time!
Alps
Italian Lakes
At the 'Ring
Write up about the trip here.
Good work fella It wasn't awful! The ride was decent and smooth and there was masses of interior room and boot space. Managed to take the four of us (and luggage) in relative comfort round the 2000 or so miles. It also managed 120 speedo indicated on the Autobahn.
Ergonomics were however terrible, seemed very much an afterthought. Wasn't intuitive and smacked of "it'll do". Engine was rather rough and the the autobox rather dimwitted with a lot of torque convertor lag. Handling (as expected) was nothing to write home about. I could see the appeal but I suspect an equivalent from the German opposition at the time would satisfy more people more of the time.
Will look on it favourably though as we had a fabulous time!
Alps
Italian Lakes
At the 'Ring
Write up about the trip here.
I always fancied doing that, hope there was more than one pair of stringbacks and action slacks on that trip!TA14 said:
welshpete said:
C'mon guys, lets not forget one of the best engines ever produced, the ubiquitous Rover V8, which, its various guises, has powered Britains motors for years. It was used in many great cars, Tvrs, MGs, Stags,
It wasn't used in Stags - they had their own V8.Back in the day I had a number of Rovers either as company cars or ones I bought myself and they were not bad at all.
I had
213s - basic but comfortable and much nicer than the Ford Orion I was given afterwards (company car)
216s - as above but with more go (company car)
216SE - fuel injected, nice equipment levels, comfy (company car)
827 Vitesse - Great car, fantasic smooth V6 engine, carried 4 adults and bot fo wine from south of France to the ferry ports with an average speed over 100 mph. Lots of space, lots of go. (it was my own)
I also used my Dads Montego Mayfair and Montego Turbo after I passed my driving test. Compared t the equivalent Cortinas and Sierras they were much nicer places to be.
Apart from one Montego which had a loose engine earth strap all of these cars were totally reliable.
I had
213s - basic but comfortable and much nicer than the Ford Orion I was given afterwards (company car)
216s - as above but with more go (company car)
216SE - fuel injected, nice equipment levels, comfy (company car)
827 Vitesse - Great car, fantasic smooth V6 engine, carried 4 adults and bot fo wine from south of France to the ferry ports with an average speed over 100 mph. Lots of space, lots of go. (it was my own)
I also used my Dads Montego Mayfair and Montego Turbo after I passed my driving test. Compared t the equivalent Cortinas and Sierras they were much nicer places to be.
Apart from one Montego which had a loose engine earth strap all of these cars were totally reliable.
Chris71 said:
Sure I can't tempt you with a post-2001 example? It has its issues, but for the sort of money it's on for I honestly think mine's a steal: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161166492639?ssPageName=...
You are right, there's not much (in fact anything) at the same £ that seems to come close. I had full leather in my 414 and have to say the quality of leather used by rover seems to be a level above what the Germans were using at the same time. Also - the touring boot is huge!
Chris71 said:
Sure I can't tempt you with a post-2001 example? It has its issues, but for the sort of money it's on for I honestly think mine's a steal: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161166492639?ssPageName=...
There's nothing in the issues list that should put the buyer of an 11 year old car off, and none will cost lots to sort.Might be worth contacting the OP in the thread below ?
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
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