Oops, I've done it again. (Rover 75).

[J4CKO]

I think these are destined to be a minor classic, I love the unapolegetic tweedieness, the "fk off its Britsh thing", half car, half HG Wells Styled time machine, I think they can be owned in a post ironic way now, ZT still looks damn good when you remove the anti MG Rover blinkers, in a world of blobby sameness, what a handsome thing it is.

[Fizpop]

SebastienClement said:

Oh yes. It does.

Everything has a satisfying clunk. When you close the doors it really does isolate you from all the normal outside noises. Wind noise is next to non existent (even this weekend with the wind we've had I've been wafting up and down the M1 in almost silent surroundings). The seats are very comfy. I can drive a journey and feel very fresh at the other end.

Interestingly, this car, an early one built at Cowley, seems to feel more solid than my later Longbridge example.

That's not in your mind. The early cars were very well put together and with good quality materials too. This was under BMWs stewardship remember. Unfortunately the later cars, facelifted ZTs and 75s were of a slightly lower quality, produced under a cost cutting project called 'Drive'.

The early ones are the ones to have in my opinion. Nice motor OP

[Otter Smacker]

The Nur said:

Hell of a lot of car for £571!

Complete with Tea & Toast, I'd say that's a bargain!


Good work OP.

[carinaman]

You paid less than the price of the cambelt service for the whole car, which surely has to be a good thing.

In the mid to late 90s a disguised pre-production one went past me travelling in the opposite direction all masked up and I wasn't too sure it wasn't a Jag.

[SebastienClement]

Thanks for the comments, chaps.

I'm taking it on Monday to someone from the Owner's Club to have the thermostat replaced. They're a known weak point on the V6 engines, and begin to open too early - which mine is doing - so it's running at about 75'c rather than the 95'c or so it should be running at. Once that's done, I'm hoping it'll go through an MOT in the next couple of weeks (due 21/12/13, so I can put it in from 22/11/13) without too much of an issue. I can't pin point anything it'll fail on from driving it, so hopefully there are no nasties lurking! On the plus side, it went through the last MOT with no advisories, and that was just 3500 miles ago.

[Sir Fergie]

Fizpop said:

SebastienClement said:

Oh yes. It does.

Everything has a satisfying clunk. When you close the doors it really does isolate you from all the normal outside noises. Wind noise is next to non existent (even this weekend with the wind we've had I've been wafting up and down the M1 in almost silent surroundings). The seats are very comfy. I can drive a journey and feel very fresh at the other end.

Interestingly, this car, an early one built at Cowley, seems to feel more solid than my later Longbridge example.

That's not in your mind. The early cars were very well put together and with good quality materials too. This was under BMWs stewardship remember. Unfortunately the later cars, facelifted ZTs and 75s were of a slightly lower quality, produced under a cost cutting project called 'Drive'.

The early ones are the ones to have in my opinion. Nice motor OP

Your new one is lovely Sebastien - love the light coloured interior.

Question for you - sometimes im like a child in a sweet shop looking at interesting stuff like the Rover 75 and other stuff like Xantias that pop up from time to time.

Did the drop in build quality happen at once with the facelifted 2004 model - or did it happen gradually over time before that as well.

I really shouldn't but at some point - I fear the temptation to own something like a 75 or a Xantia may be too much to resist - lol

[sjc]

Pre "Project Drive" cars are from first built examples from very late 98 up to the around mid 2001.It was gradual process from then onwards,(at the start for example,it was merely little things like a plainer key-fob,and deleting screw covers for the seatbelt anchor points some badging etc),with bigger cost cutting and cheaper trim materials from around the facelift in 2004.

[davepoth]

sjc said:

Pre "Project Drive" cars are from first built examples from very late 98 up to the around mid 2001.It was gradual process from then onwards,(at the start for example,it was merely little things like a plainer key-fob,and deleting screw covers for the seatbelt anchor points some badging etc),with bigger cost cutting and cheaper trim materials from around the facelift in 2004.

The full list is available somewhere online (AROnline rings a bell) but as you say there was quite a big step with the facelift.

That said, my pre-facelift 2004 is still pretty classy inside.

[Rubin215]

Always wanted one, just never got round to buying yet.

[S6OOH]

Here we go then!

Its a 2002 (not '05 - listed wrongly and unable to amend due to ebay error)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151158753444?ssPageName=...

[SebastienClement]

Well I've had the thermostat done today, and it's now running nicely.

Had it plugged into a T4 system (Rover's diagnostic system) and there are no faults recorded on the car at all. Which is nice!

[dbdb]

The 75 really is a delightful thing inside!

[SebastienClement]

I do love the interior. The pictures don't show it, but the carpets (on the early cars, at least) are very woolly and feel luxurious. The whole interior feels very solid and a lovely, comfortable place to be.

I've been monitoring the underbonnet levels and tyres frequently while I get used to the car. All the levels are fine, but unfortunately it seems like my rear offside tyre has a slow leak. So, I need to pop into Tyremen and see if they can fix it or not. If not, I'll go for a set of tyres on the back so that they match, I think. Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance seem to get very good reviews, and are not at all pricey.

Other than that, I'm planning a big service for it in the new year. It has had an oil and filter change about 1000 miles ago, but I'd rather give it a full going over myself, so it'll get done again. I'm planning to do:

Oil & Filter
Air Filter
Fuel Filter
pollen Filter
Spark Plugs
Gearbox Oil
Battery
Alignment Check
Keyfob Battery

There's probably other things I've missed / not thought of yet. Feel free to point out!

[mattyevo89]

These are not a car I have ever considered to own however I am quite young. Never had anything against them but in my eyes that seems like the bargain of the century.

That is a hell of a lot of car for the money, I'm actually almost tempted to get one now to see me thru the winter in comfort!!

[sjc]

mattyevo89 said:

These are not a car I have ever considered to own however I am quite young. Never had anything against them but in my eyes that seems like the bargain of the century.

That is a hell of a lot of car for the money, I'm actually almost tempted to get one now to see me thru the winter in comfort!!

Be quick on this one..
http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/showthread.p...

[tbc]

well you learn something new everyday

75 with a factory Mustang V8 engine

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-54-ROVER-75-V8-MUST...

[SebastienClement]

mattyevo89 said:

These are not a car I have ever considered to own however I am quite young. Never had anything against them but in my eyes that seems like the bargain of the century.

That is a hell of a lot of car for the money, I'm actually almost tempted to get one now to see me thru the winter in comfort!!

How about a compromise on a ZT?

[SebastienClement]

tbc said:

well you learn something new everyday

75 with a factory Mustang V8 engine

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-54-ROVER-75-V8-MUST...

Yep! Although IIRC some parts are difficult / majorly expensive to get for the V8 cars. I think I remember reading £800 for a pair of rear discs.

[sjc]

Apologies for thread hijack, but for those of you interested..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhUEK6Vaes8&fea...

[SlowStig]

SebastienClement said:

Yep! Although IIRC some parts are difficult / majorly expensive to get for the V8 cars. I think I remember reading £800 for a pair of rear discs.

Not quite that bad, its £330 a set for the back and there is one or two bespoke parts for them, otherwise they share most of their parts with a standard ZT/75.