Talk to Me about Rover P6's......
Discussion
Been after another classic for a while now after owning several Triumphs in the past. Fancy a change, have been hankering after an MGB GT but being 6'6", do I really want to be squashed & cramped again?...probably not! This got Me thinking about bigger classics with a bit of waftability and I'm getting seriously tempted by a Rover P6. Noticed that the prices are quite reasonable...£2500 - £3000 seems to get you a very nice 2000/2200.
Just want some opinions and advice on what to look out for and what they are like to live with. What's the best engine to go for, 2000 or 2200? Would like a V8 but I also want to be able to afford to take it to work a couple of times a week in the better weather so sub 20mpg may be a bit painful...although the noise may be worth it!!
Cheers
Just want some opinions and advice on what to look out for and what they are like to live with. What's the best engine to go for, 2000 or 2200? Would like a V8 but I also want to be able to afford to take it to work a couple of times a week in the better weather so sub 20mpg may be a bit painful...although the noise may be worth it!!
Cheers
loads of threads on this on here
if your drive to work is only a few town/city miles then that'll not do a classic any favours whatsoever - if however your work is 20-30 country miles that'll be much better
all P6s drink a lot of petrol, I had a manual 3500S V8 and it was 17mpg around town and 26-28mpg on a run, I used it for work commute of 20 miles there and 20 miles back, unfortunately mostly dual but if it was a nice day I deviate the route
classics need regular proper use and regular full and proper servicing, maintaince and repair to keep them running at their best - most owners have no idea of how well their classics should/could go because they don't use or look after them properly, one of the worse aspects of classics is present and previous owners
test drive good mechanical examples outside your budget to see how well the cars should go and that you may need to increase your budget, keep money back for servicing
classics (P6s particularly) shouldn't be slow and sloopy to drive or unreliable but a lot are thanks to the previous and present owners
if your drive to work is only a few town/city miles then that'll not do a classic any favours whatsoever - if however your work is 20-30 country miles that'll be much better
all P6s drink a lot of petrol, I had a manual 3500S V8 and it was 17mpg around town and 26-28mpg on a run, I used it for work commute of 20 miles there and 20 miles back, unfortunately mostly dual but if it was a nice day I deviate the route
classics need regular proper use and regular full and proper servicing, maintaince and repair to keep them running at their best - most owners have no idea of how well their classics should/could go because they don't use or look after them properly, one of the worse aspects of classics is present and previous owners
test drive good mechanical examples outside your budget to see how well the cars should go and that you may need to increase your budget, keep money back for servicing
classics (P6s particularly) shouldn't be slow and sloopy to drive or unreliable but a lot are thanks to the previous and present owners
Edited by na on Tuesday 31st July 19:31
No disrespect to PH, but this is an excellent forum for P6s:
http://www.classicroverforum.com/
Lots of information and experts on it
http://www.classicroverforum.com/
Lots of information and experts on it
very good post but for balance it's also good to hear warts and all from non-marque diehards who like a range of cars including Rover P6s - in good mechanical condition they are lovely cars to drive and be passengered in, if my wife drove I sat in the back, most comfortable back seat I've travelled in
I learned to drive in my Dad's old 2000 SC, then later bought my own 3500. My brother bought a 2000 TC. Excellent cars with outstanding ride and handling and superb brakes. The combination of waftability and B-road fun is way beyond what we should expect from a '60s saloon. I used my 3500 auto as a daily hack on a three and a half mile each way commute and it returned 18 MPG. In fact, it did that no matter how or where I drove it. The 2000s did about 27 to 29 MPG, depending upon conditions.
A shiny exterior can hide terminal rust underneath, so peel back the carpets to look at where the floor meets the inner sills, lift the rear seat cushions to look underneath and check inside the front and rear wheelarches, as well as the length of the outer sills where they meet the floor. Rear suspension arms can also rust through and give way while you are driving, as my brother once found out.
The engines are reliable and easy to fix, but the earlier gearboxes can be fragile. The single carburettor four cylinder models are a bit sluggish, but go well when wound up. The TCs are good fun and the V8s are sublime. Of the four cylinder cars, the 2200s are more refined and torquey.
In terms of looks, I prefer the simplicity of the early models with the aluminium grille, but others prefer the later models, with the black grille and rear rear quarter panels. Each to his own. One thing is for sure, if you find a good one you won't regret it.
A shiny exterior can hide terminal rust underneath, so peel back the carpets to look at where the floor meets the inner sills, lift the rear seat cushions to look underneath and check inside the front and rear wheelarches, as well as the length of the outer sills where they meet the floor. Rear suspension arms can also rust through and give way while you are driving, as my brother once found out.
The engines are reliable and easy to fix, but the earlier gearboxes can be fragile. The single carburettor four cylinder models are a bit sluggish, but go well when wound up. The TCs are good fun and the V8s are sublime. Of the four cylinder cars, the 2200s are more refined and torquey.
In terms of looks, I prefer the simplicity of the early models with the aluminium grille, but others prefer the later models, with the black grille and rear rear quarter panels. Each to his own. One thing is for sure, if you find a good one you won't regret it.
Avoid manual V8s unless they've been uprated with the later 5 speed box, the original 4 speed wasn't really up to the job. Auto V8 with the later 4 speed slush box are a lot more economical than with the standard 3 speed. As already mentioned, they rot in places that are well hidden, but if you buy a good one, they are a lovely drive, although the 4 pots are a bit rough [incidentally, must be one of the only engines that never appeared in any other car!]
MGgeordie said:
Cheers for all the replies...
My work commute is a 44 mile round trip across the pennines from Yorks to Lancs & back every day. I'm getting more tempted by the V8 with an auto box now......
As much as I love P6s you would be doing yourself a massive favour if you bought an e39 540 instead.My work commute is a 44 mile round trip across the pennines from Yorks to Lancs & back every day. I'm getting more tempted by the V8 with an auto box now......
And be like the rest of the herd...
I did a 20-mile each way commute with a low mileage 1969 P6 V8 some years ago and it worked out ok. 25 mpg and the only problem I had was a failed fuel pump diaphragm. And it was very enjoyable - the P6 handles like a proper car should, you can drift it easily...
Eventually I decided to be more practical but I remember that car with great affection. My junior girls in the office used to laugh when I insisted it was better than sex!
When I moved out to France 10 years ago I fell for a mate's pleading (and big wodge of cash) and let him have it. Stupid decision. It's still making him smile though.
Here it is:
I did a 20-mile each way commute with a low mileage 1969 P6 V8 some years ago and it worked out ok. 25 mpg and the only problem I had was a failed fuel pump diaphragm. And it was very enjoyable - the P6 handles like a proper car should, you can drift it easily...
Eventually I decided to be more practical but I remember that car with great affection. My junior girls in the office used to laugh when I insisted it was better than sex!
When I moved out to France 10 years ago I fell for a mate's pleading (and big wodge of cash) and let him have it. Stupid decision. It's still making him smile though.
Here it is:
mikey77 said:
And be like the rest of the herd...
I did a 20-mile each way commute with a low mileage 1969 P6 V8 some years ago and it worked out ok. 25 mpg and the only problem I had was a failed fuel pump diaphragm. And it was very enjoyable - the P6 handles like a proper car should, you can drift it easily...
Eventually I decided to be more practical but I remember that car with great affection. My junior girls in the office used to laugh when I insisted it was better than sex!
When I moved out to France 10 years ago I fell for a mate's pleading (and big wodge of cash) and let him have it. Stupid decision. It's still making him smile though.
Here it is:
I did a 20-mile each way commute with a low mileage 1969 P6 V8 some years ago and it worked out ok. 25 mpg and the only problem I had was a failed fuel pump diaphragm. And it was very enjoyable - the P6 handles like a proper car should, you can drift it easily...
Eventually I decided to be more practical but I remember that car with great affection. My junior girls in the office used to laugh when I insisted it was better than sex!
When I moved out to France 10 years ago I fell for a mate's pleading (and big wodge of cash) and let him have it. Stupid decision. It's still making him smile though.
Here it is:
That is identical to the one I had.
Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff