03 Rover 75 2.0 diesel auto..

Polo_Cluvie

Hi guys new to the forum..anybody know anything good or bad about this car? She has 130k and looks mint from the ad anyway but don't they all. I'm wondering about overall reliability especially engine and the auto box
Tia

unkel

The engine is sourced directly from BMW, the same as in BMW cars of that era but detuned, so providing less power. It is very reliable though. The auto box is sourced from JATCO in Japan. So as all things Japanese, a good few years behind European technology, not very refined, but reliable.

We had a manual Rover 75 (petrol) ourselves for over 5 years and it was a very happy owner experience. Extremely cheap to buy and very cheap to maintain. Own and drive a nearly premium, very comfortable car for less total cost of ownership compared to a crude, very basic car like say a Toyota Corolla.

Polo_Cluvie

Thanks Unkel I've been doing a little research and a lot of the feedback is quiet positive. I've a lot to think about

jackofalltrades

Fairly reliable car.
Here's a very comprehensive buyers guide.
Check the in-tank fuel pump is working properly, they're know to fail.

Toyotafanboi

unkel wrote: »

The engine is sourced directly from BMW, the same as in BMW cars of that era but detuned, so providing less power. It is very reliable though. The auto box is sourced from JATCO in Japan. So as all things Japanese, a good few years behind European technology, not very refined, but reliable.

We had a manual Rover 75 (petrol) ourselves for over 5 years and it was a very happy owner experience. Extremely cheap to buy and very cheap to maintain. Own and drive a nearly premium, very comfortable car for less total cost of ownership compared to a crude, very basic car like say a Toyota Corolla.

A bit of an ignorant post. In fairness a 75 isn't even "nearly premium" and a Corolla, while you don't like them, is far from "crude".

Cienciano

I've had one for about 2 and a half years, 2L diesel, 120k miles on it. Most important thing to check is the ECU, it's located in a plastic compartment (plenum) with a drain hole in the bottom. The drain hole can get bunged up and water can collect there.
Other than that, what the others said is spot on. Reliable car, very comfortable with a load of extras. I've had a 3 problems with mine, but nothing that a €20 part and half an hour to spare couldn't fix. The forum jackofalltrades posted is a great font of knowledge.
Do you live near Moate by any chance? If you ever need a 4t diagnostic done, as far as I know the only one in the country (with staff that can use it!) is there.

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

A bit of an ignorant post. In fairness a 75 isn't even "nearly premium" and a Corolla, while you don't like them, is far from "crude".

There's a gulf in class between a corolla and a rover 75. You wouldn't see alan partridge in a corolla

unkel

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

A bit of an ignorant post. In fairness a 75 isn't even "nearly premium" and a Corolla, while you don't like them, is far from "crude".

Pretty objective actually, but it's not a suprise a fan of Toyotas doesn't see it that way

Cienciano wrote: »

I've had a 3 problems with mine, but nothing that a €20 part and half an hour to spare couldn't fix.

Funny you mention a drain hole issue. Had a similar issue with a vent plug in the side of the boot. Took out the plug (which was a BMW branded part) and just put duct tape over the hole. Issue sorted. As you can see we ran this car with near zero spent on maintenance

Our most expensive problem was a failing airbag connector under the drivers seat. This was fixed by the main Rover dealer for €88 (including VAT)

We even played timing belt roulette* for many years

* this means not having the timing belt changed when it is due / overdue just to save money and hope for the best but to be prepared it breaks, wrecking the engine and making the car a write-off

Toyotafanboi

Cienciano wrote: »

There's a gulf in class between a corolla and a rover 75. You wouldn't see alan partridge in a corolla

Good job i wasn't attempting to draw a comparison between the two then

Just saying, to call a corolla crude is a bit... crude. They may not be "nearly premium" but the engines, gearboxes etc by unkels own admission, being Japanese aren't cutting edge but they are generally reasonably refined and reliable, which is a good starting point for any car really.

What kind of accolade is "nearly premium" for the 75 anyway. I nearly won the lotto once... i'm still poor. Wouldn't mind a 75/ ZT myself, i've came close to buying one on a few occasions but i wouldn't be deluded into thinking they are much good in terms of build quality/ refinement or reliability. I'd rather a B5 passat if i wanted to feel comfortable imo.

The 75 is much more like the 166 at this stage, a nice car, but 95% of what's left on the road is enthusiast owned by lads who don't mind the hartship or are blindly brand loyal.

unkel

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

The 75 is much more like the 166 at this stage, a nice car, but 95% of what's left on the road is enthusiast owned by lads who don't mind the hartship or are blindly brand loyal.

Fair point. And my experience with our Rover 75 is indeed from a good few years ago.

We bought ours nearly 10 years ago for 6k when it was 5 years old. A same age / mileage / condition Octavia would have been about 8k, a Toyota Corolla about 10k, a Passat or Avensis about 11k

cerastes

Ive always liked the look of the Rover 75 along with some other, less than ordinary looking cars, like the Daewoo Leganza, Hyundai Sonata, trying to think of some others too.

Maybe it was because there was a Rover at home years ago, auto, and I probably thought it look different and had a cool badge?, might have stuck with me.

Anyway, I still wouldnt rule out getting a Rover 75, though probably by the time I get around to it they will be on their last legs and and last available examples, so really be driven by enthusiasts or as classics and probably appropriately priced.

One thing I wasnt aware of of was what they were like technically, recently while looking at cars online I saw an English reg 2.2diesel,
What are the available engines petrol and diesel and which ones might be considered weak/good? gearboxes? bad/good, are there different manual versions ie all 5 speed the same or any 6 speeds? or different autos or are they all the same?
I definitely read later production run models had more issues, in particular from one of the two main production places in the UK, Oxford? I think being named as the bad one, where the other was?
I had thought Id read some gearboxes were not good, and possibly some other reliability issues with some specific items (which I cant recal what it was now) not something Id like as Id want it being a daily runner, current car still in use and for as long as possible, but all out of curiosity and interest.
Definitely think they look nice, and unique.

Cienciano

cerastes wrote: »

Ive always liked the look of the Rover 75 along with some other, less than ordinary looking cars, like the Daewoo Leganza, Hyundai Sonata, trying to think of some others too.

Maybe it was because there was a Rover at home years ago, auto, and I probably thought it look different and had a cool badge?, might have stuck with me.

Anyway, I still wouldnt rule out getting a Rover 75, though probably by the time I get around to it they will be on their last legs and and last available examples, so really be driven by enthusiasts or as classics and probably appropriately priced.

One thing I wasnt aware of of was what they were like technically, recently while looking at cars online I saw an English reg 2.2diesel,
What are the available engines petrol and diesel and which ones might be considered weak/good? gearboxes? bad/good, are there different manual versions ie all 5 speed the same or any 6 speeds? or different autos or are they all the same?
I definitely read later production run models had more issues, in particular from one of the two main production places in the UK, Oxford? I think being named as the bad one, where the other was?
I had thought Id read some gearboxes were not good, and possibly some other reliability issues with some specific items (which I cant recal what it was now) not something Id like as Id want it being a daily runner, current car still in use and for as long as possible, but all out of curiosity and interest.
Definitely think they look nice, and unique.

As far as I know, the engine sizes are 1.8 petrol, 2l diesel, 2.5 v6 petrol and the 4.6l v8. Never heard of a 2.2.
The 1.8 has head gasket issues, personally I wouldn't bother with one, lots of people still drive them regularly, but you have to keep an eye on them. The 2.5l petrol is popular in england, but as you can imagine not here due to tax. I've never seen a V8 here, think there was only 500 made. Funny, on the english forums the lads were giving out about the high tax on it, something like £460. I pay far more for my 2L diesel! Father in law had one, great car! Rear wheel drive, engine can barely fit into the engine bay. But uses a lot of petrol. Looks pretty much identical to my 2L diesel too.
So the most popular one here is the 2L diesel. I have the connoisseur which is fairly high spec, worth keeping an eye out for something like that.
If you're willing to travel to england, even wales, a guy in Colwyn Bay specialises in them. You could tell him you're looking for a diesel, or see if he has one, he'll make every mod needed to make sure it sees a very high mileage.

challengemaster

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

The 75 is much more like the 166 at this stage, a nice car, but 95% of what's left on the road is enthusiast owned by lads who don't mind the hartship or are blindly brand loyal.

Ah now. There's nowhere near the hardship of owning an alfa

166man

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

Good job i wasn't attempting to draw a comparison between the two then

Just saying, to call a corolla crude is a bit... crude. They may not be "nearly premium" but the engines, gearboxes etc by unkels own admission, being Japanese aren't cutting edge but they are generally reasonably refined and reliable, which is a good starting point for any car really.

What kind of accolade is "nearly premium" for the 75 anyway. I nearly won the lotto once... i'm still poor. Wouldn't mind a 75/ ZT myself, i've came close to buying one on a few occasions but i wouldn't be deluded into thinking they are much good in terms of build quality/ refinement or reliability. I'd rather a B5 passat if i wanted to feel comfortable imo.

The 75 is much more like the 166 at this stage, a nice car, but 95% of what's left on the road is enthusiast owned by lads who don't mind the hartship or are blindly brand loyal.

I think if you drove one, you'd be quite surprised at how good 166's are. Really refined, and extremely well built. Nearly everything in the car is over engineered and the interior plastics etc are actually top notch. Re reliability it's as good as the previous owners who looked after them.

Not really valid on this thread just wanted to put my rose tinted glasses on again......:D

inajock

If your willing to give it a fair crack of the whip it will serve you well.At 130k it should of had a new clutch thats the big ticket item on them(manual only).just check for the usual item disks springs,shocks etc as you would a Mondeo or Passat.My MG ZT Diesel manual is a fine jammer for getting around in.