Why did this Rover 75 not sell?

It's missing most of the engine, the carb, the rear axle, some of the gearbox and we're getting 50 quid and they're taking it away...

White... but they do "antique white" - which is known as "arun white" elsewhere (yes, it's that old montego paint)...

Tim S Kemp ( snipped-for-privacy@timkemp.karoo.co.uk) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

Ah. Result, then.

It might have something to do with the fact that dealers are selling off new cars for about 1/2 price!

Although I don't personally like the 'Wedgewood Blue' colour - it did sell very well and you see lots of 75's on the road in that colour. Everyone's tastes are different!

Kev

: I'm really getting weary of this cobblers. Just why do you believe that : there will be any difficulties in repairing a Rover 75 in the future? You : can still get repairs and spares for Ladas for christs sake! Spares are not : supplied by the manufacturer but by independent spare parts suppliers.

It's a heck of a lot easier to keep old, simple cars going than new complicated ones.

Ian :

I'm probably alone in liking the Wedgwood blue but he is simply asking way too much for it.

" It is worth £6000+ " Not after the 8th when Rover went belly up and now that almost 1/2 the Rover dealers have also entered administration nearly new and new cars are going for a song. Add in the worst possible interior in any vehicle since Alexander the great decided to mix spotted and striped fur in has chariot an engine that would barely move a 25 when coupled to that gearbox and you start to see that it's not worth more than £3500 if it's fully taxed, tested and has a full tank. There are plenty of decent V6s in autotrader for less than £4000 and we aren't just talking intergalactic mileage ones.

That may well be - but I can guarantee that many existing Rover dealers, even if they switch to an alternative franchise, will still advertise themselves as 'Rover specialists' for the purpose of servicing and repairs (my own dealer is a perfect example of this - they have also stated that they will personally honour the warranties on all MG/Rovers that have been sold by them). With people who know Rovers continuing to be available for service and repairs, and a free supply of spare parts, there will not be a problem.

Kev

Can you give examples of this? Certainly in my area there is no 'slashing' of Rover prices. All the dealers I have spoken to, both MG/Rover and used-car dealers have stated that prices will not be dramatically cut.

Add in the worst possible interior in any vehicle since Alexander the

Again - it's a matter of taste isn't it? I presume you are one of the herd that is satisfied with the acres of black plastic that most manufacturers serve up? The dash lay-out of the 75 is almost identical to that of the X-type Jag - is that similarly bad? Just what is wrong with the interior of the 75?

an engine that would

I agree that the 1.8 petrol engine is not the best for the 75 and has to be worked hard in that car - but I know several people who do have a 1.8 75 and are perfectly happy with it.

Kev

: > It's a heck of a lot easier to keep old, simple cars going than new : > complicated ones. : : That may well be - but I can guarantee that many existing Rover dealers, : even if they switch to an alternative franchise, will still advertise : themselves as 'Rover specialists' for the purpose of servicing and repairs : (my own dealer is a perfect example of this - they have also stated that : they will personally honour the warranties on all MG/Rovers that have been : sold by them). With people who know Rovers continuing to be available for : service and repairs, and a free supply of spare parts, there will not be a : problem.

I don't think there will be an immediate problem, no. But I think that

- in common with all modern cars - it's going to be a lot harder to source very specialised components for long after production ends. I can easily go out and buy a carburettor for for a Herald or a DS, but I'd be much less confident about being able to buy electronic engine management gizmos for your 75 (or a Golf, or a Vectra or ...) ten years after production ends.

Overall I think you're quite right not to worry about maintenance. You are, however, going to get royally shafted on residual value. If you plan to keep the car, though, that's unimportant.

Ian, /none/ of whose cars has been in production for at least twelve years!

: Can you give examples of this? Certainly in my area there is no 'slashing' : of Rover prices. All the dealers I have spoken to, both MG/Rover and : used-car dealers have stated that prices will not be dramatically cut.

to be fair, though, they would say that, wouldn't they? "Would you like to buy this car, or wait until we knock 20% off the price next week?" is not an income-maximising question!

Ian:

The Rover franchises owned by Phoenix (about half of the uk dealer network) said they would honour there warranties that lasted about a week till they also entered administration. Giving another blow to consumer confidence.

>

MG ZT260 for £16k with delivery mileage, £14k with 7k on the clock. Both with dealer warranties

It's not the layout it's the choice of colour in that one yes I happen to like a dark dash as it reflects less in the sun but I do like the general style of the

75 dash with the big old style clocks.

With the auto box?

>>

Black and grey? That's just one of the two standard colour mixes in the

75 - Black and grey or sandstone beige and sandstone beige! There were other none standard colours in the 'monogram' options but I've never seen any. My first 75 was sandstone beige and although it looked nice it was not very practical - the beige cloth seats began to look grubby after a couple of years. My present tourer has the same colour as the car for sale - black leather seats with grey piping, and grey trim. I can assure you that it's a good match and does not look like it does in the photos!

yes I happen to like a

The top of the 75 dash is black of course - so it doesn't reflect, and I agree with you - I also like the retro look of the dials. I also love the 'wood' dash - which was genuine veneer in my first 75 but 'wood effect' in my current one!

No - they have manuals! My personal belief is that the diesel CDTi is the best engine in the range - particularly with the auto box. But then I would say that wouldn't I? !

Kev

The used car dealer in Hyde that my son collected his 'Y' reg Passat from yesterday, stated that he had just, that day, bought three Rovers at auction and did not believe that he would have any trouble in selling them. He stated that he would not be marketing them at much below 'normal' Rover prices.

Kev

MG-TF, 2 years old, under 20k miles, £6k.

I think I'd rather have the V8 and play with it a bit (did they ever get round to the ZT 385?)

Ian Johnston ( snipped-for-privacy@btinternet.com) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

There's several companies that offer exchange ECUs for a wide range of cars, or a repair/rebuild service.

: Ian Johnston ( snipped-for-privacy@btinternet.com) gurgled happily, : sounding much like they were saying : : : > I'd be much less confident about being able to buy electronic engine : > management gizmos for your 75 (or a Golf, or a Vectra or ...) ten : > years after production ends. : : There's several companies that offer exchange ECUs for a wide range of : cars, or a repair/rebuild service.

Indeed. And at phenomenal prices, in some cases. A new ECu for a DS EFi is 800 quid.

But I stick by my point: complicated and model-specific gadgets will be a problem for /all/ modern cars. Having the manufacturer go belly up will not improve things, though reconditioned and salvaged parts will probably stop the gap for a while...

Ian