Having owned a 525 which I felt had excellent handling, I can't agree that the handling on a 75 is like a sofa. Certainly handles and steers a lot better than my Passat. A 75 would have been one of my top choices if I'd had an extra couple of grand to spare at the time, but I got a good price on the VW. The only real "concern" that seems to crop up from time to time with the 75 is the trim, in terms of sills working loose and chrome pitting, especially on the door handles. If any of these happen, they are relatively minor and inexpensive to sort out - fancy paying for the consequences of a busted timing belt on an A4? My sister-in-law (a financial director with a blue-chip UK company) had a 75 as a company car in her last job, and when she moved posts it wasn't one of the choices at her new place. She took the cash option and got another 75. After a total of four years' ownership, she still rates it.
BTW, it's possible to get higher mileage three-year old versions at or near top of the range for £10k. The perception of the badge causes heavier-than-average depreciation in the first couple of years, so better avoiding anything after 2001. If an enjoyable ownership experience is what you're after, a 75 should be high on your list, especially the CDTi. Of course, don't touch anything else in the Rover range ....
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This is all getting a bit personal isn't it?
|
This is all getting a bit personal isn't it?
Yes it is. Can we cut down on the testosterone level a bit guys?
|
|
|
|
Snipped from HJ\'s Car-by-car breakdown for the Rover 75:
\"Driving position and handling at speed not in same class as Mondeo. Rear-seat passengers feel confined. Suspension clonks. Susceptible to strong side winds. Not easy to reverse. Hazard light switch hard to find. Standard 114bhp diesel is a bit underpowered. Head gasket failure common on 1.8 petrol engines..\"
|
I thought the comments were fair enough. I\'ve driven a (2.0D) 75 and was very impressed. A world apart from the 800. Nothing wrong with a proud car owner \"sounding his own horn\" if he likes the car in response to a query surely?
If the thread had been regarding a pre2002 Vectra you would\'ve got a lengthy anti-Vectra diatribe from me suggesting you invest in sand instead as it\'d be a better bet.
|
Apologies for getting close to the bone, I guess the obiligatory strong coffee of the morning hadn\'t kicked in.
I do find it annoying when someone feels they need to chip in from a position of ignorance and then feels qualified to offer an opinion. And as DanJ points out, opinion is purely objective and I read the CBC before looking at a 75 and by and large the comments are justified; I\'ve read worse about the Merc C-class though. I did ask about the suspension clonks and the 75 has had improved bushes fitted since mid-2000. Handling was improved on the Longbridge versions and it is tauter. The dealer had no problems on the test drive with me taking the u-shaped motorway slip more eagerily than normal to prove that assertion. It is tricky to reverse, the days of angular cars are over. My 3500S is easier to park.
For 75 money, you can buy high-end Mondeos and Vectras, mid-range Passats, low/mid Volvos or low-end BMWs and Mercs. You pay your money and take your choice. That\'s the dilemma, I test drove a Volvo, Passat and 75 and settled for the 75.
|
It's an opinion splitter, the 75, for sure.
With the level of irony that only Rover could come up with, they came up with a really good car just as it became clear that the company was in real trouble.
There was even a possibly even dragging BMW down with it. Well every cloud....:-)
BTW, my opinions are subjective.
|
|
|
|
|
People are only giving you their personal experiences so just take it all with a pinch of salt.
My freind has a Rover 75 MG ZT and loves the thing and goes on and on about how well it handles and that it goes like a rat up a drainpipe. I drove it at the weekend and to be honest I thought it was a absolute dog. It handled badly, the steering felt awfull, the brakes were atrocious but it drove in a straight line quite well.
Basically my mate drives like an old woman and when he says he's flooring it he really means he's driving at about 60% of the cars potential.
For the average motorist I think the Rover 75 is a decent enough car.
|
Horse for courses, but I don't recognise the ZT from the description above.
The only route via which you could arrive at that conclusion is by misunderstanding a fairly hardcore chassis set up, so some road surfaces will get it to dart about a bit.
My take is that it steers faithfully, turns in very well indeed, but has a slightly uncompromising ride.
I don't know why you'd call the brakes atrocious at all.
'Average' really does sound terribly disparaging. We're all 'average' in one way or another. If you fancy yourself as a bit of a driver I'm still puzzled as to how you'd reach such a conclusion about a car sprung and set up like the ZT.
|
|
|
|
In Agreement with Dynamic DaveThis is all getting a bit personal isn't it?
>>Yes it is. Can we cut down on the testosterone level a bit guys?
For most of the time the BR's tend to keep their personal views and
arguments on an intelligent level, this is starting to look like a thread from the Parkers forum,
where people get quite aggressive and insulting.
This is ridiculous, its at times like this I wish Mark would exercise his moderator powers
a little more. Most of these comments are very usueful to PaulR, but this thread is being
ruined. Come on guys chill out. Just ignore comments that try to goad you into bringing the thread
down. Its not good for the BR or the site as a whole.
|
I'm certainly not trying to goad anyone into an argument, I am stating my personal veiw which at the end stated that it was a good car for the average driver.
The brakes after a couple of hard stops were awfull and if you don't believe me just go and try it for yourself. My point with the brakes and steering were that as this model is a sports model it should have much better brakes and handling than it has.
I do not 'think' I am a bit of a driver I am merely pointing out the shortcomings that I found with the car even though my freind thinks it is great. This shows that personal opinion counts when asking advice on a car as my freind would say it is the best car in the world when I would say it is O.K.
|
|
As a class 1 Police advanced driver, I feel I have some credibility when I say that the MGZT has a fantastic chassis. Anybody that says 'it handles like a dog' is, how can I say this politely, misguided.
|
|
As an addition, it is much,much better than the BMW 530d that we have on our fleet.
|
Midlifecrisis,
I'm sorry to say but i'm not the only person who has said this as both his brother and one of our mutual freinds have both been very unimpressed by the handling.
Could it be possible that there is something wrong with the tyres, suspension set-up etc as three people can't be that misguided.
Still doesn't explain the awfull brakes though but as i'm used to the 4-pot calipers on my merc with huge discs maybe i'm bieng a bit picky.
|
|
Sorry should have stated that his brother races go-karts so is quite clued up on the handling aspect of a chassis.
|
To add to MLC's comments, without question, the MG ZT has one of the finest saloon chassis I have ever experienced, without even having to add the caveat 'for a front wheel driver'. Every one I have driven has been an absolute peach, and makes me wonder what the trick is that other car makers (including BMW with many of their models) are missing. If only the MG ZT-T was more of an Estate and less of Designer, and we would have saved the cash and had one instead of the V70 2.4T that now graces our drive (and which to keep a balanced view, whilst competent, is not the last word in handling, even with the sports chassis option).
I am also told, and would love to experience, that the ghastly dog (it is to look at compared to the fabulous ZT) called an MG ZS, especially with 2.5 lump under the hood to give an appropriate amount of weight at the front as well as the obvious power and torque to have fun, is on another level still.
|
|
I wish Mark would exercise his moderator powers a little more. Most of these comments are very usueful to PaulR, but this thread is being ruined.
BMDUBYA, thank you for that. I have been watching this thread and was hoping it wouldn't degenerate into a personal rant session. Again, it is the minority that spoil it for the majority. DD has asked that you stop. 2 members of the Back Room have also commented on the level of personal views being aired. I shall now go ahead and clean this thread up. Apologies if something gets accidentally deleted along the way. M.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
