Some may remember, I started a topic about the New City Rover 12mths ago, saying its aload of rubbish or words to that effect.
Well, I'll say it again.
Recently I've had the opportunity to check the City and other Manufacturers body finishes.
1) City Rover - had more ripples in their doors and panels than what the english channel had and poor paint repairs.
2) Tata - 4 x 4s are hit and miss where you'll find dents.
3) Fiat punto/stilo - not as bad but production dents and finishes on certain models could be better.
4) Proton - getting better as we go down the list.
5) Daewoo(Chevrolet as they are know now), Vauxhall, Suzuki, Perodua, Honda, Toyota and Mitsubishi are pretty good with their finishes.
Unless you know better ????
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This is an old story, but here goes.
Aston Martin sold a car literally off their motorshow stand.
A few months later, the buyer came to see them v unhappy as he had noticed (and there was a story to this that I cannot remember) that the body was at least an inch longer on one side than the other.
There you see. The odd rippled panel isn't so bad!
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I don't think you can view the CityRover as representative of Rover's quality. Although not without its merits, it is effectively a TATA. If you were to have a close inspection of, say, a Rover 75 I think you will see that their products are at least as good as most others and possibly better than some.
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"I don't think you can view the CityRover as representative of Rover's quality"
It has a Rover badge on it, it is sold from Rover dealers, therefore it is representative of Rover quality, regardless of who or where they buy it from.
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And its got 'Union Jack' flag on its tail gate, symbolizing its a British Rover.
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Retro:- have you actually looked at a City Rover and its body panels. I think you'll find its more than an odd ripple on a panel.
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Citirover is not a typical Rover, as I have never even seen one.
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This quote from HJ's auction report:
"But if you wanted a lot of car for the money how about a metallic blue 42k mile 2001/51 180PS MG ZS. That one was knocked down for £5,000."
So one of the better Rovers(well MG) has lost 70% of its value in just over 3 years.
What hope for the City Rover?
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Not another 'let's twist the knife into Rover thread'
Oh pleazzze! Haven't we done that enough in the Backroom already?
Go Out, buy a car and support the only Mainstream car maker left in the country.
Stop slagging the company off please lads. It's getting tedious.
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>>Go Out, buy a car and support the only Mainstream car maker left in the country.<<
No thanks. What little street cred I have left, I wouldn't mind keeping for a while.
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Adam
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My ZT has been faultless, (apart from a blown headlight bulb, over an hour to change and scraped knuckles). The boy racer who lives a few doors down thinks it 'looks really cool'. I'd rather loose %55 of a little rather than %45 of a lot (ala BMW etc).
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The ZT is the exception to the rule. I probably wouldn't buy one myself because I like other cars more for that money but I can see the attraction. A ZT in black or that brightish blue looks amazing I will admit.
I like my big cars so a 260 V8 would do me just fine...
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Adam
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The boy racer who lives a few doors down thinks it 'looks really cool'.
Yet another reason to put someone off buying an MG-Rover product.
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"What little street cred I have left, I wouldn't mind keeping for a while."
Sherlock Homes peers through magnifying glass "Watson come here"
"Yes Holmes"
"Do you see any cred there"
"No Holmes all I see is a boot on a focus"
"Exactly Watson - no cred to be found here"
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I knew that was going to happen and to be honest, I deserved it!
One day RF....one day
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Adam
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The Cityrover is rubbish and the depreciation of many of the other Rovers is horrendous. Which part of that would you like us to pretend isn't true ?
Although isn't that what got Leyland into this mess in the first place ?
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I am surprised that Rover haven't done a VW.
..a retro Morris Minor! - to compete in the retro beetle market.
If the get the design right, that would be seriously cool and profitable!
H
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Err No - Sorry Hugo - Cool and Moggy Minor dont mix
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VW were in a similar position in the 1980?s to that of Rover today. They were near bankruptcy having hung on to the Beetle and its derivatives way past it sell by date.
Their fortunes changed quickly with the introduction of one model ? the Golf. Lets hope Rover can do the same.
Although the model to achieve that ain't the City Rover!!
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Can't see it myself. The cost of product development now must be massivly higher than when the golf was done. Expectations are so much higher.
Rover might manage a decent 75 (never driven one so I can't comment) but the entire range is dated and I dont see where the cash is coming from to develop new models. After all when did rover last do a development ? We had the Honda tie up then BMW, if bmw couldnt make it go what chance has anyone else.
When did anyone last see a TV advert for rover ?
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Err No - Sorry Hugo - Cool and Moggy Minor dont mix
One man's meat RF....
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only vegetarians would buy it.
No make that vegans
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The same could have been said about the new beetle
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It seems unlikely that the survival of VW depends on the new Beetle, or even that BMW's continuing success rests on the MINI. These are jolly, oddball cars that serve niche markets otherwise not catered for by the rest of the (mostly conservative) ranges of those companies. From a branding point of view BMW reduced its risk by keeping the MINI almost entirely separate, which really emphasises the point, but both BMW and VAG have very successful conservative model ranges behind their "oddball" offerings and Rover doesn't. A "New Moggy" would be a huge risk, especially if it was branded Rover or its brand was associated with Rover.
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The new "Morris Minor" IMO would be marketed under the "Morris" badge that would obviously be traced back to the Rover marque, as the new Mini is to the BMW marque.
Models launched would be the 2 and 4 doors (one more body varient that is available with the beetle and the new MINI). The availability of the 4 door would add a dimension of practicality that some may argue the new Beetle does not have.
In time, we may also see the 2 door convertable, retailing for Mini convertable money perhaps, and maybe generating the same interest and wating list!
The vehicle would not be the Rover Minor, but the Morris Minor. Key design fetures such as the bullnose bonnet and distintive grille plus the familiar rear end and wheel arches would look great given the right styling.
Engine, drivetrain and suspension components could be chosen from the standard model ranges, and unlike the original Morris Minor, we could have more of a choice of engine sizes.
You never know, we could even follow on with a Traveller version!
H
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Just couldn't see a market for a revived Moggy. Although it achieved a brief cult status in the seventies and early eighties it is far too old fogey in image for all but a few aging hippies. If Rover are serious about being a major player they need to think ahead, not behind.
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thought about, designed and marketed properly, "Morris" could be relaunched as a stand-alone brand. Starting with a Minor, then a Midi and even a Multi ... models that could make us forget Rover. Sad I know!
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thought about, designed and marketed properly, "Morris" could be relaunched as a stand-alone brand. Starting with a Minor, then a Midi and even a Multi ... models that could make us forget Rover. Sad I know!
.... and where does the Marina fit into this timeline:)
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To be honest, no one can't deny the best car BMC/BL/AustinRover/Rover made was the Mini in its various forms.
The Germans knew this thats why they brought them, to get the Title like others Rolls Royce ??.
That was truly a British smybol, the Italians and Japanese loved the Mini.
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To be honest, no one can't deny the best car BMC/BL/AustinRover/Rover made was the Mini in its various forms. The Germans knew this thats why they brought them, to get the Title like others Rolls Royce ??. That was truly a British smybol, the Italians and Japanese loved the Mini.
Like Concorde and many other icons of British engineering, it lost money. That just makes it a trendy failure.
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parking place for boats, Hugo, so inappropriate
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I do think the new Micra is rather 'Morris Minor' like! Currently available as 2 and 4 door, with the convertible coming soon. Plenty 'round our way (including on our drive), seem to be selling very well, so perhaps there is a market for something similar.
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Just seen a report on Google about Rover, looks like the Chinese have had, maybe a second thought. They have interests in other European companies such as Fiat and others.
Looks like from the report, the Rover board are worried from the lack of response since November, when it was made known about the venture.
Until Rover as a group whether its British or Indian improve their quality, like wise for Fiat, no wonder their sales are poor.
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