Wanted – Rover 75 – help needed!!

I,ve now had my 75 1.8 (non turbo) Club SE for 18 months and 20,000 miles. The car has now covered a total of 70,000 miles.
It suffered HGF at around 53K miles but since then has been totally trouble free. It’s a 53 plate.

Would have liked a leather interior but the Club SE is still very pleasing – nice alloys, air con, and the dark grey velour trim in mine is attractive.

My 1.8 is hardly a rocket but I never feel it wanting for power either. The car does not really encourage hard acceleration. I’m always happy just wafting along! Similarly, it’s not exceptionally frugal but the mpg is acceptable – my journey to and from work is 25 miles of largely urban driving.

I have ram a 1.8, a CDT and a CDTi. No real issues with the 1.8 in 46,000 miles from new in 18 months. A bit breathless but it went ok and was quite good on fuel. You can get tidy ones for a £1000 now and I saw one on offer locally in a high spec around that price.
My CDT did the 1/4 tank thing the whole 53,000 miles I ran it for. Know why now! I ran that from 81,000 to 135,000 over 3 years. The clutch went. Cost about £600 to put right I think. A neighbour had a similar failure on his Octavia and relieved of nearly a grand to fix it. Other than that it was decent car, went reasonably well, and used fuel at rate of about 45-50mpg.
I now run a late facekift Contempory SE CDTi. Bought last May from a MG dealer in Hopton Staffs. I paid top money for it, but I have covered just over 20,000 since without a hitch.
All three have been used to tow a 1200kg caravan regualrly and done it with ease.
With your miles I would save the money a good CDTi will cost you a get a 1.8 NA. Keep a few quid in reserve to do the HGF…it is not the end of the world if it goes.
I liked all three of mine

Chris, I agree with Kev, like me, your mileage doesn’t justify a diesel. I drove a 1,8L Connoisseur, got the HGF sorted with a multi-layer with new cambelt and water pump, all for £250 at my local garage. There’s Rover specialists all over the country and they will sort your car. If HGF hasn’t been upgraded yet, do it ASAP. The non-turbo was ok, not very sprightly but once on m-way, what a cruiser!!! Try and find a Connoisseur SE (it HAS to be with Leather, forget the “TV” as we switch to digital)with the 1,8L Turbo, whether auto or manual is up to you, both aren’t cheap if they go wrong. The clutch shouldn’t “shudder” and autos’ oil should be bright red not dark burgundy-sign that maintenance was patchy at best!!! Clutch assembly is hefty to replace, as for many cars nowadays, the Jatco autobox can be troublesome-mechanic or electronic fault- but second hand units are cheap, just ensure that it’s not an E gremlin beforehand!!!! Keep in mind these are at least 7 years old, they don’t rust, scrutinise all the bills for coolant change every other year, autos must have had at least one lubricant regardless of mileage, there’s plenty around, so try to find one that’s coming with a detailed FSH(invoices are worth more than a stamp in the book…) I call them “granda’s” cars,they may be a bit dearer, but if you add up HGF, a thorough service an all, they become cheaper than the tatty one at £300 less!
Good luck and keep us posted.

Am I mad for now wanting a Roewe 750?

If you’re still looking, our 75 and MG-F are for sale. Details can be found here:

http://mg-freedom.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=forsale&thread=2251&page=1#14639