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I would welcome any words of wisdom...my father-in-law is thinking about buying a nearly-new Rover 75 Estate, probably a petrol engined one. Honest John has a mixed review in the car-by-car breakdown section - has anyone got any experience or advice?
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Maybe he should buy two and moth-ball one...?
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Perhaps someone could explain the difference to me between a 75 and any other car that has simply ceased production?
WTM
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Perhaps someone could explain the difference to me between a 75 and any other car that has simply ceased production? WTM
The manufacturer has gone out of business and several parts suppliers are also in trouble.
There is no doubt that there will be parts supply problems on the 75. There are a heck of a lot of parts in a car and it will be the relatively slow moving, low value but critical parts that become hard to find.
Two weeks ago I had to make up a gearbox shift-rod bush for a relatively popular car of 1995 vintage - the bush was no longer available from the supplier. Fortunately I was able to machine something up using a standard sized polyurethane bush and a phospor bronze insert. Its things like this that cause the hassle and keep cars off the road. Getting secondhand bits from breakers is not always viable - I managed to locate a secondhand gear linkage, but the bush in that was shot too.
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I wouldn't worry about spares parts. It's the same for all modern cars once they go out of production, or even when they change the spec. I have a Golf VR6 Mk 3 and many of the parts now are special order from Germany with a wait. Its an early car and the dizzy was only fitted for the first two years, so some ignition parts are now hard to get.
Things like filters, plugs, rolling bearings etc. are normally fitted to several other makes so you can always source them somewhere.
If you really need that obscure body part buried deep in the shell, due to accident damage, chances are the car isn't worth repairng anyway.
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Supply of parts for the 75 are an understandable concern for owners given the lack of available information at this time but the reality is, for the 75 owner, fortunately positive.
A number of large suppliers (as well as mgr linked companies such as x part) have over the past twelve months acquired significant stocks (£ many millions) of 75 parts, including service items, panels, trim and even up to full engines etc. etc.
Plus a number of major 75 items (gearboxes for one) are used by manufacturers of other cars.
As a 75 owner I am confident about parts supply in the future (though I recognise that saying so now almost guarantees me an early problem with something very obscure and small lol )
Regards
R40
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Astra, you don't say where you're thinking of buying from, or what sort of deal you can get.
As the airfields of pre & unregisterd stock, is now starting to show up in auction (Registered Account Holders Only Sales) you'd be well advised to make friends with an independent dealer, that could buy on your behalf.
05 Connissour(spelling) for around £10k seems good value, if they come for that money!!
VB
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The West Midlands is currently experiencing a spate of TF and ZT thefts. Cars are subsequently recovered completely stripped. Could be a coincidence, or a dodgy dealer stocking up!!
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From HJ's auction report today 18 May:
"MG/Rovers are now on the floor. A 32k mile 03 reg MG ZT 190+ Tourer sold for £7,100. A 53k mile 2000X Rover 75 1.8 Club SE sold for £3,100. And a 34k mile Y reg Nightfire red Rover 45 1.8 Club with a/c, alloys and sunroof sold for just £2,700."
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Generally speaking, if there are ane enough of them out there - yes someone will stock parts for them.
The problem is that the market is still reeling from the collapse of the company, so good long term dependability for perts may not appear yet.
It will take a little longer for the independent parts networks to settle and ensure a supply of parts to customers I feel.
H
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I'm still not convinced that just because rover (and probably soon to follow some suppliers) went bump is enough reason to avoid the car. take a look at this
www.ureader.co.uk/message/741919.aspx
as a cry for help, the type of which is the scenario that some would have you believe is going to apply to rovers in the not too distant future. It may well be, but its a risk that you take when you buy ANY car.
WTM
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as a cry for help, the type of which is thescenario that some would have you believe is going to apply to rovers in the not too distant future. It may well be, but its a risk that you take when you buy ANY car. WTM
Yes, but the risk varies from one brand to another. Suprisingly enough I have found the Japanese brands to be pretty good at long-term parts availability. For an older Jap car the part may not be in stock in the UK, but they will get if for you from Japan (you may have to wait 8 weeks).
Some other brands can be far less accommodating. BMW, for example, are poor at parts availability for older cars, whereas Mercedes Benz are absolutely brilliant.
Ford can be poor - you wouldn't expect it, but some parts for the Probe are no longer available and some Explorer parts are difficult to obtain.
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