More on MoT

An MoT tester should have spotted the bulge in the tyre wall and the gaiters, they've been on the MoT for donkey's years... Having said that the bulge in the tyre could have been recent. It's easy to check your front tyres, put the steering on full lock and you can see the back, for the rear ones use a mirror on a stick.
 
I might be in a minority among the responsible persons on this Forum, but I cannot believe that there are not motorist in the World, that would regard the "new MOT" rules as a reason to escape the misery of the annual MOT, when it seems that the car can be failed on trivial reasons. (I have had an advisory for 'too much underseal,')
More nonsense from the people that gave us 5p. plastic bag and Brexit referendum?
or the record, my P6 is now with the Rover specialist, waiting the arrival of new parts required, and will not be used again until he is satisfied that everything is right. I am also having a new fuse box fitted, after reading about the possibility of bad connections. The Rover is a fine car, an my only car, so I want it to be right, and a pleasure to drive.
 
I might be in a minority among the responsible persons on this Forum, but I cannot believe that there are not motorist in the World, that would regard the "new MOT" rules as a reason to escape the misery of the annual MOT, when it seems that the car can be failed on trivial reasons. (I have had an advisory for 'too much underseal,')
.

That's why most Classic owners and all (?) the main magazines oppose the MoT exemption it's a way of people getting out having their car checked over regularly. As regards "too much underseal", first it's only an advisory and not a fail and secondly the reason it's probably been mentioned is that use of too much underseal has long been used in the motoring trade as a way to hide bodged repairs. If you ever watch Car SOS or Wheeler Dealers you'll see plenty of examples of such bodges which can be very dangerous in some locations.
 
Willy E:
Yes, I am not complaining about the work needed, or the cost. I think that the money I save running the P6 compared with a modern car's depreciation, road tax, and insurance, I should spend on keeping it up to scratch. I do not use the car much, as I spend 8 to 10 months a year in Thailand, (diving a modern Toyota)
I have learned three things from this 'MOT episode': -
If you run an old car, it needs to be used regularly.
You cannot expect an old car to keep going for ever without needing regular maintenance, by someone who knows about the car.
It is always best to get an expert opinion on your car's condition
I hope that I am paying my dues now, and that the car will be returned in full working order and I can get on with using it again.
I m now a regular visitor to this Forum, and will take note of all the points raised. e.g. I have asked to a new blade fuse type fuse box fitted, hile the car is in hospital, and other parts of the wiring checked.

I think this P6 is one of the best cars I have ever owned, and cannot think what I would replace I with. It is a classic car that attract attention where-ever I go, and yet it can be used as my only car.
The only thing I do no like about the car is its colour, Tobacco Leaf, (weak tea, is one of the more polite descriptions I have heard,) but the budget for any re-spray has been blown on the remedial work this year
Trouble is, I am not a great fan of any of the standard colours. I would like metallic Crimson, or dark green, but then the 'originality police' would be after me.
 
I agree with all that.
I'd find Tobacco Leaf rather a challenge too, though polished up on a good car it can look nice. Personally I wouldn't worry about the 'originality police', P6 circles don't seem to be afflicted with them as badly as some other models. The need to paint all the door jams, etc., would be the main reason to stick with the original colour for me. Mind you, I can't say I'm a fan of metallic paint on a P6 so would suggest holding off until you've seen a few examples.
 
A tired Tobacco leaf car looks much more tired than it really is, but as Willy says above, if properly polished and shiny looks superb and suits the car, it is like a night and day difference.
 
Tobacco leaf looks a lot better with tints and a huntsman roof, I'd even go as far as to say they look really good, so if it hasn't got those already I'd fit those before changing the colour.
 
Willy E:
Trouble is, I am not a great fan of any of the standard colours. I would like metallic Crimson, or dark green, but then the 'originality police' would be after me.
I agree with Harvey's comments about Tobacco Leaf / tints etc.. I recall a TC in that exact scheme but also fitted with 'S' spoke trims and boot-mounted spare wheel. It was well cared for, polished and I thought it looked 'right'.

Having said that, I wouldn't worry about 'originality police', it's your car, do what you wish. Colour is a very personal choice and, for those interested in such things, fashions change, generally on a cyclical basis. However, sometimes what sounds good doesn't always look quite so good in the cold light of day. I recall a metallic British Racing Green (BRG) P6 which, to me, sounded good but, to me, just didn't look right; probably something to do with the actual shade chosen. However, the owner liked it and it was his car, not mine.

I've always been a fan of the early Copperleaf Red and, IIRC, MG-Rover introduced a metallic Copperleaf Red for the later 75 model and I've often wondered what a P6 would look like in that much later colour. Interior trim colour would be a consideration.
 
I wouldn't worry about 'originality police',

Me neither, and this bloke certainly doesn't....


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Don' get me started on tinted windows....
I am stuck with Tobacco leaf, as all the car budget will be spent on fixing the 'MOT problems' that started this thread. Still I can't see much of the colour when driving the car.
I saw a Mazda SUV parked outside in a brilliant red/crimson, slightly metallic, which was exactly the colour I would like my P6. but it would notgo with the Huntsman roof, so that is a non-starter.
I'll just have to wash the car and get the polish out..
 
Don' get me started on tinted windows....
I am stuck with Tobacco leaf, as all the car budget will be spent on fixing the 'MOT problems' that started this thread. Still I can't see much of the colour when driving the car.
I saw a Mazda SUV parked outside in a brilliant red/crimson, slightly metallic, which was exactly the colour I would like my P6. but it would notgo with the Huntsman roof, so that is a non-starter.
I'll just have to wash the car and get the polish out..
Recover the roof then ;)!
 
Cfcpete wrote:- n"Recover the roof then ;)!"
How? Does anyone sell a recovering kit, so I could change to black?
Looking at pictures in Rover P6 club mags, I have seen some better colour than Tobacco leaf, not difficult, but all with black roofs.
Anyway, no budget this year for any respray, so I will have o stop dreaming.
 
Metallic colours are generally a seriously bad choice on a classic. Nothing to do with originality, more a function of maintenance (i.e being difficult/impossible to touch in well) and secondly mercilessly unforgiving of anything but totally perfect panels. Then if you decide to sell, it's often more difficult as you need to find someone who shares your taste. It's not difficult to find colours that are much more agreeable to modern eyes, but ultimately it is a 50 year old car, a product of its time. Rover really had a very limited palette compared to the opposition, for example the 2000/2500 range had over twice as many over the models production.
 
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