My 2000SC Auto daily driver

DaveHerns said:
Just thinking that the MG would be nice with the Rover's interior fitted ....
Click to expand...

Thank you Mr Frazzle my brain is now Frazzled completely having read and researched all I could find on the internet re MG ZT's and related MG and Rover Roewe product upto and including Saic and Nanjing Automobile Company, so much to know and so much to want to know more about!.

As to your desire Dave, the answer is yes they do or did but in China, embodying the luxurious interior to meet Chinese consumer taste and still retaining the sporting mechanical albeit with a slightly softer ride to also meet Chinese tastes.
Taking a wander around this site is interesting as a start to see what has been going on China http://www.freewebs.com/roewe/mg7.htm

My particular interest is in the MG ZT 260 and variants, there is some interesting hardware for sale and I would suggest that in future years the mystique and value will grow if only for the MG brand name alone. I would dearly love to own a MG ZT 260 but to do so would involve importing from the UK and that brings me back to my frazzled brain mmmm now where can i find the cash....


Graeme
 
If you wanted an MG ZT260 that bad, Graeme, you shouldn't have bought that silly house! :shock:

I have now sold my 75. A new company car is coming soon and I needed the cash to concentrate on the things I want to do to my 3500. Luckily, it is still in the "family", lives at my house, and I get to drive it when I want to! Fabulous arrangement. I can't provide a comparison between different types of 75, because I only know the 2.5 V6, but to my taste it is a wonderful carriage. Adequately powered, although a little lacking in low down torque, it is supremely comfortable, and the interior is unmatched in the modern era. Fuel consumption hovers around the mid-high 30s on the open road. It is a bit thirsty in the city traffic but not to a degree that will worry fans of the P6B. Quiet, comfortable, with a magic carpet ride, the 75 V6 is by far the most wonderful car I've come across in which to take a long distance trip. I may have to revise that statement if I ever have the pleasure of a Bentley Arnage or modern Range Rover, but I'm poor, with generally impoverished friends. You get the idea. Reliability? In the last couple of years it has required a new battery, new rear shock absorbers and... a squirt of WD40 on the starter motor solenoid contacts.
 
SydneyRoverP6B said:
Hi Fraser,

They look great don't they! You certainly have an eye for a bargain. One point that I had read about with Rover 75 was the necessity to replace the timing belts (if I have it correct, there are two) every 60,000km (36,000 Miles).

Rover had a 4.6 litre V8 version of the 75 too, but not the Rover V8, a 4.6 litre Ford V8 from the Mustang, Rover being in Ford ownership at that time.

Ron.
Click to expand...

It's 90,000 miles for the cambelts Ron (you're right, there are two). Rover (the company) was never under Ford ownership. In 2000, BMW split Land Rover from Rover and sold it to Ford, and MG Rover was infamously cast adrift to soldier on by itself until bankruptcy in 2005.

What you might be thinking of is this: In 2000 BMW retained ownership of the Rover marque, licensing it to MG-Rover. After the bankruptcy, in 2006, BMW were negotiating a deal with SAIC over the purchase of the Rover name and badging, etc. However during the sale of Land Rover to Ford, a clause was inserted in the contract giving Ford first right of refusal should BMW put the Rover marque up for sale. Ford exercised their right and trumped SAIC. SAIC stamped their feet and invented "Roewe". Rover was returned to Land Rover (since sold to Tata), who own it now.

One speculates why BMW eventually decided to divest themselves of Rover, whilst still retaining (to this day) ownership of Triumph and Riley, amongst others. It seems likely they saw no future value in the name. Meanwhile, speculation continues around the internet that Jaguar Land Rover might revive Rover as the badge on a range of road cars that sit below Jaguar in the pecking order. Against this argument is the perception that the Rover name is now irrevocably poisoned in the UK market. This is sad: here in NZ the 75 attracts a great deal of interest and positive comment where ever I've taken it. Rover still stands for quality here. People love the 75, but Rover's potential export markets are not enough to balance the negative perception the name now carries in the UK.

When you think of the P6 (and we here all LOVE the P6!), isn't it sad to think of how far the Rover brand fell? The 75, to me, was one last triumphant hurrah, but its appeal was too limited, and the company too far gone, for the final outcome to be positive.
 
Good to hear you have a selection of Rovers at your disposal Frazzle - do you have a picture of your entire Kirkcudbrightshire fleet when the 3500 was still under your care?
 
Sounds like I've converted a few to the wonders of cheap 75s! :oops:
A 75 V8 is certainly on the 'to do' list at some stage, but not for a while.
An update. The Gold 75 is now provisionally sold, and will be going on to pastures new in the next couple of weeks. The shortest term of ownership I've had thus far, but, it was a nice thing to use. That leaves me with the ZT, the blue 75, and the 2000, of course!
On the 2000 front, I've ordered a new oil filter, and I'm gearing up to do some servicing, particularly as the car is going to be on display at the Manchester indoor classic car show in September! More to follow soon, hopefully!
 
Spinakerr said:
Good to hear you have a selection of Rovers at your disposal Frazzle - do you have a picture of your entire Kirkcudbrightshire fleet when the 3500 was still under your care?
Click to expand...

Thanks James! Unfortunately not, as I never seem to have enough drivers to get the cars to one location, as they live at three different places. :oops:
 
FrazzleTC said:
Sounds like I've converted a few to the wonders of cheap 75s! :oops:
Click to expand...

I would certainly like to try one with a view to buying. I still have most of my fleet to dispose of though & I don't want to go back up to eight cars again. They're absolutely as cheap as chips aren't they, though the missus still don't like 'em? :roll:
 
If you do want to try one, I'd say avoid the 1.8s, particularly the turbos. V6s offer the best value, as secondhand buys, to my mind, though some are put-off by 30mpg or less to the gallon. Autos are robust, and as long as the fluid changes are adhered to, they are very pleasant. Reverse pistons can fail, but they're cheap to replace. The V6 engine is a good one, though, unless you're getting it for a good price, try to buy one with cambelts done. If it rattles on start up, it's just the plastic manifold, and is pretty common. A good replacement manifold is £80 or so. The VIS motors (variable valve timing) can stop working, but you can get good, refurbished ones for £80. Springs can crack, but again, cheap to replace.
If you want the ultimate 75 experience, go for a 2.5 Auto Connoisseur, but, all of them are very pleasant things to get around in, and they don't cost much to run, in my experience.
Diesels are nice, but pricey, and not as reliable as BMW fanboys would have you believe.
 
Time for a fleet update, I think!
The Gold Rover 75 Connoisseur SE was sold last week, and has subsequently become a donor car, and thus a breaker, which is a pity as it was quite an unusual 75.
The Red MG ZT has been sold to my mother.
The 3500 is being collected by a forum member on here, on Monday.
So, I'll shortly be back to two cars, which is just about manageable while I'm away at uni!
So, on that front, the blue 75 is getting an MOT this week, and a full service.
Now the boring stuff is out of the way, I can update you all on the 2000. I've been suffering from an increasingly irritating knock from the front suspension, and this has been attributed to the balljoint in the driver's side tie bar. A new one has been purchased, and will be fitted when it arrives, in the next day or so. If time permits, I'd also like to give the 2000 a full service this coming week.
The 2000 is going to be heading down to Manchester on Friday, next week, to be put on the Young Guns Classics stand, at the Footman James Manchester Indoor Classic Car Show. I'm very much looking forward to it, and want to ensure that the 2000 is as fit as possible before I take it down there. I've continued to use the 2000 a fair amount over the last few weeks, including taking it to a car show in Kirkcudbright, and quite a few mundane everyday trips, in addition to some pleasant runs in the evenings.
Here are a few recent photos.



 
Great atmospheric photos as always Fraser :)

Is that an aftermarket rear windscreen demister that I can see? If so, does it work well?

Ron.
 
Thanks Ron!
It's actually an original spec series 1 heated rear window which has two large silver horizontal strips, and several tiny vertical lines, rather like Ford use in their heated front windscreens. It's pretty effective actually, and is more than up to the job in the winter, given time.
 
FrazzleTC said:
Thanks Ron!
It's actually an original spec series 1 heated rear window which has two large silver horizontal strips, and several tiny vertical lines, rather like Ford use in their heated front windscreens. It's pretty effective actually, and is more than up to the job in the winter, given time.
Click to expand...

A few more than 'several' I'd say Fraz :D

These do work very well, given time, as you say :wink:

Dave
 
Used the 2000 all day yesterday while the 75 was away for its MOT. The tie-bars arrived this afternoon, so there's a bit of a rush on to get those fitted. Let's hope there are no complications! The 2000 is still in dire need of a good clean prior to the show, but making sure it's fit mechanically is a priority!
Photos to follow tomorrow, hopefully!
 
I'll have my camera at Manchester, Fraser....

...so make sure you rise bright and early to give her the clean she deserves! :)
 
Well, the tie bars are both fitted, all fluid levels checked, and I've given it a clean. The old ones were very worn, and there was a lot more play than I expected, once they were off the car. It turns in better now, which is nice, and the steering is more consistent!
I'll be setting off for Manchester fairly early tomorrow morning! :D
 
What a fantastic Rover! It looks great!

Please forgive the intrusion but I notice you are using waxoyl. I wonder if you would be able to give me some advice please? My Rover P6 has been recently rebuilt. (Some areas very well others a bit disappointing) Anyway having removed the rear wings to paint with waxoyl I have found they have been undersealed with the black tar stuff. It's fairly fresh and I admit to scraping a few lumpy bits off. Could you please advise me as to whether you would reccomend removing this tar completely or can I paint the waxoyl over the top?

Regards,

Louis
 
It's OK applying it over the top if it's sound and adhering well .Waxoyl softens underseal . A purist would probably clean it off though
 
It's OK applying it over the top if it's sound and adhering well .Waxoyl softens underseal . A purist would probably clean it off though
 
Good evening Dave,

Thanks for reply.

I had a feeling it was OK and as I say the underseal looks recent so your confirmation makes me feel confident I am doing the right thing. It’s a shame the chap that did the original refurb didn’t waxoyl the inner sills as the near side needs attention. I took the rear wings for several reasons and I’m please to find the inner arches and surrounding areas are intact and look 95% original.
I do love the look of your car. You don’t see many yellow P6’s and I think it looks great. So fresh and sooo 60’s. Superb!

Thanks again for advice.

Regards,

Louis
 
My apologies that I didn't see your reply, Louis!
As Dave says, you can apply over the top, but it's a good idea to wire brush off any loose pieces of underseal, and check that there's good metal underneath!
Hope this helps.

It's been ages since I last updated this, and there's very little to report, other than the fact that the car got to the Footman James Manchester Indoor Classic Car Show without issue. It drove flawlessly on the motorway, and attracted a reasonable amount of attention at the show. The only issue was that the car started pinking a fair amount on the latter part of my journey home when climbing a couple of hills, and a wheel bearing is beginning to grumble, which I'll replace in due course. Since the show, my use of the car has been limited, as I'm back at uni, and the car stays at home, though I've used it a bit when I've been home at weekends.
As ever, here are a couple of photographs.

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top