Rover 75 Review (1999 to 2005)

Quick Summary

The Rover 75 is a British-built car to be proud of. Currently riding on a wave of goodwill, the 75 is a car that can be bought with head as well as the heart. If you want a car that's refined, sophisticated and which has more of a presence and sense of occasion than any of its rivals, take a look at a Rover 75. There's not a bad choice across the entire range, though the 2.0-litre V6 automatics are particularly smooth. With quite a few examples now landing in the used network, take your time to track down a good one. It's worth the effort, as the 75 will still look good on your drive ten years down the line.

Overall:

Models Covered:(4 dr saloon, 5 door Tourer 1.8, 2.0, 2.5, 4.6 petrol 2.0 diesel [Classic (SE), Connoisseur (SE), Club (SE)])

THE ENGLISH PATIENT

Rover has produced so many 'last chance saloons' that by now they've become rather good at it. The 75 range is the product of Rover's disastrous spell under the governance of BMW, and if you were expecting the car's abilities to mirror the organisational fiasco that overwhelmed Rover, you'd be quite wrong. The 75 is arguably the best Rover model to date, ruthlessly aimed at a specific target audience and offering good value. As a used proposition, the 75 fares well, with high demand despite fairly strong resale values.
Used Rover 75 for sale

History of the 75

The Rover 75 was a key vehicle for Rover, replacing as it did the 600 and 800 ranges. Launched in February 1999 to massive international acclaim, the 75 surprised many with its rather quaint detailing and uncanny refinement. The range was reasonably straightforward for buyers to comprehend. Three petrol engines and a diesel engine were available in three main trim levels with the basic Classic and SE luxury variant of each added in October 1999. The engines included the trusty Rover K Series 1.8-litre four-cylinder unit as seen in the MGF, Land Rover Freelander and Lotus Elise, and two V6 engines in 2.0-litre and 2.5-litre guises. A 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine was also offered, and the Tourer estate version was introduced in summer 2001. A turbocharged version of the 1.8T engine was introduced in 2002 to replace the thirsty and inefficient 2.0-litre V6 but the biggest change to the range came in early 2004 when the 75 was treated to a controversial facelift. Directly thereafter a V8 version was added, using the same 260bhp 4.6-litre Mustang-sourced engine as the MG ZT 260 and shortly after that an extended wheelbase limousine model was launched. The 75 joined the choir invisible in 2005 as MG Rover sadly departed from volume car production.
Used Rover 75 for sale

Rover 75 Road Test

It's hard to believe the 1.8-litre models share an engine with the Lotus Elise. Not that the Rover disgraces itself over a series of bends, just that in this guise, it's noticeably more refined. It can still develop a useful 120bhp which means sixty in 10.9s on the way to 121mph. Even the diesel can manage the sprint from rest to sixty in 11.0 seconds en route to 120mph. With an achievable consumption average not far off 50mpg, it's an impressive unit, as drivers of the similarly equipped BMW 320d have testified. The 2.5-litre V6 cars manage sixty in 8.2s on the way to 137mph, and have an impressively relaxed nature, especially when mated to the automatic gearbox. The 1.8T offers the best compromise between performance and affordability whilst those with plenty of money to spend may well prefer the mighty V8.On the road, that emphasis on luxury continues. The Rover sails over surfaces that would, quite frankly, be unpleasant in equivalent BMWs and Audis. It's quieter too in every area save that of wind noise. True, a 3 Series or an Alfa 156 is more fun to drive on a twisting country road, but a well-driven 75 wouldn't be that far behind: in every other circumstance, it's the car you'd rather be in, capable yet undemanding. There's the usual choice of five-speed manual or a new five-speed automatic transmission which curiously, given this Rover's Bavarian parentage, isn't available with the Steptronic self-shifter that works so well on rival BMWs. Even so, this is the one to choose, the shift quality of the manual box, though adequate, not being one of the Rover's strongpoints.
Used Rover 75 for sale

Buying a Rover 75

The Rover 75 has proved to be a reliable offering, and despite its executive pretensions has been bought by a large number of more mature customers. Given that this clientele are less likely to drive the 75 in the manner in which an Alfa Romeo 156 or a BMW 3 Series are often driven, this is good news for the used buyer. One thing to check is that the specification sheet matches the date of first registration. There are continued rumours of large numbers of 75s that Rover pre-registered to artificially inflate sales figures. These cars may have been standing in a field or car park for weeks on end, so check for water ingress, signs of surface corrosion on suspension parts. Aside from this, it's pretty clear with the 75 so far.
Used Rover 75 for sale

Rover 75 Typical Pricing

One of the factors which served to slow the sales of new 75s was the model's high pricing. Broadly equivalent to the price of a new BMW 3 series, the Rover seemed to have priced itself out of the Vectra and Mondeo market, and many buyers reasoned that if they were going to buy a BMW, they wanted one with a blue and white badge on its bonnet. The Rover hasn't been able to match the residual values of the 3 series, and for those used buyers who appreciate the 75's blend of qualities, this can only be a good thing.Prices start at £3,200 for a 1999 T-plate 75 1.8 Classic SE. You'll need to budget another £100 for the Club SE version, and automatics tend to retail at around £150 more than their manual counterparts. The 75 2.0-litre V6 engined cars start at £3,475 for a Classic SE, £3,525 for a Club, £3,850 for a Club SE Automatic and £3,650 for a Connoisseur, all on a 1999 T-plate. Prices for equivalent 2.5 V6 cars are £3,700 for a Club model, £3,950 for a Connoisseur SE and £4,200 for a Connoisseur SE Auto. The 2.0-litre CDT turbo diesel cars start at £3,500 for a manual Classic SE and range up to £9,975 for a 2003 53-plated Connoisseur SE model. Insurance for the 75 is pretty reasonable, starting at Group 9 for the 1.8 and turbodiesel cars, through Group 11 for the 2.0-litre V6 engined models up to Group 14 for the 2.5-litre flagships.
Used Rover 75 for sale

Rover 75 Parts

(approx. based on 75 1.8) Nothing too scary here. For most parts the prices are quite reasonable and worth the money. Expect to pay around £230 for a full clutch assembly, around £90 for a headlamp and about £195 for an alternator. Brake pads should cost about £55 for the front and £50 for the rear, whilst a starter motor is around £185.
Used Rover 75 for sale