Item: Used Rover 75 Tourer 1999 - 2005
Author: What Car? Team

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Estate

Once a bastion of the British car industry, Rover is no longer a going concern anywhere but in the used car market.

For the canny buyer, that can be as good news as it is for the enthusiastic collectors of the firm’s finer models. Some of the cars from its later history remain in reasonable supply, can prove mechanically sound and come at rock-bottom prices.

Most collectable of them all is the Rover Mini, but for those looking to buy some no-nonsense transport for pocket money, the likes of the 25, 75, CityRover and Streetwise can make sound investments, especially if you can find later examples that aren’t yet overwhelmed by having covered giant mileages.

ROVER

The Rover 75 Tourer feels like a car from a bygone age brought up to date, and it's a good load-carrier, too

Used Rover 75 Tourer 1999 - 2005

Tourers are cheap to buy, but you're getting an old design without dealers to support it. Reliability isn't a strong point, and although getting spare parts shouldn't cause problems yet, there are reports that some replacement body panels are in short supply.

Future depreciation should not be a worry, though, because most of the car's value has already vanished.

Day-to-day running costs are reasonable, too, helped by the fact that you'll be using independent garages for servicing, which are usually cheaper than main dealers.

The diesel is good for up to 48mpg across a mix of driving, while the 1.8 petrol should manage up to 36mpg and the 1.8 turbo 35mpg. The 2.5 V6 struggles to 30mpg.

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The Rover 75 Tourer feels like a car from a bygone age brought up to date, and it's a good load-carrier, too

Go for the diesel. This 2.0 CDTi engine comes courtesy of Rover's one-time owner, BMW. It is a hard worker, but smooth with it. It's also capable of reaching high mileages without causing grief.

Of the petrols, the 1.8 is fine if you take it easy, but the 1.8 turbo is much better. We'd avoid the 2.5, which feels limp for a V6, has an unhealthy thirst for fuel and may need expensive repairs.

The base Classic models make do with fabric seats and plastic wheel covers, but move up to the Connoisseur and you get leather trim and alloy wheels that suit the car perfectly. ÔContemporary' models attempt a more modern look for the cabin, which doesn't look right. A face-lift of the range for 2004 tidied the dash, beefed up the front grille and merged the twin headlamps into one.

Buy from car supermarkets or independent dealers specialising in estates.

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Huge boot and excellent practicality</li> <li>Plenty of interior space so you can carry passengers as well as luggage </li> <li>Strong engines to pull a heavily laden car</li> <li>Comfortable ride, especially on the motorway</li> <li>Low running costs for company car drivers</li></ul>

If you’re after bags of space but you don’t want to commit to the van-like dimensions and styling of an MPV, there are some great estate cars on offer that should do the job.

Tricks to look out for include an electric tailgate&nbsp;that opens automatically when you wave your foot under the rear bumper; this is&nbsp;particularly handy if you’re trying to load in a heavy or&nbsp;bulky item. You should also look for handles in the side of the boot itself that can drop down the rear seats; these are much more convenient than having to walk around the side of the car to do it.

There are some terrific estates at most price ranges. The humble Skoda Fabia Estate offers cavernous space for not much cash at all, for example.

Further up the price range, another of our perennial favourites is the Skoda Superb Estate;&nbsp;it’s great to drive and as practical as most people should ever need. Meanwhile, for serious mile-munching ability and a premium, well-finished interior, it’s hard to look beyond the BMW 5 Series Touring.

The 75 gets an average-to-poor rating from the What Car? Reliability Index, and Rover's lack of a dealer network means servicing is carried out to varying standards and some items may be missed.

Cars finished in 2005, just before Rover went bust, were - by some accounts - pretty shoddy. So if you're buying one of the last, a professional pre-purchase inspection is wise.

Otherwise, watch for leaking head gaskets on the V6 and 1.8 petrols, and check for coolant system leaks. Cooling fans sometimes pack up on cars after four to five years and, if the driver doesn't notice the temperature gauge rising until it hits the red, the engine can cook.

ECU failure is also possible, and given away by misfires and poor starting. Clutches are a weak point, too, so check that the car changes gear smoothly and that the clutch bites properly.

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The Rover 75 Tourer is a cushy cruiser that looks as if it was designed in the 1960s. The cabin on all but the entry-level Classic drips with wood and leather, while the instruments resemble the dials from an old Bakelite radio. Meanwhile, the fat front chairs are comfy, but take up too much room.

The load area is roomier than it looks, although the intruding rear suspension narrows the available space. Lots have cabins trimmed in pale colours, which get shabby quickly and the fabrics look too delicate to stand a tough life.

The 1.8 petrol engines and 2.0 diesel are good, but the 2.5 V6 feels a bit weak and there are plenty of complaints about it developing faults.

All models have plenty of kit, and they're good to drive in a slushy, relaxed sort of way. But, probably the most attractive thing about a 75 is its low price, although you should remember that, following Rover's demise, there's no dealer back-up should problems occur.

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Used Rover 75 Tourer 1999 - 2005 review

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