Item: Used Rover 75 Saloon 1999 - 2005
Rating: 3
Author: What Car? Team

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Ownership cost

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Saloon

<p dir="ltr">Once a bastion of the British car industry, Rover is no longer a going concern anywhere but in the used car market.</p>

<p dir="ltr">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.</p>

<p dir="ltr">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.</p>


ROVER

<p>The Rover 75 is a comfortable, refined motorway hauler with a superb, supple ride</p>


Used Rover 75 Saloon 1999 - 2005

<p>Prices got a good kicking when Rover went down the pan and they've never recovered, so you'll be able to snap up a 75 for a keen price. But, because the 75 is already pretty cheap, any loss of value in the future is likely to be comparatively modest.</p>

<p>Bear in mind that no 75 will have a manufacturer's warranty - that died with Rover - so you may want to budget for mechanical breakdown insurance to help cover any remaining teething troubles on newer 75s.</p>

<p>Servicing costs are pretty reasonable - not far off the cost of maintaining a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/mondeo/hatchback/review/n15">Ford Mondeo</a> and less than more upmarket motors such as a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/3-series/saloon/review/n91">BMW 3 Series</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/c-class/saloon/review/n70">Mercedes C-Class</a>.</p>

<p>The 2.0 CDT is also very frugal (49mpg on average) and even the 2.5 V6 should deliver close to 30mpg.</p>

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The Rover 75 is a comfortable, refined motorway hauler with a superb, supple ride

<p>The best engine, in our view, is the BMW-sourced 2.0 CDT turbodiesel. It just suits the 75's character so well - smooth, punchy, frugal and extremely quiet. In fact, you can barely hear it, unless you take it to maximum revs, which you won't because there's so much pull long before you get there.</p>

<p>The rest of the line-up are all petrol engines: a reasonable non-turbo 1.8, a much keener 1.8 turbo, a 2.0 V6 that feels underpowered and a 2.5 V6 that seems to have sourced its 174 horses from poor stock. Of these, the 1.8 turbo gives the best all-round balance of performance, economy and refinement.</p>

<p>Classic trim goes without air-conditioning, so we'd upgrade to Club spec, which also adds electric rear windows. Connoisseur brings electrically adjustable leather seats and chrome door mirrors and any car badged SE should have cruise control and a CD multi-changer.</p>

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of practical space </li> <li>Low running costs </li> <li>A comfortable ride </li> <li>A healthy equipment list </li> <li>Quality materials and thoughtful touches inside </li> <li>Rock-solid reliability</li></ul>

<p>Family cars arguably have the toughest brief of all: they have to be good at pretty much everything. They’re used as the daily drive, on the school run or work commute (often both), and have to be able to cope with a family’s clutter on weekends and holidays.</p>

<p>The Skoda Scala is a relative newcomer, but it's&nbsp;already carved out a name for itself in this segment.&nbsp;If you're looking for a moderately priced car that combines a supple ride, neat handling, a spacious interior and a capacious boot&nbsp;it's well worth a look.&nbsp;Alternatively, if you're looking for entertaining handling then the&nbsp;BMW 1 Series may well be for you. It's great to drive, rides well&nbsp;and also comes with a top-notch interior, featuring one of our very favourite infotainment systems.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Toyota Corolla&nbsp;is another great choice. This latest version of one of the world's best-selling cars of all time can be had with a choice of two different petrol-electric hybrid engines, both of which should mean&nbsp;potentially lower fuel bills. It's comfortable, well equipped and should be very reliable, too.&nbsp;</p>

Family

<p>The 75 was almost certainly the best-built Rover ever. Early cars had their problems, but these were sorted out reasonably quickly and owners generally report that the 75 is well screwed together and trouble-free.</p>

<p>However, there are weak spots. Front coil springs have broken on some cars and it's not uncommon for the motor that operates the electric seat adjustment to fail.</p>

<p>The 1.8 is prone to overheating and blowing its head gasket if the coolant isn't kept topped up. So, check the level in the radiator and inspect the dipstick and inside the oil filler cap for signs of creamy emulsion, which would indicate big trouble.</p>

<p>Also, look for uneven tyre wear - suspension problems can be hard to fix on the 75 - and rusted brake pipes. On diesels, check the clutch carefully.</p>

<p>Finally, examine the bodywork for dings - the sides are prone to car-park scars and the back end can pick up knocks because rear visibility isn't great, especially in the rain.</p>

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<p>Think of the Rover 75 as a comfortable, archetypally British take on a German small executive car. It was conceived when BMW ran the show at Rover and there was no way it was going to tread on the toes of any existing BMW. So, while the 75 grips well in corners, there's too much lean and the steering is too blunt for it to be as thrilling to drive as its German rivals.</p>

<p>However, it absorbs bumps and potholes supremely well - almost like a limo - and is a relaxed, effortless long-distance motor. If you want to shrink distances while sitting comfortably in the surroundings of a gentleman's club, look no further.</p>

<p>There's a wooden dash and big, inviting seats, together with plenty of retro touches, such as sepia-tinted dials. You'll have no problem getting settled behind the wheel, but expect to hear complaints from rear passengers about the lack of space. Rear vision for the driver isn't great, either. Still, the boot's a good size, although the rear bench doesn't fold.</p>

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Used Rover 75 Saloon 1999 - 2005 review

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