MG-Rovers Image/Reputation

[Mean & Green]

I’m interested to know what people’s thoughts are here about MG-Rover. I know this will be a biased audience, but I wonder what led owners here to their cars?

Being a member of various online car groups, it does seem that the MG-Rover brand has a distinct split of lovers and haters. People are either very enthusiastic or simply regard them as rubbish.

What’s people’s opinion here on how justified the poor general image is? Those who hate them really seem to hate them. Do you have any other cars from the brand other than a 75 or ZT? What is it most you like about them?

Personally I don’t care about brand image or snobbery. I like what I like, but it does strike me that the negative attitude towards the brand isn’t fully justified.

I’ve been an MG owner for sixteen years, I was drawn to the looks and the performance. For the cost of that brand new ZR in 2004 nothing could compete with what I wanted from a car.

Fast forward to now and I still have the ZR, I’ve also had a Rover 100, a Rover 25 and now I’ve swapped the 25 for a MG ZT-T. My reasons for buying these cars now they are old remains the same as it did when I bought new in 2004. The performance and looks for the money can’t be bettered. Also with time I have gained a lot of knowledge and understanding of the cars mechanically and genuinely think they are and were a good product.

What’s other people’s thoughts?

[BoroRover]

I have been hooked on Rovers for best part of 40 years now. I just love them. Starting with an SD1, then progressing through the 800's, on to the 75's.

I had a brief spell owning a Renault Kangoo in between the 800, and the 75.

Was I glad to go back and get the 75's.

[macafee2]

I was on the lookout for a tow car and someone at work suggested a Rover 75.
First one I looked at must have been a MK1 and it did not have the features that is was advertised as having. I bought the second one I saw. Great car. Not the fastest, not the best handling car on the road. considering I am not a fan of saloons or diesels I really like my CDT saloon.

I found this forum and apart from not having a sunroof, I have added perhaps the three main upgrades that could have been ordered, FBH, self dimming mirror and Cruise. Many other upgrades but those are the main 3.

yes people slag it off for being a Rover perhaps because they don't know engine is BMW. Others compliment the car.

I get enjoyment from driving my car, I have driven a number of prestige cars and think the interiors are very poor.

When towing (at the speed limit of course) I rarely and I mean rarely get overtaken or matched for speed by another unit.

Wife has a Ford focus, car does nothing for me, don't really like it

macafee2

[marinabrian]

I prefer the build quality of my XW Rovers if I'm honest, they were simply put together better than any R40 variant.

I've owned a 200 R3, 25, 45, and many XW, as well as six 75 two ZT.

What I don't mind about the cars at this stage in their career, is they are new enough to be competitive with up to date traffic, they are old enough to be slightly less run of the mill and more unusual.

I'm no car snob, if I were I would have scrapped the fleet I have some time ago, and bought myself something new.

Brian

[Mean & Green]

Originally Posted by marinabrian

What I don't mind about the cars at this stage in their career, is they are new enough to be competitive with up to date traffic, they are old enough to be slightly less run of the mill and more unusual.

I completely agree with that statement. Plus they are easy to DIY maintain, something which is gradually dying out with cars.

[rovertone]

Being born and raised within the shadow of Longbridge most folks drove Austin especially as spares came at the 'right price (over the wall!) it was a natural progression for me to follow suit.
Fortunate to have the benefit of a company car and Ford being the only choice, I switched allegiance until the Rover 800 was added to the options in the mid 80's. I loved the style, the comfort and the drive and was very sad to see them dropped.
Natural progression to move to the 75, firstly 2.0 V6 then for the past 8 years the current Cdti which my head says should be updated, but its a fabulous car and I can't bear the thought of parting. We have always had smaller Rovers around, currently my wife has a 2004 25 Mk2 auto with 28k on the clock and absolutely loves it. I've suggested trading it for something modern and I keep the 75 but she won't hear of it. So for now we carry on Rovering!

[Typhoon190]

Originally Posted by Mean & Green

I completely agree with that statement. Plus they are easy to DIY maintain, something which is gradually dying out with cars.

IMO they are made easier to maintain by the group of people on forum's like these. This forum has encouraged me to take an interest in solving problems myself where I can, and has put me in touch with a great number of people that have helped me with issues I couldn't solve myself. The biggest issue for me is sourcing decent quality spares.

Cost is almost irrelevant now, as the labour to repeat repairs due to poor quality spares probably far out ways.

I started my collection around 12 years ago, and dare say I would have blindly moved through other used cars if it weren't for the above.

[steve-45]

My first car was a Triumph Spitfire, that’s when Jaguar, Rover & Triumph were part of the same group. After a few other makes and models my first Rover was a 216 cabriolet.
The 216 was replaced by a Saab 93 aero convertible in 2003 ( I still have the Saab). My next Rover was a 1.4 25 bubble that was written off outside my house by a hit and run idiot. That was replaced with another 25 bubble but this time it was a 2 door 1.8 automatic iLX - with the auto box in sports mode that car absolutely flew and had many shocked BMW owners away from the lights.
A change of job and a dairy 120 mile commute saw it replaced by a 45 diesel hatchback, when that wore out along came a 45 connoisseur diesel saloon.

A chap I worked with also had a 45, one day he came into work and announced that the 45 had gone and took me outside to look at a gleaming ski blue 75 coni saloon - I was hooked, I wanted one !

The hunt commenced, I knew exactly what I wanted a 75 conni SE auto in firefrost red. I was allowing myself at least 6 months to find a decent one, but within 3 weeks I saw an advertisement for exactly what I wanted plus it was one owner and only 28,000 fully documented miles.
I probably paid far too much for it but it was love at first sight. Not regretted it so far and have met a wonderful bunch of people I would never have met through this forum.

[trikey]

I couldn't give a flying rats ar$e what anyone else thinks about our cars, I like em and that's good enough for me

[Robson Rover Repair]

I've now owned 50 plus 75 or zts, and over 2/3s of them have been driven on the road short and long term before being either sold or swapped on.

Between 25s,45s etc and then other rovers (200s, streetwise etc) it's been a good range of cars to me over the last 12 years.

Ironically for all these cars, I've had less overall issues than when I was a mk2 / mk4 golf and Ford escort enthusiastic.

Infact I've only ever repeat purchased Rover / Mg cars (and a few Freelander but they are just a 4x4 75 and maestro combo lol) despite owning Ford, Citroen, Peugeot, Mazda, Vw. And I especially will never return to vag brand myself, got screwed in an almost new mk4 golf gt tdi. Lost over half its value and needed engine, clutch, turbo and injectors within 7 months of ownership. 2 months out of warranty.

The only other vehicle I can see appearing in the future will either be a Izuzu Dmax, BMW x3 or Range Rover sport.