Back in a 75 again

FrazzleTC · 15th May 2016, 18:42

As of yesterday, I once again became a 75 owner, after a six month hiatus.
I sold my previous V6 which I'd owned for many years, as I was finding the issues with clutch master cylinders extremely irritating. As a result, I found myself buying a 2006 Subaru Legacy, which was terrific fun to drive, but wasn't as relaxing on long trips, and proved to be expensive to maintain.

As such, the search began in earnest for a 75. Initially, all I knew was that it had to be auto, I wouldn't mind a ZT, and a Tourer would be nice. After seeing loads of rubbish cars for sale, phoning about a few nice ones which had already sold, I spotted this one, which was also marked sold. However, the sale fell through and the seller contacted me. As I'm in my final year of uni, and have little time, whatever I was buying would be unseen, but the car sounded like it had had a lot of work done to it, and was relatively tidy.

So, what is it? Well, it's a 126,000 mile Connoisseur SE CDTi Tourer Automatic, with a 160 remap. White Gold was far from my first choice, but as I was more interested in buying a fundamentally decent car, the colour wasn't really of any relevance.

I got a £10 ticket down to Bolton, and set off yesterday. The seller was very affable, and collected me from a station, before I drove the car back to his house, paid for it, and took it away, with a few useful spares.

What's it like? When I collected the car, it'd been given a cheap hand car wash valet, and looked fairly tidy. Front bumper is a bit scruffy, and it's had some paintwork, but, having not been a coastal car, it's lovely and rot-free, which is what I wanted. It's had a massive amount of work done, including the diesel pumps, new ECU, remap, new exhaust, fairly recent discs and pads, strut top bearings, wishbones, and so on. The interior looked clean enough on first inspection, but was actually filthy, and there'd been a dog in it. The steering wheel was particularly offensive. Thankfully, it has the nice earlier carpet, so that saves me a job!

How's it drive? I've never actually run a diesel car before, so this is something of a step into the unknown. I am quite taken with the torque, the auto box changes as nicely as I've come to expect (fluid has been changed), and unlike 90% of 75s I've been in, it doesn't have any suspension knocks and bangs. I had a good drive up the M6, stopping to see various friends on the way home, and it was extremely relaxing, though not really that economical, as expected. It has spent a lot of time around town, doing few good runs, so I filled it with premium diesel, and will put some diesel injector cleaner in soon.

What's been done since it's been home? As mentioned, the interior was pretty grim, so during breaks in revision, I've been spending 15 minutes at a time, concentrating on cleaning a given area of the interior, and, now, I think it looks, and smells infinitely better. I've cleaned the boot, the headlining, the leather seats, put leather cream on the seats, done a lot of hoovering, and dumped some Mercedes front mats in it, for now. I couldn't deal with the horrifically dirty steering wheel, so it is now residing in the bin, and has been replaced with a walnut wheel which I fitted to my last 75. The leather is the wrong colour at the moment but I have already changed the back to a sandstone one.

What's happening next?
The car has two lovely new Pirellis on the front, but on the back has two different budget tyres, put on it to get an MOT last week, which are being replaced tomorrow with a pair of new Hankooks. I was going to get rid of the Meteors in favour of Serpents, but I actually really like the Meteors now that I've got it home.
Air-conditioning to be re-gassed this week.
The exterior is absolutely covered in tar, so the next big job is cleaning all of the tar off the lower half of the car, followed by a good polish, and wax.
I will be fitting projector headlights on Wednesday, as the current ones look a bit poor.
The rear plate isn't a smiley, but I'm not changing it until my plate is transferred onto it, which shouldn't be too long.
Good service is in order shortly, too, so I've ordered everything I need for that.
Looks like one shock absorber is possibly leaking, so I'll investigate that soon, too.
Lower engine mount feels a bit worn, so I'll get another one soon, too.
One rear light cluster is chipped, so I'll get a replacement.
I'm going to add a few bits like carpeted heater enclosure panels, rear mudflaps, torpedo badges, etc.
New rear Rover badge, and union flag on tailgate.

Most importantly, I'm going to drive it a lot, as I'm moving to Uttoxeter in July.

Overall, it's an ideal car for my needs. Not immaculate, but it's had a lot of work done which should save me a lot of hassle in years to come. It's comfortable, refined, and brisk enough that I'm happy. Delighted to have an auto again, and it's reminded me what a nice car a well sorted 75 is.

Here are some photos, after today's interior clean, and with my walnut wheel fitted.

humphshumphs · 15th May 2016, 19:06

Looking good

trikey · 15th May 2016, 19:11

A nice example there buddy

spider13 · 15th May 2016, 19:12

looking very nice I like this colour really suits the 75

FrazzleTC · 15th May 2016, 19:28

Thanks everyone! I'm really pleased with it!

Forgot to mention that a massive rust-proofing session is on the cards for later in the month!

murphyv310 · 15th May 2016, 19:38

Looks cracking Fraser.
Should be good for years as you say.
Enjoy and good luck

Tam · 15th May 2016, 19:39

Looks a cracker! Needs some chrome luggage hooks in the back

FLYER · 15th May 2016, 19:49

Look forward to seeing it at Gretna .

Welcome to Diesel land Fraz.

andymc · 15th May 2016, 20:17

Looks far better than your description of it Frazer, well done on the cleaning and polishing. Just one thing - I hope you didn't really fill your first diesel with premium unleaded!!

Hope I'll be seeing you over this direction soon buddy.

FrazzleTC · 15th May 2016, 20:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by andymc

Looks far better than your description of it Frazer, well done on the cleaning and polishing. Just one thing - I hope you didn't really fill your first diesel with premium unleaded!!

Hope I'll be seeing you over this direction soon buddy.

Meant to say Premium diesel, Andy!

You've no idea how paranoid I am about mis-fuelling it!

15th May 2016, 18:42	#1
FrazzleTC This is my second home Rover 75 Tourer Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Staffordshire Moorlands Posts: 7,924 Thanks: 533 Thanked 1,178 Times in 920 Posts	Back in a 75 again As of yesterday, I once again became a 75 owner, after a six month hiatus. I sold my previous V6 which I'd owned for many years, as I was finding the issues with clutch master cylinders extremely irritating. As a result, I found myself buying a 2006 Subaru Legacy, which was terrific fun to drive, but wasn't as relaxing on long trips, and proved to be expensive to maintain. As such, the search began in earnest for a 75. Initially, all I knew was that it had to be auto, I wouldn't mind a ZT, and a Tourer would be nice. After seeing loads of rubbish cars for sale, phoning about a few nice ones which had already sold, I spotted this one, which was also marked sold. However, the sale fell through and the seller contacted me. As I'm in my final year of uni, and have little time, whatever I was buying would be unseen, but the car sounded like it had had a lot of work done to it, and was relatively tidy. So, what is it? Well, it's a 126,000 mile Connoisseur SE CDTi Tourer Automatic, with a 160 remap. White Gold was far from my first choice, but as I was more interested in buying a fundamentally decent car, the colour wasn't really of any relevance. I got a £10 ticket down to Bolton, and set off yesterday. The seller was very affable, and collected me from a station, before I drove the car back to his house, paid for it, and took it away, with a few useful spares. What's it like? When I collected the car, it'd been given a cheap hand car wash valet, and looked fairly tidy. Front bumper is a bit scruffy, and it's had some paintwork, but, having not been a coastal car, it's lovely and rot-free, which is what I wanted. It's had a massive amount of work done, including the diesel pumps, new ECU, remap, new exhaust, fairly recent discs and pads, strut top bearings, wishbones, and so on. The interior looked clean enough on first inspection, but was actually filthy, and there'd been a dog in it. The steering wheel was particularly offensive. Thankfully, it has the nice earlier carpet, so that saves me a job! How's it drive? I've never actually run a diesel car before, so this is something of a step into the unknown. I am quite taken with the torque, the auto box changes as nicely as I've come to expect (fluid has been changed), and unlike 90% of 75s I've been in, it doesn't have any suspension knocks and bangs. I had a good drive up the M6, stopping to see various friends on the way home, and it was extremely relaxing, though not really that economical, as expected. It has spent a lot of time around town, doing few good runs, so I filled it with premium diesel, and will put some diesel injector cleaner in soon. What's been done since it's been home? As mentioned, the interior was pretty grim, so during breaks in revision, I've been spending 15 minutes at a time, concentrating on cleaning a given area of the interior, and, now, I think it looks, and smells infinitely better. I've cleaned the boot, the headlining, the leather seats, put leather cream on the seats, done a lot of hoovering, and dumped some Mercedes front mats in it, for now. I couldn't deal with the horrifically dirty steering wheel, so it is now residing in the bin, and has been replaced with a walnut wheel which I fitted to my last 75. The leather is the wrong colour at the moment but I have already changed the back to a sandstone one. What's happening next? The car has two lovely new Pirellis on the front, but on the back has two different budget tyres, put on it to get an MOT last week, which are being replaced tomorrow with a pair of new Hankooks. I was going to get rid of the Meteors in favour of Serpents, but I actually really like the Meteors now that I've got it home. Air-conditioning to be re-gassed this week. The exterior is absolutely covered in tar, so the next big job is cleaning all of the tar off the lower half of the car, followed by a good polish, and wax. I will be fitting projector headlights on Wednesday, as the current ones look a bit poor. The rear plate isn't a smiley, but I'm not changing it until my plate is transferred onto it, which shouldn't be too long. Good service is in order shortly, too, so I've ordered everything I need for that. Looks like one shock absorber is possibly leaking, so I'll investigate that soon, too. Lower engine mount feels a bit worn, so I'll get another one soon, too. One rear light cluster is chipped, so I'll get a replacement. I'm going to add a few bits like carpeted heater enclosure panels, rear mudflaps, torpedo badges, etc. New rear Rover badge, and union flag on tailgate. Most importantly, I'm going to drive it a lot, as I'm moving to Uttoxeter in July. Overall, it's an ideal car for my needs. Not immaculate, but it's had a lot of work done which should save me a lot of hassle in years to come. It's comfortable, refined, and brisk enough that I'm happy. Delighted to have an auto again, and it's reminded me what a nice car a well sorted 75 is. Here are some photos, after today's interior clean, and with my walnut wheel fitted. __________________ 1967 Rover 2000 Automatic 1969 Rover 3500 Series One 1979 Scimitar GTE 2013 Mercedes SLK250 CDI Last edited by FrazzleTC; 15th May 2016 at 20:21..

15th May 2016, 19:06	#2
humphshumphs I really should get out more....... No longer a Rover Owner Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: As far east as you can go in the UK and not get wet feet. Posts: 2,273 Thanks: 404 Thanked 309 Times in 246 Posts	Looking good __________________ Richard. No longer a 75 owner as my tourer made it to the moon, and died on it's way back. But 1/4 million miles ain't bad.

15th May 2016, 19:11	#3
trikey Premium Trader Rover 75 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Devon Posts: 33,777 Thanks: 8,837 Thanked 14,831 Times in 8,030 Posts	A nice example there buddy __________________ Lest we forget..

15th May 2016, 19:28	#5
FrazzleTC This is my second home Rover 75 Tourer Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Staffordshire Moorlands Posts: 7,924 Thanks: 533 Thanked 1,178 Times in 920 Posts	Thanks everyone! I'm really pleased with it! Forgot to mention that a massive rust-proofing session is on the cards for later in the month! __________________ 1967 Rover 2000 Automatic 1969 Rover 3500 Series One 1979 Scimitar GTE 2013 Mercedes SLK250 CDI

15th May 2016, 19:38	#6
murphyv310 This is my second home Hyundai i10 998cc Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Kilmarnock Posts: 6,602 Thanks: 2,088 Thanked 2,298 Times in 1,349 Posts	Looks cracking Fraser. Should be good for years as you say. Enjoy and good luck __________________ Cheers from Trevor MM0KJJ

15th May 2016, 19:12	#4
spider13 Avid contributor rover 75 1.8t x2 mgf 1.8 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: newport Posts: 123 Thanks: 4 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	looking very nice I like this colour really suits the 75

15th May 2016, 19:39	#7
Tam Posted a thing or two 05 ZT+, 04 ZT+, 64 P6 2.0, 74 P6 V8s, 75 P6 V8, 92 214Si, 04 25 Td, 02 Defend , 05 ZR 105+ x2 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Kirriemuir Posts: 1,319 Thanks: 701 Thanked 203 Times in 136 Posts	Looks a cracker! Needs some chrome luggage hooks in the back __________________ Lagoon, last one built! And Horizon 1 of only 2!....MY CARS

15th May 2016, 19:49	#8
FLYER Banned rover75 cdti AUTO TOURER 160 bhp. Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Glasgow Posts: 35,346 Thanks: 2,985 Thanked 3,685 Times in 2,463 Posts	Look forward to seeing it at Gretna . Welcome to Diesel land Fraz.

15th May 2016, 20:17	#9
andymc Posted a thing or two Wedgewood Connie SE / Black Club SE Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Ballymoney Posts: 1,459 Thanks: 542 Thanked 583 Times in 365 Posts	Looks far better than your description of it Frazer, well done on the cleaning and polishing. Just one thing - I hope you didn't really fill your first diesel with premium unleaded!! Hope I'll be seeing you over this direction soon buddy. __________________ My blood brother is an immigrant A beautiful immigrant My blood brother's Freddie Mercury A Nigerian mother of three