2000 Rover - Austin 75 Connoisseur SE from UK and Ireland - Comments

Have had the car since new, and though fitted with a lot of electrical extras, have had absolutely no problems, right from day one. Just pure motoring pleasure.

What can I say to sum up this car? It's pure and simply heaven on wheels, and the best car I've ever owned. Admittedly we've done a low mileage so far, but if the last 14 months are anything to go by the build quality and attention to detail leave nothing to be desired. We've also taken the car abroad, and don't know if 75's are rarer in the rest of Europe, but people gather round the car when you park it up!

One word of warning, it isn't a racing car. If you want that buy the MG, but if you want refinement, tons of torque and a car that feels turbine smooth, buy the 2.0 CDT, you won't be disappointed. As an added bonus economy is excellent too, around 50mpg and at 70mph the rev counter is barely reading 2000rpm. You would not know this car was a diesel, but for the pleasant surprise each time you visit the filling station.

As for the cabin, it's better than a Bentley, and yes I have sat in one, simply stunning although admittedly the retro theme probably isn't to all tastes. it's terrifically well built and there's just so much thought put into everything. My only criticism here, the lack of a locking glove box. I can live with that though.

I really can't praise this car enough, the dealership also, though a smaller franchise, has been great as well.

All you German car buyers out there, one day you'll see the light. When I park my beautiful 75 next to bland, boring BMWs', Audis' and Mercs' I wonder why you bothered.

Take a tip from me, when you tire of your German machines, buy British and buy a Rover 75. You won't regret it.

Rover 75 owners should be made aware that the oil cooler feed hoses are "inadequately designed and not sufficiently robust enough for the work they were intended". This is the view of an independent engineer and the hydraulic hose company that made up the replacements.

My husbands car, 75 V6 2.5 connoisseur (V reg. 31500 miles) suffered serious damage as a result of the failure of one of these hoses, the AA man had to mop up oil from the road before he could attend to the car. There isn't any reinforcement in these hoses they are just plastic and bound to fail. Because we brought it privately, second hand, but still under warranty, we have no course of action to take against Rover, but other owners should be warned.

ST.

I am running the second rover 75 the first one an 1.8litre petrol had a replacement gearbox at 8,000mls and new head gasket at 10,500mls all the chrome on the four dooor handles became pitted and were replced, the service from perry, s of huddersfield was very good as was the general finish of the car. The SECOND 75 A 2.0 LITRE CDT IS VERY ECONOMICAL, but rattles and squeaks from the dash area, rover have not maintained the same quality of finish with this car eg. less badges ect trim components obviousely sourced at a cheaper price, I will not be having a third 75...sgd02.

Just a quick note about "Buying British". I would note that at the time, Rover was owned by BMW and if the owner looked under his bonnet he'd see a big BMW Diesel engine winking back at him! :)

I'm not a BMW owner and have never owned one. I'm currently looking at buying the exact same year and model as this chap and I think the BMW heritage is a bonus because it provides a level of engineering that is far better than British at the moment (and no, I'm not German either).

These are simply my observations.

I have owned a 2.0 CDT for about the last 4 months and would have to agree that it is luxury motoring at its best. It was designed to glide up motorways and the diesel engine is very smooth. It is even self priming, as I discovered after stupidly running out of fuel soon after I bought it. Mine is a 2001 Connoisseur SE with Sat Nav and all the trimmings. I have never owned such an amazing set of wheels.

My previous car was an E280 Mercedes. Also very nice with a powerful and well built engine, but there is no comparison to the luxury of the 75. As long as I don't have any major mechanical faults, I will not be going back to Mercedes.