Engine rebuild required at 133,000 miles due to piston collapse in very worn bores. 2 cracked heads. Various service items like tyres, exhaust after 100,000 miles, suspension components, brakes. Car rusting away and looking tatty now.
This car was a bargain to buy and run. I have covered 114,000 miles at a total cost of 13,000 UKP. That includes all fuel, service, engine work, purchase cost and insurance. I will have a problem replacing this car when it rusts away. If I could buy a brand new one with a galvanised and properly painted body I would not hesitate. The car averages 45mpg when thrashed which is how I drive it. 55-60mpg is easily achievable if you can keep off the accelerator, which takes some beating even with a new car, particularly one this big.
55-60MPG is never going to happen. The best fuel economy the handbook gives is 35MPG and even that seems a little unrealistic.
WHAT!? If a 2.0 petrol car can achieve 35 I'm SURE a diesel can!
I wrote the original entry, and I can assure anybody that these economy figures are realistic. I recently drove to the North of Scotland and back from Huntingdon via Edinburgh and returned via the West Coast, and my economy readings were 56.8mpg, 57.2mpg, 58.0mpg and 55.4mpg. I would be interested to hear of a replacement vehicle that I could expect similar economy from.
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We had a late model (95 reg.) diesel estate, which provided excellent service and economy from 24k to 80k.
Best achieved was 58mpg. Although it was never less than 50mpg.
With better rust-proofing and a bit more style, these cars would have been world beaters.
The newer Rover L-series diesel is definitely worth a look - more power, quieter and same economy.
Drive the flag.
I have found that 55 mpg is realistic. I did one test running a full tank right down on mainly motorway driving, sticking to the 70 mph limit and got just over 60 mpg.
As seems to be the case with everyone else, rust is letting me down. However, if you want cheap, large car motoring, the diesel estate takes some beating. I should know, I have two of them!
I have owned a turbo diesel estate for 3 yrs and can vouch for the easy 50 mile per gallon. I should know this as I have clocked over 50,000 miles on it from well over 100,000.
Penny for penny, mile for mile a very reliable motor, just make sure you wash it weekly!!! door bottoms bonnet front and boot lid bottom and especially rear wheel arches love rust, although I am lucky except the latter.
They are a fast roomy economical workhorse, ashame they stopped production in 94...i would without doubt be looking for a newer one otherwise.
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