Citroenmads Citroen blog.

[Citroening]

Terribly sorry to hear about your dog Chris. Know exactly what it's like as we had to put to sleep two of our huskey's and I discovered the third after it passed away following a heart attack which wasn't nice... No dogs anymore, two rescue cats now - wouldn't be without them.

Xantia is looking very smart, nice car.

[CitroJim]

Yes, the Xantia is looking gorgeous Chris

two rescue cats now - wouldn't be without them.

Ahh, so what do they rescue? Stranded Citroens?

[vince]

Hi Chris, its been a while....both cars are looking great, the tan hill meet looked awesome. Some nice cars there.

[DHallworth]

Sorry to hear about the dog Chris. We had exactly the same thing with one of our Weimaraner's between Christmas and New Year. The other dog is lost without his mate.

She'd also been here since she was 8 weeks old. It's better now that she's not suffering though.

We've got a new bundle of fur arriving on Sunday. Hopefully she'll get on with the dog though!

David.

[Citroenmad]

Thank you everyone It was the best thing to do but very difficult. Our other two are keeping us smiling. I took them swimming to other day to a hydratherapy place. They loved it.

I hope your new bundle of fun gets on with your dog David


The Xantias are still tucked up away from these salty, icy and snowy roads ... and 'interesting' drivers.

[Citroenmad]

Well I seem to have totally taken leave of my senses ....

Some how in my thinking of getting back to having two cars again, I've managed to buy another one!

Would you think I'd ever not buy a Citroen? Well, you would be wrong This time its NOT a Citroen

Its a car I've liked since it came out and just recently my interest has hightened in them. I realise its not everyones choice but I like them. They are in fact pretty good cars and are backed up by an excellent owners forum. Not that this one is not better. I've been doing a lot of research about them recently.

So then, its a 53 plate Rover 75 Classic SE 1.8 in British Racing Green.

Yes its not in the most lavish trim level, but I like the large velour seats, smaller wheels and I always buy on condition not spec. As it happens, it does have alloy wheels and AC, standard to the SE.

And yes, its a K-series engine which does suffer headgasket failure. And yes, it has failed

However, this is just what I was wanting. Its going to be a project, a joint project with a friend. We'll replace the timing belt kit and water pump, all the gaskets etc associated with the headgasket failure. Fitting the improved MLS gasket. Then it will need a check over for the MOT and hopefully, once thats passed, tax. With an aim to sell it on, eventually, after its had some use. I've been looking into the parts needed and the job itself, its really not that bad. Luckily I'll have the help of someone who has done one before.

Its in excellent condition, bodywork is great, no rust (they dont really), interior is spotless. I've looked at a few now and none were close to being this nice. I was looking for a 1.8 or 1.8T as its a good engine and with the HG fixed etc, it'll be a sorted car. They are also reasonable on running costs and I didn't want to get a diesel. I'm looking forward to it turning up. None of my own pics yet but here are some from the ad:



Once the mechanicals are sorted I'll give it a machine polish and wax, its a great colour and I think it'll look superb

As its not French, I'll keep my updates brief

[bxzx16v]

Love the project rover Chris , I'm not a rover fan myself but the 75 is a decent car . I'm not even going to comment on the rover 800 I had years ago

Mark

[Citroenmad]

Thanks Mark.

I'm really looking forward to getting stuck in with it and getting it back on the road to use. There are few cars I really like enough to own one, but that is one of them. It is a Rover but it is arguably the best Rover for many reasons. Built with BMW funding it was built to a higher standard than other Rovers. It offers things I like in a car too, namely space and comfort, they do ride really nicely. I've wanted one for a while but didn't think I would ever get one. But parts are so easy to source and cheap too, so many easy to add accessories or extra kit and there are still plently of cars to choose from.

This one was built at Longbridge and during the Project Drive scheme. Essentially a process to slowly remove expensive trim and details which were not needed or to make items standard to reduce production costs. This one being part way through still has the interior electric pop for the boot release, central rear armrest, spare wheel instead of sealing gunk etc.

A few weeks ago I got looking at pictures people had taken after Rover went into administration. People snuck in and took pictures of the paused production line, the secret concept cars, test mules and such. Really interesting stuff to me. I like all that history behind these cars and the company.

Anyway, I also own some Citroens ...

My C5 has been superb in this snow and ice, its on winter tyres and really is impressive for grip.

[myglaren]

My youngest had a 75 2L diesel, connoisseur spec in good condition. Excellent place to be and economical for it's size.
Got buttons for it when she sold it due to her travelling vastly increased mileage, replaced it with a Clio that she hates but was far cheaper to tax and insure, also slightly cheaper on fuel but she regrets letting it go.

[Northern_Mike]

A friend of mine , now sadly no longer with us, had a 75 Connoisseur diesel Tourer. He swore by it, thought it was the bees knees. It was reliable and economical, took him and his missus all over the place without problem over 8 years. Poor guy decided it was time to move it on and buy new, bought a brand new Golf in October 2011, got diagnosed with oesophageal cancer three weeks later, lasted until May 2012. He had previously done what DickieG did, only up in the North West.

[CitroJim]

Well I seem to have totally taken leave of my senses ....

If it was the diesel one then yes I'd say you had Chris as they're a sod to work on. I have

However, having said that, that are good cars, good to look at, quite comfy and well appointed. It's just a bloody shame they represent the final death throes of the British motor industry - I can't look at one (or a 25 or 45 for that matter) without feeling a lot of sadness. It's one reason I dislike BMW so much. I blame them for starting the killing process and that's a reason I'll never have either a BMW or a Bini.

Sorry, nerve touched here. Until French cars I was always a dedicated BMC man - last Brit was a Rover 100... Sadly, a great car spoiled by build quality that was appalling in the extreme.

I considered one once but to be honest the ergonomics just did not suit me at all. Hard to explain but I could never feel content in the drivers seat; it just didn't feel right.

Have fun with it Chris; the K is a terrific engine and the car itself well worth doing. Bet you picked it up for peanuts

Looking forward to updates

[Citroenmad]

My youngest had a 75 2L diesel, connoisseur spec in good condition. Excellent place to be and economical for it's size.
Got buttons for it when she sold it due to her travelling vastly increased mileage, replaced it with a Clio that she hates but was far cheaper to tax and insure, also slightly cheaper on fuel but she regrets letting it go.

I could see why, especially as your daughter got a lot less for it when moving it on. They are such a lot of car for the money.

A friend of mine , now sadly no longer with us, had a 75 Connoisseur diesel Tourer. He swore by it, thought it was the bees knees. It was reliable and economical, took him and his missus all over the place without problem over 8 years. Poor guy decided it was time to move it on and buy new, bought a brand new Golf in October 2011, got diagnosed with oesophageal cancer three weeks later, lasted until May 2012. He had previously done what DickieG did, only up in the North West.

I had looked at a tourer last weekend but that was not the best example and I dont need two estate cars. I think the saloon is the classic shape. That is very sad news about your friend.

Well I seem to have totally taken leave of my senses ....

If it was the diesel one then yes I'd say you had Chris as they're a sod to work on. I have

However, having said that, that are good cars, good to look at, quite comfy and well appointed. It's just a bloody shame they represent the final death throes of the British motor industry - I can't look at one (or a 25 or 45 for that matter) without feeling a lot of sadness. It's one reason I dislike BMW so much. I blame them for starting the killing process and that's a reason I'll never have either a BMW or a Bini.

Sorry, nerve touched here. Until French cars I was always a dedicated BMC man - last Brit was a Rover 100... Sadly, a great car spoiled by build quality that was appalling in the extreme.

I considered one once but to be honest the ergonomics just did not suit me at all. Hard to explain but I could never feel content in the drivers seat; it just didn't feel right.

Have fun with it Chris; the K is a terrific engine and the car itself well worth doing. Bet you picked it up for peanuts

Looking forward to updates

Yes, that is why I didn't want a diesel They are also more complex than the petrol engine and have problems with the clutch. Slave cylinder, dmf etc. I've seen bills for £1200 for a full clutch and dmf change

I was tempted by a 2.5 V6, it was a launch car and so had every option ticked. It was not a project which is what I was wanting and the V6 has three timing belts Im not too bothered about spec but liked the idea of that being an early car used for the launch of the 75. However I ideally wanted a longbridge built car, from late 2000 onwards, which this 1.8 is.

The Rover 75/MG ZT had the potential to right Rover, it was its best car for years and sold well. No doubt thanks to the rest of the range being very old designs and the intoduction of the Tata Sh*tyRover didn't help. I feel the same, it is a shame that ROver ended during that time and for me its a great reason to own one of the cars. They are far from bad cars too and its a chance to for me to see what they were offering. I love the fact its British built and all the history which goes behind Rover and BL.

When I went to the Coventry Motor Museum last year it really gives you a sense of what the Birmingham and Coventry ares must have been like in the years of mass car production. Its just a shame their more recent stuff is Peugeot related as Rovers history has much more of a story to tell. Its the nostalgia I like.

Thanks Jim, I'm sure I will The K-series appeald for its ease to work on and its a pretty good engine to drive too. Yes, it wasn't expensive, especially when you think its not even 10 years old yet, registered at the end of September 2003. Though I suspect built before then as it has some features which were deleted. I'll have to find out its built date, if its possible.

It arrives tomorrow but I doubt I'll have much time to took at it until next weekend. I'll keep you updated

[DickieG]

However, having said that, that are good cars, good to look at, quite comfy and well appointed. It's just a bloody shame they represent the final death throes of the British motor industry - I can't look at one (or a 25 or 45 for that matter) without feeling a lot of sadness. It's one reason I dislike BMW so much. I blame them for starting the killing process and that's a reason I'll never have either a BMW or a Bini.

Jim I think you've forgotten a few facts about what happened with Rover, the Government gave Rover to British Aerospace (IIRC for £1) pretty much as a sacrificial lamb to support British Aerospace who then stripped Rovers assets selling off property/land whilst not investing anything into Rover (remember the Metro face lift" of the Rover grille and new wheel trims ). Once the asset stripping was complete British Aerospace sold off Rover to BMW who did invest in Rover with new cars but discovered that the losses they continued to suffer were likely to bring down the parent company. For me the serious questions need to be pointed at the then Government and British Aerospace.

[CitroJim]

Not forgotten Richard. I must confess I never knew... Never even realised British Aerospace had any involvement. No doubt it coincides with a time in my life where memories are vague at best...

[Citroenmad]

By that account Rover was never going to survive.

... registered at the end of September 2003. Though I suspect built before then as it has some features which were deleted. I'll have to find out its built date, if its possible.

No I'm wrong, in fact it was built on 06.08.2003 and rolled off the production line at 07:50:36 seconds. Which makes it a Sunday morning car It was registered on 30.09.2003, so sat around for less than two months.