BMW getting nervous about Rover??

My previous car was a Rover coupe turbo and it wasn't shy!! Can't say that quality was a issue, nothing fell apart, never broke down and was still going strong at 100K miles after 5 year years of ownership!!

Parents have a 75 and 400, the 75 is a better car as it is more modern. The 400 has done 150K miles with no problems, even still on the original clutch!!! I've had to change the suspension on my 328 at 60 K miles as it was ready for dropping apart, never seen so much play in a ball joint!! Other items on the BM have had to be changed due to fault or wear which the Rover hasn't had to worry about!!

I'm not slating BMW its all part of car ownership, but I think Rover do not deserve the bad press on quality or pipe and slipper image - Can't see a Grandad in my turbocharged 200bhp car!!!

Rover is the only sole British owned mass car producer left in the UK!

The 75 is 5th in the JD power survey for customer satisfaction!

The 75 was wholly designed by Rover and BMW putting their input at the end - thus BMW suspension and diesel engine. This is why some say the 75 well the sports version the ZT is better on track as the torsional rigity is stronger than the BMW. I've driven the whole MG range at Rockingham circuit and must say that the ZS is great on track and even the 1400KG ZT!!

Although mis-reported by many sections of the press as a Chinese take-over, the plan is actually for MG Rover and SAIC to both retain their independence.

A new joint venture company would be set up to develop the new models, split 30/70 in favour of SAIC.  MGR providing the technology, SAIC providing the money.

Should SAIC wish to take control of MGR they would have to refund BMW with the �500 million soft loan provided at the time of the split, hence why a take-over is unlikey in the short term.

Well, this is a bit of a contentious topic!

Well here are my views on the BMW vs Rover debate.

1) The Rover 75 is a nice looking car and when the new MG V8 version gets a bit older and has depreciated a bit It will be a car that I might consider.

2) I would really like to see Rover doing well because they are a British company and If they suceed it is good for employment in this country. Also it will restore a bit of national pride.

3) When it comes to quality neither company can really hold it's head high at the moment. BMW has had some dreadfull issues in recent years (nikasil, Vanos etc etc) and my E36 is not as well built as my prevoius two cars, a Primera and a Civic. I have driven a Friends MG ZS 180 and it's build quality is just shoddy, as it was in his Rover coupe and another friends two Meastros were just woefully put together.

4) As for driving My E36 328 is a lot better to drive than an MG ZS 180 interms of driving position, steering feel and performance. The Meastro was a dreadfull car to drive.

5) If Rover does challenge BMW it will be a good thing and it might just make BMW sort out some of the quality and styling issues that are plagueing them at the moment.

As a final thought the coment that Rovers are c**p just made me think of one thing, Never under estimate the competition. How many loses in both military and comercial situations have been preceded by an arrogant belief that the opposition are so inferior that they don't pose any threat.

stephenperry wrote: the rover 75 is a lot of car for the money but hey guess what, <whispers> ive been told that its based on the e39 the underpinnings may be, but are bmw really going to shoot themselves in the foot by producing a car which is comparable to their own model in quality for a knockdown price?  i think not ive seen the vw/seat comparison... vw build quality my butt

Ah, a totally unbiased view, based on the little knowledge is dangerous theory

Most manufacturers are having problems with Quality issues, anyone reading the "M" posts would be put off buying a new one as, it seems, the engines are falling apart, Would you buy a car if the engine failed & manufacturer refused to admit issues ?

FIAT have lost over $500,000,000 so far this year,Mitsubishi are nearly bankrupt, GM & Ford shares are nearly rated as Junk, DC is in bad ways with Smart looking like it will be closed down, VAG are undergoing the 2nd major cost cutting exercise in 2 yrs to increase profit margins. makes MGR`s �70,000,000 loss seem good

Going on the time of the post looks like you are suffering from sleep depravation, or excess loopy juce or something.

 If you want to argue about something always make sure you know what you are talking about as you will end up looking more stupid than you appear

yes i have driven one

test drove a 1990 example from a local kerbside motors place in 1995, silver, all the toys you could wish for, leather, air con, cruise, lusty 2.7 engine.. just a shame it was all wrapped up in a boxy old rover 800

driving other rovers their engines were the best part, just let down by the rest of it, and the image (mini cooper excepted)

the rover 75 is a lot of car for the money

but hey guess what, <whispers> ive been told that its based on the e39

the underpinnings may be, but are bmw really going to shoot themselves in the foot by producing a car which is comparable to their own model in quality for a knockdown price?  i think not

ive seen the vw/seat comparison... vw build quality my butt

hello??!?!  a rover 827 sterling!?!?

top of the range, yeah, circa 1990