Not sure if it's been mentioned on this thread yet or not, but I have a feeling that Project Drive cars were fitted with a lot less sound deadening to the internal floor, underneath the carpet. I've added some photos of the floor inside my late 2003-build car, but I'm certain I've seen photos elsewhere of other cars with the carpet out, where there was considerably more sound-proofing/sticky-mat fitted to the internal chassis - might explain why PPD cars sound/feel more "solid".. I know the carpets/carpet material were changed to a cheaper looking fibrous product in latter years, and some believe that the carpet foam is thinner in Project Drive cars, although I'm not sure if there was any difference to the carpet foam mouldings or not.


Cheers,
Karl.

I'm interested in this too.
I heard that the Rover 75 set new levels in refinement when it came out.
My 2005 CDTi is not refined at all. Engine noise, road noise and wind noise.

My ZR has less road noise !!!!

Pete.

Hi Karl

There was definitely a difference in the carpet mouldings (thicker and thinner foam)

I have not noticed the sound deadening you mention but will have a look now! Thanks for noting it.


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Change in sound deadening coverage to internal floor
 

Think I've found some evidence, thanks to pics from the posts of former and current members. See below..

Unfortunately, I have no idea of when this change happened (although, it's not exactly a huge change, I suppose).


Cheers,
Karl.


EDIT: The attached PDF (of the same images) probably illustrates the differences a little better..

Is it your tyres maybe, I had wanli tyres once. Never again, sounded like the wheel bearings had gone

Is this another one?
 

I noticed when trawling through a scrapped PPD car that there was an additional sound deadening mat stuck along the leading edge of the boot floor (not fitted in mine). The mat was backed with a loose, multi-coloured material and was stuck in place with two sections of black, sticky-back foam (near the rear seat-back). The part looked OEM and appears to resemble the smaller of the two sound mats on the OEM parts schematics (item 11 here):
https://allbrit.de/UNI.cfm?PAGE=741029&SPRACHE=EN

Would this be the parcel shelf insulation that folks have often talked about having been deleted from the later cars? My car is late 2003 and has the insulation in the parcel shelf itself :shrug: But this mat is located directly below the parcel shelf on the boot floor.. :cool:

My OEM under-seat sound panel seems to have an additional section that extends out into the boot floor where the separate mat was fitted in the PPD car. Maybe there was a change mid-production to combine the two separate mats into one?
I've tucked the additional (PPD?) mat up under the extended section of my OEM mat for now.

Not a biggie by any means, but information (particularly from PPD owners) welcome :)


Cheers,
Karl.

I changed the Mk2 carpet for a Mk1 in my ZT, didn't necessarily notice whether the foam was any difference but the carpet certainly is better.

Something else i've been meaning to question is when the height adjustment/lumbar support disappeared from the passenger seat?

I have the launch brochure for the Mk2 ZT and the text refers to height adjustable passenger seat, although when you read the spec it only refers to 4 way adjustment, but does have lumbar support. I have a May 04 build car but it has neither :shrug:

Passenger seat height adjustment
 

Hi Kelvin,

After studying my brochures in great detail, I think I have the correct information for you.

Height adjustment and lumbar support are separate features.

Passenger seat height adjustment (manual) was a factory option until the introduction of the facelift Rover cars when it was discontinued (except for MG models which had electric).

Passenger seat lumbar adjustment was only available on Connoisseur & SE as standard until the facelift when it was standard on Connoisseur SE and Contemporary SE only. On MGs it was standard across the range.

I can't find a clear indication that Rovers ever had electrically operated passenger seat height adjustment available. Please prove me wrong!

Simon

My PPD (twin-piped + four stitch panels) memory leather (Connie?) seats have lumbar adjustment on the passenger seat - but no height adjust.

Not sure if height adjust was ever a standard fitment on the passenger electric seats, but the function can be added by getting a LHD driver seat switch pack and making some adjustments to the seat and the wiring (Rick-Sta has done this, I believe).

The earlier carpets definitely have a nicer finish to them (I've done this swap also), but can't say I noticed any obvious difference to the foam moulding when changing them out..


Cheers,
Karl.

It was Karl, details given in my post immediately before yours. :}
Unfortunately it's not as simple as that. Height adjustable seats have an additional piece of frame on which the rise & fall motor is mounted (if you have a look at your existing seats you'll see).

Simon