Moving from a 75 to a beemer; thoughts
 

Basically, I've called time on my 2.0 V6 petrol auto and moved to a BMW 320D (190hp) auto and just want to give my thoughts.

First, I should say I've loved owning the 75.
It's a classy motor.
But I just can't get away from the fact that it's just too old-fashioned to run in the real world today.

Bear in mind the 75 is a petrol V6.
With the mileage I do (60 miles a day, on mostly a fast A road averaging 65 mph), I was getting 30mpg.
The Beemer averages 50mpg.

Ok, I'm comparing petrol and Diesel and you'd be right to point that out.
No doubt the 75 diesels are pretty frugal too.

But then you have to compare the autoboxes.
The 75 has a 5 speed, as opposed to the beemer's 8 speed.
It's here the cars are worlds apart.
Where I used to chug uphill in the Rover, the Beemer changes up and down at will and is much more fluid.

Pure grunt next and the Beemer romps this again.
The Rover? 0-60 10.6 on a good day, I think
Beemer 7.5 or less, depending what you read.
That's a massive difference and although not the be all and end all, so it makes entering a motorway much more easy.

Never mind, the Rover's got to be much more comfortable, hey?

Not so.
I've got 18" wheels on the Beemer as opposed to 15's on the Rover and even with sports seats, it's a much better ride. Which really surprised me, as my previous experience in a 1 series was poor.

The Beemer's a very class act; economical, comfortable and goes like a train. I can see why people flock to it.

But it has absolutely no character whatsoever.
I could easily be driving a Cortina.

That wooden dash and wooden steering wheel is just something that the Beemer can't match and for me, the Rover's a better place to be.

Sadly, the Rover's wholly impracticable and it has to go.
I'd love to keep it, but I don't have anywhere.
Fortunately, I'm selling it on to someone who appreciates Rovers and will hopefully look after it.

But it's a real sad day for me.
As someone who was BL and then Rover through and through, I've dreaded it; not knowing what I'd buy.

How I wish there was a new Rover to buy, but hey ho :-(

Ironically, I've just bought a 2001,75CDT (116bhp) for a 130mile daily round trip, on M6 and rural A roads. I used to have an A4 TDi 130bhp, which was far quicker off the mark, but no more relaxed at cruising, but after 2 weeks of the longest commute I've ever done, I am arriving far fresher, and without the joint and back pain of the Audi. So tomorrow, I am off to see Marina Brian for him to stuff some extra horses under my bonnet, then it will be way better than the Audi. And I hope it doesn't snow where you live - RWD cars are mostly rubbish in snow, unless, like the MGF/TF they are rear/mid engined as well!

Hi

I hope you enjoy your BMW. One of the best cars I ever had was a E30 1984 BMW 320i fitted with high lift cams. Was only three years old when I got it and was a fantastic machine. In all honesty would I swap my V 6 for one...no...but I would swap my 1.8T for it or...maybe the V6....:duh:

In my experience BMW s are driver's cars and ( barring the one series which in my opinion is not a 'real'BMW ) are fun to drive. I have never understood the hate BMW mantra on here...each to their own I suppose.

Enjoy your car mate but remember you don't need to own one to be on here..

Chris

Back in 2002 I was the beneficiary of a life insurance policy that enabled me to buy a new car outright and I opted for a BMW 318i SE (E46 facelift variant). Don't get me wrong, it was a lovely car and I added a couple of options including leather interior and wood trim. However, having had my Rover for nearly two years now I know which I'd choose if I could turn the clock back 16 years - and it wouldn't have been imported from Germany. Hindsight is a wonderful thing of course, but on the other hand I wasn't even aware of the 75's existence in 2002.

I can't comment on the ride quality of newer BMWs as I've never driven one, but my 2003 75 is smoother, quieter and more comfortable than my 2002 3 series was by a country mile (and quicker too).

However, enjoy your new car and I hope it gives you many years of trouble free motoring.

Been there, done that!

We bought our V6 75 estate in 2001 and after 12 years I decided it was time for a change. Before the 75 we had owned an MGF, 2 800s and a Marina so a long track record with Layland products, the quality and finish of the 75 was vastly better than any of the leyland products and this had to be down to the influence of BMW.

Originally thought about the XF estate but that was only available as a diesel and I could not drive anything so polluting so it was off to the BMW dealer for a nice F31 with a splendid petrol engine built in brum. Not as wonderful as the 75 but it works and goes like stink with lots of toy (including Head up display). I see the BMW 3 estate as the Morris Traveller for the millennium pensioners so great for this old NAUGHTY WORD-NAUGHTY WORD-NAUGHTY WORD-.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
My cousin is keen on BMW. For 17 years he change hundreds of them as later on he began to do business with second-hand ones.
The only one which I liked was 735i L 4d `95 leather in excellent condition.
What a quality performance - both materials & execution.
Fortunately he decided to keep it.
A good decision.
http://planina.e-psylon.net/images/smiles/x_croc.gif

Been down that road. After 7 ZTs bought a 2007 320d M sport. The difference is night and day between the two. The Beemer is obviously more modern and has the benefit of continual redevelopment where as the Rover was designed and produced and very little changed in the production years. The beemer is a great car but the parts are astronomical if an ABS pump goes etc. Upgraded to a 10 plate 320D M sport running a std 184 Bhp and it was a belter but didnt have an ounce of character like my ZTs did.
All modern cars will have better equipment and engines thats life and many cant realistically continue to use a 14 year old car such as the R75 or infact any car.
I now have a focus ST and its a cracking car and the best bit about it is the availability of used parts at really low prices where the BMW parts were upto 3 times the price!
Judge a car on how many are on our roads and what the retail prices are like. Some people hate BMWs some Audis but make your own mind up. There are plenty of indys now who specialise in BMWs etc so shop around when servicing and buying parts.;)

I for one never really see the point of comparing cars that were designed/produced 10+ years apart.

The Rovers are what they are - that is why some of us love them whilst most do not.

I would expect a modern 3 series, an A4, a C-class etc. to be more powerful, as comfortable and more of a drivers car than the 75. Yet I could not see myself in a BMW below a 5 series, an Audi or a Mercedes below an E-Class.

I am perfectly happy with my 75's as everyday cars. I would be perfectly happy with a Mondeo estate.

It's all about what sort of statement a person wants to make about himself to himself in life.

I had a 5 Series once. Good solid car and very fast it was too. Only problem was the distributor cap - fitted at the rear of the engine so should have been well protected, but it broke as soon as the engine moved back. :getmecoat:

https://i.imgur.com/ee2MOqO.jpg

Our garage currently consists of:

2003 Rover 75 CDT Auto Tourer
2005 BMW Mini Cooper Convertible
2009 Ford Fiesta
2012 BMW 320i Coupe MSport

I'm not a fan of Fords, so don't really have anything nice to say about the Fiesta.

The BMW Mini is amazing for the size of the car, a really solid well build little car with none of the normal creaks and groans you'd expect from a convertible.

Now for the 75 & 3 Series comparison.... they're completely different cars, designed 10 years apart and designed for different markets.

The 75 is a very well made, solid with a comfortable ride with a retro design (jeeze it was retro in '99). The 75 was designed to look old when it was released and has become ageless because of it.

The 3 series is the young cutting edge with all it sharp edges and modern look. Have you not noticed how a lot of the old BMW designs don't age well.

Spec wise the 320 has the 75 beaten, it has everything you'd expect in a modern car.

Ride wise, I still don't think there's much in it. Both cars have an excellent ride, but relative to their markets... 75 soft & comfortable... 320 hard & sporty

For me it's the 75 every time, I find it more comfortable on a long run and I have no need to be a young trend setter anymore.