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Old 3rd August 2011, 23:28   #24
Robson Rover Repair
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Default CHAPTER 15 - Project Drive

2/7/2011 - Section finished

"PROJECT DRIVE"

As someone who may purchase a 75 and or ZT then this section for cars built after Rover became MG-Rover is essential reading, especially the younger the car. Note that Rover 75 cars older than January 2001 are the only ones not affected by this money saving scheme. Ever single MG ZT (all of them) and Rover 75 after Jan 2001 was effected.

The easiest way to spot if your car is effected is by the VIN plate on the car.

If your plate was like this then your car is Rover Group pre-project drive...



If it is like this then its a MG Rover car and most likely suffered cost cutting....



A short history...

Project drive was a massive cost cutting and standardizing program began by MG Rover, after it was bought by the Phoenix four. MG Rover as a company was formed when BMW sold the car-making and engine manufacturing assets of the original Rover Group to the Phoenix Consortium in 2000.

MG Rover was formed from the parts of the former Rover Group volume car production business which BMW sold off in 2000 due to constant losses and a declining market share. BMW had acquired the Rover Group from British Aerospace in 1994 and had since sold the Land Rover business to Ford, and split-off the MINI business as a new BMW subsidiary based in Cowley.

MG Rover took control of the remainder of the former Rover Group volume car business, which was consolidated at the Longbridge plant.

When BMW sold off its interests, MG Rover was bought for a nominal £10 in May 2000 by a specially-assembled group of businessmen known as the Phoenix Consortium. The consortium was headed by ex-Rover Chief Executive John Towers.

When Phoenix Consortium took over, their first loss for the last eight months of 2000 were reported to be around £400m. By 2004, the company had reduced the losses to around £80m but never made a profit.

MG Rover's best year for car sales was their first full year of business, in 2001 — when they sold over 170,000 cars. In the year of 2004, their sales had declined to around 120,000.

The company eventually ceased trading on 8 April 2005, with debts of over £1.4 billion.

A brief overview and key points

Some say the quality was reduced, some say it actually improved it in the later facelift/mk2 models, individual owners all have their opinions on project drive.

Simple things like in saloon, the rear light bulb access panel was removed and the carpet was not cut, the wing mirrors of the cars where changed to match the 25/45 and cigarette lighters where changed.


Much more noticeable where things like in Rover 75's the rear wood dash was replaced with a cheaper plastic dash, or the fuel burning heater was removed and no longer standard in diesel cars.

Its whenever things like the 1.8 and 2.0 petrol Rover 75's where then sold WITHOUT an antiroll bar at the rear or the rear brakes where changed from vented to solid and so on, thats when the quality and general feel of these cars began to drop slightly.

Now many of these are very simple retro fits, and adding project drive features to your car is a very popular past time in the club, so feel free to ask any questions!!

However when purchasing a car after January 2001, look up when it was built and registered, you may find yourself better off buying a car a month or two newer should you be wanting specific options as standard.

Project Drive in pictures

Paul aka "Reebs" has produced a hugely detailed and expanded list for the cars,which makes for really essential reading of the first post which contains ad overview of everything to concern your self with, the rest of the thread is comments and discussion.

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...=project+drive
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