Thoughts on just how good our cars are

[DRC66]

Today I went to test drive a Daimler Super V8 which is for sale locally and is of similar vintage to my 2.5 Connie SE. Both cars have full service history and are in very good condition with comparable mileage.

Apart from the obvious difference in grunt. Some 200 bhp, in terms of spec i.e. leather electric and heated seats, walnut, automatic, electric windows, mirrors, sun roof, climate control, rear sun blind, cd multi changer, sat nav there weren't any more 'toys' than the Connie already has.

Given that the Daimler was almost two and a half times the price new of the Rover I was expecting something to rock my boat. We all know the article 'The Phantom Menaced' but the Rover is undisputedly a more comfortable ride.

When you also throw in running costs again there is nothing to compare with our cars.

The whole experience just reaffirmed to me just how good our cars truly are.




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[bl52krz]

I am going to see an x type Jaguar tonight.
one of my friends has just bought one. I tried the S type Jaguar before I bought the Rover 75, and was not that impressed.

[Vanbursta]

Watch out for Rust on the x type, especially where the sills join the floorpan, and make sure all the electrics work, the garage I use for MOT has had a LOT of x types with rust and electrical gremlins.

[hawker]

was looking at a jag .. then compared it my 75 , the winner to me . my rover

[Ross R75]

The 75 and ZT are probably, pound for pound, the best cars you could buy. X type is unimpressive, S type the same. I'd say the Lexus LS400 and GS300 are on par but have twice the running costs

[mbrenn]

I totally agree. I had a loan of a diesel merc while I was getting my clutch replaced. While it was comfortable the road holding did not compare to my R75. I couldn't wait to get back into it. A colleague had a ZT, replaced it with a BMW tourer and later a Volvo. He said the build quality didn't compare to the ZT.

[DragonFly]

I too will agree with this.

At the time of buying my Connie I was also looking at a Jaguar X type. The Rover was both cheaper (albeit only slightly) and far better equipped.

[Dart2050]

I run an X type SE diesel estate and Connie SE diesel tourer and the Jag electrics work are reliable and it does not leak. The Rover has electric gremlins and sunroof tubes leak although I fancy the ride is better. They both go very well but the Rover has cost me as much in repair costs as the whole car cost whereas the Jag has cost me virtually nothing in repairs (so far!) so in summary Jag build quality is better. Also people think it is posh whereas they don't seem to notice the Rover. They are both in lovely condition

[Bigcul1]

Every Japanese or far eastern car I have owned has had better build quality than the 3 rover 75's and 1 ZT I have had, by far! This included an early 90's Proton I owned. I come back to Rover 75/MGZT time and time again because the ride is so good and I enjoy working on them. If Lexus made a 2 litre diesel and early ones were selling for £500 - £1000 I may not be driving a rover though.

[Ross R75]

Originally Posted by Dart2050

I run an X type SE diesel estate and Connie SE diesel tourer and the Jag electrics work are reliable and it does not leak. The Rover has electric gremlins and sunroof tubes leak although I fancy the ride is better. They both go very well but the Rover has cost me as much in repair costs as the whole car cost whereas the Jag has cost me virtually nothing in repairs (so far!) so in summary Jag build quality is better. Also people think it is posh whereas they don't seem to notice the Rover. They are both in lovely condition

Good to see somebody is having a good ownership experience with an X-type. Unfortunately mine didn't mirror it but there are probably some good cars out there. I had the 2.0D which, whilst a reasonable enough (Citroën) engine, will never compare to the M47R in the 75/ZT. Also, coming from Lexus, which are twice the car of any jaguar, the ZT has a similar feel in terms of composure and roadholding with a suspension setup that is literally a generation ahead of the X-type. I've never owned a 75 with a sunroof so I can't comment on that. Yes, you'll need to replace little bits and pieces, but there's nothing on the car that I'd consider to be expensive.

There'll be good and bad cars of each model, but it is in no way a definitive statement to say that Jaguar build quality is better at a similar price to a 75. It's just not true.