Buying a V6 Auto Questions

Neil1 · 25th June 2016, 09:43

I have been toying with the idea of buying a V6 auto and was wondering are they that scary to own.

I have read the various guides on here but knowing diddly squat about a V6 as I have never owned one from any marque.

I know mpg isn't going to be that good, but that doesn't bother me as I do low miles anyway.

What do you look for apart from condition of car or listen out for?

Or is it best to buy the best you can find or is that false economy.

The_irish_rover · 25th June 2016, 11:09

I've had 2 V6s one at 100k and the other at 150k. Aside from the usual things to look out for on any 10 plus years old car I had no major issues. Both are still going strong with their new owners.

The buying guide on the stickies is an excellent starting point, but history is everything. Personally, I would buy from here over an unknown car but a lot can depend on your budget.

aguy · 25th June 2016, 15:58

Hi Niel,

I love mine. Belts are expensive unless you can do them yourself so when buying it pays to have proof of when they were done. There are cars on here up to 14 years old, only just having their belts changed, they don't tend to snap readily but the tensioners can fail if left too long.

Thermostat plastics can become brittle and leak in the engine vee.

Other than that, there's the usual cooling fan issues etc but I think they are a cracking engine. There's lots and lots on here about them.

Like anything, just don't buy one unless you know it's been cared for. Good ones are not all that easy to find IMO.

SD1too · 25th June 2016, 19:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by aguy

Thermostat plastics can become brittle and leak in the engine vee.

Just a correction here. The plastic doesn't become brittle. It's the 'O' rings that leak due to becoming flattened and they can be renewed separately. However, the strange thing is that this doesn't affect all cars. There are V6s which don't leak, and they use 50:50 OAT antifreeze as well! The cause of this problem is under long term investigation.

Simon

Neil1 · 26th June 2016, 11:13

I see, so what you are saying is read the guides again and don't buy the first one you see.

History is everything.

I am looking at getting an early one if it's a Rover 75 around a V reg or slightly later.
I am not really interested in the pre-project cars as I'm not really a fan of the light blue, prefer darker colours.

But it has to be an automatic and I'm not bothered if it's a 75 or a ZT.

SD1too · 26th June 2016, 11:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil1

I am not really interested in the pre-project cars as I'm not really a fan of the light blue ...

I think you mean the pre-production cars don't you Neil?
The light blue to which you refer (Wedgwood blue) was the colour of the batch of 'dealer launch' cars. These were on the production line at the same time as cars painted in the full range of colours, and were not 'pre-production' cars.

Arden Green might appeal to you, and Dorchester Red is rare and absolutely

.

Simon

Neil1 · 26th June 2016, 11:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by SD1too

I think you mean the pre-production cars don't you Neil?
The light blue to which you refer (Wedgwood blue) was the colour of the batch of 'dealer launch' cars. These were on the production line at the same time as cars painted in the full range of colours, and were not 'pre-production' cars.

Arden Green might appeal to you, and Dorchester Red is rare and absolutely

.

Simon

LOL is that what they are called, my apologies.

Don't get me wrong I have seen some real beauties but I have also seen some well abused ones, which is such a shame.
For me it's a shame they only did one colour.

Dorchester Red sounds nice, unfortunately not Green as it was always considered to be bad luck to buy a green car or motorbike in my family.

SD1too · 26th June 2016, 11:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil1

... unfortunately not Green as it was always considered to be bad luck to buy a green car or motorbike in my family.

Have you seen Arden Green?

Simon

Neil1 · 26th June 2016, 11:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by SD1too

Have you seen Arden Green?

Simon

No, I haven't, only pictures of 75's.

jubbarelly · 26th June 2016, 12:00

Love my V6 Auto

Sooooooo smooth and effortless to drive, just love it!!

As mentioned above, make sure it has history of the belts, water pump and thermostat being done.

Listen to the engine when cold and if you hear a rattle then it could have a knackered inlet manifold.

When you take one for a drive make sure it changes gear smoothly, if it labours in gear then the auto box solenoid could be on its way out or the auto box is in need of an oil change.

The JATCO box is very reliable if cared for properly.

At around 3000 RPM you should feel a kick, this is when the VIS motors kick in, if it doesnt then those maybe faulty.

25th June 2016, 09:43	#1
Neil1 I really should get out more....... MG ZT-T CDTI Auto Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Newton Abbot Posts: 2,624 Thanks: 1,342 Thanked 518 Times in 425 Posts	Buying a V6 Auto Questions I have been toying with the idea of buying a V6 auto and was wondering are they that scary to own. I have read the various guides on here but knowing diddly squat about a V6 as I have never owned one from any marque. I know mpg isn't going to be that good, but that doesn't bother me as I do low miles anyway. What do you look for apart from condition of car or listen out for? Or is it best to buy the best you can find or is that false economy. __________________ Rover 75 and MG ZT: The Complete Story

25th June 2016, 11:09	#2
The_irish_rover Loves to post Rover 75 Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Kent Posts: 448 Thanks: 273 Thanked 132 Times in 98 Posts	I've had 2 V6s one at 100k and the other at 150k. Aside from the usual things to look out for on any 10 plus years old car I had no major issues. Both are still going strong with their new owners. The buying guide on the stickies is an excellent starting point, but history is everything. Personally, I would buy from here over an unknown car but a lot can depend on your budget. __________________ 2000 Rover 75 Club SE 2.0 Auto. Previously owned by Grandy, then Wraymond. Mods include, blue LED interior lighting, "marmite" under door handle lighting, power folds & Naval 1 head unit with Kenwood sub. Since buying the car I've retro fitted an electric sunblind & converted the manual cloth seats to leather.

25th June 2016, 15:58	#3
aguy I really should get out more....... Rover 75 Connoisseur SE 2.5 V6 Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: CLEETHORPES Posts: 2,108 Thanks: 833 Thanked 748 Times in 511 Posts	Hi Niel, I love mine. Belts are expensive unless you can do them yourself so when buying it pays to have proof of when they were done. There are cars on here up to 14 years old, only just having their belts changed, they don't tend to snap readily but the tensioners can fail if left too long. Thermostat plastics can become brittle and leak in the engine vee. Other than that, there's the usual cooling fan issues etc but I think they are a cracking engine. There's lots and lots on here about them. Like anything, just don't buy one unless you know it's been cared for. Good ones are not all that easy to find IMO. __________________ HARRY.

26th June 2016, 11:13	#5
Neil1 I really should get out more....... MG ZT-T CDTI Auto Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Newton Abbot Posts: 2,624 Thanks: 1,342 Thanked 518 Times in 425 Posts	I see, so what you are saying is read the guides again and don't buy the first one you see. History is everything. I am looking at getting an early one if it's a Rover 75 around a V reg or slightly later. I am not really interested in the pre-project cars as I'm not really a fan of the light blue, prefer darker colours. But it has to be an automatic and I'm not bothered if it's a 75 or a ZT. __________________ Rover 75 and MG ZT: The Complete Story

26th June 2016, 12:00	#10
jubbarelly I really should get out more....... MG ZT 180 SE Poseidon, Peugeot 508 GT Sport Tourer Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Wolverhampton Posts: 2,509 Thanks: 232 Thanked 266 Times in 185 Posts	Love my V6 Auto Sooooooo smooth and effortless to drive, just love it!! As mentioned above, make sure it has history of the belts, water pump and thermostat being done. Listen to the engine when cold and if you hear a rattle then it could have a knackered inlet manifold. When you take one for a drive make sure it changes gear smoothly, if it labours in gear then the auto box solenoid could be on its way out or the auto box is in need of an oil change. The JATCO box is very reliable if cared for properly. At around 3000 RPM you should feel a kick, this is when the VIS motors kick in, if it doesnt then those maybe faulty.