Morris Minor Owners Club

Not minor related I know, but I'm looking at replacing our trusty (but now terminally rusty) 1997 Mondeo. I quite fancy another minor for every day but my other half being more sensible has shunned the idea.
I'm torn between a mondeo mk3 TDCI and a Rover 75 (diesel-BMW engine) or MG ZT-T equivilent. It must be an estate. I've heard some reports of dual mass flywheels & injectors failing on the TDCi Mondeo so I'm a bit put off by the potential expense of repairs, the Mondeo 2.0 petrol seems a better bet but obviously fuel costs & tax & insurance are all higher.
I wouldn't touch a petrol engined Rover 75 but does anyone have any 1st hand experience of the diesel, good, bad or indifferent?
Thanks.

Had a Rover 75 diesel and it was very expensive for engine parts. The gearboxes are not the strongest around either. I run a 2.0l TDci Mondeo now and it has been fairly reliable for a Ford

Rover 75 diesel everytime.

I am on my second now, having had my first in 1999 from new. I traded it in with 185k on the clock. Fantastic fuel economy and very few issues over the years. To add the the ride is simple fantastic, go for leather interior for added quality and side impact air bags for added safety. The last of the good Rovers.

I have drove beamers, mercs and jags as company cars and though at the time I hated to admit it the rover outclassed.

There are some great bargains out there too

What is the situation with regard to getting Rover spares?
Is there still a dealer network?

Everyday parts for servicing are available from the factors such as partco. There are several specialists out there to including rimmer bros for electronics, gearboxes etc. The beauty of the diesel model is its a bmw!! Parts readily available. My experience the repair network remains pretty good considering rover have been out of existence for some time. Whilst it will never be as good as ford, it is okay and should not put you off buying.

I must admit, I'm swaying towards the Rover 75/MG. I've got the advantage that I only live a few miles from Rimmer brothers which is one of the largest Rover parts specialists.
I still feel the Mondeo may be a slightly more sensible choice with regards to spares etc but I've just got a feeling that if I buy a Mondeo I may still hanker after the more stylish Rover.

rover never made any parts for the cars. they were made by all the other manufactorers.... for example.. X part.

you'll not have problems in getting parts for some time, as there are people out there breaking them left, right and centre, because they don't know there true worth. you won't get any other car for the money if you buy one. the spec for the connie is unbeatable value. don't touch the k series engine variant. it's problem's are well known. stick to the diesel version. if properly looked after, you'll get not far off 350-400,000 miles from one. (yes, 400,000 miles).

one job on it thats a pain, is the alternator. it's expensive and a difficult job. the rear tailgate screen on a tourer is hard to find, so if you come across one, buy it. also they do like 'using' rear tyres. keep an eye on them.

do the bonnet modification or risk buying a new grille (once you've broken the old one trying to get in)

only buy with 2 or more keys. they are almost £200 for a replacement (germany is the only supplier).

buy a MK1 model. better build.

anymore info, just ask.

Thanks for the info, very useful. Is the alternator a common failing? It would definately be the diesel engined version I'd go for, I've found a lovely 53 plate CDTi Connie se fairly local to me for sale.
What's the bonnet mod that you speak of to avoid wrecking the grill? I've been reading up about the 75's but not come across this. Have heard about water ingress damaging ecu's though.

next door neighbour had his clutch replaced on his deisel mondeo, ford quoted £350 just for the plate. £750 fully fitted. definatly one to avoid.

I would choose the Rover out of the two just because it is a more interesting choice and I am not a Ford fan.

Never driven a Rover 75 but I have driven Mondeo's as hire cars, utilitarian, but dull!

Tbf fords USED to be the business. I've got a champagne gold mk3 granada that I just adore. The 2.9 v6 is a real engine. Loud, torquey and shakes something feirce compared to new steralised engines. Drinks petrol mind.... 18 to the gallon, though the 3spead auto doesn't help.

phurn wrote:-snip- The 2.9 v6 is a real engine. Loud, torquey and shakes something feirce compared to new steralised engines. -snip-

It must be a fierce engine as TVR used it in at least one of their cars!

yep they were used in alot, and are still used today in american fords, albeit in 4litre form. i believe jag use the block for the v6 s types too. which bearign in mind that when they were designed they were owned by ford isnt a stretch.

its one of the few efi engines ive heard that stil has a real nice intake noise to it. for me its alot nicer than the essex lumps people tend to stick in everything.

I've driven Mondeo diesels as hire cars and was impressed by NVH ride and handling - they make a great everyday car which can handle occassional boy racer moments. The downside is being a mondeo - same goes for passat. Sadly there are not many well rounded cars that have major kerb appeal - I wouldn't drive a beemer as my ego's not big enough, and budget doesn't stretch to a Jag.

my current everyday is a Vauhall diesel estate - and only because of the Isuzu engine (long lasting and good mpg). As far as the car goes it is pretty awful, but I didn't buy it to enjoy it - in fact for enjoyment it'd be twards the end of my list!

If you can handle the dull looks, an Avensis D-4D is great. At least the latest Avensis looks like a car and not a wet weekend. despite all the press frenzy, Toyota still make the most reliable cars around.

If you can handle the dull looks, an Avensis D-4D is great

We use these at work and I'd agree- and i've never been a fan of Jap cars. Only thig ii would say is that, if the trip computer is to be believed, the mpg isn't great.

rayofleamington wrote:-snip-

If you can handle the dull looks, an Avensis D-4D is great. At least the latest Avensis looks like a car and not a wet weekend. despite all the press frenzy, Toyota still make the most reliable cars around.

I agree with Ray, I have also hired an Avensis on company business and preferred it to a Mondeo, and yes Toyota reliabillity is still hard to beat. My everyday car for nearly two years now is an old Toyota Starlet and I can confirm that even old higher milage Toyotas are near trouble free cars.

The thing that annoys me about the new Vauxhalls (vetras etc) is the hopeless indicators! They don't self cancel seemingly having no centre position and when you try and manually cancel after lane changing, they then indicate the other way! Other drivers on the motorway must be thinking who the £&!( is that twit in the Vectra!

They don't self cancel seemingly having no centre position and when you try and manually cancel after lane changing, they then indicate the other way! Other drivers on the motorway must be thinking who the £&!( is that twit in the Vectra!

Ah - the FFFFFFx monostable indicators - I also hate them!

Even modern VW's have some silly logic in their indicators - if you make a single tip of the stalk without reaching the offcentre detent position, they will continue to flash until they complete 3 cycles.
If someone was so lazy that they couldn't push the indicator into the offcentre detent and didn't have the energy to hold it part way, long enough for a reasonable number of flashes, then most likely they won't use the indicator at all.
For the rest of us - you get 3 flashes even if you changed your mind after 200 millisecond because a car was coming up fast - scaring the life out of the passing car who thinks you haven't seen him/her and are about to cut them up.

Just to update, after looking at lots of cars we pick up an MG ZT-T diesel estate today to replace the Mondeo

Good choice! I'm Jealous!

Get yourself onto www.mg-rover.org forums and say hi to everyone

Thankyou. We haven't been far in it yet but I must admit I'm very impressed with it so far.
And it does look very good having the little morris and the big MG estate on the drive, they kind of complement each other