New MG's roll off the production line . . . .

NathanE said:
Hostile take-overs are part of the business world.
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Don't have a problem with the takeover, I have a problem with how they subsequently ran the business into the ground and then walked away with millions whilst thousands were left jobless.

I don't dispute that the product was substandard nor that a large percentage of the workforce were lazy sods who took no pride in their work but the Phoenix directors had an amazing debt-free starting point from which they could have turned the company around. Instead they squandered hundreds of millions of pounds over just five years.
 
Vertigo1 said:
Don't have a problem with the takeover, I have a problem with how they subsequently ran the business into the ground and then walked away with millions whilst thousands were left jobless.

I don't dispute that the product was substandard nor that a large percentage of the workforce were lazy sods who took no pride in their work but the Phoenix directors had an amazing debt-free starting point from which they could have turned the company around. Instead they squandered hundreds of millions of pounds over just five years.
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Why did BMW give up.....surely there was potential? Or was the new MINI all BMW wanted?
 
Mr_White said:
Like I've said before, it's an OK car but it has no place in this day and age, it's competition blows it out of the water.

You'd be mad to buy a brand new chinese Rover 75.

They wouldn't of gone broke in the first place if their line-up wasn't a joke.
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Jeez! Some people really know Jack **** dont they!

The old 75 is still a far better car than even the new Jag X Series. Even Jag owners who have come from 75s hoping for a similar car / improvement, have documented this, lots. They don't handle as well, the interior feels cheaper and creaks and rattles and the general feel is that the Jag is not as solid.

The reason they went bust wasn't just for their line up, it was their marketing department that lead them to the edge, or so people think. Whilst the 75 was a great car especially with BMWs backng, it placed so many restrictions on Rover after it was built that it couldn't market the car properly. This poorly structured marketing didn't just affect the 75 but pretty much everything in their range. All of which was led by Project Drive, an attempt to save costs wherever they could, including advertising.

YorkshirePadd26 said:
Its a really good car the 75, I'm after one soon me thinks. Trade in the 306 for a 75. 1.9ctdi looks like a jag.
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Its better than the jag, and its not a 1.9, its a 2.0l ;)

Also worth noting that BMW didn't just keep the mini. They kept the 1 Series too. This was a Rover developed car long before BMW thought about it. All the plans for the 1 Series are Rover.
 
Homeslice said:
Jeez! Some people really know Jack **** dont they!

The old 75 is still a far better car than even the new Jag X Series. Even Jag owners who have come from 75s hoping for a similar car / improvement, have documented this, lots. They don't handle as well, the interior feels cheaper and creaks and rattles and the general feel is that the Jag is not as solid.

The reason they went bust wasn't just for their line up, it was their marketing department that lead them to the edge, or so people think. Whilst the 75 was a great car especially with BMWs backng, it placed so many restrictions on Rover after it was built that it couldn't market the car properly. This poorly structured marketing didn't just affect the 75 but pretty much everything in their range. All of which was led by Project Drive, an attempt to save costs wherever they could, including advertising.
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Have we got another 75 owner/fanboy on our hands?

Saying it's better than an X-Type is hardly an achievement, they took a mondeo, ruined it, and put a jag badge on it.

The rover 75 was unveiled in 1998, it has no place in todays market, and since it was unveiled in 1998 then the design must surely be over 10 years old.

Have you driven one?

They're horrible cars for the market they were aiming it at and the price they were selling it for.

If someone said to me, you can have a Rover 75, or a Mk2 Mondeo, I'd take the Mondeo, it's a far better car than the 75.

A 1.8 was nearly £20k when they released it, anyone would be mad to spend more than a few thousand on a Rover 75 now days.

And the reason they went bust wasn't just for their line up?

No, not just for it, but a bloody big reason for it.

They were selling prehistoric cars, for brand new car prices.

Rover 25, a 9/10 year old+ design.

Rover 75, again, a 9/10 year old+ design.

Rover 45... a 9/10 year old+ design (noticing a pattern?)

CityRover, an Indian Tata Indica, a 10 year old+ design, and an awful car that words can't describe, and they were selling them for £8,500.


Now who in their right mind would want to buy any of those cars for brand new car prices, when all the competition avaliable for the same price is in a completely different world.
 
a Mk2 modeo better than a 75? Ooooookkkaaaaaaaay ;)

Does a 2004 E39 have a place in todays market? Being well over 10 years in design? No, not really, but people still drive them.

I do however share your opinion that the Chinese should have done more with the design (if not replace it compeltely), in the 18 monthst they have had Rover, but on the flip side I can understand that they were tooled up to make it, proven design that worked well. Why not capitalise on it.

Your knowledge of Rovers is also pretty poor i'm afraid. The deisgn of the 25 and 45 is far longer than 10 years :p ;)
 
Homeslice said:
a Mk2 modeo better than a 75? Ooooookkkaaaaaaaay ;)
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Out of interest, have you driven both?

The Mk2 Mondeo's V6 is faster, it handles better than a 75, even the ZT, it's a far nicer place to sit if you've got full leather etc, the interior design looks older I'll admit, but it's built better.

Homeslic said:
Does a 2004 E39 have a place in todays market? Being well over 10 years in design? No, not really, but people still drive them.
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The major difference here being that BMW aren't still trying to sell them as brand new cars, Rover were before they went down, and they will be again when they come back up.

And it was a far far better platform to start off with.
 
Mr_White said:
Out of interest, have you driven both?

The Mk2 Mondeo's V6 is faster, it handles better than a 75, even the ZT, it's a far nicer place to sit if you've got full leather etc, the interior design looks older I'll admit, but it's built better.
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Yup, driven both. I agree the V6 mondy is potent. Quite how it compares to a ZT round a track or on the road, I though it was a pretty close match.

The major difference here being that BMW aren't still trying to sell them as brand new cars, Rover were before they went down, and they will be again when they come back up
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Doesnt quite make sense there me old mukka. Rover sold their 75 before they went bust yes, in 2005 when the design was 7 years old tops. BMW were selling the E39 in 2005 when the design was 10 years old. Again though, I agree that the design should have been changed. Indeed it has, its now a foot longer than it was before :)


And it was a far far better platform to start off with.
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interesting comment. I take it you knew that the 75/ZT was based on a E39 revised chassis, the first fully CAD designed chassis in its class but with BMWs MultiLink suspension.
 
T16 said:
Can you still get into the flightshed?

Theres a couple of items there that I fancy.
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My cousin a couple of days ago went to check the place out.........seems security has been upped now due to plans of production.

Security now have dogs and will use them :eek:
 
digitalwolf said:
My cousin a couple of days ago went to check the place out.........seems security has been upped now due to plans of production.

Security now have dogs and will use them :eek:
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A recent Mythbusters episode proved a guard dog can be distracted with a steak.

I have no fear!

Im after one of the 20 sets of Roversport calipers that are there.

Btw, the whole Rover affair was a flaming scandal.

Most people in the know agree the directors should have been jailed.

Some of the late cars they made were brilliant, the ZT-T being one, and the Xpower versions that were ready to be launched.
 
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Sections of the plant are alarmed my friend.

How is steak going to prevent you from a guard dog in pursuit?

Soon as the alarm goes off, i'd run for your life :D
 
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