pension is irrelevant... the company could never survive - the govt knew this and allowed it to happen as it suited them at the time.

moultons proposal was workable... phoenix's never was.

A friend of mine has a MG ZS (I think it's that one, the one based on the 25)

In less than a year after buying it new, it broke down several times, failed to start several times, the stereo blew up, the battery has needed changing twice and the whole alarm system too, various bits of trim fell off and the roof started to rust. All of the above took a great deal of arguing with the dealer to sort (multiple calls not returned, letters not responded to, loud "scare other customers off by making a scene" visits to the dealer needed in the end), and they only went 50/50 on the roof rust even though there was no visible evidence of a chip or scratch to cause it.

So, much as the job losses are harsh, it doesn't surprise me the company is collapsing with this sort of build quality and after sales service :thumbdwn:

They allegedly have no money to pay out MG Rover warranty claims.

Administrators have told the dealers to look elsewhere for any reimbursing.

Not a happy time to own a Rover.

Redundancy notices are being set to all factory workers this weekend.

Looks like the buffers have been hit!

LINK

Redundancy notices are being set to all factory workers this weekend.

Looks like the buffers have been hit!

LINK

Had a chap in from a big supplier today (unrelated matter) .All of their employees have been given 90 day notices .

Must admit,never thought I would see this day.Always saw rover in the same vein as my local football team.Struggled for years but always clinging on.Didn't think they would go belly up :(

Good luck to all those affected (and remind me how we have so many foreign car companies building in the UK merrily doing so well.Toyota,Nissan,Mini!)

Rover is dead because they never in the last 30 years (at least) produced a new model that appealed to anybody under the age of 60, unless they were either blindly patriotic, or just blind (with the possible exception of a few hairdressers who bought MGF's)

The latest management kept promising they would bring out new models but all they did was continue to produce derivatives of existing models with more and more garish colour schemes. Now the price is being paid.

I think other firms are just about holding their own - mainly they built their plants with Development Agency subsidies, and I guess the cheap cost of the British labour just about covers the lack of build quality they get from them. Several of them have now closed down in the UK - Komatsu for example - much hyped in the 80s (or was it early 90s?).

I did look at the ZS when I was looking to change from the dire Citroen Saxo, I like the way the V6 went and handled, but I didn't like the switch gear coz it was the same as what is in my mum's 1990 214si. Oh and I didn't fancy losing even more money.

Someone please step in and buy rover and make some good cars!

Rover is dead because they never in the last 30 years (at least) produced a new model that appealed to anybody under the age of 60, unless they were either blindly patriotic, or just blind (with the possible exception of a few hairdressers who bought MGF's)

Not sure about that...the smaller MGs are certainly popular with many "cruising" types. I also rather like the 75, as a "wafter". Wouldn't be averse to something like a 45 (in theory), just rather put off by the age of the design (safety, etc.)...

Rob.

Not sure about that...the smaller MGs are certainly popular with many "cruising" types. I also rather like the 75' date=' as a "wafter". Wouldn't be averse to something like a 45 (in theory), just rather put off by the age of the design (safety, etc.)...

Rob.[/quote']

My dad had a 45 before the Fabia vRS. He is 6ft. The seats were so big that you couldn't fold the bench forward and have him in a safe driving position. It meant the much smaller furby was more practical than the 45 is you needed to move anything like a fridge (which I did manage in the first fabia to some surprised glances!!!).

I think I heard the seats had been taken straight out of the 75 without any allowance being made for the smaller cabin on the 45. It's that sort of lack of thought that has caused a lot of their problems.

Dr Zoidberg reckons a big dealer is selling rovers at half price :eek:

If correct the impact of someone doing that would be horrific and I would seriously be worried .

I must admit,if it was skoda as opposed to rover I would be embarrassed about it all.Driving around thinking that every one was looking at me and talking about my car and its plunging value :thumbdwn:

Will there be a fire sale?

I feel sorry for people who have one that many have an accident, and it's a right off, what will they get..............next to nothing. Just out of interest and slightly off topic but can you purchase GAP insurance on say a year old car? Coz if I was a rover owner I think I'd be very tempted to cover myself that way

Not sure about that...the smaller MGs are certainly popular with many "cruising" types. I also rather like the 75' date=' as a "wafter". Wouldn't be averse to something like a 45 (in theory), just rather put off by the age of the design (safety, etc.)...

Rob.[/quote']

Re smaller ones - are we talking 25s, etc? My guess is that's because they're quite cheap, and come in bright colours....

Re 75 - it's a poor man's BMW with rather dull styling, IMHO. I've been in my Dad's (which incidentally he is now trying to sell, poor sod) and it's nice, but not really inspiring, and that's pretty much the top of the range (ZT260). Haven't driven it - maybe it endears itself more on closer acquaintance.

I'm considering popping down to my local rover dealer tomorrow, the other half needs a new car, i'm sure she wont mind driving a rover, Might need to have an AA check though even if it is new!!!!!!

Lets face it whoever you speak to we all know someone who's had some sort of issue with their new rover or if not youve seen the three year old rover down the street with rust on the door I'm supprised they lasted so long, RIP Rover/MG, i'm sure some of your classics will be around for years to come, filler included.

A rover 25 at half price would be a pretty decent buy , and the dealers will still have to provide you with a warranty even if they have to do it themselves.

I did idly consider getting an R75 TDI estate at a bargain price.

Re smaller ones - are we talking 25s' date=' etc? My guess is that's because they're quite cheap, and come in bright colours....

[/quote']

The one based on that...the ZX80 or whatever it's called.

But yes, bright colours, lairy bodykits and fairly reasonable pricing...

Re 75 - it's a poor man's BMW with rather dull styling, IMHO. I've been in my Dad's (which incidentally he is now trying to sell, poor sod) and it's nice, but not really inspiring, and that's pretty much the top of the range (ZT260). Haven't driven it - maybe it endears itself more on closer acquaintance.

I'd agree it's not inspiring. But as a cheap motorway hack it's spot on, and therein lies it's appeal...

Rob.

but can you purchase GAP insurance on say a year old car?

Yes, I was offered it on my car, which was just over a year old when I bought it. The cover is between how much you paid for the car and what it's worth, so in theory you could get it on any car, but the older it is the less worthwhile it is...

Rob.

Car production in the UK doesnt have to be a problem. Take Honda in Swindon and Nissan in Derby(?). They have bought the japanese work ethics with them to the UK and both plants are going from strength to strength.

Sorry to say it but if they can do it why cant Rover - employee mentality perhaps? Workers at Honda's Swindon plant have a great attitude and work as a genuine team.

I think Rover started nailing itself inside the coffin years ago. They never had a chance of selling 20year old cars. As someone said above, they never recovered from the union related problems years ago.

Doesn't take long for a company to be forgotten.No one even really talks about them now!

Reason I raised the thread again is seeing some of the offers.

From my experience of rovers, when I used to work for a Rover dealership in the eighties, the chimps at knowsley safari park could sevice them using nothing more than their collection of broken off wing mirrors and windscreen wipers.

I can't see there being enough advances in Rovers technology since then to stop a decent mechanic from servicing them judging by the facelifting mentality, mentioned above, since the 25 etc. was brought out !!

From my experience of rovers' date=' when I used to work for a Rover dealership in the eighties, the chimps at knowsley safari park could sevice them using nothing more than their collection of broken off wing mirrors and windscreen wipers.

I can't see there being enough advances in Rovers technology since then to stop a decent mechanic from servicing them judging by the facelifting mentality, mentioned above, since the 25 etc. was brought out !! [/quote']

In the heady days of my MG Metro Turbo ownership,the failure of some chip or other caused the whole car to be immobilised.Despite being annoyed I was quite impressed there was some technology hidden in the car even if it didn't work.

I liquidised the gear box on another occasion.Wasn't on the road much but I loved it

Might buy the 75(not) and still have change to get a real life safari park grease monkey .Get the neighbours talking

cant see there being a problem with servicing. the K series is easy enough to work on and is used by Land Rover and others. The diesel is BMW so again no problems there. Even the V6 wouldn't be an issue.

TBH if you was to buy a MGrover now you would get a good car for the money.

I liquidised the gear box on another occasion.Wasn't on the road much but I loved it

I lost the full flywheel/clutch assembly on my MG ...Primary gear oil seal had leaked and loosened a few bolts.. the flywheel ripped the insides of the bell-housing casing to shreds and wrecked the gearbox..One new gearbox please !! The Flywheel assembly had to be superglued back onto the crankshaft as it had 'lathed' a large thickness of metal off the end of the crank as it bounced around the casing.

...Bl**dy glue actually held long enough for me to sell it back to a dealer who had 'diddled' me on a previous car and by that time it needed a new set of piston rings on cylinders no 2 +3 as well.

Think I will just quit on the idea