What to replace a Rover 75 with?

[SebastienClement]

I'm thinking of changing my Rover 75 - although having some difficulty finding something I 'want'.

The car will be used for a 50 mile round commute 7 days a week, and longer trips (400 miles motorway) one or twice a month. The Rover has 160hp and I don't want to go down on that front although staying the same would be just fine. I don't care if it's petrol / diesel / NA / Turbo, but it needs to be auto. Needs to be airy & reasonably large inside. No dark / black interiors!

Budget of £3000.

Cars in the running so far:

Mercedes E Class - In my budget would get one with 120k - 150k miles. Nice interior. Hardy diesels and auto boxes. Worried about ex-taxis or higher mileage cars which have a yearly 'haircut'?

Citroen C5 - MK1 facelift. Like the idea of hydrowhatchacallit suspension. Hardy 2.2 HDI engine. Horrible interiors & not likely to get one with leather seats.

Renault Laguna - Look lovely (esp. in tourer), don't like the font on the speedo & rev counter.

Renault Vel Satis - These now seem to be out of my price range for a non-shed. Bugger.

Volvo S80 / V70 - Yum. Nice looking cars, nice interiors. I have some random predisposition to assume they're going to throw big bills though? Would probably be looking at higher mileage cars. Autobox issues?

Saab 9-5 - Like the idea, but every one that I've ever been in has had a rattly interior. My Rover's interior does not rattle.

What else is there I should be looking at?

[WonkeyDonkey]

Alfa 147 jtdm?

[SebastienClement]

WonkeyDonkey said:

Alfa 147 jtdm?

Bit on the small side. Isn't the ride all sporty on these?

[PositronicRay]

How about an Stype, Jags always have nice interiors.

[Geekman]

One of these:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

[DeadInside]

Jag X Type would fit the bill and you can transfer the pipe and slippers directly from the Rover 75 into the Jag. I believe that some models also support the rear shelf tartan blanket option.

In all seriousness this one looks nice and the 2.2D engine is pretty good reliability wise:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

[TVRJAS]

Geekman said:

One of these:

Good choice of car but I wouldn't be brave enough at that mileage.. I bought one 8 months ago and look forward to each journey,it's a lovely drive but mine only had 67,000 when I bought it.

Edited by TVRJAS on Friday 25th November 18:56

[ZX10R NIN]

2004 Mazda 6 Sport 50k 165bhp
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

2003 Lexus GS300 SE 43k 220bhp
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

2004 E320cdi Avantgarde (with the stronker straight 6 Diesel) 76k 224bhp
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

2008 Saab 9-3 Vector Sport 75k 175bhp
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

2007 2.5 Mondeo Titanium X 54k 170bhp
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

2006 Vectra 3.0cdti Elite 54k 181bhp
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

2003 Honda Accord 40k 155bhp
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Saturday 26th November 21:22

[PoleDriver]

I went from Rover 75 (well MG-ZTT 260) to Audi A6 to BMW 528i to Volvo V70. Next will be a SAAB 95. All similar cars but when you move away from the Rover you'll enjoy the increased reliability!

[SebastienClement]

PoleDriver said:

I went from Rover 75 (well MG-ZTT 260) to Audi A6 to BMW 528i to Volvo V70. Next will be a SAAB 95. All similar cars but when you move away from the Rover you'll enjoy the increased reliability!

Really? I've not had any problems.

[Geekman]

TVRJAS said:

Good choice of car but I wouldn't be brave enough at that mileage.. I bought one 8 months ago and look forward to each journey,it's a lovely drive but mine only had 67,000 when I bought it.

Edited by TVRJAS on Friday 25th November 18:56

I've had 2 high mileage ones with no major problems. The key is to just take it straight to the main dealer when it goes wrong, with a bit of research stuff can normally be fixed cheaply.

[TVRJAS]

Geekman said:

I've had 2 high mileage ones with no major problems. The key is to just take it straight to the main dealer when it goes wrong, with a bit of research stuff can normally be fixed cheaply.

Having just bought one that's reassuring to know

It's all down to individual preferences but if I was doing 350+ miles a week as the OP is I would look at something with less miles.