Of course my comment was subjective, we all have our preferences. I work in subprime auto finance, where part of the equation that tells what we will finance on a vehicle is the make and model of the unit financed. Rovers rank at the bottom along with stuff made by Chrysler that isn’t a Jeep, Jaguars etc. Cars with high repair, maint and ins. costs. Aside from that, any used car dealer will tell you they cross their fingers that nothing breaks on the unit before they sell it.
Keep in mind that ALL cars today are miles ahead in reliability from 25 years ago, they are all good. But per mile, the Rovers will leave you out a buck faster than just about anything.
Personally I don’t like driving them for their lumpy, overweight feel. The gas mileage blows too. FYI I grew up in the body shop business and have been a clean up crew, bodyman, technician, salesman, Finance Manager and General Manager at the dealership level before moving on to a finance company that solely works with used cars, so I know of what I speak. As we say in the car business “there is an ass for every seat” The car in my garage doesn’t score much better, but it makes me make the same smile my 78 Trans Am gave me when I was 19. And girls like it, so it makes sense to me. Cars aren’t always a rational decision. I just know Rovers are a lousy investment and I don’t like them.
OK, now I understand. I had assumed, wrongly, that you were talking about the sociological aspects of the purchase of a Rover.
Back when we lived in Kenya you could purchase a used Range Rover for a relatively low price. Maintenance was part of the equation. The other was the thirsty V-8 gas engine rather than diesel. Of course, owning a 4 door Land Cruiser is the quickest way to get car-jacked in Nairobi.
I’ve owned the “feel good” Alfas, MGs and even a Fiat 124 Sport Coupe. Now I’ll stick with the Japanese “drive it forever” vehicles, Toyota, Mazda, Subaru & Honda.