Driven: Rover 75 vs Vauxhall Vectra vs Mondeo ST24

1999 edition of Channel 4's Driven programme, comparing the new Rover 75 2.0 V6 Connoissuer with the Vauxhall Vectra 2.5V6 CDX and the Ford Mondeo ST24. Obviously the Rover is out of its depth, as the Vauxhall and the Ford particularly are sporting versions of their resepctive ranges.

[@celt67]

My sister has just bought a 75, and I've got to say I'm highly impressed by the quality of the interior. You feel like it should cost a lot more than it actually does. Real luxury.

[@troo_story]

Still true 9 years later!

[@MrNickcafc]

I feel like there a massive elephant in the room. The Rover 75 clearly looks better and when it comes to the interior, the others arent even close.

[@beretka1389]

Rover is junk

[@theTeabag]

automotive journalists always forget to mention that good handling is in most cases at the cost of comfort because bumps are absorbed insufficiently. Unless Rover was advertised as a sportscar its perfectly OK it doesn't handle as such. Majority of people doesnt commute by slalom.

[@nickkennedy2765]

Put it this way - I see far more 75's on the road today than I do Mondeo's and Vectras. As probably mentioned before, they're pitting two 2.5 V6's against the Rover's 2 litre? Also, when it comes to handling, the Mondeo in this test was obviously going to win, with its sports suspension. 'Who would rather have a BMW?'. I wouldn't; I had one, and it was crap.

[@TheKenjoje]

mondeos and vectras are among best sold cars back then in the uk, right? naturally, their value will go down on the account of too many examples on the roads, combined with lower status than a car such as golf and there you go, they are exctinct....they didn't need to be specially unrealiable. rover 75s were not sold as many and certainly some of them are cherished because of their design and emotional connection with somethnig which is 'farewell model' for the company.

[@troo_story]

@@TheKenjoje I'm on my third 75. I'm obsessed. I love them. My current one is the 164th vehicle in my life and I'm still excited about it.

[@TheKenjoje]

@@troo_story wow, what a car fulfilled life :)

[@ChatterboxFM]

I’ll say this as a Yank who loves researching UK rep-mobiles, the reason there are more 75s around is probably due to geriatric original owners. We have a similar situation in the states with various Buick, Lincoln, and Mercury models showing up at auctions/estate sales. However, these cars tend to change hands rather quickly and typically aren’t nearly as nice as the 75. A couple good examples of hidden gems are the Buick Regal GS Supercharged and the Town Car. If you find a clean one, it’s fantastic.

[@Auto-TaT]

As already commented, they took the range topping Mondeo ST24 and pitted it against a middle of the range Rover 75? Not even an MG version with 'sports' suspension? That certainly helped the british car industry! I now own 75 1.8 Turbo. It's a phenominal car for the money compared to the worn out Vectras and Mondeos fof the same value. As for the comments about the cars styling, well time has proven it to be a sound move. The other two look very bland and dated, the Rover retains an identity.

[@TheAllMightyGodofCod]

Auto-TaT and they didn't even talked about interior space. Once I was offered a bargain on a Mondeo 1.8td (that was back when the were still in production, maybe in the same here this was shot). I could get the car for almost the same price of a Clio or a Polo, I got inside and I was like "hm, this is not very well put together and the plastics are rubbish" then I looked at the back seat, it looked OK but then i tried to seat on it and it was horrible, I had some knee room but no room for my feet because there was some kind of a forward slope on the floor coming from the back seat and a backward slope from the front seat which was sat too low and I had no place for my feet. In comparison the b5 had far better room in the back, same for the Laguna, Xantia and even Xsara or Renault 19 which were far mor old! I passed on the Mondeo and good thing I did, they didn't aged well.

[@tanx54]

I bought a new Vectra in 1997 was a nightmare, i then bought the new improved one in 2006,it was even worse after driving cavillers which never gave me trouble, i will give vauxhall a miss. I now have a Rover 75 with the bmw diesel lovely car to drive and a years trouble free motoring.

[@kieranpearson-price140]

Rover 75 all day long. I'm only 11 lol

[@Cupat1]

Keiran...good for you young man you have taste

[@kieran9246]

Stewart McDonald 16 now and it will soon be my first car! Looking forward to it

[@d31zzz_]

Mg zt 260 over a Rover 75 all day

[@tylert6573]

Owned all 3 There all good in there own right, Rover 75 is lovely to drive tho really is

[@postmasterphilip7159]

A year on from my last visit to this post, LJW the Rover is still going strong, in immaculate condition and I am driving it up to North Wales over the weekend. No history of HGF, but the A/C compressor does need replacement. Apart from that everything is okay. Good to see the Mondeo is still about, shame about the Vectra

[@GRAHAM5020]

+postmaster philip Hi Phil....It's Graham from the 75/ZT owners club.

[@SirMrShanks]

@@GRAHAM5020 Hi Graham, another member here 👍

[@admiralhorationelson1612]

so a 2.5 ford and a 2.5 Vauxhall vs a 2.0 Rover ....surely they should of used the 2.5 Rover ?

[@Hornby09c]

I'm assuming they cost the same.

[@jacamo1993]

That's because the rover was better

[@UGLEIV]

I have to say the Rover has aged the best of the three, with the vauxhall looking truly dated. But strange not more people noticed that the Rover had an itnterior out of a different class, the other two were plain ugly inside.

[@credilbecars9713]

I've had all three the rover is a class above up there with bmw and jaguars

[@beretka1389]

Rover is junk

[@troo_story]

@@beretka1389 and you're still an idlot.

[@beretka1389]

@@troo_story an you still drive junk car

[@MacklandsMotors]

The 75 outlived both the vectra and mondeo in the film!

[@JBass42]

the 75 is in another class compared to them! Sit in and drive a 75 and you feel refined, the others are just rep-mobiles!!

[@Rover75andV6]

I have owned the 75 V6 since November 2010 and S750 LJW is still on the road and is in mint condition. I wonder if the other cars in the film continue to survive and remain in the same condition as they were when the film was made.

[@JohnDonica]

Rover the Best

[@ash7990]

Rover did want the 75 to be sportier or to at least have a sporty variant available. However BMW did not allow this and it is even rumoured that BMW went as far as to deliberately design the front indicators as low down as legally possible to prevent Rover from being able to have the car sitting any lower. I believe this to be true. Given that as soon as BMW ditched Rover, Rover produced the MG ZT model of the 75 - which has a re-designed from bumper to place the indicators higher up as the car was lower. BMW were not the sole cause of every failing of the company. However, they really did de-value the brand and Rover's image. In the Honda days we had various sports Rover's - 216 and 220 GTI, 420 GSI turbo, Metro GTI, 200 coupe turbo, 820 vitesse turbo etc. etc. BMW stopped them all. No GTI's, no turbo's. Then taking Mini and LandRover away from us really did leave Rover on their own in a worse position than ever before (image wise).

[@soundseeker63]

The Mondeo will since have rusted to death and the Vectra been traded in on some scrappage scheme because nobody wants them, and the 75 still going strong. It was a MUCH higher quality car than the other two thanks to BMW build standards, provided you avoid the 1.8 K-Series engine versions. In fact I would say it was even better built than the E46 3-Series of the time which also suffered from rust and rear subframe issues.

[@bensmithkent22]

soundseeker63 agree the 75 the only entirely new model bmw invested in u till the all new mini was some car back in the late 90s. They got it spot on it distanced itself perfectly in the marketplace from their own sporty e46 3 series and it sold plenty too. Interior was a work of art and well made. Wasnt the best perfomance wise and the k series 1.8 shitter was an utter joke in a car that heavy but they were not alone, all high volume brands had a feeble entry level engine the mondeos and vectras of the day were fielding sub 100bhp 1.6 stuff. I wonder if they had invested the same amount of effort and funding in an entirely new 25 and 45 what would have become of the brand.

[@Rover75andV6]

That is a good point Adam and given the Vectra was more powerful than the Rover 75, the test was not fairly balanced. Poor show 'Driven'

[@demlac65]

Hey, i didn't know, that Mike from the Wheeler Dealers was in this show. :) He wasn't fat at that time :P

[@wahash316]

performance vise ford is better but nothing matches rovers interior fellaw :D

[@houseofjimmy1]

why didnt they choose the 2.5 litre version of the 75 or the 2.0 litre version of the vauxhall and mondeo

[@buttersstotch3158]

They should to take Rover 2.5.....2.0v6 is great engine but weak and slow for 75 ,and litttle more thirstier than 2.5

[@TopGearrules]

That rover 75 is for sale on the club forum room!

[@uberarticuno]

Why didn't they use the 2.5 V6 rover 75? same sized engine as the vectra. Seems like it would be more fair.

[@jigo53]

when i get the money, im gonna buy the rover and have it painted matte black

[@ash7990]

Well the Rover with its 2.0 engine didn't stand much chance up against the 2.5 litre Ford and Vauxhall. I like the ST24 but this is a daft and unfair test. The ST24 was the sport variant of the Mondeo. The other was around would be like a comparing a Mondeo 2.0 GLS against an MG ZT 190 2.5.

[@senor250]

The Rover looks years ahead compared

[@Lidnart]

I kind of agree, this test would have been alot more fun if they tested the 2.5 75 and the bigger hp mondeo st200 but i do think that the mondeo would have got the win anyways! I am pretty sure the st200 was not out yet at this time

[@CrypticalK]

Well to me the Mondeo looks "dull", not the Vectra! But I've always thought the Vectra looks quick and sleek compared to the fat curvy Mondeo which looks old now. The Vectra still looks fresh and modern by todays standards.

[@morgman43]

Driven was a great show!

[@CharlieChaz82]

The mondeo is better than the vectra, but the cavalier was miles better than the Sierra. Vauxhall really lost ground around this time. But they are back on track now with some great cars including the fantastic new Astra.

[@PhilOsGarage]

Wow, they might as well been comparing three buckets of wallpaper paste..

[@dreamopeth]

I think I remember seeing this on tv when I was younger. I know own a 2 litre mondeo and its a great drive. Gonna get an ST24 next year I think as I will be old enough, 24 lol

[@worthlessdollar1]

You'll be about 34 now. Time flies!

[@dreamopeth]

Haha! Time flies indeed, I still feel 24.. I'm 35 in October, this must be one of my oldest comments. I now drive a Golf GTI, some geezer bought my mondeo off me because he couldn't afford the insurance on the ST24. I remember it had the st24 skirts and wheels etc so he was nearly there. I never bought one in the end, kind of glad I didn't but I still like the look of the st200.

[@worthlessdollar1]

@@dreamopeth You can't go far wrong with a Golf GTI, brilliant all-round cars. I'm also 35 this year but I drive a 2008 Vectra 😆 Here's to the future! 🍻

[@11mrewan]

I want a vectra!!!!!!!

[@Galahadfairlight]

Vectra long scrapped, Mondeo last had an MOT in 2012 so likely scrapped and the Rover lasted the longest with last MOT in 2020.

[@Dog328]

I cant see why the Mondeo wins that, because it has only 1 plus point, it goes round corners good, BUT, the ride is bumpy, its not as well made, it looks like a Goat, the engine runs as smooth as a bag of Nuts its floorpan rusts like hell and then the wheelbolts brake up when you change wheels, the suspension wears out, the gearbox gets lumpy and its horrible to repair! The brits only like it because they never tryed anything else!

[@rovamota]

It's called Here Comes The Rain Again by The Eurythmics.

[@gardenspoon]

Spot-on!

[@Nixter1974007]

The ST24 is STILL in my garage and up for sale..S358 XHK

[@jaffacake1578]

The Mndeo also looks good but the Vectra looks old.

[@ThunderChunky101]

Why not the Sri? Odd choice to have a beast of a Ford against those two clangers.

[@davidedney123]

Should have tried the 2.5 litre 75 - the KV6 is by far the superior engine out of these three.

[@Nixter1974007]

S358 XHK is for sale if anyone is interested. It's still complete and starts and drives although it's on a SORN. Nothing wrong with it at all. Message me for info and pics. Mileage is just over 109k...

[@BANKO007]

What? Almost everything about the Vectra is better except the instruments, which are better in the Rover.

[@G-RandomVids]

I wouldn't say the Vectra is awful. It's certainly not a good all round car though. The Vectra is quite a harsh drive and will shake your fillings loose, and yet it still doesn't handle as well as the Mondeo. It's not offensive to look at though, the Rover 75 wins that accolade!

[@Leifang12]

I love the Mondeo!!!!

[@owrang9756]

I had 2 Rover 75 diesels, they were too slow and unfortunately the 2nd one was very unreliable. Shame because I loved the cars which made you feel special and people often told me how they looked so good or often thought they were Jags. I wouldnt be seen dead in the Vauxhall or Ford bland designs.

[@kieran9246]

That’s a shame that it was unreliable, I’ve heard most people say the 75 diesels were slow but very reliable. I’ll be soon getting a 1.8 petrol :)

[@troo_story]

@@kieran9246 The diesels all had the BMW M47 2.0L engine - bulletproof with a timing chain and utterly reliable. Unfortunately though, Rover throttled them electronically by BHP depending on the model car you bought. So e.g. the CDT variants (pre-2004 facelift) had a paltry 114bhp - just dreadful. The 2004+ CDTi models were much better at 131bhp. But in both cases, a simple 45sec ECU file upload via T4 or TOAF turned them both into proper motors at 160bhp. I know this because I've had both - my current Tourer was 114bhp and was lethally underpowered. Now it's alive, straight off the mark at roundabouts & junctions, smooth & powerful through all the (auto) gears but in no way overpowered. The way Rover deliberately held back the M47 engine for marketing reasons, was criminal.

[@applejuice5272]

@@troo_story >"The way Rover deliberately held back the M47 engine for marketing reasons, was criminal." Not Rover's doing at all. E46 318d models had the same 85 kW (116 PS) output like the 75 CDT and 320d versions had 100 kW (136 PS) - the same as 75 CDTi models. BMW only supplied the 85 kW (116 PS) variant to Rover. In 2002 when MG Rover Powertrain offered a 135 PS output. Had MG Rover kept going, in late 2005 the G Series 2.0-litre (1,994cc) turbodiesel would have offered up to 120 kW (163 PS) / 380 Nm. This engine is made by Sonalika / IMCL in India, who were manufacturing components for it. When MG Rover went into administration IMCL bought the rights to the G Series and still make it today.

[@penseesublime]

@QuickXilver i totally agree with you

[@ChatterboxFM]

I feel like the Mike fella is gonna try and make a deal with me..

[@QuickShiftTV2024]

These are ace! Check out our new vid on the ST24

[@hitorsh1t]

my 2.0 cdt has 204,000 on it now with no major issues so i guess there not as shite as you think, but obviously your bound to say that, you drive the plastic fantastic taxi that everyones loves to puke in lol

[@Ademan17]

@QuickXilver I agree, the rover is still beautiful and confortable, those two just look drive and give an interior impression of trash..

[@hamster639]

iam sorry but rover 75 is a different class of vehicle to vectra/mondeo they should put it against 3 series class, and something like a honda acoord against modeo/vectra, that bloke looks like frankie boyle as well.

[@moto46]

the vauxhall was a 2.5ltr v6?

[@richardbentley8227]

What a biased comparison. Both Jag and Vauxhall are 2.5 litres. Why didnt they use the Rover 2.5 v6

[@gc7820]

When Mike Brewer weighed less than the QE2

[@Bogzter9]

shame no one went on my Vectra.

[@142960012301]

Rover Rover Rover

[@hamster639]

how can it be 80% only around 15% are the 1.8's the v6's and cdti are bullet proff.

[@Themightybull]

the mondeos not bad but thats not a very fair test, the rovers only a 2.0 v6 and the st24 was built as a sports model also the vectra has a smaller cabin and its a lot more nimble than a 75. realistically the MG ZT 190 would have been a much better car than all 3 and a human over 6ft could drive it. im 6'5 and i cant fit in a vectra that shape. however the newer 3.2 vectras are a great car to drive even if you are taller.

[@Nixter1974007]

Anybody want any info/pictures of the ST get in touch..Still got it after nearly eleven years..its on youtube in a short video made in the back garden,tried to post the link in this message but couldn't..have a look folks..bit of history eh?

[@AlejjSi]

Lol...I mean surely all the companies want their car look like a racer and not like grown up proud cars :D

[@offitcock]

used to love this show mike brewer is the one

[@Lidnart]

Have you driven an st200?

[@matthewking5612]

Mondeo=GOAT

[@moneycultural102]

I take the Ford. Big Mondeo fan!

[@moto46]

and the rovers a 2ltr v6

[@soggybaguette]

I have an ST24 and used to own a Vectra, the veccy wasn't bad, the st is better, but I did have an ex-police omega V6 and that pisses all over the ST I also think the interior of the ST is much more vulgar has a cheaper feeling dashboard than an omega and it's a bit small feeling for me, ST over veccy, Omega over ST ( I'm a purist and I'll always go for Rear drive over Fronties).

[@CynicalBastard511]

The Mondeo has a SORN status. The vehicle details for S358 XHK are: Date of First Registration 06 01 1999 Year of Manufacture 1999 Cylinder Capacity (cc) 2544cc CO₂ Emissions Not Available Fuel Type PETROL Export Marker N Vehicle Status SORN in place Vehicle Colour BLUE Vehicle Type Approval Not Available The Rover is still on the road. The vehicle details for S750 LJW are: Date of Liability 01 04 2015 Date of First Registration 22 12 1998 Year of Manufacture 1998 Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1950cc CO₂ Emissions Not Available Fuel Type PETROL Export Marker N Vehicle Status Licence Not Due Vehicle Colour BLUE Vehicle Type Approval Not Available No information about the Vectra, so presumably it has been scrapped or the last owner changed its original plate for a personal plate.

[@itchyscratch3829]

Rover lasted to 22 years old before being SORNed (not scrapped) after an expired MOT in 2020. I still see 75s quite often, saw two in one journey today. Can't remember the last time I saw a Vectra or a Mk1 Mondeo. It may be that owners see 75s as "worth saving" if they need work, rather than scrapping them like the others?

[@AWMJoeyjoejoe]

Thats exactly what I thought when I saw him! haha!

[@Nixter1974007]

@MrRui33333 Hey amigo, pelo menos você sabe sobre carros de qualidade, você está correto sobre o Mondeo, tenho este carro ainda depois de onze anos ..! Excelente!

[@MrNickcafc]

Amen

[@PAULPICKLES]

thank god they picked the ST24! How stupid can you get putting up against a Rover.....very obviously!

[@mondeomk5]

if u ask me i think Ford Mondeo is the bestest car

[@CynicalBastard511]

Fast forward to 2018 and the repmobile is pretty much a dying breed. There are very few of them left; there's the Ford Mondeo, Peugeot 508, Opel Insignia and the VW Passat. Everybody these days either want a BMW or an SUV.

[@bensmithkent22]

JELH they still sell passats in good numbers especially to taxi firms its on a different level build wise inside. Previous gen insignia was a handsome car sold loads. Latest one ghastly cheap looking tat. Mondy finds favour in estate form to fire alarm testing firms or locksmiths and has a 1.0 ecoboost option for the taxman. Many a big rep barge has fallen by the wayside though citroen renault etc but the others soldier on. The mini suv bubble will burst as they are terrible heavy poorly handling things. Give me a 3 box saloon anyday or conventional estate. Can get a current shape a4 for good money or last gen 3 series for secondhand quashqai/juke money and far more accomplished dynamically. Those things come into their own sticking the child in the seat at a comfy height, no clear advantage anywhere else and not actually that much more spacious. They are not miles safer as parents think.

[@1972scenic]

rover 75 is beautifull i got one 1.8 but there is a problem with head gasket even with small millage

[@bensmithkent22]

Na powaznie k series shitter 118 bhp in that jeeez

[@bensmithkent22]

Ok in the 400s of the day but in this tank boy oh boy it must have struggled. Was in the freelander too imagine that on the mway at 75!

[@TheKenjoje]

brewer trader as a car journalist????

[@Jail-Left-Wing-Traitors]

lol..the old dog of. fucking mondeo won.. haahh.. the rover 75 clearly beats them all hands down . even today, my 75 drives like a new lexus or a jag..

[@michaelgill5186]

Another Tosser , where is the River factory located these days ? Oh yes underground

[@ReeceL101]

To Me I Would Like Better The Vectra

[@Hambag2009]

Vectra SRI all day long

[@Alan10018]

The Vauxhall is my favorite!!! But the Mondeo is GREAT too!!! :D

[@MrRui33333]

o mondeo o melhor em tudo ate no preço , um good car, e tbm o mais dinamico, muito mais,, o rover conforto elegancia po dentro arrasa os outros,.. mas mas e rover ne,.. o vetra e bom si, mas no o prefiro,. no digo q seja mau mas o motor entre ford e vetra ,... uhnm o ford of course,... logico, o melhor motor e o st24 sem duvida!

[@GuitarsnCars]

Bit silly really, st24 was an alright car but surly it shouldve been compared to a vectra sri , thats it's comp! Then the Vectra would prob have just about had it on speed and handling. And did you see the guy who said he wanted the Rover at 4:44? No wonder they went bust!!

[@TheJayOne]

Not exactly a fair test at all... Mondeo's sporty model against Vectra's luxury model... Having owned 2 mondeos and 3 vectra's and currently owning the newer V6 mondeo i'd say go for the Vectra anyday!! MUCH better car and FAR less problems!!!

[@Nixter1974007]

If anyone wants any info on the ST24, message me via KZbin. It's parked up 20 yards from where I am right now, been a joy to own since 2001. It's on a SORN, but is complete and starts and drives. Had 000's spent on it over it's lifetime. Feel free to get in touch with me, may even sell to anyone genuinely interested. S358 XHK.

[@michealclark4715]

what's details on it how much and were are you ???

[@michealclark4715]

my Facebook is Michael titch Clark add me on there and inbox me as I'm grnuinly interested if we could sort something out with distance etc...

[@Nixter1974007]

micheal clark I don't do Facebook. Still got the Mondeo btw.

[@tylert6573]

4:20 Fuck sake Rova 😂

[@redlinedan]

Have a word with yourself. The Rover is a very average car - There's nothing elegant or graceful about it!

[@VDPEFi]

To those moaning about it being unfair, there was no MG variant at the time of this test, the stupid decision not to bother until 2001 was the cause of young execs looking the other way...plus in terms of price a £22k budget, alot for a user chooser company driver only got you the middle engine 2.0 with some spec compared to the others with their 2.5s, another Rover marketing decision that backfired. The 75 was hopelessly old man to appeal to the young.

[@rocketbunny95]

Mike Brewer at 4:19 :D

[@tobiasklima]

but also much more expensive :(

[@G-RandomVids]

Of course, anybody who comes away with this kind of comment obviously hasn't driven a Mondeo and has the Vauxhall blinkers on. Mondeo is a much better drive than the Vectra by miles. I've driven both in a few different variants and would have the Mondeo everytime.

[@Nixter1974007]

Anybody want to buy S358 XHK?? I've had it since 2001,take £600 for it.

[@bjorndunderbeck]

Bet you couldnt give any one of them away now. ;(

[@dubFROGGY300]

My car has 90000000000hp and its called a nissan micra

[@kingy29874]

im a big ford and vauxhall fan and have owned a few of these cars but i think that was the worst shape mondeo ever built i raver i the early and later mondoes anyday they look far better.

[@G-RandomVids]

Seriously? Well good luck with that.

[@Gazzafiesta]

Just proves ford is the best

[@PhilOsGarage]

They are all pretty awful. The rover was totally hopeless, the vectors just awful and the mondo is possibly the most boring car on earth. If a car is not exciting it should at least be classy. This trio of dross is neither.

[@Nakke144]

***** You are welcome to come and try my Mondeo ST200. Might change your mind about Mondeos being boring.

[@Nakke144]

Silver light Yeah, i still think the mk3 (00-07) Mondeo is the best handling big saloon ever made.

[@LogitechXibanga]

i have a rover 75 year 2002 and drives amazing breaks amazing unlike they made it look in this video and its very confortable and has the best interiors of all this cars. have you ever driven any of this cars?

[@williamwoods8022]

LogitechXbanga - They obviously haven't driven any of these cars or even the MG and later updated more powerful Rover 75's plus these cars now still look more modern than these Ford or Vauxhall rivals. Ford the best? Ha! Ha! When have Ford ever been the best at anything without any outside engine etc company being involved in turning a pigs ear into a silk purse.

[@coltsuperocean10]

.....just like all, Rovers, Penny is looking old tired and wrinkled! Time she was booted into the old peoples home!!

[@user-sf7kl9uh7k]

Why no acceleration test? BS review