Buying a Used MG Rover
MG Rover in 2010
MG Rover cars are still alive and well on the UK's roads as DVLA figures highlight a slow decline in MG and Rover models, reveals XPart. The figures produced by the DVLA show that the vehicle parc for MG Rovers produced post-2000 has only declined marginally in the past 12 months. The MG parc (ZT, ZS, ZR and F/TF) has reduced by 3.1 percent, and the Rover parc by 3.7 percent (75, 45, 25, Streetwise and City Rover ). In total, there are still more than one million MG Rover vehicles registered for use on the UK's roads, over 50 percent of which were built post-2000. Parts specialist XPart has supplied MG Rover parts since August 2004 and has continued as the brand's sole supplier of genuine parts following the manufacturer's collapse in April 2005.
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We will continue to support MG Rover owners…
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Barry Smith, UK Sales manager, XPart
"MG Rover owners have become increasingly confident that genuine parts and high quality servicing for their vehicles are still available," comments Barry Smith, UK Sales Manager, XPart. "Rover cars remain popular choices as family and first cars, while MGs continue to attract a strong following among motoring enthusiasts. Thanks to the hard work of our 250 MG Rover AutoService centres and to initiatives such as our write-off avoidance programme Close Call, we have been able to slow the decline and offer MG Rover owners dealer-level support in the absence of a manufacturer."
XPart's purchasing and supply teams have worked tirelessly over the past five years to ensure the ongoing supply of genuine parts from original MG Rover suppliers. The company has also forged a good working relationship with the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC), new owners of the MG brand, and continues to source parts made from MG Rover original tooling from its China-based factory. In 2008, XPart agreed a deal with MG Motor (UK) Ltd to distribute replacement parts for the new MG TF car.
"We will continue to support MG Rover owners with genuine parts and servicing over the next five years, and will become increasingly involved in the heritage scene, as MG and Rover cars gradually become classics," concludes Smith.
MG Rover Myths
I won't be able to get a warranty
Trident offers comprehensive warranties supplied by the leading supplier of warranties in the United Kingdom - Car Care Plan. A 1-year warranty is supplied free-of-charge, when buying a used MG Rover from Trident, but you are able to extend this up to 5-years, at additional cost.
If you already own an MG Rover, and would like to purchase a warranty package for it, or if you would like information on the warranties available before purchasing an MG Rover, please contact our Business Manager via the following link:
- Contact our Ottershaw Business Manager
No-one will be able to service it
Whilst both our branches are now Honda Dealerships, both were previously MG Rover. As such most of our technicians are MG Rover factory-trained and both branches have the MG Rover Testbook diagnostic computers. Trident is committed to continuing to supply used MG Rovers from our Ottershaw Branch and to continue servicing our customers MG Rover cars for many years to come.
It is true that some of the 260 MG Rover dealers have ceased operating as dealerships, but many are continuing to see MG Rover service business as a valuable add-on to their business. In addition there are many more dealers that have in the past been MG Rover dealers and have for many years offered unofficial servicing to MG Rover owners. Such businesses are likely to take up any gap in local markets.
Without an MG Rover Franchise, customer service won't be the same
There are many reasons why this is not a concern that you should have with Trident:
- Trident has been owned and managed by the same family since its inception more than 45 years ago;
- Trident has an unparalleled reputation for excellent customer service;
- As Honda dealerships, Trident has further responsibilities to Honda to ensure that we look after our customers properly;
- As further reassurance, our Ottershaw Branch has become an accredited Xpart Autoservice Centre;
- After every service we provide you with a customer questionnaire to which we have an amazing feedback of which we are very proud (and hope to add these statistics to our website at a later time!).
But, sadly, not all potential MG Rover customers live locally to Trident; if you are concerned about where you are able to have your car serviced, then you should visit:
You won't be able to get any parts
Again this is a much quoted fallacy; MG Rover had sold their parts operation a number of years ago to XPart (a division of Caterpillar Logistics Services (UK) Ltd, a UK subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc). XPart manufactures and distributes MG Rover parts, and this business has been largely unaffected by the demise of MG Rover. For more information on parts supply, please follow the following link:
It will lose its value
MG Rover cars did lose a significant proportion of their value upon the collapse of MG Rover on 8 April 2005; however some of this value did bounce back once the market realised that dealers were still prepared to buy and sell used MG Rover cars. Since that time MG Rover cars have continued to be sold below their intrinsic value; in other words they they offer superb value for money. All cars lose value and doubtless MG Rovers will do likewise; however it must be recognised that they are starting from a much lower figure than you might generally expect to pay for a similar car and thus the risk is in many ways less than with other manufacturers' product. One of the best ways of gauging this is by reviewing our stocklist :
- Trident MG Rover Stocklist
Other concerns
If you are considering buying an MG Rover car, but remain concerned, why not contact us to discuss your options?
Alternatively, you may wish to consider one of Honda's superb cars, and for reasons why MG Rover customers should consider a Honda visit: