MG Rover

You have to feel sorry for all the people who work at MG Rover and indeed all the suppliers to them, there future is very very uncertain.

I used to own 2 rovers, a M reg 418 SLDt and a R reg 420 SDi. Both, especially the 420 were really good cars. Quick, comfortable, well specced and were cheap to buy. I had the 420 second hand in 1998. In 1998 the 420 was a decent enough car.

Not now though, why o' why are they still making a car that basically hasnt changed since 1996, N-reg. Ok, its had a few facelifts and engine changes and a name change but its the same car as they were churning out in 96. Same goes for the 200-25 of course. The management are to blame not the workers, they should of developed new cars rather than relying on older designs that will inevitably become old fashioned and un-saleable.

Its Ok the government helping them but all its doing is dragging it out. Closure of rover is inevitable, always has been. What the need to do is bring out some models that actually compete with the likes of Ford-GM-Nissan etc, who regularily change there models and update them to modern standards and expectations.

Maybe if all the money previously spent on Rover by governments had been put into re-training of the workforce and suppliers then they would all (or mostly) be in other gainfull employment by now.

6000 people at rover are worried about there jobs, so would I. Luckily we are in a time of low unemployment and a skill shortage in certain areas so much so we have to encourage people into this country. Lets hope we can get them re-trained to fill the gaps.

Steve