Surely not sir!
Discussion
This being my first post for ages and ages (I usually just browse at lunch without logging in) I was curious the other day about left-field choices for when it comes time to change cars, so I did some insurance quotes. Bear with me...
Current car - Subaru Impreza Turbo 2000 - Insurance quoted by some meerkats £998 as it is coming up for renewal.
The same meerkats quoted £186 for a Rolls Royce Silver Spirit II of about 1990 vintage, same mileage, same cover, same usage etc.
Before my man maths takes over completely, are there any decent buying guides around as there are some fairly decent looking examples around at the £10-£15k mark. Anyone had any experience with gad conversions on a Rolls? I understand the hydraulics can be expensive if they go wrong and would factor this into the man maths - any other known expensive issues?
I am a massive fan of the Silver Spirit, I just love the squareness of them for some reason that I can't explain and now that they are in reach well.....
Current car - Subaru Impreza Turbo 2000 - Insurance quoted by some meerkats £998 as it is coming up for renewal.
The same meerkats quoted £186 for a Rolls Royce Silver Spirit II of about 1990 vintage, same mileage, same cover, same usage etc.
Before my man maths takes over completely, are there any decent buying guides around as there are some fairly decent looking examples around at the £10-£15k mark. Anyone had any experience with gad conversions on a Rolls? I understand the hydraulics can be expensive if they go wrong and would factor this into the man maths - any other known expensive issues?
I am a massive fan of the Silver Spirit, I just love the squareness of them for some reason that I can't explain and now that they are in reach well.....
It all depends how handy you are with tools, really.
Example. I have a Bentley Turbo R, bought for less than £2K and slowly getting put back on thge road. I expect that it will be MOTd and in use for a total outlay of less than £3000 ( including a hydraulic rebuild )
On the other hand, if you can't do some at least some of the work yourself, then the old adage of buying a really expensive car with a known history holds true.
I'd expect so need a pot of money in reserve to attend to a big bill on virtually every car available for sale, as they're getting into bargain basement territory now with corners cut on maintenance, etc for many years. Expect spares prices to be Subaru main dealer x 10.
Main things to look out for are rust and hydraulics condition as you'll find these to be the major cost drivers.
There's also a sliding scale of desirability which is broadly age-related. The milestones being ( chronologically )
Twin SU carb "original" Spirit
Fuel injection
ABS
4-speed transmission
improved steering rack
active ride
There's a few of us on here who could be made available to hold your hand on a viewing.
regarding gas conversions ( although your "gad" typo seems more appropriate ), the car would be rife for a conversion, if only you could find one done properly. I may have worked on fifty gas-converted cars, now and have yet to see an installation which I'd describe as satisfactory, with maybe 80% of the ones I've seen falling under the "downright unsafe" category. Beware
Example. I have a Bentley Turbo R, bought for less than £2K and slowly getting put back on thge road. I expect that it will be MOTd and in use for a total outlay of less than £3000 ( including a hydraulic rebuild )
On the other hand, if you can't do some at least some of the work yourself, then the old adage of buying a really expensive car with a known history holds true.
I'd expect so need a pot of money in reserve to attend to a big bill on virtually every car available for sale, as they're getting into bargain basement territory now with corners cut on maintenance, etc for many years. Expect spares prices to be Subaru main dealer x 10.
Main things to look out for are rust and hydraulics condition as you'll find these to be the major cost drivers.
There's also a sliding scale of desirability which is broadly age-related. The milestones being ( chronologically )
Twin SU carb "original" Spirit
Fuel injection
ABS
4-speed transmission
improved steering rack
active ride
There's a few of us on here who could be made available to hold your hand on a viewing.
regarding gas conversions ( although your "gad" typo seems more appropriate ), the car would be rife for a conversion, if only you could find one done properly. I may have worked on fifty gas-converted cars, now and have yet to see an installation which I'd describe as satisfactory, with maybe 80% of the ones I've seen falling under the "downright unsafe" category. Beware
Edited by 2woody on Saturday 3rd August 11:27
Thanks 2woody. I previously ran a P38 Range Rover 4.6 which had a professional gas conversion; there are about 3 companies near me that I'd consider using.
As you can see I am used to crippling fuel bills and the unexpected pillaging of the wallet, I just want to walk in with my eyes open with a full appreciation of what can happen.
Not too handy with spanners, largely because I have never had to learn or been shown but I am doing some supervised restoration on my 1975 TR6 so I'm getting better at it:
Still not put off though...
As you can see I am used to crippling fuel bills and the unexpected pillaging of the wallet, I just want to walk in with my eyes open with a full appreciation of what can happen.
Not too handy with spanners, largely because I have never had to learn or been shown but I am doing some supervised restoration on my 1975 TR6 so I'm getting better at it:
Still not put off though...
I'd go so far as to say there aren't 3 companies in the whole United Kingdom that I'd use for an LPG conversion.
as an example, I once did some work on a Vauxhall Omega converted by perhaps the highest-regarded company in the land, only to find the main control ecu held up inside the wheelarch with no-more-nails.
as an example, I once did some work on a Vauxhall Omega converted by perhaps the highest-regarded company in the land, only to find the main control ecu held up inside the wheelarch with no-more-nails.
I guess different people have different experiences. My Range Rover was done properly, there is a very well rated installer not too far from me who specialises in performance conversions for Evos, Scoobys etc. and within travelling distance is the installer who converted the Queen's Rolls.
And I wouldn't let anyone loose on my car without my supervising the work. I may not be a great spannerman but I do ask questions like 'why are you dong that?' 'what is that going to do, how does it work?' and have a reasonable understanding of what they tell me. If I saw someone wanting to use no more nails to secure something on my car I'd be telling them to do it properly or not get paid....
And, given what I do for a living, I'm not at all bothered by bolshi tradesmen trying to bully me into submission
And I wouldn't let anyone loose on my car without my supervising the work. I may not be a great spannerman but I do ask questions like 'why are you dong that?' 'what is that going to do, how does it work?' and have a reasonable understanding of what they tell me. If I saw someone wanting to use no more nails to secure something on my car I'd be telling them to do it properly or not get paid....
And, given what I do for a living, I'm not at all bothered by bolshi tradesmen trying to bully me into submission
have you thought of a Bentley Turbo R ?
its basically the same car, just with something totally unique in that its got real pace and handling. Its every bit the same sort of motoring marvel as your Subaru, but instead of "how can something at this price go and handle like this?", its " how can something so big and comfy go and handle like this ?"
http://www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=161&i=185...
its basically the same car, just with something totally unique in that its got real pace and handling. Its every bit the same sort of motoring marvel as your Subaru, but instead of "how can something at this price go and handle like this?", its " how can something so big and comfy go and handle like this ?"
http://www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=161&i=185...
I have thought about it for sure, and as I'm still in the man maths stage then I may well change my mind as I go along. In essence having done the sports saloon thing with the Subaru (and keeping my licence intact and clean) then I am leaning more to waftability and not tyre shredding.
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