Another running cost question
Discussion
With so many posts available on the topic I now get it that running a Bentley Turbo will likely cost a lot in servicing/parts etc over time. What is it that causes the costs- were the components not so good, systems poorly designed ie overly complex, was the mechanical/electrical build not really high quality for the long term, and constructed without any thought to maintenance accessibility/ease of servicing etc?. I am a great fan of those fabulous Bentleys and work towards ownership, but I'm wanting to understand as much about them as I can. The Penguinracer post was very helpful too.
First thing is they are old cars now.They were also the most expensive cars around when new and you dont get low running costs on any expensive cars.
When you work on them most things take much longer than on a "lesser" car....more fastenings, more bits to take off to get to other bits...coupled to cost of bits makes them not a cheap car to run.
HOWEVER if you dial in the lowish purchase price now, lack of depreciation, they are not too expensive to run overall
As Matt says, they are around 20 years old now and if you keep any car of that era for 10 years, you are bound to have to replace things that wear out, or deal with the odd spot of corrosion here and there, unless you are happy to run it on a shoestring and eventually throw it away (beware of buying one that has been treated thus, because it is you who will either have to throw it away or spend a lot putting it right).
The cost of a car is the sum of the cost of its parts, so if it cost over £100,000 when new, you can bet that the cost of the parts were a lot higher than their equivalents on a car that cost £10,000, because they were made to much higher standards and / or in lower volume and / or are more complex, etc. And they still will be a lot more expensive today, even though the car may be only worth 10% of what it cost new.
When it comes to dealing with corrosion, again you have to remember that they were finished to a far higher standard than e.g. a Ford. If you are content to refinish to Ford standards, it won't cost you too much, but if you want to maintain your car to RR+B standards, it will cost you a lot more.
And again echoing what Matt said, yes, they can be quite a bit more labour intensive than a lot of other cars, because they were finished to much higher standards.
They are not cheap to run, in any respect, but you don't get champagne for beer money - for what you do get, they are fantastic value for your money. And if you think RR+B parts are pricey, try running a Ferrari!
As far as depreciation is concerned, I bought mine for £22K almost 11 years ago and now it's probably worth half that, so around £1k p.a. Now, however, depreciation is probably zero unless you are going for a late / low mileage car where there may be a bit more to go, especially if you put a lot of miles on a low mileage car.
I hope the above is helpful. If you would like more info, PM me your e-m address and I'll send you the spreadsheet on my TR costs - it will give you an idea of what I have spent on what.
The cost of a car is the sum of the cost of its parts, so if it cost over £100,000 when new, you can bet that the cost of the parts were a lot higher than their equivalents on a car that cost £10,000, because they were made to much higher standards and / or in lower volume and / or are more complex, etc. And they still will be a lot more expensive today, even though the car may be only worth 10% of what it cost new.
When it comes to dealing with corrosion, again you have to remember that they were finished to a far higher standard than e.g. a Ford. If you are content to refinish to Ford standards, it won't cost you too much, but if you want to maintain your car to RR+B standards, it will cost you a lot more.
And again echoing what Matt said, yes, they can be quite a bit more labour intensive than a lot of other cars, because they were finished to much higher standards.
They are not cheap to run, in any respect, but you don't get champagne for beer money - for what you do get, they are fantastic value for your money. And if you think RR+B parts are pricey, try running a Ferrari!
As far as depreciation is concerned, I bought mine for £22K almost 11 years ago and now it's probably worth half that, so around £1k p.a. Now, however, depreciation is probably zero unless you are going for a late / low mileage car where there may be a bit more to go, especially if you put a lot of miles on a low mileage car.
I hope the above is helpful. If you would like more info, PM me your e-m address and I'll send you the spreadsheet on my TR costs - it will give you an idea of what I have spent on what.
I echo the sentiments above. But you also have to factor in that they are a heavy car which can turn a fair lick of speed and corner far harder than you might think. Especially when compared to something like the Shadow 11.
So things like brakes, tyres, suspension, steering bushes etc. etc. will wear out much quicker unless you are content to just potter about in it. But then I don't see much point in buying a Turbo R.
My own car has been very well looked after and well maintained. But on a 23 year old car you have to be prepared that what works today might not work tomorrow. Mine is in with a very good mate for a little fettling. It has had new wheel bearings on all four corners. Brake discs skimmed all around and wheels re balanced. Brake / Suspension fluid reservoir return hoses replaced as they appear to have become porous. Two new rear springs as one had broken. Fresh gearbox oil and new filter and fresh diff oil. Thoroughly cleaned and re waxoyled underneath.
Plus two completely unecessary items kindly recommended by Balmoral that just had to be done. A flying B and a transient boost kit. So as of mid next week my Turbo R is in perfect shape mechanically. That little lot is about £3K. Come spring I'll attend to some minor tin worm in the usual places probably around another £1K. So whilst they represent tremendous value for money. You have to be prepared to spend a little to ensure they remain as Bentley intended.
An example would be a guy who bought a Turbo R for £4K. Has spent the same again on it, still has to spend more and it is not half the car that I own. Buy the best you can find, even if it costs a little more and you won't be dissapointed.
So things like brakes, tyres, suspension, steering bushes etc. etc. will wear out much quicker unless you are content to just potter about in it. But then I don't see much point in buying a Turbo R.
My own car has been very well looked after and well maintained. But on a 23 year old car you have to be prepared that what works today might not work tomorrow. Mine is in with a very good mate for a little fettling. It has had new wheel bearings on all four corners. Brake discs skimmed all around and wheels re balanced. Brake / Suspension fluid reservoir return hoses replaced as they appear to have become porous. Two new rear springs as one had broken. Fresh gearbox oil and new filter and fresh diff oil. Thoroughly cleaned and re waxoyled underneath.
Plus two completely unecessary items kindly recommended by Balmoral that just had to be done. A flying B and a transient boost kit. So as of mid next week my Turbo R is in perfect shape mechanically. That little lot is about £3K. Come spring I'll attend to some minor tin worm in the usual places probably around another £1K. So whilst they represent tremendous value for money. You have to be prepared to spend a little to ensure they remain as Bentley intended.
An example would be a guy who bought a Turbo R for £4K. Has spent the same again on it, still has to spend more and it is not half the car that I own. Buy the best you can find, even if it costs a little more and you won't be dissapointed.
Last year my car cost me around £4000 (biggish MOT fail, a set of tyres and some other bits & bobs) + fuel, VED & Insurance, this year it has cost me an MOT only (a clean pass) + fuel, VED & Insurance.
It can be very up & down, some years will be high, and can be very high if you're going to maintain it properly or something big happens (head gaskets, new or recon turbo, AC unit, suspension work, whatever).
A £6K PLUS year is not unusual, and every now & then if you're lucky you may be let off with a cheap year too.
I really don't buy this £1000 a year nonsense, unless you're the sort of person who doesn't know the difference between 25 years service history and one years service history 25 times and will always do the bare minimum.
Based on 13 years fastidious ownership of the same car, reckon on £4k a year.
Also, see RESSE's post where he listed his ownership costs over a similar period.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
It can be very up & down, some years will be high, and can be very high if you're going to maintain it properly or something big happens (head gaskets, new or recon turbo, AC unit, suspension work, whatever).
A £6K PLUS year is not unusual, and every now & then if you're lucky you may be let off with a cheap year too.
I really don't buy this £1000 a year nonsense, unless you're the sort of person who doesn't know the difference between 25 years service history and one years service history 25 times and will always do the bare minimum.
Based on 13 years fastidious ownership of the same car, reckon on £4k a year.
Also, see RESSE's post where he listed his ownership costs over a similar period.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Edited by Balmoral on Saturday 30th November 09:12
Echoing what has already been said, my RL cost me around 14k in 1 year. I was unlucky as that was headgasket failure, suspension overhaul and a door lock. The tyres are unique Avons and can be pricey too. However what seems to increase the running costs of these the most is lack of use which is true of most cars but more so here.
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