Buying a Continental R

[BigBen]

Hello,

After viewing a few and test driving one I have decided a Continental R is likely going to be my next car.

What are the group's opinion on this one:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/226369664702

I am not sure the special edition stuff is a bit naff or not.

Also it seems to me there are quite a few of these for sale between £40 and £45k which hang around for ages. Auction results seem to suggest a trade price in the early £30's, this is the kind of car where I struggle to see the value in going to a non specialist dealer and the circa £10k delta gives me a hell of a fighting fund to address required jobs on an auction purchase. Thoughts on this?

I am after a later car for the updated ECU and the tilt steering wheel (I am tall and the earlier cars are a bit of a squeeze. Let me know if anyone knows of one for sale

Thanks

Ben

[RedWhiteMonkey]

BigBen said:

Hello,

After viewing a few and test driving one I have decided a Continental R is likely going to be my next car.

What are the group's opinion on this one:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/226369664702

I am not sure the special edition stuff is a bit naff or not.

Also it seems to me there are quite a few of these for sale between £40 and £45k which hang around for ages. Auction results seem to suggest a trade price in the early £30's, this is the kind of car where I struggle to see the value in going to a non specialist dealer and the circa £10k delta gives me a hell of a fighting fund to address required jobs on an auction purchase. Thoughts on this?

I am after a later car for the updated ECU and the tilt steering wheel (I am tall and the earlier cars are a bit of a squeeze. Let me know if anyone knows of one for sale

Thanks

Ben

Epic car, but presumably epic running costs.

[bolidemichael]

What are your preferences -- specs or colour combo? Or is condition v cost the most important consideration?

[BigBen]

bolidemichael said:

What are your preferences -- specs or colour combo? Or is condition v cost the most important consideration?

Condition v cost are most important with a preference for darker colours, have a lead on a dark blue one that appears very fetching. That said the one linked in my OP is a lighter colour and I still like it.

[bolidemichael]

BigBen said:

bolidemichael said:

What are your preferences -- specs or colour combo? Or is condition v cost the most important consideration?

Condition v cost are most important with a preference for darker colours, have a lead on a dark blue one that appears very fetching. That said the one linked in my OP is a lighter colour and I still like it.

The dark rear quarter windows seem odd

[JeremyH5]

I like these, a lot. Dark greens and blues look best to me particularly with a pale interior and lots of burr walnut.

[BigBen]

Well I bought one. Reader's car thread here

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[2 GKC]

Wonderful cars, but those tinted windows are ghastly. Also think the lighter interiors look much more appealing.

[selondonman]

this is a great car, just wish it was ulez compliant


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/226369664702

it makes no sense the exact same car, same engine etc etc 2000 not compliant 2003 is

out of interest why was this one so cheap ?

i am not sure the interior suits the car

it is a very masculine car with a female interior

Edited by selondonman on Friday 6th December 20:52

[2 GKC]

Missing a link?

[1964]

I took the plunge and bought a Continental R last year as a birthday present to myself for a significant milestone. I fancied one for a long time but never took the plunge until I saw one come up for auction with a low estimate, bid for it and bought it sight unseen, breaking all the rules. Very high mileage (150k) but my logic was used a lot, from MOT history at least 2500 per year so must be reasonably reliable... and had a fair amount of random service history over the years. Drove it for a couple of months and then took it to a specialist to get an overview. Small rust points (front wing/cill junction) and lots of stone chips from high mileage meant I went for a front end respray - it looks a lot better now, various minor mechanical & suspension repairs etc, full service but nothing major required and passed MOT with no advisories. Now been driving it for a year and aside from an annoying battery drain I can't trace it has been fine. Obviously it could have been a basket case but even then it would have been worth a reasonable amount as spares (that was my logic anyway!) British Racing Green with champagne leather and triple walnut veneer. 1998 model but late 1997 registration.

[

[BigBen]

That looks fantastic, congratulations.

I am really enjoying mine so far. Are you planning to take yours to any shows? I would like a look round another 98 model year car.

[bolidemichael]

A tremendous sixtieth birthday gift to oneself!

[1964]

No plans to show it currently, just using it - not sure which shows are appropriate ?

Interior photo below - I particularly liked the veneer - on the door tops there are multiple changes - top is I guess a dark brown walnut, then light, then banding, then burr walnut, then banding, then light again - must be why they were so expensive new !

Mine has the starter button near the gear selector although I have seen others where it is amongst the gauges

[BigBen]

1964 said:

No plans to show it currently, just using it - not sure which shows are appropriate ?

Mine has the starter button near the gear selector although I have seen others where it is amongst the gauges

This is why I want a look around! Starter button? Didn't know you could have that on an R thought they were just for the T models. I would love to fit one as button starters are much cooler than a boring old key.

Not sure about appropriateness but Bicester Scramble is a favourite of mine with all sorts of cars in attendance.