Buying a Turbo R
Discussion
These are now down to silly money - sub £10k for a 1989 model. I've read the advice on here and am aware that they rot around the rear arches and rear window, that the suspension can be expensive to sort...what esle goes wrong with them?
Are they cheaper to run than a Ferrari 308?
Forgive my ignorance, but what is the difference between an R and RT?
Are they cheaper to run than a Ferrari 308?
Forgive my ignorance, but what is the difference between an R and RT?
The RT are basically the last 100 or so cars. Almost all were the long wheelbase chassis, and they have the considerably more powerful Continental T running gear (engine with water/air chargecooler, gearbox etc).
Basically, the RT is the uber-turboR version, as you would expect from the run-out model.
jon
Basically, the RT is the uber-turboR version, as you would expect from the run-out model.
jon
jeremyc said:
rubystone said:
Thanks - clearly not to Jeremy 
what are you doing lurking here in any case?
Someone has got to keep an eye on you and your crazy purchase plans. what are you doing lurking here in any case?
DB7s, Turbo Rs - whatever next?
Actually I did enquire about a Merc C43 last night...perhaps thankfully it's been sold....I also researched Ferrari 456 prices too - I need 4 seats but don't use my car every day....and I sold the Ferrari last summer and for some reason still have the cash in the bank....
Ruby do it!!!!!!!!!! RT has 400 bhp and is fab, but still highish money..........can you stretch to a 93 onwards floor gearchange 4 speed model?? If you look hard enough you should buy one for £13K upwards.........usual buyer beware, plenty of sellers seem to have the car serviced, realise its going to need £XXXX thousands spending and sell.
Things to check..........wood on doors and dash can crack, suspension knocks, head gaskets, rough gearchanges, RUST, whining diffs, shopping trolley dents can be difficult to get knocked out due to thickness of metal(by dent man).......check tyres as if its running Avon Turbospeeds they are not cheap and a unique size IRRC..............
Get a towbar and you have the ultimate towcar for the R500!!!!!!
To be fair, the Arbarge is a better punt on the twisties at speed, in as far as a four bed detached is puntable. The bodyshell and chassis of the Arbarge is very rigid compared to the mattress with a marshmallow at each corner that is the Turbo R/RT. The interior, is, as you say, not quite the usual, a bit too swoopy and closed in. And whats with all that fluting? like a half scalloped pink leather sofa from DFS 
Turbo RT or Arbarge R is where it's at. The T if you are an unreformed hooligan, as I am.
Turbo RT or Arbarge R is where it's at. The T if you are an unreformed hooligan, as I am.
I found the Red Label (hereafter dubbed 'ARL') a massive jump forward over the RT ito rigidity, far more weld spots, iirc.
Whilst JB is bang on ito the RT's superior 'classicism' (for want of a better catch all description) I too found the ARL a much tauter propositon for cross country jaunting.
Also, in the same way the latest Arnages have moved both the speed and solidity at speed capability on to another level, so the ARL did o'er it's venerable predecessor.
The creak quotient - STILL present on the very latest cars - has been blissfully ameliorated with successive incarnations from RT through the various Arnages but I must admit, the RT still retains the most majestic air EVER for a modern Bentley.
Cruising up the M6 at 110 in that thing - nothing short of the automotive equivalent of an Atlantic crossing - superb.
Sell everything, get one. Before the commies get you.
Whilst JB is bang on ito the RT's superior 'classicism' (for want of a better catch all description) I too found the ARL a much tauter propositon for cross country jaunting.
Also, in the same way the latest Arnages have moved both the speed and solidity at speed capability on to another level, so the ARL did o'er it's venerable predecessor.
The creak quotient - STILL present on the very latest cars - has been blissfully ameliorated with successive incarnations from RT through the various Arnages but I must admit, the RT still retains the most majestic air EVER for a modern Bentley.
Cruising up the M6 at 110 in that thing - nothing short of the automotive equivalent of an Atlantic crossing - superb.
Sell everything, get one. Before the commies get you.
Hit a bump in turbo R or RL and first the wheels move, then the steering wheel shudders,then the body shudders, all split seconds after each other,ok the inside is more bespoke in the turbo R,but you have to put up with rust,brakes that are not very good and need a lot of looking after,and crap electrics. This is not heresay, i`v run these things for over 15 years
derestrictor said:
I found the Red Label (hereafter dubbed 'ARL') a massive jump forward over the RT ito rigidity, far more weld spots, iirc.
Oh indeed -- if I have a significant criticism of the RT, its that the body could definitely do with tightening up.
My dream would be to have Phantom seam-weld the body on mine.
derestrictor said:
The creak quotient - STILL present on the very latest cars - has been blissfully ameliorated with successive incarnations from RT through the various Arnages but I must admit, the RT still retains the most majestic air EVER for a modern Bentley.
Cruising up the M6 at 110 in that thing - nothing short of the automotive equivalent of an Atlantic crossing - superb.
Sell everything, get one. Before the commies get you.
Totally agree -- mine has been totally sorted by the boys at Phantom, and every drive in it is EPIC. They love it too :-)
Thats the thing with Turbo R's and RT's, get a good 'un, and its a friend for life, BG certainly is. I just cant help think that an Arnage is a 'swop every now & then machine' whilst the VW thingys are '2 year change cycle' cars, just like any other automotive white goods. You replace the toaster, but you dont part with the family silver or dear old granny.
If you buy a really good one, at say up to £20K, then spending £2-3K a year on servicing and general up keep aint so bad, but if you've bought one for say £6-10K, spending those sort of sums each year is probably not an option. Hence they start to develop patchy service history, which in turn leads to problems and a bigger potential spend eventually. The cheaper cars have been neglected, the best way to buy and run these cars is to continue to neglect it yourself, if you are the fastidious type though, and like to keep on top of things, forget it.
Edited by Balmoral Green on Saturday 17th March 20:22
Thanks for the response BG. I'm not under any illusion that it would be a cheap car to run, but they do seem like excellent value when it comes to a pleasant way to travel the ~5000 miles a year that I don't do in the Elise.
How does mileage affect the values? I can see that many of the cheaper cars are well past 100k, some reputedly with recent and full service histories. Do things start falling off, or are they like the older German executive saloons in that they will go well in to 200k?
How does mileage affect the values? I can see that many of the cheaper cars are well past 100k, some reputedly with recent and full service histories. Do things start falling off, or are they like the older German executive saloons in that they will go well in to 200k?
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