out of my system....
Discussion
Sure you have heard the story many a time, but hear goes...
Long time car nut having that "get it out of my system" moment. I've run a 7 Superlight for couple for years loved every minute of it but time to move on. Figure cant play wih the big boys to top the SL so only option is to throw in the towel and go to the other extreme.
With appx £14k to play with - 90's Silver Spirit S2? - see quite a few turboR threads (cheap as chips) but reliability must be top priority and waftability more important than speed. Independants seem to quote around £1k a year to service? should I buy from them for piece of mind too?
Very excited and very confused, so many options!!? Any pointers greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance
Jon
Long time car nut having that "get it out of my system" moment. I've run a 7 Superlight for couple for years loved every minute of it but time to move on. Figure cant play wih the big boys to top the SL so only option is to throw in the towel and go to the other extreme.
With appx £14k to play with - 90's Silver Spirit S2? - see quite a few turboR threads (cheap as chips) but reliability must be top priority and waftability more important than speed. Independants seem to quote around £1k a year to service? should I buy from them for piece of mind too?
Very excited and very confused, so many options!!? Any pointers greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance
Jon
Why not? Go for it, waft away 
What happens when they tell you it needs a set of injectors, or the exhaust manifold gaskets need doing, or it needs a rear nearside shock absorber, or two front road springs, or an AC compressor, or a pair of discs and a full set of pads?
Budget on £3K a year, some years will be less, some years will be more (much more).
And don't forget, even if you aren't doing big miles on a classic policy, you will still spend £2000 plus a year on fuel, that's only two tanks a month.
jaycee72 said:
Independants seem to quote around £1k a year to service?
Hmmm, well, that's OK if all you plan to do is service it. I find it doesn't quite happen like that.What happens when they tell you it needs a set of injectors, or the exhaust manifold gaskets need doing, or it needs a rear nearside shock absorber, or two front road springs, or an AC compressor, or a pair of discs and a full set of pads?
Budget on £3K a year, some years will be less, some years will be more (much more).
And don't forget, even if you aren't doing big miles on a classic policy, you will still spend £2000 plus a year on fuel, that's only two tanks a month.
Warren, does nobody fettle these things themselves?
I see plenty horror stories of £2k-3k 'services' that turned into more, but presumably not everything HAS to be licked clean by someone in RR overalls?
You understand this has nothing to do with the M reg (and what looks like balmoral green) Turbo R sat in a dealers not half a mile from me with £15K in the window... been there months, must be room for manoeuvre now 
I see plenty horror stories of £2k-3k 'services' that turned into more, but presumably not everything HAS to be licked clean by someone in RR overalls?
You understand this has nothing to do with the M reg (and what looks like balmoral green
) Turbo R sat in a dealers not half a mile from me with £15K in the window... been there months, must be room for manoeuvre now Well, the numbers I quoted above are based on using a good independant, bargain new, or secondhand parts, and fifty quid an hour labour rate. I'm not a spanners man, and wouldn't go much further than an oil & filter change myself, not on this car anyway. Also, for me, everything has to be done, I like the car to be perfect. I couldn't ignore stuff and just leave it year on year. If I was going to buy a car, i'd buy mine, because despite my modest means, the car has wanted for nothing.
Of course, costs can be kept down considerably if you keep away from racetrack tyrewalls and deep ruts in fields
Of course, costs can be kept down considerably if you keep away from racetrack tyrewalls and deep ruts in fields
Broughtons of Cheltenham may be your nearest best bet for servicing / advice.
www.johnfletcher.com usually sources some very good Spirits.
As doeswww.hanwells.com
£14k should get a very nice Spirit.
www.johnfletcher.com usually sources some very good Spirits.
As doeswww.hanwells.com
£14k should get a very nice Spirit.
Yes, when we went spinning backwards and dropped into the rut, it pushed the offside of the rear subframe forward on its mounts, just near the trailing arm. This actually shortened the offside wheelbase by over an inch. We had to undo a lot of the rear suspension, re-align it, then do it all up again. Car now runs straight and true.
Balmoral Green said:
Yes, when we went spinning backwards and dropped into the rut, it pushed the offside of the rear subframe forward on its mounts, just near the trailing arm. This actually shortened the offside wheelbase by over an inch. We had to undo a lot of the rear suspension, re-align it, then do it all up again. Car now runs straight and true.
BG, you're a legend. It's nice to hear about your hooning escapades. 
I've always wanted a Silver Shadow or Bentley T1, I'm scared of the running costs though! I quite like the idea of wafting about in one though.
Hmmmmmmmmmmm
Still doing my homework, couple more questions if I may....
Insurance - spoken to specialists Adrian Flux, appx £600 fully comp 35yr old no no claims (restricted miles) sound about right? or any pointers?
Slightly over budget but loving this....
http://hanwells.net/showrooms2006/thumbnails.php?a...
Anyone got much experience of the dealer or even know this car?
Many Thanks
Jon
Insurance - spoken to specialists Adrian Flux, appx £600 fully comp 35yr old no no claims (restricted miles) sound about right? or any pointers?
Slightly over budget but loving this....
http://hanwells.net/showrooms2006/thumbnails.php?a...
Anyone got much experience of the dealer or even know this car?
Many Thanks
Jon
jaycee72 said:
appx £600 fully comp 35yr old no no claims (restricted miles) sound about right?
Sounds a bit much actually. I used to be with RH at around £375, but max 5,000 miles which wasn't quite enough for me. Now with Lancaster at £425 and 7,500 miles. Also fully comp, full NCB, clean licence.But watch out for things like screen cover, RH pay the lot, Lancaster don't. So if you lost a screen, the financial consequences are huge.
The Hanwells car looks nice, make sure that it is full service history, schedule 1 through to 8, in the correct order, twice as its 17 years old. Schedules 4 and 8 are the real biggies, and often get skipped. Schedules 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, in all sorts of different order, with haphazard 'C' services in between is not FSH, IMO.
That is top dollar for a 1990 Spur, so make sure it really does have the correct provenance and full history, and shed loads of other remedials, preventative maintenance etc over the years too. See all the bills.
Edited by Balmoral Green on Monday 12th November 18:51
EG, the little things that stand out for me, and would put me off, probably unfairly so, but that's just me...
Go to the engine bay picture.
The pineapple nut on top of the suspension turret in the foreground is missing its black plastic cap, visible on the opposite one.
The relay cover in the immediate foreground has one turnbuckle securing screw on the left, and two on the right, except one of those on the right is missing, you can see the vacant hole.
The one visible wiper arm is not parked correctly.
There are a couple of visible dents in the brushed finish insert in the middle of the rear bumper.
Picky, and easily rectified, I know
Check those service books, the orginal one, which will be full, and the new continuation one.
Go to the engine bay picture.
The pineapple nut on top of the suspension turret in the foreground is missing its black plastic cap, visible on the opposite one.
The relay cover in the immediate foreground has one turnbuckle securing screw on the left, and two on the right, except one of those on the right is missing, you can see the vacant hole.
The one visible wiper arm is not parked correctly.
There are a couple of visible dents in the brushed finish insert in the middle of the rear bumper.
Picky, and easily rectified, I know
Check those service books, the orginal one, which will be full, and the new continuation one.
Edited by Balmoral Green on Monday 12th November 19:00
Really appreciate the advice, thanks. I can imagine a bad purchase ruining the whole experience.
In your honest opinion, as I'm sure you've met lots of part timers (me) over the years. Will I get sucked in or does it have to be in your blood? Feels great to be excited over a new purchase again, although quite a change from the "superlight" to say the least.
Cheers
Jon
In your honest opinion, as I'm sure you've met lots of part timers (me) over the years. Will I get sucked in or does it have to be in your blood? Feels great to be excited over a new purchase again, although quite a change from the "superlight" to say the least.
Cheers
Jon
jon
the insurance is too high -- i have just renewed my 97 RT with the bentley drivers club insurers for 500 notes, unlimited mileage.
take note that a new front windscreen done properly is a 2 grand job -- and takes 12 hours (I think) of labour. You are not going to get that from a high-street insurer, who will insist on a man-in-a-van with a cheesewire doing the job (badly)
you would be FAR better off going to phantom motors and buying this:
http://www.pmcuk.com/BentleyDetails.asp?iwdatabank...
even though it needs another 5 grand. Far better, Thats FAR BETTER (are you getting the hint?) Trust me, I have been down this very route...
the insurance is too high -- i have just renewed my 97 RT with the bentley drivers club insurers for 500 notes, unlimited mileage.
take note that a new front windscreen done properly is a 2 grand job -- and takes 12 hours (I think) of labour. You are not going to get that from a high-street insurer, who will insist on a man-in-a-van with a cheesewire doing the job (badly)
you would be FAR better off going to phantom motors and buying this:
http://www.pmcuk.com/BentleyDetails.asp?iwdatabank...
even though it needs another 5 grand. Far better, Thats FAR BETTER (are you getting the hint?) Trust me, I have been down this very route...
Edited by jhoneyball on Monday 12th November 21:39
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