silver cloud 111 / S3 or turbo R

[graeme36s]

Having decided like quite a lot of my mates that it is becoming harder and harder to use our toys to their full. I thought about buying a MK2 Jaguar. Something to just take in and enjoy at sensible speed. But in truth they are very much second best to the silver cloud 3 or S3. I have yet to drive one although a mate is trying to organise this but I just fancy owning something that is pure architecture and just a nice place to sit. I guess I need to spend along the lines of 30K to get a good car but then I started looking at the prices of turbo R's etc at nigh on 10K cheaper.
The money is not the issue although the silver cloud 3 at P&A Wood fully restored at £240K is a little over budget to say the least. I feel that I would like to fall in love with the 60's RR&B's and that the turbo r's etc send me back to a performance level I am trying to avoid.
I just wondered what real life experiences where like and any recommendations would be greatfully received. cheers Graeme

[sdmurray]

There is no thinking to be done - buy a Silver Cloud III. We had 10 years of fun in ours. A beautiful car which handles well and is a doddle to drive. It turns heads (particularly when overtaking people on the motorways!) My advice? spend as much as you can on the one you buy. It pays off in the longer term. We spent £30k in 1999 on ours which was the top price then but we had so little trouble with her. The ONLY major expense we had was last year when it was time to have the sills replaced and the wing corrosion (which is inevitable) dealt with. That was £10k to do but we would have had gone at least another decade in her with that investment. Do not be tempted by second rate ones as they will only cost you more. For the best you can go up to £50k but you should get a decent one for £35-£45k. By comparrison, I also had a Bentley Turbo R as my everyday car and that cost £10k each year to keep maintained! Turbo R's are much cheaper now but are very costly to maintain. Having said that, I miss my Turbo R a lot.

[pennrolls]

In general, there seems to be more value to be had with the Bentley S3 than the Cloud 3. I have the former and love it!

[graeme36s]

Thanks guys. I guess you are saying don't get side tracked. I can imagine the turbo R being expensive to run. All that lovely power and torque needs a lot of looking after. Just looked at the pic of your cloud 3. That's a very sad end. I hope you guys where OK and I guess the Clio did not fair to well either. Again if I read it correctly the Bentley would be the preffered choice because of lower build numbers or am I missing something. Just need to go and have a decent drive in one.
I totally agree in buying the best you can find and extend the budget to do so. Some 18 years ago my business partner bought a shadow 2. We looked at maybe 20 cars and eventually found a real good one. £15500 which was quite strong for one in honey gold but well looked after and maintained with 30,000 miles on the clock. In the scheme of things it has cost very little to run although mileage has been kept low. I think it still only has 44,000 miles on the clock now. They took it to beaulieu last weekend. Seven hours of traffic to get there and back. Never missed a beat and ran like a dream.
At the moment I'm on crutches and will be for the next three months. I can drive without a problem, but I can just imagine the look on someones face when I tip up for a test drive wearing crutches. Thanks once again.

[graeme36s]

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C90537/
Any thoughts on this. It has a few miles under its belt but it looks like an honest car. Also sits quite nice fifth picture down. One owner which is good. No air but I am sure that can be retro fitted. Black was not my preffered choice but there's just something about this car I like.
p.s. I have noticed that on the S3's some have reverse speedo and some don't. Any reason or was it just the very late cars that had conventional speedometer.

Edited by graeme36s on Thursday 17th September 21:33

[pennrolls]

Looks nice. My speedo is backwards too and mine is a '64. Whatever you do, please do get it inspected by someone good first. I use nigel sandell and he is superb, but I've heard good things about a lot of the companies in the rrbsa (rolls royce and bentley specialist association) as well as frank dale adn phantom motors.
mine doesn't have air con and I don't really miss it- it's a high roof car and feels light and airy with the windows open.

[2woody]

Bentley turbo - definitely a "driver's car" of the first order - Avoid if you're wanting to drive "sensibly"

conversely, the Mk 2 Jaguar is exactly the same. I have had both recently, the Jaguar is a real surprise, just think of it as a bigger Lotus Cortina and you wouldn't be far wrong.

SIII seems like a good bet to me !

[Bluebottle911]

Looks lovely. Appearances can be deceptive, of course, so do follow advice and have it inspected before you part with your hard-earned, but if it is as good as it looks, then I am sure it will make you very happy. Me? I'll stick with my Turbo R - to quote Chris Williams (owner of Napier Bentley) "if driven sensibly, report as stolen"!

Edited by Bluebottle911 on Friday 18th September 20:41

[graeme36s]

The Turbo R is tempting. A good while back I drove a good mates 1988 E plate Turbo R and they are a wonderful machine. I will contact the chap re the black car. I may well call Nigel re inspection although we have always used a fella called Jock. A one man band RR&B services. Known him now must be 19 years and still don't know his real name. Advised us when my business partner / brother in law bought a shadow 2. Used to be mobile before we knew him. Then based just off the old kent road, then silvertown east london and now in stapleford abbotts near romford, essex. Quite a character. Anyway time to stop dreaming, get off my backside and get one bought. Will keep you all informed as to progress and again many thanks for all your support and sound advice.

[graeme36s]

Hi all, just received quite a few extra pictures of the Black S3 from Paul Yorke (everything Rolls Royce based in Wales). Car looks quite tidy but the engine bay looks a little tired. Will telephone Paul tomorrow to discuss. Unfortunatley the present owner did not get the history file from his father before he died. They believe it is in storage somewhere which is a little dissapointing as it would help to stack up the worthiness of the car. They only have the last 15 years.
This looks very interesting. Have asked for more pictures and details as my German is non existant. Shading on photos make it hard to exactly distinguish colour schemes etc. Not cheap but looks very nice.
http://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/showDetails.html...
p.s. I keep forgetting to ask. What does the chrome flick switch on the left hand side of the steering column do. It looks quite an after though, just intrigued to know.

Edited by graeme36s on Sunday 20th September 23:13

[pennrolls]

Paul is a contributor on the RRBEW website- seems like a helpful chap with his info. If the car is in London though, get Nigel to look at it (or Frank Dale's, or similar). MY chrome switch is (I think) ride control- normal or hard. I can't tell the difference!

[Bluebottle911]

One thing about the S3 is that you are not restricted to the standard coachwork. Here is a real beauty, which puts even John Blatchley's elegant design in the shade http://www.realcar.co.uk/silver_cloud_iii_cel47.ht... As well as all else that an S3 offers, it will give you rarity and great style. Also in Wales!

[graeme36s]

Thanks John. The styling is not as nice as the standard steel car. Advert says paint can be criticised. (so bare metal respray perhaps). The garnet coloured silver cloud 3 looks lovely but I guess division panel equals to less driver legroom. I think I may have to put this whole idea on hold for a while. I am not in the frame of mind to take on yet another project. I need to finish the SSE race car, loose the builders and get some good news on my hip. Just a little to much going on at the moment with these and other issues. Buying a car that needs a bare metal respray does not put me off if price reflects this but I don't need the hassle of dealing with and keeping on top of another bodyshop.

[sdmurray]

Well, the Real Car Company one is a VERY stylish car. The James Young bodies are, in my opinion the absolute best. Re the legroom because of the division, this is a long wheel base example so there is extra room for the division in the chassis. The german one is pricey (considering the Euro) and the black S3 also looks lovely and has had lots done to it in recent years but with 122k miles on the clock you would definitely need it mechanically checked.

Oh, and just to confirm, the switch on the side of the steering column is, indeed, for adjusting the ride from normal to hard. The difference is more for the passengers in the rear and mine definitely made a difference. You can see for yourself if you start the car and then go to the rear wing and bounce it a bit. Then have someone throw the switch to hard and when you bounce the rear it will (should) be stiffer.

Also, re the choice of Silver Cloud III or Bentley S3, call me a purist but I like my Bentleys to be more sporty so would only consider a Continental for that more sporty styling (but much more money).

I did laugh at the comments about sensible driving in a Turbo R being a reportable offence! Quite right! I went through tyres regularly on mine as I did tend to drive it a little on the edge! Absolutely wonderful car but, by far the more expensive maintenance choice (although cheaper to buy).

[graeme36s]

Thanks once again for all the advice. At this moment in time this idea has gone on hold. I reckon whatever I buy will end up being a project as either for half sensible money it will need perfecting and I have not got £240,000 to sling at the cloud 111 for sale at P&A Wood. To many other projects on the go at this moment that need completing first. regards to all Graeme

[cardigankid]

That was outrageous.

I have always regarded P & A Wood as the top end of the market, but that sounds to me as if they are just taking the piss and hoping to find a sucker. Nevertheless, there are still a few good cars about.