| Author | Message | ||
     Brian Puskas Unregistered guest Posted From: 216.108.4.71 |
Looking at an 88 silver Spirit. I've owned MB and Porsche and fancy doing most maintenance and work myself. My questions revolve around availability of parts, relative costs, running costs, gas mileage, reliability. Of course I would have an independant PPI done. Here's the link... http://www.prestigemotorspictures.com/pm/3232/ Asking $30K Cdn. Any advice appreciated. Brian | ||
| PETER DIXON New User Username: petenlinid Post Number: 4 Registered: 8-2003 |
Brian, I am no expert on Rolls Royce. I have however gone through the process on which you are embarking, in recent months. I eventually purchased a 1980 Silver Shadow that was the last of a total of 5 that I had checked out by persons qualified to do so. My budget was similar to yours plus an extra $5000 to have any bits fixed up and a major service. That's exactly how it has worked out and I am so far happy with what I have bought. The single biggest lesson I learned was the absolute need to have an enthusiastic qualified expert check the vehicles out. It cost me about $800 to do so and I think it was probably the best money I have ever spent. There was one car in particular I would have died for. It was the best looking, best condition thing you ever saw. I had all but guaranteed to buy it but I did make the proviso that it must get past Bob Chapman in Melbourne. It failed, and rather badly at that. I mean talking repair costs possibly equal to the purchase price or more. As you probably know there are some horrendous stories of the majesty of the marque overwhelming the wisdom of the purchaser. One of the great things I have found is that there is a huge amount of help and information available through clubs and websites like this one. Having just become a member of the "Tee One" self help group (albeit by correspondence only for me) and currently reading through the content of their fascinating DIY CD I can not recommend membership too highly. Good luck with your purchase Peter | ||
| Bill Coburn Prolific User Username: bill_coburn Post Number: 35 Registered: 4-2003 |
Brian/ In my world you are getting to the limit of amateur fixable models. I have recently got involved with a 1987 model Spirit which had hot starting problems. The answer was fuel accumulator failure in the Bosch injection system. I am making a half hearted attempt to understand the system, but it really is the stuff of month long courses. And so I took the car to a long time professional and friend whom I did not realise was trained in this very black art. He fixed it. Had he not been around we would have had a 300K drive to the agents a trip back then return and a 300k trip back altogether an expensive exercise. From '87 on these cars had a very sophisticated engine management system which requires not only specialised equipment but trained people to understand the results the equipment produces. This to my feeling is quite beyond the amateur unless he was able to get access to the equipment and was able to find the time to get trained. This by the way is not a problem exclusive to Rolls-Royce cars. I understand that the latest Ford sold in Australia cannot even be given a wheel alignment without some input from the accursed computers and dealer controlled specialised knowledge. So if you can establish a convenient population of mechanics to work on the difficult bits of the car, get a workshop manual and do the rest yourself you should have a reliable pleasurable car. | ||
| Mark Tomlinson Unregistered guest Posted From: 203.164.20.180 |
I have recently purchased a 66 ss1 and spent $6000.00 roughly to date and am VERY happy with what has become a most beautiful car to drive. For me it was not how much this or what that, it was the car I had waited 25 years for and that was that.I do not look at things in an economic sense what so ever, if I did I would own nothing. You should do what Peter did and get Mr Chapman to look at any car you wish to purchase if you can, I know should my Lady need any major work like gearbox or motor rebuild its on a truck and off to Melbourne for her.(the car not the wife)} | ||
| William H. Trovinger II New User Username: bill_trovinger Post Number: 5 Registered: 8-2003 |
Brian; I am a little confused as to where in the world you are? I read the price as being in Canadian Dollars, which would make me think Canada or New York or even Washington State. But when I looked at the web site you addressed in your post that appears to be Beirut, Lebanon. So local parts availability might be hard for people to comment on. A Porsche (assuming early 80's or older) is a relative easy car to work on and due to the vast number built parts including after market are much easier to come by then those for RR. If your MB happened to be a 600 Pullman and you ever played with the air bags on that, to me they are a walk in the park compared to the hydraulics that RR used, at least on the Shadow. When I purchased my '76 Shadow I planned to have it professionally maintained. However, due to the retirement of the only RR qualified mechanic within a 100 miles of my house I have found myself doing the bulk of work. I do not want to sound negative. I love my Shadow and really enjoy the time working on it. I find great pleasure in driving the car especially after making repairs to it, myself. Having worked on your other cars I am sure you know what I am trying to say. On the question of parts availability, I can not speak for Australia nor The UK. I will say it sounds like they have an easier time then here in the Heartland of America. After market parts are few and far between. The best thing I have learned is to listen to the advise of the more experienced at this web site. Also the hunt can be part of the fun and a learning experience. On the question of "fuel mileage" if you are looking at that go buy a Diesel Jetta,  sorry I do not mean to be rude. However, you do not buy a RR and wonder about the mileage. I will say the enjoyment of the driving mine surely makes up for the less than stellar MPG. Reliability, in the nearly four years I have owned my SS I would say I am very pleased. Yes, it had it's problems and this summer more than others. But, like any "classic" car it does not get the daily use our new cars get and that does have an effect on it's performance. I know how they can figure a dogs years into human years and have often thought someone should come up with the same type of formula to calculate the real age of cars. On your question of relative cost, this is a hard one to compare. There are things that are over priced on a RR. Like the U$ 300.00 brake hose I just blew but, I found a race shop in town that was able to supply me with a comparable hose for U$ 30.00. It took a few phone calls and stopping at three shops but it was accomplished. On the flip side there are parts on the RR that will last "forever". Also if you changed the oil on a 911 you will be pleasantly surprised to see that a RR takes far less. I guess I am trying to tell you that when looking at any classic car (or other boy toy as the wife calls them) you have to weight the pleasure and enjoyment into the equation. | ||
| Brian Puskas Unregistered guest Posted From: 216.108.4.71 |
Thanks for all the info and no, I do not live in Lebanon. I'm in Yellowknife, NWT, Canada...the diamond capital of North America (or so they claim). It's 1,000 miles to the nearest city that may have a RR dealership...and some of that is over gravel highways and only open 10 months of the year. I think I'd be better off keeping the MB and Porsches on the road...at least they are reasonable to maintain. But, the price on this particular car has come down twice from a high of $43K to now $29,900. It looks to be very well kept but who knows. If it comes down a bit more it may be worth the PPI. www.prestigemotorspictures.com/pm/3232 Brian | ||
| Bill Coburn Prolific User Username: bill_coburn Post Number: 41 Registered: 4-2003 |
For Peter Dixon. My belated thanks for your kind words re the Tee One Group. Unfortunately we have had a corruption of our address data bank and your name has been lost. I have put notices around the place and had a few replies but would you email me (cavacharles@bigpond.com) and let me have your mailing address. Issue 27 went out yesterday. | ||
| William H. Trovinger II Frequent User Username: bill_trovinger Post Number: 20 Registered: 8-2003 |
Brian; To get a good idea of what the market is doing here in North America keep an eye on eBay. Look at the auctions that have just closed, to see what sold and for how much. Best of luck and do not give up your dream. |
