| Author | Message | ||
     Dick Campbell New User Username: dick_campbell Post Number: 7 Registered: 5-2015 |
We have just sold our 1990 Mulsanne S and are debating what to get next. The choices seem to be either a Continental GT or an Aston Martin DB 7. The budget is £30000. We seem to be leaning towards the GT. Does anyone have any experience with these, what to look for, years to avoid etc. Or should I get a Turbo R. Regards, Dick. | ||
| Mark Aldridge Prolific User Username: mark_aldridge Post Number: 247 Registered: 10-2008 |
Hi Dick, GT is appealing, but I have heard comments about electrical problems caused by water ingress in the car, head gasket issues, and as a DIY prospect nigh on impossible. I gather 1/2 days work just to change plugs.However they are appealing particularly at the price of early cars. What about a Continental R ? Mark | ||
| Robert Noel Reddington Grand Master Username: bob_uk Post Number: 467 Registered: 5-2015 |
It depends on what you want the car to do. The DB7 will out perform a Bentley GT. The DB7 has a close cousin, the Jag. This means cheaper parts and labour. Bentley GT are getting cheap and the wrong people buy them. They don't check out the running costs and assume that the car won't go wrong. I suppose this could apply to any car. £30,000 is IMO a bit on the low side for a proper history Bentley. But 30k will buy a very nice DB7 with history. Both these cars have 2 doors missing. The Turbo R has 4 doors and 30k should buy a first class car with knobs on it. Porsche 911. This car is a very good super car that can be used for shopping. Plenty of specialists around and diy is easy. | ||
| Jeff Young Prolific User Username: jeyjey Post Number: 224 Registered: 10-2010 |
£30K would get you into a DB7 Vantage (V12 instead of V6). Has issues with coil packs not lasting long due to under-bonnet heat, but other than that the engine at least is bullet-proof. The rest of the car is going to have its share of niggles. I've always liked the Bentley GT too, though. Just don't have any experience with it. Cheers, Jeff. | ||
| Bill Hart Experienced User Username: bill_hart Post Number: 43 Registered: 6-2015 |
I owned a 2004 Bentley GT W12. In my opinion, a terrible car in Bentley terms. I bought it used (40,000 mi.) from a reputable dealer. Traded in an Arnage. Barely got the GT home when it went into "limp home" mode. Turned out the main computer had failed. Cost $5000 to fix. Fortunately, dealer paid. Car was lavish and lively, but seemed more VW Phaeton than Bentley. Didn't keep it long. A well maintained Turbo R - quietly powerful, majestic, imperturbable - is my idea of what a Bentley should be. | ||
| Robert Noel Reddington Grand Master Username: bob_uk Post Number: 674 Registered: 5-2015 |
The Bentley GT mechanically is very VW. This is started to be reflected in second hand values. Which means the wrong people will buy them then when something expensive happens like tyres or exhaust are liable to be done on the cheap. So if looking at a GT bare this in mind. I suppose this applies to any car. I personally would buy a GT because its one of those cars that I just know as it ages will start to go wrong and will be more expensive to fix than a Bentley Saloon with a 6.750 V8. What about a VW Phaton worth a test drive. And BMW 5 or 7 series cars. Or the New Jag Saloon. | ||
| Dick Campbell New User Username: dick_campbell Post Number: 9 Registered: 5-2015 |
I am begining to struggle with the GT now, and with the DB7....and 9, which I also considered......there is something about the V8 engined Bentleys. We really wanted domething different to the Mulsanne and smaller so that herself would use it. So the GT is a VW, the DB7 a Jaguar and the DB9 a Ford. So what modern car could be considered a potential classic with some pedigree.....TVR maybe. We looked at a Maserati but I am trying to avoid anything not UK made. Dick | ||
| David Gore Moderator Username: david_gore Post Number: 1782 Registered: 4-2003 |
Dick, Why not look at the classic Morgan sports car - old is new again; expensive even when second-hand but nothing can replace the experience of driving a classic open sports car. My choice would be a Plus 4 or Roadster. http://www.morgan-motor.co.uk/ One day, one of these may find a home with me..... | ||
| Robert Noel Reddington Grand Master Username: bob_uk Post Number: 684 Registered: 5-2015 |
Morgan is a good choice. Although expensive used they hold value well. A used one brought at the right price will not only hold value but keep pace with inflation. Look only at proper proper cars only with full documents. 30k is more than enough to buy a good car. But before you dive in do actually drive one. You may not like it. Diy maintenance is easy. | ||
| Dick Campbell New User Username: dick_campbell Post Number: 10 Registered: 5-2015 |
Have considered a Morgan but we already have a 'sidescreen' car, a 1959 Triumph 3a.... She cannot manage the hood and sidescreens on the TR, a Morgan would be similar. I also have a 1933 Talbot AW90 which is in the final stages of restoration....it has a preselector gearbox, which she will never manage. I never thought it would be this difficult. The stop gap could be an XK8 until something else emerges.... Dick | ||
| Mark Aldridge Prolific User Username: mark_aldridge Post Number: 267 Registered: 10-2008 |
Dick, if you need advice on the pre select box, or want to fit power steering to the Talbot, A friend of mine has developed upgrades to the box and ERA boxes and power steering for Talbots. Mark | ||
| Vladimir Ivanovich Kirillov Prolific User Username: soviet Post Number: 298 Registered: 2-2013 |
Dick, 30K Sterling is a heap of money. I would use 10K buy a black XJS Jaguar, get a 5 speed box from Driven Man, fit that use the auto as an anchor. Fit nitros oxide. One better would be a pre HE engine souped up. When this car is going it will give you close to 200mph and eyeball flattening acceleration. The other 20K you can use on therapist fees for the anxiety caused if you happen to drop a small spanner anywhere under the bonnet and try to look for it. The Jags are a horrid looking replacement for the Etype in every sense of the word. I could not believe the sight of them when they first came out. They do however handle very well and are possibly undervalued. | ||
| Nigel Johnson Prolific User Username: nigel_johnson Post Number: 149 Registered: 12-2008 |
Hi Dick, I'm very sorry to hear your struggling for a replacement for the Mulsanne. How about a Bristol? I love 'em. Kindest regards, Nigel. | ||
| Geoff Wootton Grand Master Username: dounraey Post Number: 1004 Registered: 5-2012 |
I'll second that. Bristol 406 - 410. Beautiful cars. Geoff | ||
| Bill Hart Experienced User Username: bill_hart Post Number: 46 Registered: 6-2015 |
I would vote for a series 1 Jaguar XK8 convertible. Beautiful car, reminiscent of the E Type. A modern car with very capable performance which can be bought for a song. Circa 1997-2000 cars in excellent condition are selling in the US for $8-11 thousand. | ||
| Geoff Wootton Grand Master Username: dounraey Post Number: 1025 Registered: 5-2012 |
I was surprised at the price range Bill quoted for a 1997 - 2000 Jaguar XK8 as I thought they would be much lower than that. A quick check on ebay confirms he is right. The reason I was surprised is I sold mine at the market rate in 2011, for $9,000. The prices are therefore holding steady and are probably starting to go up, as these cars become classics. A good time to buy one. Word of advice for buyers of 2000 - 2003 models. The nikasil cylinder bores were susceptible to high sulfur content gasoline (of that time), causing pitting. The plastic timing chain tensioners had a habit of disintegrating, allowing the chain to jump a sprocket sending the valves through the piston crowns ( new engine - $10,000). Also the lugs on the plastic thermostat housing would wear off causing the top hose to separate from it, depositing the coolant over the front of the engine bay in a worrying cloud of steam. The good news is all of these problems must have been dealt with by now, by previous owners. Great car and would certainly give Dick a lot of change from the $45k he has to spend. How I hate the use of plastic components on modern engines. Geoff | ||
| Dick Campbell Experienced User Username: dick_campbell Post Number: 12 Registered: 5-2015 |
I am leaning towards an XK8. I agree that they have the potential to be classics. Drove one when they first came out....great car. Nigel, How are you. I know what you mean about Bristols....used to have a 405. There is a 411 not far from me but the owner won't sell it. Is your Spirit on the road? Have decided not to buy until the Spring so still time to consider options. Herself though still wants another Bentley. Dick. | ||
| Brian Vogel Grand Master Username: guyslp Post Number: 1751 Registered: 6-2009 |
Geoff, The nikasil engines only went through part of the 2000 model year. The specific date and engine number where the transition occurred are documented on JagRepair.com. I can never keep track of when the generation one (plastic), generation two (metal/plastic), and generation three (metal) timing chain tensioners came on to the scene. There were also issues with the plastic water pump impellers suddenly disintegrating, too. I had all of those things attended to when I bought my '99 XJ8L in 2005. Two other things to watch out for at this point in time: the heat scavenger pump and (this has been a perpetual issue) the ignition coils. Over the years the brushes on the heat scavenger pump wear out and you suddenly have no heat. Jag has no repair for this and wants you to replace the pump as a unit. You can DIY replace the brushes (and I posted a procedure with pictures for doing this on the JCNA forums, or maybe Jaguarforums.com [or both]). The Denso ignition coils in these cars are subject to truly random failure. The advice when one fails almost invariably is, "replace them all," and at great expense. The only problem with that is that the failures are random and your replacements can fail as randomly as the originals. These are simple to replace at roadside if you keep a spare in the trunk and keep an OBD-II reader there, too, to determine which cylinder has the misfire. I'd have an XK8 in the early body style in a minute if it fit into my life in other ways. They were a magnificent homage to the XKE just as the 1995 and later XJ series was to its iconic predecessor. Dick, if you want something other than the Bentley definitely take herself along for the test drives and test rides. The charm of other cars needs to be experienced. Brian |
