| Author | Message | ||
     Andre Perry Experienced User Username: meandfi Post Number: 14 Registered: 11-2009 |
Hi everyone, Well after discussion with the Boss(Wife)lol, we have decided to start looking at getting a 1985ish Turbo R, now Im not wealthy so I know I'm in for a long wait for the right car at the right price. As some of you know I have had a Shadow II before, I guess the same type of inspection critera applys etc. Are there any Books I should buy that would be good reading on this model that you would recommend? I am willing to wait a long time for the right car, as I plan to keep it untill I get to the dirt, so untill then I want to gather alot of info in the process. Books/DVD/Manuals you can recommend me to buy would be great on the Turbo R. Many thanks in Advance Andre and Fion | ||
| Richard Treacy Grand Master Username: richard_treacy Post Number: 2034 Registered: 4-2003 |
André, I see that you are in Queensland. No early Turbo Rs were sold officially in Australia until the 1989MY cars were released with catalytic converters. You almost certainly will only find private imports of those cars delivered before the 1989 MY, although I have heard rumours of one or two delivered new in Australia classified as farm vehicles to be exempt from compliance rules. That most are secondhand UK cars is a concern, and almost everyone is extremely wary of the many cars which have come from Hong Kong and Japan secondhand. Whilst I personally like the pre-1987MY Turbos with their carburettors, mainly because they are so rare yet tricky, there is a lot to be said for a 20,000-series onwards. Mainly, the fuel injection is a great improvement, and the ABS first seen in that model for some markets is essential these days in my book. Some things are nice to have but just a gimmick like the 20K memory seats, but there are so many significant improvements to almost everything from 1987 that alone make the earlier cars seem undesirable by comparison. All these cars are so incredibly cheap to buy these days that you will find a wide choice at bargain basement prices. The danger when they are not worth much is that many owners see no reason to service them or to keep them in good shape anymore. If someone is stretched to purchase a Turbo R, then he will have little chance of running it on the road I venture to say. They are not overly expensive to run, but you must look at the price of the 2010 Mulsanne to see where the running costs are coming from. RHT. | ||
| Glen Heath Yet to post message Username: glen_heath Post Number: 1 Registered: 12-2009 |
Andre, my advice is spend the most amount of money you can on a decent vehicle. I had an experience of nearly purchasing a 1990 Turbo R that would have went horribly wrong if i didnt have it checked out. Ask them to do a compression test, the mechanics hate doing it because it is a little fiddly. The car i nearly bought failed the compression test then turned out to be a hong kong import which had also been resprayed Australian delivered with records is the only way to go | ||
| Andre Perry Experienced User Username: meandfi Post Number: 15 Registered: 11-2009 |
Thanks Richard and Glen for your advice, very much appreciated. I didnt realise it didnt come to Aust until 1989, so will look for an Aust delivered vehicle around that date, of course unless someone wants to donate a later one to me at the old model price  Cheers Andre | ||
| James Feller Prolific User Username: james_feller Post Number: 114 Registered: 5-2008 |
Andre, I could not agree more with Richard and Glen. Richard, myself and some other forum members were involved in a rather 'heated debate' sometime ago about this very issue of old Mulsanne Turbo Vs later Turbo R's. Again I would say I agree with RHT, the old Mulsanne Turbo's are a great old thing but they are very 'fiddly' re their caburation and if anything goes wrong with the pressure chest and solex carburation it is nye on impossible to get them replaced if they warp due to higher underbonnet temps these cars have over the nat aspoed cars. I beleive you cannot buy new carbs anymore for these older turbos and if you could the price would be worth much more than the car. Plus the old Mulsannes really don't handle that well either, you want the Turbo R. I am speaking from expirence as I know of 2 82-84 Mulsanne Turbo models, while good cars are not worth much now due to their private import from the UK and do take some fettling to keep going like a locomotive in a straight line, a bit scary round corners though.... I would look for as long as you have to for the 'right car' Andre. Do try to get a car that was originally set up for and delivered to Aust. That means it will be a 88-89 build car and beyond. As Richard says the 20,000 series on are very much more the desirable car due to KE Jetronic fuel injection, then K Motronic in 89 and ABS, not to mention the better 'sporty' seats and interior from 87 onwards. Again I would very much caution you on Japanese and Hong Kong imports as these cars generally have spent the majority of their lives either sitting idle in damp garages or idling in traffic jams... neither is good for the overall health of the mechanicals. There are of course exceptions to all rules..... Finding a true Aussie delivered Turbo R probably won't be that easy as there were not many of them and you will pay more for these. Speaking from direct experience, my own 89 Turbo RL was the only one ordered to Sydney in 1989 going from the build records and its York Motors history. There were 9 Turbo R's ordered to Sydney in 1989 and one RL.. ie my little Blue Beast... This of course makes the Aussie ones rare and of course worth a great deal more money than the $20-$40K, mostly privately imported if you ask to see build and delivery details, you see in the classifieds. Of course this is relative, while I paid considerably more for my car, I was quite happy to do so knowing that its history, provenance and condition is without question. Frankly I have forgotten the exact price now as it rewards me each time I drive it with its very distinctive lusty V8 burble and the Big B does handle and move with a surprising alacrity for one so large!!!! In running mine for a while now I can report it is quite a good deal better on fuel than my 86 Spirit. It is also quite reasonable re servicing but I suspect that's more to do with my years of patronage at the one trusted specialist mechanic, howvere neither has ever let me down and the Bentley is just an awesome car to hoon around in, quite intoxicating. They are louder though than their Rolls cousins. Be it road noise engine noise or whatever its not so serenely quiet as the Rolls but when the sound track is that luurvly woofly V8 I dont care a jot! Take your time with it Andre and good luck with your search and YES YES YES get it inspected by someone who knows what to look for before you hand over the cheque!!!! Cheers J | ||
| Glen Heath New User Username: glen_heath Post Number: 2 Registered: 12-2009 |
Andre, I have had another thought.... Before you proceed with any purchase you should with with Steve Sparkes from NBS services. When I purchased my Silver Shadow (SRH 14741) i found her on the internet and she was in tassie. I called Steve to discuss and have a while he asked me what the chasis number was. He remembered the car and could tell me all about her when he was the mechanic Therefore i was able to proceed with some confidence. Confidence apart from a big cheque book is essential when purchasing a RR Must admit when the old lady did arrive from Tassie there were a few issues we have to rectify immediately which were not picked up by the company that did the inspection Even though i was disappointed we are working through the issues and I still love the old lady and her funny ways These days i will not make a move on anything to do with my RR's unless I speak with Steve NBS services can be contacted on 073865 3062 | ||
| David Thomas Experienced User Username: davidthomas Post Number: 12 Registered: 5-2007 |
Andre - should you discover your heart's desire in or near Melbourne, I would recommend you have a pre-purchase inspection done by Robert Chapman of R.A.Chapman Automotive. His phone number is 03 9720 3997. Robert has done several pre-purchase inspections for me, and currently maintains my Shadow 1, SRH 20104. | ||
| StevenBrown Frequent User Username: stevenbrown Post Number: 55 Registered: 10-2008 |
Older topic, but I'm looking for another, semi real Rolls Royce Seraph. Like buying my Spur, found several examples within my price range. Had pre-purchase inspections on my two favorites. Then bought the best one in appearance and mechanically I could afford. I'm always looking for fun transportation--mostly older Porsche's. I drive it and advertise them for sale at same time. So always have several transportation vehicles under consideration. I've also been living part time back in Canada (British Columbia). Japanese imports have become very popular and despite us driving left, see lots of right hand drive vehicles daily. Every time I go out. Two reasons for exports. The car is junk and worth more in another market. Suspect lots of rolled back odometers. And signs of accident damage. Second is the car is not popular in home market. Export more $$$ and again in more exotic vehicles most buyers like low miles. So even good looking vehicles have rolled back odometers. If I see Japanese, well thats a walk away sign. I also sometimes buy an older car simply because its the best can afford. I'll use my last 928. I paid $7,000 CDN for it. Found lots of newer models S4 1987/88's in that price range. But most tired drivers. Good deals, yes. Even saw a few slightly below $6,000 in the S4. But for the same money that was/is the same price as a older S model 928. Can live with the older body style, because for top dollar, mine is near showroom vs buying an albeit newer style bottom rung tired driver bargain. I'm still kicking myself for not buying a mint near top dollar Shadow II instead of paying mid range dollar for an older Spur. Little confusing. But simple. Usually the bargain newer model is top dollar value for excellent older version. I've seen a 1995 Spirit advertised near my American house for $16,990 firm must sell. At that price I'm going whats wrong with it. And why bother when I've seen lots of late 1980's Spurs with service records and low miles, near excellent interior and exterior. For the same money, but not the potential headache of the bargain newer model. Its not the best I can afford! | ||
| Gus Brogden Frequent User Username: gus Post Number: 69 Registered: 2-2008 |
I live in Kelowna, B.C., and over the last 3 years I've seen many new Japanese export right hand drives on the road here. I think people buy them just for the novelty, they certainly are noticeable. I see one on the streets here pretty much daily. Lots of RHD suv's, older ones. | ||
| StevenBrown Frequent User Username: stevenbrown Post Number: 56 Registered: 10-2008 |
I'm in Kelowna for the day. The dealers in BC have to charge GST (fed tax) on all used car sales. Private sellers currenlty do not, but will soon with the merger of provincial and federal sales tax. Some dealers cut corners in order to compete with private sellers. Hence I'm not a fan of Japanese market high end cars! But with the novelty of right hand drive and easier to import pretty much anything 15 years old. Can probably bring in some good deals from England. | ||
| Clifford Donley Frequent User Username: flatus Post Number: 56 Registered: 12-2009 |
I've had wrong-sided American cars in the UK. They required a completely different style of defensive driving as forward visibility was quite constrained when passing slower moving cars. I had no fear passing anyone with my RHD Jaguar; the same sense of confidence was absent with my American cars. Personally I would go with the flow by choosing the appropriate configuration. But, I do remember how badly I wanted a RHD MG TC when I was a youngster.  Cliff | ||
| StevenBrown Frequent User Username: stevenbrown Post Number: 57 Registered: 10-2008 |
Actually noticed Kelowna had a few modern double decker buses cruising the streets. Tourist thing or regular public transit? Cliff, driving left does make operating rhd a little weird at first. But kinda fun to be different. The number of RHD on BC roads, think maybe its not a detraction in value in our market. | ||
| Gus Brogden Frequent User Username: gus Post Number: 70 Registered: 2-2008 |
The double decker buses are regular public transport, have been for a few years now. A nice change from the regular buses. | ||
| StevenBrown Frequent User Username: stevenbrown Post Number: 58 Registered: 10-2008 |
Thats kinda cool and would be neat if more communities ran them! Still will not be a transit user. When I was a kid CBC showed some British television shows--"On The Buses" So when I was a youngster wanted a double decker. I've developed an aversion to public transportation in adulthood. Much rather drive and preferably in a Royce! | ||
| Gus Brogden Frequent User Username: gus Post Number: 71 Registered: 2-2008 |
Haha, I agree. Do you have your Spur in Kelowna this weekend Steven? | ||
| StevenBrown Frequent User Username: stevenbrown Post Number: 59 Registered: 10-2008 |
No, I also still live part time in Washington State. Have not imported her yet. Waiting for Canada customs to realize their database (blue book) is outdated and an 1987.5 Spur is not worth what they think. Thats actually another tip on importing. Sometimes and most countries (check first), if they think your declared value is low. Usually have some book that lists pricing. Being government they'll put what they say is the average value and tax you on that. Think for European cars that rate is 20% into Canada. I also believe the new tax in BC, will reduce the customs taxes. Waiting will save a couple grand anyway. Second winter roads and British Columbia especially in the lower mainland near Vancouver. Highway 1 with trucks and dirty roads are not a good driving combination. So sacrificing an old Porsche 928S. I've replaced a smashed headlight and have half a dozen new rock chips on the front end need repairing. Plus 3 on the windshield and will probably need full replacemnt. The trucks if they would stay right it would not be so bad. Id be willing to drive. Better in storage over winter and maybe save some $$$$ waiting for better spring driving conditions. I've looked at a couple of Seraphs at dealers. Seems to be 3 to 4 for sale at any given time in Vancouver. They are around the same price offered in the U.S. So its easier and maybe even less expensive to buy in Canada. Before importing no matter what country, check home market first and import rules, duties, etcetera. It might be easier and less expensive shopping at home! Importing with Canada's 15 or older importation rules. A no cat exhaust Turbo R is possible and not available here originally. So checking the rules can also open up some cars that you couldn't get when new! | ||
| Andre Perry Experienced User Username: meandfi Post Number: 18 Registered: 11-2009 |
Thanks for your advice friends, I am not quite ready to purchase a Turbo R right now, but I WILL be purchasing a R in August or Sept this year, as discussed here I would be looking at a 1989-1991 Model with a Max Price of $40000. So if anyone knows of a good well maintained Turbo R that might come up this year or you hear of something worthwile investigating would you please let me know. Many thanks Andre | ||
| David Gore Moderator Username: david_gore Post Number: 940 Registered: 4-2003 |
Andre, I suggest you join the Qld branch of the RROCA to get their journal and also the Federal magazine "Praeclarvm" - these have details of members cars for sale and these cars should meet your requirements. | ||
| Andre Perry Experienced User Username: meandfi Post Number: 19 Registered: 11-2009 |
Thanks David will do! I did see a Mulsane S for sale in Melbourne, it was Red with Cream Leather, very nice car,hmmm Turbo R still looks good. |
