Thread: i own a roller

Originally Posted by stig0000

well i own a defender,, an i love new cars,, but iv always like classic old cars, an would love to own a old rolls royce, or bently, an to love to say to people when they ask what you drive, "i drive a rolls royce"

iv been looking around an you can get a good old one for around the 20grand mark, i no it will not be cheap to run(6.8L v8 in a car that ways more then the world) and parts will be hard to get,, but it will not be my daly drive,, its will just be a cruser on a good day sorta thing,,

i want to no if anyone elce has done this sort of thing,, i can't wate to get one,,

Ha, I have wanted a Bentley TurboR for some time now, A good low km example can be had for around $50K. Not bad for the fastest 3 ton 4 door auto sedan in the world

AND I'd drive it everyday if I could afford to

Good choice, life's too short to drive rubbish.

JC

Or... Find a pre-1989 one from the UK and have it shipped out - rather less than $50k since they are worth peanuts there...

What makes you think that parts are hard to get? Probably worth while finding out how much insurance is going to be for you. Could also ring Austral Motors to get an idea of service and maintenance costs - may as well find out from someone who actually works on them rather than hearsay.

If your just wanting a weekend cruiser then you can't go past the Rolls Royce Corniche Convertible, they are a 2 door, but with the roof up most people would not realise that they are a convertible. Drop the sunvisors, undo two fasteners (making sure its in park - although later ones could be done at slow speed) and press a button, roof goes down.

But remember that they are 6.75L V8 and fairly sure they are only a 3 speed in the early 70's so they will use masses of fuel. And if you happen to need an engine rebuild then starting price is 5 figures plus

To answer your question yes

Originally Posted by ariddell

Or... Find a pre-1989 one from the UK and have it shipped out - rather less than $50k since they are worth peanuts there...

And you cant drive them out here on a hot day as they dont give them Air con or big enough radiators in the UK

One of my old bosses had a couple and I hated them, they drive like boats, he couldnt afford to insure them for me to drive (I was on P plates at the time) and he was filthy rich, so when I had to take them to the detailers or the specialists I was driving (Back then) $120,000......un-insured

It was still better than him driving them though as he would have crashed them

They are horrid to drive but very comfy to sit in the back of so unless your planning on hiring someone to actually drive it for you then I would be looking at Anything else.

If you loke expensive to fix things with pasion and herratige which will break down at every chance it gets then buy another LR or get an Alpha.

Both drive better than RR.

By the way, I have no idea about bently's but all I know is that they look like rolls' and so Im not all that interested in them although I would never knockj back a ride JC.......just to be re-educated

Just thought Id add, one of the RR was a 2 door V8 which was longer than a deefa 130 and wider than an F350 and rode like it had no shocks (sold at shannons in about 96 for $120,000 or there abouts) and the other was a 4 door with valour trim and what I thought was import pov pack with no air con and leaky door seals (Sold at Shannons in 95 for $80,000).

One of my ex land lords had one that he brought over from Hong Kong when he moved back to Oz which cost him $20k over there and sold it for $35k here but RR here didnt want toi know about it.

On the trip over or in loading or unloading it got a broken tail light lens and he had to sorce one over there as RR over here wouldnt even consider trying to get one for him.

Don't go there. I know a guy who runs a specialist RR repair business in Brisbane. Also know a guy who has two of them for wedding etc. cars. The hire car guy tells me a belts and hoses replacement service is over $3000 even using after-market parts. He says, like Rovers, never go near the dealership unless you are totally stuck. One of his now has a Chev 350 and Turbohydramatic. The other one has its original engine and trans which he says will be replaced with another Chev if and when needed. This car now has HZ Holden brakes. Their operating costs are absurd and modern RR's (post 1960) have no prestige or collector car value. If you want an old RR for prestige then you must have a pre WWII model.

Agree
We bought a Silver shadow2. White and were going to use for weddings etc.
We bought it and took it in for some minor fixes, they ended up being major and the car is still there.
We gave the workshop the car. Could not pay the bill, from memory around $18k.

Amate bought a Bentley Turbo R.
Shipped over from the UK and a former Top-gear vehicle.
The bloke was a member here actually and sold me a RRC.

The car was on the market again very shortly.

Drive like ships and cost more than a divorce to run.

No thank you.
Buy an old Merc like a SL500 or something, at least they go.

Best of luck.

The Bentley is known to be the drivers car ie, those that like to drive where as the Rolls Royce is for the more discerning and some prefer to be chauffeured driven rather than driving for themselves. Yes there is plenty of room in the back and the seats are very comfortable.

I had a test drive of a Bentley Continental GT last year. Wasn't looking to buy it, it was just as a thankyou for assisting someone - and they are something else - 6L W12 6sp AWD , extremely smooth - and yes if it was in my budget I would drive one everyday. You want power 411kw @ 6100rpm or 650Nm @ 1600rpm

As for RR's being horrid to drive well maybe you needed to take it for a longer drive and not be worried as you weren't insured to drive it. All cars have their purposes I would probably use an Alfa for mountain drives over a RR but for long drives in the country where 4wding wasn't an option I would go a Rolls Royce or Bentley

For quality service and repairs I recommend this repairer.
::RA Chapman Automotive - Home::


Davy