Creme de la Creme SHITE.

[Guest Lord Sward]

Anyone on here any experience of running a Royce?  I strongly fancy one for my daily commute.  None of that fancy RR shite, it must be a Spirit or death for me,

 

Trying to be uuber sensible last year, I bought a wretched Clio Dci for my new job ( it replaced a nice job and a Chrysler Neon 2 which I loved) and I'm feeling suicidal.  If I most hold down a sensible job, then I need a daft car to commute.

 

Any thoughts tosspots?

[Sloth in a bowl]

 

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/rolls-royce-silver-spirit/1046518442#photo-content for 3 bags'o'sand, WCPGW, etc

 

In fact the bloke is selling 2 of them so should be able to give some running tips.

 

[Sigmund Fraud]

I had looked into shite Rolls ownership a couple of years back... What I found was that there's loads of cheap, shonky Spirits out there, insurance is reasonable, DIY is entirely possible and loads of bits come from other manufacturers' parts bins so can be bought for peanuts.

 

But you still need £5K for an example that isn't scrap fodder, fuel costs are simply eye-watering and if you are unfortunate enough to need a Rolls-only part you will spend most of a month's salary on it.

[oman5]

 

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/rolls-royce-silver-spirit/1046518442#photo-content for 3 bags'o'sand, WCPGW, etc

 

In fact the bloke is selling 2 of them so should be able to give some running tips.

 

 

Like getting rid of it when a big bill is looming?

[Stixy]

Ive only ever drove / fixed one in 1991  , dont know which model but it was a white 1971 J reg   wedding car 

 

 it had no oil pressure at tickover  and was very rotten  everytime it got washed it was also touched up to cover the rust    

[Morgan84]

To get a good car, you need to spend good money, yes, you can buy them for under £4000 easily, but these are expensive cars and do not take kindly to misuse. The reason many are for sale is people cannot afford to run them, or they know trouble is brewing. If I wanted one, I would be looking at those nearer the 7-10K mark as you will get a much better grade of car; you can soon blow a few grand on a crappy example and still have a crappy example.

 

There are Rolls Royce's and there are Rolls Royce's

[Ghosty]

Stixy: It'll have been a Silver Shadow. Always shit, and always will be. They only ever get used as wedding cars, so you can say you went to your wedding in a Roller.

Yeah, the worst one possible.

 

[Morgan84]

Stixy: It'll have been a Silver Shadow. Always shit, and always will be. They only ever get used as wedding cars, so you can say you went to your wedding in a Roller.

Yeah, the worst one possible.

 

Acrylic White - lovely pure white, but boy do they crack !

[Sigmund Fraud]

If I wanted one, I would be looking at those nearer the 7-10K mark as you will get a much better grade of car; you can soon blow a few grand on a crappy example and still have a crappy example.

 

This seemed to be the general consensus when I was looking for one as well. Of course, 10K is the equivalent of 20 £500 'shitters, so I decided to stay at the bottom end of the market, where I feel far more comfortable !

[Stixy]

I went to my wedding in a green VW Sharan 

[Junkman]

I can fully relate to the daft car for commuting to a sensible dull job philosophy.

But when it comes to what is packaged into this shape of Pressed Steel Corporation's finest, then IMO it's a Turbo Bentley for maximum livage on the edgeness.

However, the driving experience isn't what one would expect, for some odd reason, and actually a bit of a disappointment. A late 70s 7.0 litre Cadillac Fleetwood is superior in every aspect (and much easier to own) and in the right colours (now there is a challenge) not too much less dignified.

 

Having written all this, I think my choice for 3 bags would be an XJ12 though, for the simple reason, that it just is the better car, period. It is so unbelievably good, that people who have never driven one will not believe you, even if you are merely stating facts. Plus, I can tell the next Rolls Royce owner, that his car only has two thirds of an engine.

[Morgan84]

If you want a big comfy luxury feel car at more disposable amounts, try a BMW 7 series, Mercedes S-Class ,Lexus LS400 or a Jaguar XJ40 4.0; they will be more economical, less likely to get a key down the side and still be nice to own

[Stixy]

Cheap old Lexus  and a tin of blackboard paint . 

 

I had a Zodiac that had been painted in blackboard paint and wherever i parked it when i returned it was allways on its own people wouldnt park next to it 

 

Looked a complete turd though 

[Junkman]

I find the idea of a 3k Roller bonkers enough to massively appeal to me, especially the WCPGW part of it.

3k is just that wee bit too much for me to bridge it laughing after the gearbox grenaded.

[Chelseatractor63]

Don't do it...............

[mouseflakes]

I had a Zodiac that had been painted in blackboard paint and wherever i parked it when i returned it had always been attacked by juvenile delinquents

 

In my mind I read it like this ^ and I pictured it like this...

 

[Cavcraft]

I was very, very tempted by that £1,800 one that was on Retro-Rides. It'd have been worth it just to rock up to work in in all it's disgusting, flat painted glory. I'd have a Shadow no danger, though it'd need to be an early S1 in that sort of dark purple colour or black.

[gordonbennet]

In my mind I read it like this ^ and I pictured it like this...

 

zodiac.jpg

 

I'm sure me and 'er walked the dog past that Zodi whilst my LPG man was servicing the system...is it in Finedon, Northants?

[Stixy]

Mine was MK IV  flavour 

 

 

 

[dollywobbler]

I'm yet to drive a Silver Spirit and enjoy it. They roll like 2CVs but without the fun factor. Yet, the Bentley versions I always like. The Turbos are quite indecently quick. Hilariously so. I even like the 'basic' Bentley Eight. Certainly, they seem a much better way of doing 15mpg than my Landy V8 was.

[gary_davidson]

what about a daimler double 6 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1977-DAIMLER-5-3-DOUBLE-SIX-AUTO-RED-/141181445294?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item20df11e4ae

[Junkman]

Yeah, what about it?

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1983-DAIMLER-DOUBLE-SIX-RIGHT-HAND-DRIVE-AUTOMATIC-AIRCONDITIONING-/281247699899

[Junkman]

Or rather a Jag?

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1974-JAGUAR-5-3-XJ12-AUTO-SAGE-GREEN-SERIES-2-LWB-BEAUTIFUL-CAR-READY-FOR-LOVE-/231146588707

[Junkman]

Meh.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bentley-Mulsanne-Turbo-/290999317689

 

 

The wantage is not an unmassive one, I have to admit.

[Shep Shepherd]

^

 

My inner James May likes the look of that, but I fear that it would cost at least the asking price in repairs and maintenance within the first few months of ownership

[Brent_Crude]

With anything like this, I would approach it was a 1:2 (purchase:maintenance) cost ratio and as long as you go into open-eyed, you can't go too wrong. I would also make sure I had ready access to a back up car for the inevitable days when it is off the road being repaired or awaiting parts.

 

There is another ratio to think about here...... £ :

 

And a Bentley or Roller for sub-£7k (even with a laughable MPG) is going to put a massive smile on your face compared with most moderns you could buy for that sort of money.

[nacho man]

When I was a kid my grandads boss owned a silver shadow and I got taken to school in it and for at least one day I was cool.

[Junkman]

I'd say buy it sight unseen while plastered and pick it up after dark and in the rain, as it is customary for a true Autoshiter.

Looking forward to the EPIK COLLECSHUN THREAT

[Lacquer Peel]

Rover 820 Sterling, the best of both worlds.

[eddyramrod]

A late 70s 7.0 litre Cadillac Fleetwood is superior in every aspect (and much easier to own) and in the right colours (now there is a challenge) not too much less dignified.

 

Like this perhaps?

   I can vouch for these.  15-18 mpg, which is acceptable enough, and a lovely pillow-soft ride.  There might be a lot of kit on it but Detroit tends to look for the simple solution, so anything that can be done with relatively straightforward technology, will be.  So it isn't that hard to fix.  Also, the whole thing is built on a proper chassis.  Have you ever seen one?  It looks like it should be under a lorry!  Don't try to carry a bumper on your own...

When I had this one, the owner of a 1976 example told me he'd much rather have a Cadillac than a Rolls-Royce; the GM content of the RR meant it was "just an expensive way to buy a Caddy."  Meanwhile my mate at work, who had a 3.9 Range Rover, was lime green with envy for my mpg figures.

 

[/sales pitch   ]