Poor, skint person contemplating a Turbo R....

[Byteme]

Xtriple129 said:

Thanks again guys. Of the two cars linked, I like the expensive ones mileage and colour, history etc, but hate the wood.

The second car is more my spec, but I don't like the mileage! Hard to please? Me?

I wouldn't dismiss a car with birds eye maple wood unless I'd actually seen it. Some of the finest examples had flecks of pink and green and a 3d lustre that no other veneer can match. That said, most of it was pretty awful.

[Xtriple129]

mark387mw said:

Meet you in the middle with this find
http://www.click-cars.co.uk/view.asp?id=10020&...

Hmmmm. Now that is nice.

[Balmoral]

graemel said:

I think that is a pretty unfair post Steve and I feel an apology to Balmoral would not go amiss.

Thanks for the support graemel, but whilst I was miffed at the dismissal of my contribution, I was not offended, so no apology needed

This however was quite different...

Byteme said:

Balmoral's extravagant expenditure, I'm sure, makes him feel rather special allowing him to distance himself from the plebs he no doubt feels shouldn't be allowed near the same vehicle type he drives.

The inference that I'm some sort of snob who looks down his nose at those who buy a cheaper car with a view to running it on a budget is pretty poor form from someone who doesn't know me and who has absolutely no idea by how far he has no idea

Bluebottle911 said:

Sorry, I was clearly wrong: I should have said VERY rude and EXTREMELY ignorant.

Thanks John, even if it was pointing out the bleedin'...

deeen said:

Balmoral keeping his in good condition, £4000 p.a., me keeping it sheddy and accepting driving it with minor faults, £2000 - £2500 p.a, Byteme care to list the actual running costs for yours here?

My £4000 was quite a broad brush stroke, £3000 - £4000 would be nearer the mark, as others who have run these cars over long term ownership have also concurred. If you're suggesting £2000 - £2500 at the sheddy end, then really the general advice being given is not that far apart. How lucky or unlucky you are with the car can also play a big part too, "s**t happens!" as the Americans say.

I think in general that if you spend £16,000 on a later low mileage car, then you probably will face less initial expense than if you were to buy an older higher mileage car at say £8000, but that is still no guarantee. Sure, you will no doubt get a nicer car cosmetically, but the mechanical maladies may still be there, and even if they're not, they will still come eventually, as time marches on, and many things can and do go wrong seemingly at random, that have no connection with mileage or how much TLC the car has been given over it's life time.

[mark387mw]

OP, I'm not sure you'll like the wood on this one but could be a good investment. (If a late 90's Bentley can be an investment!).

A 1997 Bentley Turbo RT, 55,000 miles low miles, auction estimate £11,500 - £14,500.
http://www.historics.co.uk/buying/auctions/2014-06...

[mark387mw]

Back to one of the OP's original questions, is the Brooklands as good a car as a Turbo R. Is the turbo necessary?

Can the Brooklands be a better purchase or is it inferior in terms of demand and resale?

Over here in NZ, Bentleys are not in large supply so this Brooklands or this Turbo RL at twice the price?

[POORCARDEALER]

Ref beating book times on servicing, very much down to the individual car, surprising how much time you can spend on one seized bolt.

Regular preventative work is the key with these cars, and sourcing sensibly priced bits of course

[Byteme]

mark387mw said:

Back to one of the OP's original questions, is the Brooklands as good a car as a Turbo R. Is the turbo necessary?

Can the Brooklands be a better purchase or is it inferior in terms of demand and resale?

Over here in NZ, Bentleys are not in large supply so this Brooklands or this Turbo RL at twice the price?

The turbo is not essential but you'll have to accept that without one very many quite ordinary modern cars will be able to out accelerate you. A BTR on the other hand will leave most cars standing even when driven in a light throttle. The turbo's performance will never fail to impress, even after years of ownership so if that's important to you then you don't have an alternative. While every other aspect of the car is just as exceptional a non turbo cars performance is very ordinary. If you've never driven a Turbo R then you'll be happy with a Brooklands.

Obviously the two cars you list are very different. They Turbo R is not just a later car it is also a later model year. It is also LWB has a higher spec and lower mileage. That would account for quite a bit of the price difference.

Edited by Byteme on Sunday 18th May 14:09

[Bluebottle911]

mark387mw said:

OP, I'm not sure you'll like the wood on this one but could be a good investment. (If a late 90's Bentley can be an investment!).

A 1997 Bentley Turbo RT, 55,000 miles low miles, auction estimate £11,500 - £14,500.
http://www.historics.co.uk/buying/auctions/2014-06...

Not much danger of seeing another one just like it . . . !!

[Jimmm]

Byteme said:

Graemel, I see no reason to apologise. Balmoral's extravagant expenditure, I'm sure, makes him feel rather special allowing him to distance himself from the plebs he no doubt feels shouldn't be allowed near the same vehicle type he drives...

Surprised there is enough oxygen to keep you and a horse alive at that altitude.

[Byteme]

Jimmm said:

Surprised there is enough oxygen to keep you and a horse alive at that altitude.

An informed approach prevents shortage of breath and usually provides a solution that doesn't dent the bank account more than needed. There is no need for surprise.

[Byteme]

Balmoral, good thing you deleted that eh? I still have it though.

[Big Al.]

He could be onto something though!

Being a moderator I can see all deleted posts.

[Byteme]

It was rather fruity.

[RESSE]

We run a 1994 Turbo RL and have owned it since 1995 (gosh hard to believe nearly 20 years).

170,000+ miles under her belt(s) and the car has been a delight to own and still a joy to drive.



Minimal mileage over the past 5 years has helped to keep the mechanical bills/service charges lower than when she was doing 5,000 to 8,000 miles per annum (obvious I know but worth mentioning).

Recently some corrosion/paint work has needed fixing, nothing major but I think these older cars need to be in as good as condition as one can afford to maintain?

In my opinion a 'Bucket List' motor car.

A few £Thousands needed per annum to keep on top of things and bigger £s for larger items.

[RESSE]

I knew I had a spreadsheet on the computer for repair costs, doesn't include all services (somewhere there is 2005 to date, but I cannot locate it at the moment), but the OP may find these useful:

1994 Increase padding to head rests £1035
Front seats - cushion & squab requires softer foam £2905

1996 I' Service £140
Replace park brake pads - cost including parts & labour £92.5
Windscreen repair £55
Replace front brake discs - cost including parts & labour £490
Replace front brake pads - cost including parts & labour £171.25
Replace rear brake discs £95
Re-skim rear brake discs £95
Replace rear brake pads - cost including parts & labour £107.5

1997 Tracker £450

1998 New gearbox - cost including parts & labour £1792.28
Repairs to rear panel - cost including parts & labour £345
Brake hose high pressure - cost including parts & labour £441.24

1999 New gearbox - cost includes part & labour £1788.14

2000 Rear hand brake pads & aerial - cost icludes parts & labour £362.5
Radio head unit £642.5

2001 7500 check - cost includes parts & labour £299
Replace fuel pumps - cost includes parts & labour £787

2002 Sticking off side rear brake calliper & replace tyre £675
Corrosion to the bast vertical face £395

2003 Reseal leaking rear hydraulic brake pump, replace worn front & rear brake discs £2153.5
C' service + parts & labour £451.92
Check noise from off side front brakes £93.4

2004 MOT + Parts & labour £374.02
Rectify boot lock £88.13
Replace headlamp units - check engine cutting out - noise from front brake pads £471.13

2005 30,000 mile service + parts & labour £2774.83
Replace parking brake pads & free the seized brake callipers
corroded rear suspension spring saddle, corroded Power Asst. Steering return pipe
Replace worn near side front suspension dampter top mounting & bush £1092.5

[POORCARDEALER]

RESSE said:

I knew I had a spreadsheet on the computer for repair costs, doesn't include all services (somewhere there is 2005 to date, but I cannot locate it at the moment), but the OP may find these useful:

1994 Increase padding to head rests £1035
Front seats - cushion & squab requires softer foam £2905

1996 I' Service £140
Replace park brake pads - cost including parts & labour £92.5
Windscreen repair £55
Replace front brake discs - cost including parts & labour £490
Replace front brake pads - cost including parts & labour £171.25
Replace rear brake discs £95
Re-skim rear brake discs £95
Replace rear brake pads - cost including parts & labour £107.5

1997 Tracker £450

1998 New gearbox - cost including parts & labour £1792.28
Repairs to rear panel - cost including parts & labour £345
Brake hose high pressure - cost including parts & labour £441.24

1999 New gearbox - cost includes part & labour £1788.14

2000 Rear hand brake pads & aerial - cost icludes parts & labour £362.5
Radio head unit £642.5

2001 7500 check - cost includes parts & labour £299
Replace fuel pumps - cost includes parts & labour £787

2002 Sticking off side rear brake calliper & replace tyre £675
Corrosion to the bast vertical face £395

2003 Reseal leaking rear hydraulic brake pump, replace worn front & rear brake discs £2153.5
C' service + parts & labour £451.92
Check noise from off side front brakes £93.4

2004 MOT + Parts & labour £374.02
Rectify boot lock £88.13
Replace headlamp units - check engine cutting out - noise from front brake pads £471.13

2005 30,000 mile service + parts & labour £2774.83
Replace parking brake pads & free the seized brake callipers
corroded rear suspension spring saddle, corroded Power Asst. Steering return pipe
Replace worn near side front suspension dampter top mounting & bush £1092.5

Wow the trimming job at the top wasnt cheap...

[WelshBentleyBoy]

In my experience of a Continental R and an Arnage T, Balmoral is spot on the button. A set of tyres is £800-£1000, a 60,000 hydraulic service £2500- £3500, steering racks and ball joints can all go and that is before the sills have needed doing. A windscreen is over £2k if not covered by insurance. Yes you can save by getting work done more economically but these are complicated machines with complicated construction methods that originally cost circa £150k. Proper maintenance is inevitably expensive and needs expertise. For me its a simple price/pleasure ratio that I am happy to meet.

[V8 FOU]

RESSE said:

I knew I had a spreadsheet on the computer for repair costs, doesn't include all services (somewhere there is 2005 to date, but I cannot locate it at the moment), but the OP may find these useful:

1994 Increase padding to head rests £1035
Front seats - cushion & squab requires softer foam £2905

1996 I' Service £140
Replace park brake pads - cost including parts & labour £92.5
Windscreen repair £55
Replace front brake discs - cost including parts & labour £490
Replace front brake pads - cost including parts & labour £171.25
Replace rear brake discs £95
Re-skim rear brake discs £95
Replace rear brake pads - cost including parts & labour £107.5

1997 Tracker £450

1998 New gearbox - cost including parts & labour £1792.28
Repairs to rear panel - cost including parts & labour £345
Brake hose high pressure - cost including parts & labour £441.24

1999 New gearbox - cost includes part & labour £1788.14

2000 Rear hand brake pads & aerial - cost icludes parts & labour £362.5
Radio head unit £642.5

2001 7500 check - cost includes parts & labour £299
Replace fuel pumps - cost includes parts & labour £787

2002 Sticking off side rear brake calliper & replace tyre £675
Corrosion to the bast vertical face £395

2003 Reseal leaking rear hydraulic brake pump, replace worn front & rear brake discs £2153.5
C' service + parts & labour £451.92
Check noise from off side front brakes £93.4

2004 MOT + Parts & labour £374.02
Rectify boot lock £88.13
Replace headlamp units - check engine cutting out - noise from front brake pads £471.13

2005 30,000 mile service + parts & labour £2774.83
Replace parking brake pads & free the seized brake callipers
corroded rear suspension spring saddle, corroded Power Asst. Steering return pipe
Replace worn near side front suspension dampter top mounting & bush £1092.5

TWO Gearboxes? Struth! Not been serviced properly, I bet.

At least you got a free seized brake, anyway.

[V8 FOU]

Xtriple129 said:

Thanks again guys. Of the two cars linked, I like the expensive ones mileage and colour, history etc, but hate the wood.

The second car is more my spec, but I don't like the mileage! Hard to please? Me?

I have a complete set of wood if needed.......

[RESSE]

V8 FOU said:

TWO Gearboxes? Struth! Not been serviced properly, I bet.

At least you got a free seized brake, anyway.

The original gearbox developed a fault when changing down from fourth to third as did the replacement The second unit should be not listed - but I think we did to keep a note of work carried out.

The car has been serviced by Broughtons of Cheltenham since new and has not wanted for anything.