Considering Bentley Turbo R purchase
Discussion
Good morning,
I had a turbo r 97 model for 3 years and 30k miles and have since had an Arnage 07 model and driven 50k miles. Both cars are fantastic. My main concern with the turbo r was more wind noise on the motorway. I love the Arnage and would not want to change it. On the turbo r I used Gain Hamilton at PJ autos for cost effective servicing (he is used by several independent dealers). Every 6 months it would need brake pads at the front. Head gasket also blew - £3,400 to replace by Giving. Probably better to check this has been done already. Otherwise nothing dramatic. The Arnage is serviced by Bentley, this year has been expensive, so I would allow average 2k a year plus tyres etc to keep on the road.
Both great cars!
I had a turbo r 97 model for 3 years and 30k miles and have since had an Arnage 07 model and driven 50k miles. Both cars are fantastic. My main concern with the turbo r was more wind noise on the motorway. I love the Arnage and would not want to change it. On the turbo r I used Gain Hamilton at PJ autos for cost effective servicing (he is used by several independent dealers). Every 6 months it would need brake pads at the front. Head gasket also blew - £3,400 to replace by Giving. Probably better to check this has been done already. Otherwise nothing dramatic. The Arnage is serviced by Bentley, this year has been expensive, so I would allow average 2k a year plus tyres etc to keep on the road.
Both great cars!
That's my old car!
So here's the story. I had wanted a Turbo R for years, and this car came up for sale at Brightwells in Leominster. I actually bid on it over the phone and paid £4,400 for it. Took my father in law up there on a day off to collect it.
It had a smallish crack in the windscreen, which got worse, and I ended up having it replaced by Ghost Motors - £1,800! Obviously the insurance paid for it as it would have failed an MOT - the crack just grew very quickly overnight. Mechanically it was great - engine and gearbox were superb, but it needed some brake work and suspension fettling, which can be enormously expensive. I resolved to keep it though as it was such a beautiful car to drive, and in excellent condition. An old boy from Wales had owned it for seemingly many moons and hadn't driven it much. Before I bought it, I did my research and measured the garage - it would fit with inches to spare.
But, when I got it home, I rolled it right to the bottom of the garage, and it was 3 inches proud of my garage door (an electric roll down type). Turns out I had taken the measurements for a different model - maybe US spec, later model or something, so it just didn't fit! I kept it on the drive for a few weeks and became quite depressed seeing it out there, getting rained on, getting dirty, and only the occasional drive cheered me up. I stored it for a while with a friend who has a barn, but he was 20 minutes away and I found a few months had gone by without driving it. So I resolved to sell it - took it to Ghost Motors (who are great - genuine Bentley and RR enthusiasts for all the Derby and Crewe era stuff - they work on VW era Bentleys but I don't think they are favourites for them!) - and I did a deal. I wont tell you how much but it wasn't a whole heap different from what I paid at auction
Anyway, the grille has been replaced and no doubt Ghost have spent a fortune on the suspension and brakes etc and made it all pukka again. If it had fitted my garage, i'd have it today. It was a lovely car, so different to anything else i've driven, and I'm constantly on the lookout for an Arnage now (I have a bigger garage!).
Get it bought! But make sure you drive a hard bargain.....if you do buy it, you won't regret it. It is a lovely machine.
So here's the story. I had wanted a Turbo R for years, and this car came up for sale at Brightwells in Leominster. I actually bid on it over the phone and paid £4,400 for it. Took my father in law up there on a day off to collect it.
It had a smallish crack in the windscreen, which got worse, and I ended up having it replaced by Ghost Motors - £1,800! Obviously the insurance paid for it as it would have failed an MOT - the crack just grew very quickly overnight. Mechanically it was great - engine and gearbox were superb, but it needed some brake work and suspension fettling, which can be enormously expensive. I resolved to keep it though as it was such a beautiful car to drive, and in excellent condition. An old boy from Wales had owned it for seemingly many moons and hadn't driven it much. Before I bought it, I did my research and measured the garage - it would fit with inches to spare.
But, when I got it home, I rolled it right to the bottom of the garage, and it was 3 inches proud of my garage door (an electric roll down type). Turns out I had taken the measurements for a different model - maybe US spec, later model or something, so it just didn't fit! I kept it on the drive for a few weeks and became quite depressed seeing it out there, getting rained on, getting dirty, and only the occasional drive cheered me up. I stored it for a while with a friend who has a barn, but he was 20 minutes away and I found a few months had gone by without driving it. So I resolved to sell it - took it to Ghost Motors (who are great - genuine Bentley and RR enthusiasts for all the Derby and Crewe era stuff - they work on VW era Bentleys but I don't think they are favourites for them!) - and I did a deal. I wont tell you how much but it wasn't a whole heap different from what I paid at auction
Anyway, the grille has been replaced and no doubt Ghost have spent a fortune on the suspension and brakes etc and made it all pukka again. If it had fitted my garage, i'd have it today. It was a lovely car, so different to anything else i've driven, and I'm constantly on the lookout for an Arnage now (I have a bigger garage!).
Get it bought! But make sure you drive a hard bargain.....if you do buy it, you won't regret it. It is a lovely machine.
Hope you have bought the Turbo R. I have used Ghost Motors to help with the restoration of my 1985 Turbo R (interesting restoration from a somewhat parlous state) to as attached. Charlie and his team are really knowledgeable, helpful and charge reasonable rates for the specialist knowledge needed for these complex (but in some ways simple) cars. Advice: Get a survey by someone knowledgeable (I can help here, having rebuilt one of these lovelies) in Bentleys. Take your time to find a good 'un, but - most importantly - when you do find your choice: "Go for it!".
1985-1987 carburetted cars are tricky to keep in tune (but great fun for being where it all started). The latest 97-98 cars must have had cylinder head gaskets changed, as that is a common failure mode (ask Charlie for advice). So easiest models to own are 1989 to 1995. But they are great and a ready entry route into the fantastic world of Bentley ownership. Oh, and join the Bentley Drivers Club - you'll find they are really welcoming and a source of great advice and enhanced fun.
Happy hunting!
Alan C
1985-1987 carburetted cars are tricky to keep in tune (but great fun for being where it all started). The latest 97-98 cars must have had cylinder head gaskets changed, as that is a common failure mode (ask Charlie for advice). So easiest models to own are 1989 to 1995. But they are great and a ready entry route into the fantastic world of Bentley ownership. Oh, and join the Bentley Drivers Club - you'll find they are really welcoming and a source of great advice and enhanced fun.
Happy hunting!
Alan C
Thank you for the suggestions, I was hoping my range rover classic would have sold but its taking a little longer than anticipated so I think I am going to have to lower my expectations as I don't have the cash for one of these beauties due to the slow pace of the rr sale and the lower price than I had hoped. Fingers crossed I am not shot but I am now looking at 750 e38s as an alternative with a slightly lower entry level price.
Should I start a new thread or keep the topic on here?
As with many other people, the Bentley is a car I need to own.
I've driven a couple from the classic car club, but never had one long term.
Stock in New Zealand is limited but this one has been listed sometime and works out around £16,000.
https://trademe.co.nz/1107852223
I'm waiting for details such as origin and service history.
It's likely ex UK or Singapore.
Anything I need to know and is it recognised from the used UK market?
As with many other people, the Bentley is a car I need to own.
I've driven a couple from the classic car club, but never had one long term.
Stock in New Zealand is limited but this one has been listed sometime and works out around £16,000.
https://trademe.co.nz/1107852223
I'm waiting for details such as origin and service history.
It's likely ex UK or Singapore.
Anything I need to know and is it recognised from the used UK market?
mark387mw said:
Should I start a new thread or keep the topic on here?
As with many other people, the Bentley is a car I need to own.
I've driven a couple from the classic car club, but never had one long term.
Stock in New Zealand is limited but this one has been listed sometime and works out around £16,000.
https://trademe.co.nz/1107852223
I'm waiting for details such as origin and service history.
It's likely ex UK or Singapore.
Anything I need to know and is it recognised from the used UK market?
Advert says its Jack Barclay so must be ex UK. Looks like a lovely car.As with many other people, the Bentley is a car I need to own.
I've driven a couple from the classic car club, but never had one long term.
Stock in New Zealand is limited but this one has been listed sometime and works out around £16,000.
https://trademe.co.nz/1107852223
I'm waiting for details such as origin and service history.
It's likely ex UK or Singapore.
Anything I need to know and is it recognised from the used UK market?
Yes, I think it looks very nice - but in particular, I think that model year is a "sweet spot" in the evolution of the car - I like the design of the front seats and neat headrests; I like the location of the gear selector in the console, but off centre (which, in my view, is much nicer than the 96 model year where it looks odd centralised); I prefer to have an airbag for practical purposes, even if the non-airbag wheel is neater.
I still haven't had contact from the seller.
Would this car have any engine issues to look for?
Apparently a UK car then, would be interesting to see if there is any dealer sales history on it.
Is the value of around £16,000 about right? The other option is to buy a UK car and import it to NZ.
Would this car have any engine issues to look for?
Apparently a UK car then, would be interesting to see if there is any dealer sales history on it.
Is the value of around £16,000 about right? The other option is to buy a UK car and import it to NZ.
Edited by mark387mw on Friday 22 July 11:54
mark387mw said:
I still haven't had contact from the seller.
Would this car have any engine issues to look for?
Apparently a UK car then, would be interesting to see if there is any dealer sales history on it.
Is the value of around £16,000 about right? The other option is to buy a UK car and import it to NZ.
As far as the engine goes, they are extremely robust - the only thing that crops up is the issue of head gaskets. It's something you just have to factor in as a contingency - cost of replacing them properly is around £3000. You could probably find someone to do it for less, but it's not worth it in my view. But you may never have to do it.Would this car have any engine issues to look for?
Apparently a UK car then, would be interesting to see if there is any dealer sales history on it.
Is the value of around £16,000 about right? The other option is to buy a UK car and import it to NZ.
Edited by mark387mw on Friday 22 July 11:54
If I go into any Bentley dealer in the UK, they will print off the service history for my car back to 1996 when it was new. So try calling one up and see if they can do this for you and send it. Or try the dealer in NZ - I assume there is one? I would imagine they would have access to the "main frame" computer.
I think the price is fine. In the UK I can imagine some dealers wanting £16K - £22K for a car like this and wait for the right buyer. At auction it might make £8K - £14K depending on the day. It looks like a very nice example from the advert. Prices vary quite a lot depending on how fast people want to sell the car.
Strangely the vendor of the red car hasn't responded to my email and doesn't have phone numbers available.
I'll give him another week.
Alternatively there is this newer model however it's £8,000 more and had similar spent on it.
https://trademe.co.nz/1129905013
I'll give him another week.
Alternatively there is this newer model however it's £8,000 more and had similar spent on it.
https://trademe.co.nz/1129905013
Personally, for me, the only advantage of the second one is it's a 96 model year with the neater bumpers and Zytec engine management. These, for me, are two significant advantages. But, whilst the dark blue is a good colour, the wood colour is not to my personal preference (I don't like the way it's "wrapped" on the door caps - I prefer where there is a very dark veneer on the top of the capping)
Note also, this is not a Turbo R, but a Brooklands with the light pressure Turbo, which is less powerful than the red car, even though the red car is older. Figures wern't published, but I think the blue car is around 300bhp, compared to about 330-360 for the red car (depending on the exact year, it doesn't seem to say in the advert). A Zytec 96 model Turbo R is at around 385.
But if these things don't bother you, it looks like a nice example. Just always go into these things with your eyes wide open and make sure the price reflects the true condition of the car.
Note also, this is not a Turbo R, but a Brooklands with the light pressure Turbo, which is less powerful than the red car, even though the red car is older. Figures wern't published, but I think the blue car is around 300bhp, compared to about 330-360 for the red car (depending on the exact year, it doesn't seem to say in the advert). A Zytec 96 model Turbo R is at around 385.
But if these things don't bother you, it looks like a nice example. Just always go into these things with your eyes wide open and make sure the price reflects the true condition of the car.
Edited by matt5791 on Tuesday 26th July 07:12
Further to my last posting, the red car disappeared without the seller contacting me. I'm guessing he sold it.
There is another car currently on the market with what appear unusual chrome alloys and tinted wood options.
https://trademe.co.nz/1206893254 VIN is SCBZP15C6TCH57912
If my Corvette sells then that releases funds for a Bentley, however the car will be entering its third decade.
Is there a most reliable era for Bentley?
There is another car currently on the market with what appear unusual chrome alloys and tinted wood options.
https://trademe.co.nz/1206893254 VIN is SCBZP15C6TCH57912
If my Corvette sells then that releases funds for a Bentley, however the car will be entering its third decade.
Is there a most reliable era for Bentley?
I don't know if there's a "sweet spot" in the reliability curve or not. My Arnage has been a lot more reliable than my T2 was, but there's 28 years between them, so that's not much of a surprise.
The car in that link has a really nice colour combination. I'm not a fan of the light-coloured top-roll (which is going to reflect a lot of light onto the windshield), but the rest is very distinctive.
Cheers,
Jeff.
The car in that link has a really nice colour combination. I'm not a fan of the light-coloured top-roll (which is going to reflect a lot of light onto the windshield), but the rest is very distinctive.
Cheers,
Jeff.
I do not believe there is a sweet spot. Buy exactly what you really like the look of. Just get it thoroughly inspected first. For me I wanted column change. Mirrors on the doors so my Turbo R is a 1991. Fantastic cars although I have not had the pleasure of mine since May 2015. Having a few things attended to and it has dragged on a tad. I have thought of just selling it. Been so long BUT I want her back. Very soon I hope.
The problem here in New Zealand is very few come on the market. Those that do are usually imported from the UK twenty years ago, or more recently the Asian market of Japan or Singapore and in each case the service history is unlikely to be comprehensive. And at around £22,000 these cars are, I could possibly get a belter from the UK shipped over with full service history.
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