Leaving a RR in the street?

[Renn Sport]

I have insaitiable urge to buy a S1 Rolls Royce from the early 70's. However with garage space at a premium at the moment and owning one too many cars. I fear the Roller may have to sit on the street!

Now to be clear I'll be spening upto 5k so I don't expect a minter but a good driver nevertheless.

Would leaving a Roller in the street be silly? Vandalism (as I think it could attract attention, not being a eurobox), and detrioation (although I'll be driving it alot) are my prime considerations.

Just because you can do it doesn't mean you should.


Thoughts?

[72EuropaTC]

My old landlord lived in Twickenham and had 2 cars parked in the street: a '60s RR Silver Cloud and a late 50s/early 60s Humber Imperial. Both immaculate. Admittedly it was a cul de sac, but directly off the main street; neither ever got any damage over 4-5 years. But that was almost 30 years ago. Time & attitudes have moved on. I don't think they'd survive so well now.

Depends upon the area where you live, really.

[Renn Sport]

We lived in Teddington for a bit and I regularly saw some decent motors parked on the street with the odd classic thrown in for good measure.

I am in Kingston now and although we are in a nice spot, many of the human subspecies use our road to get to the main high street. I have had my VW Microbus keyed and my old work BMW E36 savagely set upon (bdOS).

So I am fearing for the safety of a Roller. I could park it a street over, which I think would make a massive diference but I am unsure if the neighbours in that street would mind??

[stuarte]

If you think you'll still sleep soundly at night; go for it. If not, well, you know the answer...

[CAPP0]

Renn Sport said:

We lived in Teddington for a bit and I regularly saw some decent motors parked on the street with the odd classic thrown in for good measure.

many of the human subspecies use our road to get to the main high street. I have had my VW Microbus keyed and my old work BMW E36 savagely set upon (bdOS).

Renn Sport said:

leaving a Roller in the street be silly

Rather answered your own question there! Would one street away really make much difference?

[S2Mike]

I would definately prefer off road and if possible under cover parking for anything you value!
Seems these days there are folk out there jealous of anyone with a half decent motor, if only damaging it to prove a point to their mates.

[Travis Mcgee]

you're problem would be ignorance. A lot of people would't know its an old Roller, they would just see a RR and think it was an opportunity to get back at someone clearly more well off than them. I am not suggesting its fine to vandalise an older car by the way. I definitely wouldn't leave it exposed like that.

[neilcoker]

Go for it. if its not a garage queen I say get one, so what if its out at night it will add to the patina use it you will get so more smiles per mile than a mondano....go on treat yourself, if it gives you sleepless nights you can sell it, as my old dad allways says better to of had and lost than never had at all !

[Renn Sport]

See this is the problem with sound advice.



You all make perfect sense and you all have a point. Just do not have enough bloody space. It also doesn't help that I am some sort of cleptomaniac who can't part with things!

Agghrrr..

The question is... how hurt will I be if someone nicks the 'Spirity of Ecstacy' on the front grill or runs a savage key down the side.

I think I would be pretty upset to be honest.

dillema

[TISPKJ]

Haven't looked for a while, but neighbour has one of the last S2 and we talk a lot, think your 5k maybe a bit out now they appear to have bounced but I haven't looked for sometime myself.
Next problem is let's say you get one for 5k, when it gets keyed your going to have to paint half the car to sell it at what 1k or more nowadays ? Kind of takes away the appeal a little

[blugnu]

This lives on a street full of terraced housing inhabited mainly by students in Sheffield. It seems to survive ok.



EDIT - and yes, I know it's not a RR

[silverfoxcc]

S1 in good nick are fetching good prices, as ( according to the RREC) they are the last 'proper Rr as they ahve a seperate chassis. My old spirit is lumped in the post 65 section, although they have now split that into shadow (cheap as chips) Spirits ( going down slowly) and seraphs, although its ( according to the factory in 1999) 'offshore powered!!

Somehow a Bentley doesn't have the jealous factor as much as a RR. If you do leave it al fresco, take of the lady or she will surely go walkabout

Oh and join the RREC. mine of information.

[williamp]

There are two RR Silver shadows near me, and one bentley Mulsanne (90s shape) which are kept on the street and havent come to any harm so far. Of corus it depends on the area and the yoofs, as with anything.

[FarmerJim]

By S1 do you mean a Series 1 Silver Shadow or a Bentley S1? Two very different cars. The £5k price range would suggest the former. I used to keep my Silver Shadow on the roadside and while it suffered no damage from lowlife, it did suffer a lot from being out in the elements. Door and window seals on an old Shadow are generally not up to much and the car deteriorated while outside. If you find any way at all of owning one, though, I would go for it. Not everyone's cup of tea, but I loved it. Be prepared for BIG bills. Not just to satisfy the 11 MPG thirst on Super grade petrol, but also for the £1,500 to £3,000 it will cost you to get the old girl serviced and through the MOT each year.

[Renn Sport]

Yes I am considering a garden model silver shadow.

Ãœber wafting.

I am not really too worried about the running costs to be honest. I am sort of handy with bolting stuff on and off and if I get stuck ' I know a man that can'.

It'll be an adventure. (famous last words)

However I think the wife is adamant that something VW shaped must be sold to justify this next fling.

[Justayellowbadge]

I'm only a couple of miles over, in Wimbledon and my Ferrari used to spend many a night on the street without incident. Was only a Mondial though.

[mikey77]

A few years ago I was strolling through Maida Vale and I came across a Bentley Continental R and a RR Phantom V or VI - no less - parked in the street. Both looked as though they were there regularly and neither had any nasty marks that I could see.

[anonymous-user]

I dated a girl who lived in a slightly manky area near Victoria Park, Hackney. I parked my Interceptor there on several evenings, and it came to no harm.

Maybe get a good quality cover?

[Renn Sport]

I guess it all comes down to where you live and the local inhabitants perchance for vehicle vandalisim. I'll have to risk it I think.


The thing thats thrown the spanner in the works is, which vw to shed before making this purchase. I am slightly confused as what to do? VW Beetle (my first car no less and 20 years of ownership) or the VW MicroBus powered by Flat 6 3.3 litre goodness?

I am getting rid of our daily driver E39 also... I wonder if this will help persuade Mrs RS?

[roscobbc]

As nice as the craftmanship is - RR's are not exactly the most rewarding drive unless you are in cars with weightless steering with no feel and a general unsettling feeling that the car is not fully connected with the road surface - yes you can 'hustle' them around quickly at the expense of much body roll and plenty of tyre wear. Having said all that if you decide to stop unexpectedly those dual caliper triple circuit brakes will stop you very quickly (just make sure all passengers are wearing seat belts thought!