Buying a 1986 Turbo - advice please?
Discussion
1st post on here but could be more regular depending on how this goes!
Always wanted a Bentley for weekends and as a usable classic. Driven a 95 Turbo which was mint but want to see what there is at the other end of the market......... I've just had a quick look at an 86 Turbo, done 130k, which is for sale cheaply at £6750 by dealer. Book is stamped by main dealers until 1994, then no history until 2000 then just done at "ordinary garages" from what I can tell. Its got all the MOT's showing it wasn't used for quite a while (i.e. 500 miles between tests etc). Has current MOT until September.
It was a good looking car inside and out but I didn't jump in and buy it as a couple of things stuck in my mind and any help or thoughts on the following would be appreciated as I'd like to go back for a drive and closer inspection which I've arranged for this Wednesday and would like to go back with some decent advice under my belt.........
1) Engine. Its a carb engine and started first turn from cold, ran for a few seconds then cut out then took a while cranking over to start again and then ticked over at around 1500rpm - is this anything to worry about or normal given it probably hasn't been used for a while? No smoke out the back, some rattle at fast idle then settled down to a quiet tickover.
2) The suspension seemed to be rock hard when pressing down on it but seller assured me it wasn't shot and did ride smoothly. Is this standard?
3) Underneath appeared honest, could only see corrosion around the bottom of the rear wings from the bottom of the arch to the back of the car. Any other "hot spots" to look at?
4) Has had repairs to rear wheel arches and some over spray on rear doors, presumably a bit of a corrosion area. The drivers door seemed to sit lower and the side stripe didn't line up from the drivers door to the back door - is this hinges or likely to be corrosion related?
5) Are the carb versions reliable or should I get an Efi?
6) Any specifics to look for on test drive?
Generally I don't want a complete bag of trouble but would expect to spend upto a couple of grand straight away on it to have it serviced and bits fixed but don't want to buy a pup!!
Many thanks.
Always wanted a Bentley for weekends and as a usable classic. Driven a 95 Turbo which was mint but want to see what there is at the other end of the market......... I've just had a quick look at an 86 Turbo, done 130k, which is for sale cheaply at £6750 by dealer. Book is stamped by main dealers until 1994, then no history until 2000 then just done at "ordinary garages" from what I can tell. Its got all the MOT's showing it wasn't used for quite a while (i.e. 500 miles between tests etc). Has current MOT until September.
It was a good looking car inside and out but I didn't jump in and buy it as a couple of things stuck in my mind and any help or thoughts on the following would be appreciated as I'd like to go back for a drive and closer inspection which I've arranged for this Wednesday and would like to go back with some decent advice under my belt.........
1) Engine. Its a carb engine and started first turn from cold, ran for a few seconds then cut out then took a while cranking over to start again and then ticked over at around 1500rpm - is this anything to worry about or normal given it probably hasn't been used for a while? No smoke out the back, some rattle at fast idle then settled down to a quiet tickover.
2) The suspension seemed to be rock hard when pressing down on it but seller assured me it wasn't shot and did ride smoothly. Is this standard?
3) Underneath appeared honest, could only see corrosion around the bottom of the rear wings from the bottom of the arch to the back of the car. Any other "hot spots" to look at?
4) Has had repairs to rear wheel arches and some over spray on rear doors, presumably a bit of a corrosion area. The drivers door seemed to sit lower and the side stripe didn't line up from the drivers door to the back door - is this hinges or likely to be corrosion related?
5) Are the carb versions reliable or should I get an Efi?
6) Any specifics to look for on test drive?
Generally I don't want a complete bag of trouble but would expect to spend upto a couple of grand straight away on it to have it serviced and bits fixed but don't want to buy a pup!!
Many thanks.
Balmoral Green said:
They're just awful.
Hi Balmoral
I think we've had this debate before & agreed to differ. Certainly mine was dreadful but I'm inclined to think that it wasn't just specific problems with that car - the problems seemed more fundemental than that.
Sorry to sound critical as I know you love 'em (& probably think that Nazi engineed slot cars are pretty dreadful!)
ClaphamGT3 said:Have we? must search for that to remind myself, it cant have been that much of a disagreement or I would probably have remembered it and be fostering a steaming seething resentment of you
They're just awful.
Hi Balmoral
I think we've had this debate before & agreed to differ.
Bought a shitter did you?
Balmoral Green said:
They're just awful.
Hi Balmoral
I think we've had this debate before & agreed to differ.
Bought a shitter did you?
It was a woeful car - one of the very few I've been heartily glad to get out of.
Hey-ho, how many people are lucky enough to be able to say they tried Bentley ownership & decided it wasn't to their taste?!
Right then I've taken the plunge and bought a November 95 Turbo R today! After looking at a fair few over the past week or two, I think (hope) I've got a good one. Peacock Blue with magnolia piped blue. Its been used day to day so its done 110k, with the best service history I've seen which includes every receipt from new at Broughtons at perfect intervals upto last year when the last service was done by "Royce". It looks stunning and other than some age/mileage wear and tear is spot on. Pick it up next week - can't wait!
Picked it up today and have done over 100 miles in it and I'm very pleased. Took it down to Broughtons in Cheltenham to see about having it serviced and was literally bowled over by their excellent customer service - anyone else use them? Got it booked in there for a check over next week to decide what service to give it. Fingers crossed it'll be a good report!
I'll post some pictures when I get chance, and when it stops raining!
I'll post some pictures when I get chance, and when it stops raining!
Broughtons?....Ouch that sounds painful in the wallet
www.balmoraluk.com/ just in case your not aware of them
www.balmoraluk.com/ just in case your not aware of them
Yes I had considered them and another local specialist, but at the moment I'm so impressed with Broughtons staff/facilities that I'd like to continue with them. One thing that really impressed me was that they treated me/the car individually and did not try and "sell" me an "off the shelf" service (i.e. well its done x miles so this is what you must have), instead they are doing a bonnet to boot inspection with report and we are going from there. Also the labour rate is not as eye watering as I thought it'd be, at around £70 an hour I think it's great value and less than you pay at many other marques main dealers. I've been to numerous prestige brand dealers for servicing and have never been this impressed before. Of course my first impressions could be wrong but I hope not!
And then there's these guys...
www.netstoreonline.co.uk/pmcuk/default.asp
>> Edited by Balmoral Green on Wednesday 24th May 23:50
www.netstoreonline.co.uk/pmcuk/default.asp
>> Edited by Balmoral Green on Wednesday 24th May 23:50
wish I hadn`t followed that link 
Going have to go and have a look at this www.balmoraluk.com/wch66302.htm . Its the right colour, the right mileage and not far from the right price ?
Going have to go and have a look at this www.balmoraluk.com/wch66302.htm . Its the right colour, the right mileage and not far from the right price ?Broughtons are a bloody good bunch and I should stick with them for as long as you are happy. As you say, it is a rare feeling to get from a "franchised" dealership and a heck of a service to get from anywhere. They have looked after a number of mine and my familys cars of the years.
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