RR Classic - Good Idea?
Discussion
Hi there,
I'm normally found on the Porsche forum as my main toy is a GT3, however whilst it is undoubtedly awesome and i've no plans to sell it I am suffering from the usual pistonheader's curse of wanting more toys. Particularly one that I can play around with on a sensible budget.
I've been hankering over a 4x4 plaything for a while and i really like the RR Classics - (must be childhood memories or something). I'm seriously tempted to spend 1500 quid on a V8 classic for a bit of off road playing about, karting big things around in, and generally finding excuses to spend money on it making it look cool. Are they so old that it would just be a money pit (I want to spend on things like suspension lifts and off road tyres not solely repairs!) or are they still robust enough to give me good service?
What should I be looking out for? A manual vogue? Are the autos any good? How easy is it to turn it into a pretty decent off roader? Is it sacriledge to mess about with a decent condition classic?
Most importantly perhaps - what should I look out for and does anyone know of a good one for sale?!
Please - feed my habit!! The gf has got mates up this weekend and i'm already having thoughts about taking the opportunity to pick my RR up (Even though I haven't even found one to buy!!)
I'm normally found on the Porsche forum as my main toy is a GT3, however whilst it is undoubtedly awesome and i've no plans to sell it I am suffering from the usual pistonheader's curse of wanting more toys. Particularly one that I can play around with on a sensible budget.
I've been hankering over a 4x4 plaything for a while and i really like the RR Classics - (must be childhood memories or something). I'm seriously tempted to spend 1500 quid on a V8 classic for a bit of off road playing about, karting big things around in, and generally finding excuses to spend money on it making it look cool. Are they so old that it would just be a money pit (I want to spend on things like suspension lifts and off road tyres not solely repairs!) or are they still robust enough to give me good service?
What should I be looking out for? A manual vogue? Are the autos any good? How easy is it to turn it into a pretty decent off roader? Is it sacriledge to mess about with a decent condition classic?
Most importantly perhaps - what should I look out for and does anyone know of a good one for sale?!
Please - feed my habit!! The gf has got mates up this weekend and i'm already having thoughts about taking the opportunity to pick my RR up (Even though I haven't even found one to buy!!)
Q. Are they so old that it would just be a money pit (I want to spend on things like suspension lifts and off road tyres not solely repairs!) or are they still robust enough to give me good service?
Depends if you get a good one or not, be selective when looking there are alot of them about. A good'un should give little bother, a bad'un will be a nightmare.
Q. What should I be looking out for? A manual vogue? Are the autos any good?
I would go for a 90-91 MY, They have the 3.9 but dont have the Air suspension some may have ABS (mine does, not had any bother from it) you'll stugle to find a manual but there are some out there, I prefer an auto it seams to suit the character better!
Q. How easy is it to turn it into a pretty decent off roader? Is it sacriledge to mess about with a decent condition classic?
Its not sacriledge! its fun! Mods depend on how deep your wallet is or how handy you are. My Bobtail cost next to nothing to do. Also what the end use is. Mine has a 2" lift with the ARB's removed, ive fitted dislocation cones for when the springs pop out of the seats, I dont use it on the road but im sure it would be awful!
Q. Most importantly perhaps - what should I look out for.
Worn and tired examples,
Cam rattles, drive line clunks and the big one RUST, as I said above for £1500 there will be some dogs and some gems!
Please - feed my habit!! The gf has got mates up this weekend and i'm already having thoughts about taking the opportunity to pick my RR up
Just do it you'll love it
some pics of mine
Depends if you get a good one or not, be selective when looking there are alot of them about. A good'un should give little bother, a bad'un will be a nightmare.
Q. What should I be looking out for? A manual vogue? Are the autos any good?
I would go for a 90-91 MY, They have the 3.9 but dont have the Air suspension some may have ABS (mine does, not had any bother from it) you'll stugle to find a manual but there are some out there, I prefer an auto it seams to suit the character better!
Q. How easy is it to turn it into a pretty decent off roader? Is it sacriledge to mess about with a decent condition classic?
Its not sacriledge! its fun! Mods depend on how deep your wallet is or how handy you are. My Bobtail cost next to nothing to do. Also what the end use is. Mine has a 2" lift with the ARB's removed, ive fitted dislocation cones for when the springs pop out of the seats, I dont use it on the road but im sure it would be awful!
Q. Most importantly perhaps - what should I look out for.
Worn and tired examples,
Cam rattles, drive line clunks and the big one RUST, as I said above for £1500 there will be some dogs and some gems!
Please - feed my habit!! The gf has got mates up this weekend and i'm already having thoughts about taking the opportunity to pick my RR up
Just do it you'll love it
some pics of mine
I have an Ultima GTR and a classic (and a Pug306 but we won't talk about that)
You will love the chalk and cheese differences between them.
I know you want one NOW but you would be better spending a little time looking around as there are some very sweet motors out there for very little money. Expect rusty upper tailgate but ali replacement frames are easily sourced. Rusty rear chassis cross member not so easy to fix. As said 3.9 ideal without air suspension. Auto will work just as well on or off road.
Looking down on people in Porsche's is great fun.
Steve
You will love the chalk and cheese differences between them.
I know you want one NOW but you would be better spending a little time looking around as there are some very sweet motors out there for very little money. Expect rusty upper tailgate but ali replacement frames are easily sourced. Rusty rear chassis cross member not so easy to fix. As said 3.9 ideal without air suspension. Auto will work just as well on or off road.
Looking down on people in Porsche's is great fun.
Steve
Seaton - that's what I want mine to look like!!!
Can I have yours?
Steve - we've got a Peugeot 307 but i won't talk about that either!
I've seen a couple on here which I quite like the look of - what do you think of the two EFI models down the bottom of the stock list - 1995 and 1495..
www.valleycarriageco.co.uk/GetDealer.do?did=19614&pageid=1
Too many things to go wrong? Overpriced?
Trying not to get excited but i really think it's going to be a great addition to the fleet as it's so different to the Porsche.
Can I have yours?
Steve - we've got a Peugeot 307 but i won't talk about that either!
I've seen a couple on here which I quite like the look of - what do you think of the two EFI models down the bottom of the stock list - 1995 and 1495..
www.valleycarriageco.co.uk/GetDealer.do?did=19614&pageid=1
Too many things to go wrong? Overpriced?
Trying not to get excited but i really think it's going to be a great addition to the fleet as it's so different to the Porsche.
Edited by B15TT0 on Tuesday 13th March 00:33
On road, as already stated above somewhere, the auto box suits the character well and is a great aid to wafting along listening to the exhaust burble!
Off road, my preference is again auto; if you are in sticky mud you lose less momentum than shifting a manual.
Get a post '89 (I think), and you'll get viscous coupling rather than having to manually shift the difflock too.
Lose the front spoiler and tow bar, stick on some ATs/MTs and they're virtually unstoppable
Off road, my preference is again auto; if you are in sticky mud you lose less momentum than shifting a manual.
Get a post '89 (I think), and you'll get viscous coupling rather than having to manually shift the difflock too.
Lose the front spoiler and tow bar, stick on some ATs/MTs and they're virtually unstoppable
B15TT0 said:
Seaton - that's what I want mine to look like!!!
Can I have yours?
Steve - we've got a Peugeot 307 but i won't talk about that either!
I've seen a couple on here which I quite like the look of - what do you think of the two EFI models down the bottom of the stock list - 1995 and 1495..
www.valleycarriageco.co.uk/GetDealer.do?did=19614&pageid=1
Too many things to go wrong? Overpriced?
Trying not to get excited but i really think it's going to be a great addition to the fleet as it's so different to the Porsche.
Can I have yours?
Steve - we've got a Peugeot 307 but i won't talk about that either!
I've seen a couple on here which I quite like the look of - what do you think of the two EFI models down the bottom of the stock list - 1995 and 1495..
www.valleycarriageco.co.uk/GetDealer.do?did=19614&pageid=1
Too many things to go wrong? Overpriced?
Trying not to get excited but i really think it's going to be a great addition to the fleet as it's so different to the Porsche.
No, you cant have it, I may be willing to PX it for your GT3 tho?
I would aviod the 94 "soft dash" model. they are just getting to the point of to much for the average DIY mechanic to take on.
The 92 might be worth a look. its dificult to say if its overpriced its certenly worth a look! even if it is gold!!!!
Edited by Seaton on Tuesday 13th March 17:43
Great stuff. Am on the hunt for a V8 auto box Classic then.
Will aim for 90/91 era but will see what turns up. Will try and get a look at the two in the link above this weekend - i know it's not important compared to the mechanicals and won't prevent me from getting one, but Gold is reeeeally nasty.
Bought LRO last night and leafing through it looks like even if I bought a Classic with air suspension i could get a replacement set of coils for about 150 quid should they give up the ghost.
Off Road tyres will probably be the first change when I get one. What are the largest sized tyres you can put on a RR Classic easily, and which of the tyres in those sizes come with a PH recommendation?
Will aim for 90/91 era but will see what turns up. Will try and get a look at the two in the link above this weekend - i know it's not important compared to the mechanicals and won't prevent me from getting one, but Gold is reeeeally nasty.
Bought LRO last night and leafing through it looks like even if I bought a Classic with air suspension i could get a replacement set of coils for about 150 quid should they give up the ghost.
Off Road tyres will probably be the first change when I get one. What are the largest sized tyres you can put on a RR Classic easily, and which of the tyres in those sizes come with a PH recommendation?
Totaly depends on how good you want it to be offroad and on road.
For a good 50/50 tyre go for the bf goodrich mt. Probably in a 265/75r16 or you may just squeeze a set of 255/85/r16 under it with a little bit of modification.
To be honest if you want it mostly for off road action and you want to do some serious stuff then you need to trim the arches and go for at least 33" Tyres. With a 4" lift and some arch mods you can get a set of 35" simex to fit.
mike
For a good 50/50 tyre go for the bf goodrich mt. Probably in a 265/75r16 or you may just squeeze a set of 255/85/r16 under it with a little bit of modification.
To be honest if you want it mostly for off road action and you want to do some serious stuff then you need to trim the arches and go for at least 33" Tyres. With a 4" lift and some arch mods you can get a set of 35" simex to fit.
mike
What do you the assembled reckon to this one as a basis?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dl
hmm - don't think that link works. It's item number 200090059489 on ebay.co.uk
Not got the complicated air suspension, auto, seems in good enough nick, suspension lift to facilitate bigger wheels, 12 month's MOT. Job's a good un for about 1k?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dl
hmm - don't think that link works. It's item number 200090059489 on ebay.co.uk
Not got the complicated air suspension, auto, seems in good enough nick, suspension lift to facilitate bigger wheels, 12 month's MOT. Job's a good un for about 1k?
Edited by B15TT0 on Monday 19th March 16:51
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